Floor SpeechCeremonial2026-05-13

RECOGNIZING BURTON DECKER CORWIN, PH.D.

HealthcareDefenseTradeVoting RightsVeterans

Context

On 2026-05-13, Representative George Latimer (D-NY-16) delivered a floor speech titled "RECOGNIZING BURTON DECKER CORWIN, PH.D." in the House.

Full Text

RECOGNIZING BURTON DECKER CORWIN, PH.D.

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 81 (Wednesday, May 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 13, 2026)] [House] [Pages H3397-H3398] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING BURTON DECKER CORWIN, PH.D. (Mr. Latimer of New York was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the exceptional life and times of Burton ``Burt'' Corwin, a longtime resident of Larchmont who passed away peacefully at the New York State Veterans Home at Montrose on April 29 at the age of 83. Burt was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and he graduated from Bethel Park High School. Burt attended Lehigh University where he graduated with honors and fulfilled his ROTC requirements, then commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He went on to receive a master's degree and a Ph.D. Burt served in the U.S. Army at the Pentagon and then served his country as a captain at Long Binh in Vietnam. He received a Bronze Star for his service. His business career with IBM spanned 33 years in varied roles. He later taught [[Page H3398]] part time in the MBA programs at Fordham and Iona. Most importantly, he served as commander of the David Potts, Jr. VFW Post 1156 in Larchmont for 10 years. Under his leadership, the post focused on service to veterans and service to the community. He also served on the board of the Westchester Board of Veterans Services and was a member of The American Legion. Throughout his life, Burt was praised for his great intellect, leadership, gentle nature, intention to get it right, and sense of fairness. He was a peacemaker, and he abhorred pettiness. He cared about people and demonstrated it throughout his life. His family and friends will miss him terribly. Burt is survived by his wife, Deirdre, his two sons, and his stepdaughter. From the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, we salute Burt Corwin and his life of service and dedication to his family, neighbors, and country. Prices at the Pump Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, not quite 2 months ago, March 21 to be specific, I filled the tank of our family car at the local gas station three blocks from my home. It was near empty in the gas tank. The price for regular gas was $4.19 per gallon, $4.59 for plus, and $4.99 for super. Twenty gallons later, I paid $85.80 and headed back home. This past Monday night before coming here to Washington by Amtrak, I did the same thing: $4.79 per gallon, $4.99 for plus, and $5.59 for super. It was 60 cents more per gallon in just 50 days. The same gas cost me $95.80, $12 more than it did 50 days before. It was even higher back in March than it was in January. If I needed a full tank once a week and prices were to freeze at today's rate, I would be paying $600 more per year. That is a 15 percent increase. With a congressional salary, I can afford it. But what about the waitress? What about the factory worker? What about the home healthcare aide, the truck driver or the firefighter? What about the nurse or the clerical worker? Are they getting a 15 percent pay raise this year? Many of these people don't know much about the Strait of Hormuz. They don't know much about the shifting rates of tariffs. Maybe they care, maybe they don't, but they care that it costs more today on May 13 than it did on March 21 or on January 1. Mr. Speaker, you can't blame this on Biden, although you will try. You can't blame this on Obama or Hillary or, for that matter, FDR, Grover Cleveland, or any and every Democrat that ever existed. The fact is that on January 19, 2025, the Strait of Hormuz was open. The fact is on January 19, 2025, there were no across-the-board tariffs on products, including those from our friends, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Japan. They are all rethinking what friendship means now. Let's see what it costs me to gas up on June 23 or on September 5 or perhaps on the morning of November 3. Mr. Speaker, you can gerrymander all you want. Everyone sees the signs in neon lights all over their town: $4.19, $4.39, and $4.79. You can't gerrymander that. ____________________

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RECOGNIZING BURTON DECKER CORWIN, PH.D. Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 81 (Wednesday, May 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 13, 2026)] [House] [Pages H3397-H3398] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING BURTON DECKER CORWIN, PH.D. (Mr. Latimer of New York was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the exceptional life and times of Burton ``Burt'' Corwin, a longtime resident of Larchmont who passed away peacefully at the New York State Veterans Home at Montrose on April 29 at the age of 83. Burt was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and he graduated from Bethel Park High School. Burt attended Lehigh University where he graduated with honors and fulfilled his ROTC requirements, then commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He went on to receive a master's degree and a Ph.D. Burt served in the U.S. Army at the Pentagon and then served his country as a captain at Long Binh in Vietnam. He received a Bronze Star for his service. His business career with IBM spanned 33 years in varied roles. He later taught [[Page H3398]] part time in the MBA programs at Fordham and Iona. Most importantly, he served as commander of the David Potts, Jr. VFW Post 1156 in Larchmont for 10 years. Under his leadership, the post focused on service to veterans and service to the community. He also served on the board of the Westchester Board of Veterans Services and was a member of The American Legion. Throughout his life, Burt was praised for his great intellect, leadership, gentle nature, intention to get it right, and sense of fairness. He was a peacemaker, and he abhorred pettiness. He cared about people and demonstrated it throughout his life. His family and friends will miss him terribly. Burt is survived by his wife, Deirdre, his two sons, and his stepdaughter. From the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, we salute Burt Corwin and his life of service and dedication to his family, neighbors, and country. Prices at the Pump Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, not quite 2 months ago, March 21 to be specific, I filled the tank of our family car at the local gas station three blocks from my home. It was near empty in the gas tank. The price for regular gas was $4.19 per gallon, $4.59 for plus, and $4.99 for super. Twenty gallons later, I paid $85.80 and headed back home. This past Monday night before coming here to Washington by Amtrak, I did the same thing: $4.79 per gallon, $4.99 for plus, and $5.59 for super. It was 60 cents more per gallon in just 50 days. The same gas cost me $95.80, $12 more than it did 50 days before. It was even higher back in March than it was in January. If I needed a full tank once a week and prices were to freeze at today's rate, I would be paying $600 more per year. That is a 15 percent increase. With a congressional salary, I can afford it. But what about the waitress? What about the factory worker? What about the home healthcare aide, the truck driver or the firefighter? What about the nurse or the clerical worker? Are they getting a 15 percent pay raise this year? Many of these people don't know much about the Strait of Hormuz. They don't know much about the shifting rates of tariffs. Maybe they care, maybe they don't, but they care that it costs more today on May 13 than it did on March 21 or on January 1. Mr. Speaker, you can't blame this on Biden, although you will try. You can't blame this on Obama or Hillary or, for that matter, FDR, Grover Cleveland, or any and every Democrat that ever existed. The fact is that on January 19, 2025, the Strait of Hormuz was open. The fact is on January 19, 2025, there were no across-the-board tariffs on products, including those from our friends, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Japan. They are all rethinking what friendship means now. Let's see what it costs me to gas up on June 23 or on September 5 or perhaps on the morning of November 3. Mr. Speaker, you can gerrymander all you want. Everyone sees the signs in neon lights all over their town: $4.19, $4.39, and $4.79. You can't gerrymander that. ____________________