A bill to redesignate the Crowne Plaza in Kingston, Jamaica, as the Colin L. Powell Residential Plaza.

Madam Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman for his leadership and for yielding me this time, and I thank the sponsors of this legislation. I rise to support this resolution, which is H. Res. 276, which is supporting the goals and ideals of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

We know that cancer can be deadly, but early detection is crucial. We also know how devastating the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer can be because of its rapid decline in the individual that has this particular disease. I know firsthand from a prominent citizen in my community, someone who was vibrant and contributing, who suffered through the disease of pancreatic cancer, having good days and bad days, having recoveries and then relapses.

So I believe it is extremely important that we make the Nation aware of the deadliness of this particular form of cancer and the ability to continue to provide the instrument of early detection. I rise in support of this legislation, and as I do so, might I say and make a few comments about a number of resolutions that I would like to add a voice of support.

Let me rise in support as well for S. 1413, the Colin L. Powell Residential Plaza Redesignation Act, that redesignates the plaza in Jamaica, West Indies, in honor of General Colin L. Powell, the former Secretary of State. We appreciate his leadership, his dedication to service and, as well, the statement that his family made coming here to the United States from Jamaica, West Indies, being immigrants and then, of course, being contributing

members of this Nation and, of course, to the United States armed services.

Likewise, I would like to join my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), in his resolution authorizing the use of the Capitol grounds for an event to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Million Man March, and let me salute the concept of the Nation of Islam and Prime Minister Farrakhan for understanding it is a million more, for inviting communities from all over America, diverse ethnic and religious groups and racial groups to come simply to say that the poor have not been forgotten. I hope that as we commemorate, we will set a legislative agenda to turn around and to change America for the better.

I add my support for H.R. 15, which deals with the supporting of the goals and ideals of the National Campus Safety Awareness Month. I do that for a general reason, but also, Madam Speaker, for a personal reason. I have two young people in my family, my daughter and my son, who are on college campuses today. I can assure you that, as a parent, you send your child off with the best intentions, but it is also very important to remind them nationally, if you will, even from the podium of the United States Congress, that all young people should be aware of the dangers of overdosing on drugs, of alcohol abuse, of hazing, of the dangers of altercations between students. Just this past couple of months, we buried a very bright young man in our community that we still mourn, and we do so because, unfortunately, he lost his life in an altercation and brawl on his campus, through no fault of his own, a bright, energetic and talented young man. His family still mourns, and his mother is seeking to be engaged in campus safety, and I look forward to working with her, so that we can find ways to touch students and touch their hearts.

This legislation is so very important, because at least it makes a public and national statement that young people should be safe, but they should also be their brothers' and sisters' keeper. When you see something going on, tell someone in order to save a life. Campus safety also means campus involvement and campus recognition that we are in fact our brothers' and sisters' keeper.

I would ask my colleagues to support the underlying bill which deals specifically with the idea of supporting the goals and ideals of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, and, of course, I thank my colleagues for allowing me to submit statements on behalf of the above- mentioned resolutions.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1413) to redesignate the Crowne Plaza in Kingston, Jamaica as the Colin L. Powell Residential Plaza.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on S. 1413.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, S. 1413 was introduced by Senator Lugar of Indiana and also Senator Biden of Delaware, and it designates the Federal building in Kingston, Jamaica, formerly known as the Crowne Plaza, which is now a staff housing facility, and it renames that facility for the United States mission in Jamaica as the Colin L. Powell Residential Plaza.

Colin Powell was born in New York City in 1937 to his parents, Luther and Maud Powell, who immigrated to the United States from Jamaica. He was educated in New York City public schools. He went on to graduate from the City College of New York with a degree in geology. He was also commissioned as an Army second lieutenant in 1958. He continued his education, gaining a master's of business administration from George Washington University.

Since that time, Colin Powell has served our great Nation as a professional soldier for some 35 years, during which time he was the recipient of numerous United States and foreign military awards and decorations and soon rose to the rank of a four-star general.

He went on to serve as the 12th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which is the highest military position in the Department of Defense. In his time as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he oversaw some 28 crises, including Operation Desert Storm and the victorious 1991 Persian Gulf war. His distinguished career was topped off when he was sworn in as the 65th Secretary of State of the United States in January of 2001.

There are other things to note about this distinguished American leader. Colin Powell is also a man dedicated to his family and to the youth of America. He is married to the former Alma Vivian Johnson of Birmingham, Alabama, and has three children as well as two grandchildren. Prior to his confirmation as Secretary of State, Colin Powell served as the chairman of America's Promise, which is The Alliance for Youth, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to building the character and also the competence of our young people.

It is my honor to bring this bill to the floor for myself, for the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, for the subcommittee chair, Mr. Shuster. This bill honors a dedicated American who spent his entire career serving the people of this great Nation.

I support this legislation, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Today it is my honor and privilege to bring this legislation, which will recognize the leadership of an outstanding American patriot, someone who serves as a role model for all Americans. I am very proud of Colin Powell and again of his service to our Nation. I urge the support of this bill.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 1413, a bill to designate a staff housing facility located in Kingston, Jamaica as the Colin L. Powell Residential Plaza. The facility currently houses Department of State employees.

