[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 13350-13351]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        A GREAT MINNESOTA LEADER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Emmer) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. EMMER of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Hormel 
Foods CEO Jeffrey Ettinger on his upcoming retirement.
  Hormel is a recognized Minnesota leader in food processing. The 
company started in Austin, Minnesota, in 1891 and is best known for 
giving us the famous canned ham--Spam.
  Jeffrey's career at Hormel Foods has now spanned nearly three 
decades. From starting out as a corporate attorney in 1989 to 
eventually becoming the CEO in 2005, Jeffrey has played a crucial role 
in Hormel's success. Jeffrey encouraged a focus on new product 
innovation, and under his leadership, Hormel has continued to grow and 
thrive. During his time with Hormel, Jeffrey has even been recognized 
as one of the world's best CEOs by Barron's--a true tribute to his work 
ethic and excellence. While he is retiring as CEO, Jeffrey's leadership 
at Hormel will go on, as he will continue to serve as chairman of the 
board.
  Congratulations on your retirement, Jeffrey, and thank you for all of 
the work you have done for Hormel Foods so that it remains a leading 
company in the food industry both in Minnesota and in our great 
country.


             Top Honors for Anoka-Ramsey Community College

  Mr. EMMER of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate Minnesota's 
very own Anoka-Ramsey Community College, which has recently been named 
one of the top 10 community colleges in the United States. This 
placement has made Anoka-Ramsey Community College a contender for the 
2017 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
  It is no surprise to me that Anoka-Ramsey, the sole Minnesota 
contender to be recognized, has been chosen for this prestigious award 
given its stellar reputation throughout our community. This fine higher 
learning institution is well-known for affordable tuition, a high 
success rate of students who graduate, as well as high achievement 
rates for students of every ethnicity and background. A good education 
can open doors in life.
  Thank you, Anoka-Ramsey, for handing our students the key. Good luck 
in the competition, and congratulations on your success.


                            A Parent's Love

  Mr. EMMER of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate Joy and 
Matthew Molitor, from Minnesota's Sixth District, who received an 
Angels in Adoption Award this year.
  The Molitors' adoption story began in 2011. While on a trip to Haiti, 
they decided to adopt two young children, Wilson and Catherine. For the 
next 3\1/2\ years, the Molitors visited Haiti 15 times while patiently 
waiting to take their children home.
  In 2015, the Molitors received the devastating news that their 
paperwork was no longer valid and that the Haitian Government was no 
longer allowing simple adoptions. This did not stop them.
  For the next 4 months, Joy walked from one government agency to the 
next, despite the unstable political environment in the country. She 
was determined not to leave Haiti without her children. As a result of 
Joy's resolve, she eventually retained the visas for her children, and 
they were able to go home to Minnesota together.
  Joy and Matthew Molitor are the perfect example of the lengths one 
will go because of a parent's love. I am proud to recognize them today.
  Thank you, Joy and Matthew, and congratulations on your Angels in 
Adoption Award.


                    Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

  Mr. EMMER of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, September is Childhood Cancer 
Awareness Month. It is time to bring awareness to this heartless 
disease and to the demands and challenges of the families affected.
  Childhood cancer is an especially important topic in our office. My 
deputy chief of staff, Robert Boland's daughter, Abigail, was diagnosed 
with retinoblastoma, which is a rare cancer

[[Page 13351]]

that affects the eyes, when she was only 2 months old. Thankfully, 
Abigail survived her cancer and is a happy, growing little girl. 
Abigail and her parents are fortunate, but they, like all families who 
deal with childhood cancer, had many a sleepless night.
  No parent should ever have to watch a child fight a life-threatening 
disease. Unfortunately, that is not the case for many. Every year in 
the United States, there are more than 15,000 children who are 
diagnosed with cancer. Statistics show that 80 percent of childhood 
cancer cases are diagnosed only after the disease has already 
metastasized and spread. This makes research absolutely necessary. That 
is why we must spread the word and raise awareness.
  All children deserve a future, and it is vital that we do everything 
in our power to help give them that chance.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to direct their remarks 
to the Chair and not to a perceived viewing audience.

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