To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 805 Main Street in Ferdinand, Indiana, as the "Staff Sergeant David L. Nord Post Office".

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 26, 2007, at 9:30 a.m., in order to conduct a hearing entitled on ``The Role and Impact of Credit Rating Agencies on the Subprime Credit Markets.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to hold a hearing during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, September 26, 2007, at 10 a.m. in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on S.1543, a bill to establish a national geothermal initiative to encourage increased production of energy from geothermal resources by creating a program of geothermal research, development, demonstration and commercial application to support the achievement of a national geothermal energy goal.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. in room 406 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in order to conduct a hearing entitled, ``An Examination of the Impacts of Global Warming on the Chesapeake Bay.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, September 26, 2007, at 10 a.m., in room SD-215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to hear testimony on the ``Offshore Tax Issues: Reinsurance and Hedge Funds''.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, September 26, 2007, at 10 a.m. for a business meeting to consider pending committee business.

Agenda

Nomination

The Honorable Julie L. Myers to be Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Postal Naming Bills

H.R. 2654, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 202 South Dumont Avenue in Woonsocket, South Dakota, as the ``Eleanor McGovern Post Office Building;''

H.R. 2467, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 69 Montgomery Street in Jersey City, New Jersey, as the ``Frank J. Guarini Post Office Building;''

H.R. 2587, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 555 South 3rd Street Lobby in Memphis, Tennessee, as the ``Kenneth T. Whalum, Sr. Post Office Building;''

H.R. 2778, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3 Quaker Ridge Road in New Rochelle, New York, as the ``Robert Merrill Postal Station;''

H.R. 2825, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 326 South Main Street in Princeton, Illinois, as the ``Owen Lovejoy Princeton Post Office Building;''

H.R. 3052, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 954 Wheeling Avenue in Cambridge, Ohio, as the ``John Herschel Glenn Jr. Post Office Building;''

H.R. 3106/S. 2023, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 805 Main Street in Ferdinand, Indiana, as the ``Staff Sergeant David L. Nord Post Office;''

H.R. 2765, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 44 North Main Street in Hughesville, Pennsylvania, as the ``Master Sergeant Sean Michael Thomas Post Office.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet in order to conduct an Executive Nomination hearing on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. in the Dirksen Senate Office Building room 226.

Witness list:

Michael J. Sullivan to be Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Rules and Administration be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, September 26, 2007, at 10 a.m. to conduct an executive business meeting to consider on the Nomination of Robert C. Tapella of Virginia, to be Public Printer, Government Printing Office; and the nominations of Steven T. Walther of Nevada, David M. Mason of Virginia, Robert D. Lenhard of Maryland, and Hans von Spakovsky of Georgia to be members of the Federal Election Commission.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate in order to conduct a hearing entitled ``Improving Internet Access to Help Small Business Compete in a Global Economy,'' on Wednesday, September 26, 2007, beginning at 10 a.m., in room 428A of the Russell Senate Office Building.

Madam Speaker, H.R. 3106 would rename the post office in Ferdinand, Indiana after David Nord, the only Vietnam veteran from Ferdinand who was killed in action in the Vietnam War. This idea first came to my attention because of the hard work of David's family and his friends. They called me. This bill represents what we, as Members of our Congress, are here for, and that is to represent our constituents back home. I'd like to thank and recognize a few people who have been influential in getting this accomplished. First I would like to recognize David Nord's brother Dan and the rest of the family David left behind, including his son, David Nord II. Dan has been very active in making sure his brother's life is remembered and honored.

Like Dan, Frank Begle, a fellow soldier of David Nord's in Vietnam, has been a driving force in getting the Ferdinand post office renamed to honor David Nord.

Also Kathy Tretter, the editor and co-publisher of the local paper in Ferdinand, population of about 800 or 900 people. The Ferdinand News contacted my staff about this effort after working on stories about David's life.

I would also like to thank my colleagues in the Indiana delegation for all cosponsoring this bill.

Let me take a moment to touch on why the post office in downtown Ferdinand should be renamed to honor David Nord. David Nord is the only Ferdinand native who was killed in Vietnam. He was drafted into the Army, and in talking to his younger brother Dan, David was not very excited about having to go to Vietnam. But he did his duty to his country, and for that we give him thanks.

David rose quickly through the Army ranks because of his hard work and skill. And when he returned home briefly in 1969, he came home to marry his long-time girlfriend. Unfortunately, and tragically, shortly thereafter, David returned to Vietnam and was killed on Monday, June 23, 1969, when a tank he was commanding had to stop because the rubber tracker which propelled the vehicle forward slipped from its drive wheels and David was hit by a grenade. He died instantly, as well as most of his crew.

David's son was born just a few months after his death, and David, I know right now, is trying to get to a television screen to see his father being honored here this afternoon.

A friend from Ferdinand who was stationed in the same unit as David tells stories about how David used to give starving Vietnamese women and children his Army rations. That was the kind of guy that he was.

David left behind his parents, his wife, his younger brother and a son he never met.

