[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2448]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING VISTA ON ITS 45TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I wish to speak on a resolution I have 
cosigned celebrating Volunteers In Service To America, or VISTA, on its 
45th anniversary and recognizing its contribution to the fight against 
poverty.
  This resolution will demonstrate the great appreciation this country 
has for its volunteers, specifically honoring the 45th anniversary of 
the VISTA Program.
  Last year nearly 50 VISTA volunteers provided service in Alaska. 
These citizens are vital to fighting poverty in our State. The success 
of this program is evident in the programs it has left behind such as 
Head Start, job training plans, and credit unions. From its beginnings 
in 1965 to today, VISTA has dedicated hard work, time, and innovation 
to lift Americans all over the country out of poverty.
  While the mission to fight against poverty has a long history, VISTA 
has continued to adapt to various localities and challenges to provide 
new and inspired solutions. Alaska boasts many past and present VISTA 
volunteers. Many of them have become prominent in Alaska's public and 
private sectors.
  In Alaska, John Shively came to the state with VISTA from New York 
State with the intention of staying for 1 year. He became involved in 
local government in Alaska and was involved in the Native lands 
settlements of early statehood. He later became the commissioner of the 
Alaska Department of Natural Resources, overseeing more than 80 million 
acres of State land. He has also been a regent for the University of 
Alaska, and the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce was proud to award 
John Shively the title ``Outstanding Alaskan of the Year'' in 2009.
  Willie Hensley is an Alaska Native and one of the many successful 
residents of Alaska. He was a VISTA volunteer and went on to serve in 
the Alaska State Legislature. He founded the NANA Native Corporation 
after working hard to ensure equitable settlement of Alaska Native land 
claims. He is one of the founding members of the Alaska Federation of 
Natives and is a well known author.
  John Shively and Willie Hensley are just two examples of the 
thousands of VISTA volunteers who have served Alaska and her people. 
VISTA is a program serving all Americans with the focus on lifting poor 
Americans out of poverty so their futures can be as bright as the 
northern lights. VISTA's 45 years of service to the country has made a 
difference in so many lives, in Alaska and across the Nation.

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