Honoring the 28th Infantry Division for serving and protecting the United States.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 390, as amended, which honors the 28th Infantry Division for serving and protecting the United States of America.

I am honored to pay tribute to the current and former members of the 28th Infantry Division, the Keystone Division, who have steadfastly and courageously defended and served this great country on our own shores and in distant lands.

With roots that date back to the Continental Army, the 28th Infantry Division fought valiantly in several campaigns during World War I, earning the title ``Iron Division'' from General John J. Pershing.

Again, during World War II, victory was won in hard-fought battles in places like the Huertgen Forest on the western front and in the Battle of the Bulge because of the tenacity and the perseverance of the brave soldiers of the 28th Infantry Division. These battles earned them another title, Bloody Buckets, this time given to them by German forces because of the fury of the 28th Infantry Division assaults.

More recently, the 28th Infantry Division has participated in Operation Desert Storm, deployed troops to oust the Taliban in Afghanistan, and has played a vital role in the successes of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Closer to home, Mr. Speaker, the Division has responded in the aftermath of natural disasters to provide aid and comfort to fellow Americans during hurricanes, blizzards and devastating floods.

It is important to note that the soldiers of the Division have distinguished themselves by earning 10 Medals of Honor, four Legions of Merit, and 258 Silver Stars for their outstanding service to the Nation.

Sadly, Mr. Speaker, the valiant service of the 28th Infantry Division has not come without enormous sacrifice. Throughout its history, the members of the Division have paid the price to ensure our freedom. Still today there are over 2,600 soldiers from the 28th Infantry Division missing in action in both world wars of the 20th century.

Mr. Speaker, if I did not also pay tribute today to the incredible families of these brave soldiers, who waited at home while their loved ones answered our Nation's call, I would be remiss. The entire Nation owes the soldiers and veterans of the 28th Infantry Division and their families a debt of gratitude. We are all proud of their service. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge all Members to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to make a few brief remarks on the issue of energy because we seem to discuss that. And I have no further speakers at that point and I will be prepared to yield back to my friend from Guam.

Mr. Speaker, I think today in the discussion of three bills we've seen a terrifically orderly process of cooperation between the two sides as we have come together to honor and recognize Americans who have distinguished themselves in service to our country and in service to one another. And it's been a process that I think ought to epitomize all of our openings. Our problem, unfortunately, is we don't always have that process in this House.

We've known for many, many years that we had a very serious energy crisis. I believe former Secretary of the Treasury, John Connelly, first pointed that out as long ago as 1970 when we were importing about 24 percent of petroleum from overseas. Former President Carter called it the moral equivalent of war that we confront and deal with this crisis in the late 1970s. And there certainly have been fitful efforts by both sides of the aisle, Mr. Speaker, to try and come to grips with this problem over the years, but we all know we have not done it successfully. And I think perhaps that's because we have not done it together.

I would point to the efforts of two of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle, Mr. Abercrombie from Hawaii and Mr. Peterson from Pennsylvania, who have tried to work together to formulate a bipartisan solution to parts of this vexing problem as an example that all of us on both sides ought to follow, Mr. Speaker. I think if we did, we would do better. And I think we could come up with legislation that would genuinely make a difference because nothing is more important, aside from our physical security, than our economic security. And I think we all recognize we're at the point, Mr. Speaker, that that security is threatened by an overdependence on foreign energy.

We can go a long way, we can do a lot together. Sometimes when we work together we do do extraordinary things. So I would challenge the House that in the coming week, when we discuss this important issue, that that's, indeed, how we proceed, we bring bills to the floor, we have open debate, and we try to find common ground with one another.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, due to illness that required hospitalization, I missed the following votes. I would have voted as follows:

Rollcall vote 567--S. 2403--A bill to designate the new Federal Courthouse, located in the 700 block of East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, as the ``Spottswood W. Robinson III and Robert R. Merhige, Jr. Federal Courthouse''--``yes.''

Rollcall vote 568--S. 2837--A bill to designate the United States courthouse located at 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, New York, as the ``Theodore Roosevelt United States Courthouse''--``yes.''

Rollcall vote 569--S. 2135--Child Soldiers Accountability Act-- ``yes.''

Rollcall vote 570--H. Con. Res. 344--Recognizing that we are facing a lobal food crisis--``yes.''

Rollcall vote 571--H. Res. 937--Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the emergency communications services provided by the American Red Cross are vital resources for military servicemembers and their families--``yes.''

Rollcall vote 572--H. Res. 1069--Condemning the use of television programming by Hamas to indoctrinate hatred, violence, and anti- Semitism toward Israel in young Palestinian children--``yes.''

Rollcall vote 573--H. Res. 1307--Commemorating the Kingdom of Bhutan's participation in the 2008 Smithsonian Folklife Festival and commending the people and the Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan for their commitment to holding elections and broadening political participation--``yes.''

Rollcall vote 574--H.R. 6168--Lance Corporal Drew W. Weaver Post Office Building--``yes,''

Rollcall vote 575--H.R. 6630--To prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from granting authority to a motor carrier domiciled in Mexico to operate beyond United States municipalities and commercial zones on the United States-Mexico border unless expressly authorized by Congress--``yes.''

Rollcall vote 576--H. Res. 1419--On Ordering the Previous Question Providing for consideration of H.R. 3667, Missisquoi and Trout Rivers Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2008--``yes.''.

Rollcall vote 577--H. Res. 1419--On Agreeing to the Resolution Providing for consideration of H.R. 3667, Missisquoi and Trout Rivers Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2008--``yes.''

Rollcall vote 578--H.R. 1527, The Rural Veterans Access to Care Act-- ``yes.''

