[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 5986-5987]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING JODY BRUCE AND JOSH HOFFMAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Dakota (Mr. Cramer) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CRAMER. The author Henry Miller wrote: ``The ordinary man is 
involved in action, the hero acts, an immense difference.''
  Mr. Speaker, having grown up the son of a rural electric lineman, I 
am more than a little familiar with the not so ordinary actions of 
these rather ordinary people.
  They do a job most of us won't or can't do, often putting themselves 
in danger's way as they carry out their duties in all kinds of weather 
conditions. They earn a paycheck for their work for sure, but their 
contribution to the quality of life of rural America is to the benefit 
of millions of people.
  But today, Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the extraordinary 
efforts of two rural electric linemen from North Dakota who stepped 
beyond being involved in the action to act.
  Jody Bruce from Minot, who works for Verendrye Electric Cooperative, 
and Josh Hoffman from Carrington, who works for Northern Plains 
Electric Cooperative, left the comfort zone of middle America to 
facilitate the advent of safe, reliable, and affordable electricity in 
a community in Haiti.
  Their service and sacrifice will improve the lives of many people 
because

[[Page 5987]]

electricity is a critical element to improve quality of life, health 
care, education, clean water, and other vital services.
  Volunteering their time and expertise, they both spent 2 weeks in the 
town of Caracol, providing safety training and mentoring for local 
linemen. They also assisted with installing power for residents located 
next to an industrial park. When fully functional, this facility will 
have the capacity to employ 30,000 people.
  Jody and Josh are the only linemen from North Dakota to ever 
participate in such a project in Haiti, a country where only about 13 
percent of the people have reliable access to electricity.
  The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association International 
Foundation has been working on a U.S. Agency for International 
Development-funded program to bring electricity to the town of Caracol 
and nearby areas.
  Today, more than 1,200 consumers in the town have access to reliable 
electricity. Some homes now have antennas for their TVs. In fact, some 
businesses are springing up, things like Internet cafes that have been 
established, and water treatment plants are in full operation.
  While we often take for granted such basic amenities as safe, 
reliable electricity in this country, we ought to say a prayer for the 
men and women who ensure that the lights are always on for us and the 
families who wait for them at home.
  In the case of Jody Bruce and Josh Hoffman, well, they deserve a 
tickertape parade. They, Mr. Speaker, are international heroes.

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