Tuesday, July 19, 2005 Tribute to Gaithersburg Washington, D.C. - Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to commend the City of Gaithersburg for having recently been ranked seventeenth in the nation on Money Magazine/CNN Money’s list of “Best Places to Live.”   The list ranked cities according to a number of quality-of-life criteria, accounting for economic, environmental, educational, and cultural factors.  Gaithersburg excelled particularly in its access to museums and institutions of higher education, its sound environmental health, and its low elementary student-to-teacher ratio and crime rate.    To the 58,000 residents of Gaithersburg, this commendation comes as no surprise.  Gaithersburg is a strong and vibrant community, blessed with an active citizenry and a devoted civic leadership in Mayor Sidney Katz, City Manager David Humpton, and its City Council members.  The area has also benefited from the recent revitalization of the Olde Towne residential and commercial district, an endeavor which has highlighted the benefits of thoughtful community planning and enhanced access to cultural and recreational activities.  I am confident that Gaithersburg will continue to flourish in the coming years.   Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent the people of the City of Gaithersburg in the U.S. House of Representatives, and I offer them my warmest congratulations on this honor.