[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3743]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    125 REASONS TO CELEBRATE THE GREATER ORANGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEVIN BRADY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 20, 2012

  Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Greater Orange 
Area Chamber of Commerce.
  Tonight, this vibrant Chamber will be celebrating its 125th 
anniversary. This great advocate for small business began back in 1887 
as a citizens committee and then became the city's Board of Trade just 
before the turn of the 20th century.
  The city of Orange was born the same year Texas won its Independence, 
but its history goes much further back. The area first settled around 
1600 by the Atakapas tribe is now a shining jewel in the Golden 
Triangle's crown.
  Following up on Orange's proud heritage of ship building for 
America's military, it was this Chamber that saw the future of 
petrochemicals and brought jobs to the area just as our soldiers, 
sailors and marines were returning from World War II.
  This Chamber has a long history of bringing civic leaders and 
business leaders together to make Orange a better place to live and 
work. The community, led by a vibrant Chamber of Commerce, has taken on 
the tough tasks from building better roads, a first rate port, strong 
local schools and a growing college.
  Named for its Orange groves, the modern Orange boasts its very own 
Shangri-La and the world class Lutcher Theater as well as the renowned 
Stark Museum of Art. This is a community that doesn't shy away from a 
challenge. Hurricanes Rita and Ike only hardened the resolve of this 
Golden Triangle treasure and I expect more great things from Orange in 
the next 125 years as this community continues to grow, while 
maintaining its signature small town charm mixed with world-class 
culture.
  Today, I honor all those who have made this Chamber great and look 
forward to meeting those who will lead it in the future.

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