Staff Sergeant David Nord was honored with the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Vietnamese Campaign Good Conduct Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge, National Defense Service Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal, Expert Badge with Rifle Bar, and Sharpshooter Badge with Rifle Bar.

His family still lives in Ferdinand, Indiana, as well as his son David Nord, Jr. Clearly, David deserves this recognition, and it's an honor for me to introduce this resolution. And I urge all of my colleagues to support this very important bill for David Nord and his family and for the city and town of Ferdinand, Indiana.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with Representative Jones and my other colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus, in calling for a comprehensive revaluation of our strategies in Iraq. I consider the situation in Iraq to be one of Congress' highest priorities and there is an urgent need to establish a comprehensive and realistic exit strategy. We need to offer hope to the families anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones and the men and women who risk their lives everyday.

Next month will be the 40th anniversary of one of the largest protests against the Vietnam War. Over a hundred thousand people marched on Washington that day, and it worries me that the current Administration seems to have learned little from history. A similar discontent can be seen on the streets of America today, as more and more polls demonstrate dwindling public support for this war.

I have always maintained the stance that an adequate case for war was never made and that military intervention should only have been used if all other routes failed. From the beginning, I offered an alternative resolution to war. Although we can never know what the outcome of alternatives may have been, we have the chance now to change strategy and make decisive steps to developing a lasting solution.

Mr. Speaker, an increase in troop numbers is not the answer. This war, commenced in haste and founded on deception, will never provide the solutions Iraq needs to establish a strong and lasting democracy. We can't secure victory through a war of attrition, and neither can we protect our sons and daughters who stand in harm's way in a war that was never necessary.

It is true that we cannot abandon the Iraqi people. But more productive ways to help them can be found. In the current international climate, we cannot engage in meaningful dialogue on the Iraqi situation while the occupation continues. I believe we must allow the U.N. to play a greater role in the reconstruction of Iraq, advancing human rights and justice within the framework of international law. In my work in this great body, I consistently seek to protect the United States and its people above all else. However, currently there is no absolute proof of an imminent threat. In fact our vulnerability to international terrorism only rises every day our troops stay in Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, I am dedicated to providing funding to protect our troops, but I refuse to support the failed foreign policies of the Bush administration, nor any legislation that will lead to more unnecessary deaths. The greatest thing we can do for our brave men and women in the Armed Forces is to take them out of harm's way by developing a clear, decisive exit strategy.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise this afternoon, again, to pay tribute to another remarkable soldier and another true American hero. At the age of only 21, Staff Sergeant David Nord from Ferdinand, Indiana became a genuine war hero. On June 23, 1969, he was killed in Vietnam War action while serving with the U.S. Army.

Staff Sergeant Nord was born and raised in Ferdinand, Indiana, sharing his younger years with his one brother and three sisters. After graduating in 1967 from St. Ferdinand High School, he worked in the Ferdinand furniture factory.

Staff Sergeant Nord was drafted into the Army where he was assigned to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at Camp Blackhorse, Vietnam. With his positive attitude and hard work he rose quickly through the ranks and served as a scout section leader. After serving several months, Staff Sergeant Nord was granted a 21-day home leave, and it was during that time that he married Louann, his long-time girlfriend. Sadly, only three weeks after returning to the battlefield, he and most of his

crew were killed when a grenade hit the tank that he was commanding. He left behind his family, his new wife and a baby, David Lee II, who he never got to meet. Staff Sergeant Nord was also the first member of the Ferdinand Post 124 of the American Legion to be killed in action. He showed outstanding bravery, courageous leadership and heroism which earned him nine medals that were awarded to his family, his wife and his son after his death. The awarded medals were the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Vietnamese Campaign Ribbon, the Good Conduct Ribbon, the Combat Infantry Badge, National Defense Service Ribbon, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Expert Badge with Rifle Bar and the Sharp Shooter Badge with Rifle Bar.

It is for those reasons that we name this post office for Staff Sergeant David Nord in his hometown of Ferdinand, Indiana. And, Madam Speaker, I hope that all of our colleagues will vote for this unanimously.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers. I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3106) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 805 Main Street in Ferdinand, Indiana, as the ``Staff Sergeant David L. Nord Post Office''.

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

Madam Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I'm pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 3106. This names a postal facility in Ferdinand, Indiana after David L. Nord.

H.R. 3106, introduced by Representative Baron Hill on July 19, 2007, was reported from the Oversight Committee on August 1, 2007, by voice vote. This measure, cosponsored by eight Members, has the support of the entire Indiana congressional delegation.

Madam Speaker, Staff Sergeant David Nord was killed on June 23, 1969, in Bing Long, South Vietnam. He was assigned to 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at Camp Blackhorse, Vietnam as a scout section leader.

Staff Sergeant Nord was awarded the Bronze Star, along with several other awards for his bravery and sacrifice to his country.

Madam Speaker, I commend my colleague, Representative Baron Hill, for introducing this legislation, and urge the swift passage of this bill.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield to my colleague from Indiana, Representative Baron Hill, such time as he may consume.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Indiana, and yield back the balance of my time.