Rollcall vote 579--S. 2617, The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2008--``yes.''

Rollcall vote 580--H.R. 3667, On Motion that the Committee Rise-- ``yes.''

Rollcall vote 581--Grijalva of Arizona Amendment to H.R. 3667-- ``yes.''

Rollcall vote 582--H.R. 3667--Table Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair--``yes.''

Rollcall vote 583--H.R. 3667--On passage of the Missisquoi and Trout Rivers Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2008--``yes.''

Rollcall vote 584--H.R. 4081, The Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act of 2007--``yes.''

Rollcall vote 589--H. Res. 1200, Honoring the dedication and outstanding work of military support groups across the country for their steadfast support of the members of our Armed Forces and their families--``yes.''

Rollcall vote 590--H. Con. Res. 390, Honoring the 28th Infantry Division for serving and protecting the United States--``yes.''

Rollcall vote 591--H.R. 6889, To extend the authority of the Secretary of Education to purchase guaranteed student loans for an additional year, and for other purposes--``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 390) honoring the 28th Infantry Division for serving and protecting the United States, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 390, honoring the 28th Infantry Division. I join my colleagues in recognition of the brave men and women who have answered the call of duty and contributed in so many ways to our Nation's safety and security.

The history of the 28th Infantry Division is truly remarkable and a testament to the dedication and sacrifice of those who have served in the division. Officially established way back in 1879, the 28th Infantry Division is one of the oldest divisions in the Army. Its roots trace back to the Revolutionary War era to units in Benjamin Franklin's battalion of Associators in Philadelphia, as well as General George Washington's Continental Army.

In World War I, the 28th Infantry Division fought in six major campaigns: Champagne, Champagne-Marne, Oise-Marne, Lorraine, and Meuse- Argonne. They paid greatly for their efforts, losing over 14,000 men. Recognizing its tough and relentless fighting prowess,

General of the Armies John J. Pershing labeled the 28th Infantry Division the Iron Division.

During the Second World War, the division fought some of the fiercest battles in the European theater. Perhaps most notably during the Battle of the Bulge, the 28th Infantry Division held its ground against overwhelming German forces until Allied reinforcements arrived. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten, and the importance of their victory as a turning point in World War II remains etched in the history of this division.

Today, the 28th Infantry Division is an active National Guard division, with armories in towns and cities across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Soldiers of the 28th Infantry Division have served and are currently serving abroad in Iraq and Afghanistan, and were also recently deployed in Bosnia and Kosovo as part of the NATO peacekeeping missions. Since September 11, over 10,000 soldiers of the division have deployed overseas.

The men and women of the 28th Infantry Division serve their community selflessly while balancing full-time careers and families. Through the years, their names and faces have changed, but the commitment and the dedication with which they serve our Nation remains the hallmark of the 28th Infantry Division.

So I am very proud to join my colleagues in honoring these men and women, past and present, and to express my sincere gratitude for their sacrifice to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Nation. And I urge my colleagues to vote for the adoption of this resolution that recognizes our citizen soldiers.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, again I would like to go on record to thank my co-manager of the bill, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole).

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

Madam Speaker, I rise to explain my reason for missing votes on September 11 and 15, 2008. My voting percentage is over 96 percent for the 110th Congress, and I rarely miss votes, but felt it was extremely important to be home in Houston, Texas while my neighbors and constituents were making preparations for Hurricane Ike and to help recovery efforts in the immediate aftermath. The storm made landfall early Saturday morning, and by the time it passed Houston Saturday afternoon, it had caused the largest power disruption in the state's history, along with tremendous flood and wind damage. There are still nearly two million people in the Houston area without power, and many without water. When I left yesterday to fly back to Washington, significant relief efforts by Federal, State, and local emergency officials were just getting underway.

There is still a tremendous amount of work to be done, and I ask for everyone's thoughts and prayers as Houston and the Gulf Coast recover from this devastating storm.

Had I been present to vote, I would have voted as follows:

On rollcall vote No. 585, on Approving the Journal, I would have voted ``aye'';

On rollcall vote No. 586, H. Res. 1344, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to the resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the terrorist attacks launched against the United States on September 11, 2001, I would have voted ``aye'';

On rollcall vote No. 587, H. Res. 6532, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to the Senate Amendment to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to restore the Highway Trust Fund balance, I would have voted ``aye'';

On rollcall vote No. 588, on Motion to Adjourn, I would have voted ``aye'';

On rollcall vote No. 589, H. Res. 1200, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree as amended, a resolution honoring the dedication and outstanding work of military support groups across the country for their steadfast support of the members of our Armed Forces and their families, I would have voted ``aye'';

On rollcall vote No. 590, H. Con. Res. 390, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree as amended, a resolution honoring the 28th Infantry Division for serving and protecting the United States, I would have voted ``aye'';

On rollcall vote No. 591, H. R. 6889, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, a bill to extend the authority of the Secretary of Education to purchase guaranteed student loans for an additional year, and for other purposes, I would have voted ``aye'';

Madam Speaker unfortunately last night, September 15, 2008, I was unable to cast my votes on H. Res. 1200, H. Con. Res. 390, and H.R. 6889, and wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 589 on suspending the rules and passing H. Res. 1200, honoring the dedication and outstanding work of military support groups across the country for their steadfast support of the members of our Armed Forces and their families, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 590 on suspending the rules and passing H. Con. Res. 390, honoring the 28th Infantry Division for serving and protecting the United States, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 591 on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 6889, to extend the authority of the Secretary of Education to purchase guaranteed student loans for an additional year, and for other purposes, I would have voted ``aye.''