[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2030]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF DuWAYNE BRIDGES BEING NAMED 2013 LEGISLATOR OF THE 
           YEAR BY THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 27, 2014

  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I ask for the House's attention 
today to recognize a dear friend and former colleague of mine in the 
Alabama State House, DuWayne Bridges, for being named the 2013 
Legislator of the Year by the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs.
  DuWayne Bridges is a resident of Valley, Alabama. He served our 
country as a member of the United States Marine Corps in Vietnam. He 
and his wife, Pat, have two children, DuWayne Jr. and Karen. They are 
the proud grandparents of nine children. DuWayne received his 
Bachelor's Degree from Faulkner University and his Master's Degree from 
Troy University. He is the owner of Bridges Travel Plaza in Cusseta, 
Alabama.
  DuWayne is a past Vice Chairman for the Alabama State Department of 
Mental Health and was elected as Chambers County's 1996 Gentleman of 
the Year. In 2000, DuWayne was elected to represent Alabama's 38th 
District, which encompasses Lee and Chambers counties. He serves as the 
Chairman of the Military and Veterans' Committee in the State House, 
and also serves as a member of my Third District Veterans' Advisory 
Board.
  On January 10th, DuWayne was recognized as the 2013 Legislator of the 
Year by the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs. He was recognized 
for his support of several bills that will benefit Alabama's Veterans. 
Among those bills was the ``Heroes for Hire Act'' which provides a tax 
credit to employers who hire recently deployed Veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating DuWayne for his 
dedication to Alabama's Veterans. His tireless service to our state and 
country is an inspiration to legislators everywhere. I wish him the 
best of luck in his future endeavors outside of the State House as he 
retires this year.

                          ____________________