Colin Luther Powell was born on April 5, 1937, in Harlem, New York. His parents, Jamaican immigrants to the United States, infused in their son a high work ethic and stressed the importance of education. He attended local public schools in the Bronx, and attended the City College of New York and studied geology. While at City College, Secretary Powell joined the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) and, by his own account, claimed he had found his calling. When he graduated in 1958 he was at the top of his ROTC class, with the rank of cadet colonel, the highest rank in the Corps.

Colin Powell served two tours of duty in Vietnam. During his first tour in 1963 he was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. During his second tour in Vietnam between 1968 and 1969 he was injured in a helicopter crash but managed to rescue his comrades for which he was awarded the Soldier's Medal. In all, he has received 11 decorations including the Legion of Merit.

After the war, Secretary Powell attended George Washington University here in the District of Columbia earning an MBA. He was awarded a White House fellowship and was assigned to the Office of Management and Budget, where he worked for both Department of Defense Secretaries Caspar Weinberger and Frank Carlucci. Following his term as a White House fellow, Powell served in Korea. In 1976, he joined the Carter Administration as assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense. At the end of the Carter Administration, he assisted Secretary Carlucci during the transition to the Reagan Administration.

In 1986, Secretary Powell left Washington to serve as military commander in Frankfurt Germany. He was recalled to Washington by Frank Carlucci to serve as his deputy national security adviser. In 1991, as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Powell became a national figure during the successful Desert Shield and Desert Storm operations.

In 2001, President Bush appointed Powell as Secretary of State, the first African American to hold this office. As Secretary of State, he took a leading role in rallying America's allies and the United Nations in the war against terrorism.

Since his retirement in 2004, Colin Powell has written a best selling autobiography, My American Journey. He has pursued a career as a public speaker and has remained involved in his work with the Alliance for Youth.

Colin Powell is a true American success story. He is an incomparable public servant, a born leader, able administrator, and exceptional diplomat. He is America's premier Soldier-Statesman. It is fitting and proper that we honor the outstanding contributions of Colin Powell with this designation.

I support this bill and urge its passage.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I stand in strong support of this legislation. It is certainly suitable that a Federal facility in Jamaica, where Colin Powell's parents were born, should be named after him. I would hope that this will be followed by, perhaps, something within the United States itself that commemorates his service to our Nation, which spanned decades, extraordinary service in the military and great service to this administration as Secretary of State during the first term of the Bush Presidency.

I would urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation.

S. 1413 is a bill to designate a staff housing facility located in Kingston, Jamaica currently used by the State Department for state department employees as the Colin L. Powell Residential Plaza.

Colin Luther Powell was born in Harlem in 1937. His parents were Jamaican immigrants who stressed the importance of education and personal achievement. He grew up in the Bronx, and attended City College of New York to study geology. While at City College he joined the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). When he graduated in 1958 he was at the top of his ROTC class, with the rank of cadet colonel, the highest rank in the corps.

In 1962 he was sent to Vietnam for the first of his two tours of duty. In 1963 he was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. During his second tour in Vietnam he was injured in a helicopter crash but managed to rescue his comrades for which he was awarded the Soldier's Medal. In all he has received 11 decorations including the Legion of Merit.

In 1986 Powell left Washington to serve as military commander in Frankfurt Germany. He was recalled to Washington by Frank Carlucci

to serve as his deputy national security adviser. In 1991 as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Powell became a national figure during the successful Desert Shield and Desert Storm operations.

In 2001 President Bush appointed Powell as Secretary of State, the first African American to hold this office.

Since his retirement in 2004 Colin Powell has written a best selling autobiography, My American Journey. He has pursued a career as a public speaker and has remained involved in his work with the Alliance for Youth.

By any measure Colin Powell is an extraordinary public servant. He is America's premier Soldier-Statesman. This designation is but a small gesture to honor his devotion to public service and his lifetime of dedication to the American public.

I support this bill and urge its passage.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 276) supporting the goals and ideals of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 276.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, House Resolution 276, offered by the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Platts), would increase awareness about a horrible disease, pancreatic cancer.

This year, over 31,000 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Because of the lack of early detection methods, 99 percent of those diagnosed will lose their lives, the highest mortality rate of any form of cancer. By the time the symptoms present themselves, it is almost always too late for a positive prognosis. Diagnosed patients have an average life expectancy of only 3 to 6 months.

Although pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cancer, many Americans are not aware of the devastating statistics associated with the disease. Currently, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, known as Pan CAN, is the only national advocacy organization available for pancreatic cancer patients as well as their families and friends. This outstanding organization exists to create awareness, patient support, professional education and advocacy for pancreatic cancer funding.

Pan CAN regards each November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. With the adoption of House Resolution 276, Congress would be further increasing awareness of pancreatic cancer. As a Nation, we desperately need to improve detection and treatment approaches and avenues. This is a cancer that has touched many people, including the only brother of one of my brothers-in-law, a young boy who passed away at the age of 13 with this very devastating disease.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, I urge all Members to support the adoption of H. Res. 276, and I yield back the balance of my time.