To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6892 Main Street in Gloucester, Virginia, as the "Congresswoman Jo Ann S. Davis Post Office".

Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to instruct conferees.

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

Mr. Speaker, I offer this motion to instruct conferees to make clear that tax increases do not belong in a farm bill. While there are still some funding issues that need to be worked out and many policy decisions to be negotiated, these instructions are very clear in stating that tax increases cannot be used to fund the remaining elements of the farm bill.

Again I will read the actual language of the motion, which is that the managers on the part of the House at the conference on the disagreeing votes on the two Houses on the Senate amendment to the bill H.R. 2419 be instructed within the scope of the conference to disagree to any provision which will result in an increase in taxes.

These instructions are very clear in stating that tax increases cannot be used to fund the remaining elements of the farm bill. Farm bills have long enjoyed bipartisan support in this body, and it would be devastating to American agriculture to add a divisive element such as tax increases to this bill.

This conference has been a long time coming, and we are ready to put together a reform-minded farm bill that addresses a variety of issues, including conservation, nutrition, energy, rural development, fruits and vegetables, and forestry, while maintaining a strong safety net for America's farmers and ranchers so that they can continue to meet the growing demand for their products in the global market.

This motion is very important. I expect that there will be strong bipartisan support for this motion, and it's important because we have been down this road of attempting to pass a farm bill for quite some time.

When the bill came out of the House Agriculture Committee last summer, many of the Members on this side of the aisle expected that the amount of money that was added outside of the committee's jurisdiction would not constitute tax increases. We are very disappointed to find that it did include tax increases, and that has definitely bogged down this process for the many, many, many months since.

We have now had some very good discussions with members of other committees that are involved in making sure that we have the ability to move forward and to pay for measures that exceed the amount of money within the jurisdiction of the Agriculture Committee, and those do not include tax increases.

This is, I think, an important statement to be made here and in the other body that we can complete this work without tax increases. We do not need to repeat the mistakes that were made earlier in that regard.

I also think it's very clear that the President of the United States has been very strong in his statement that this bill would be vetoed if it included tax increases. While we continue to work with the administration on a number of other issues, we are making progress there as well.

Again, this would reaffirm, I think, the kind of bipartisan support that it takes to pass a farm bill and get it signed into law.

I urge my colleagues to support this motion to instruct.

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

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

I would just say to the gentleman from Pennsylvania that I very much appreciate his kind words. We have worked in a very bipartisan fashion. The chairman of the committee has been very dedicated to working with us, and we very much appreciate that, as have the other members of the committee.

We now look forward to going to conference and have the opportunity to work together as we work with the other body to try to work out what are still many, many hurdles. A lot of the people have been excited that we are going to conference, and we need to make sure they understand that we are not done with this, but we do have some good ideas that we are going to be able to move forward with. I think that's very encouraging.

I would also say to the gentleman from Wisconsin that I too share his desire for reform. This farm bill will contain a lot of reform, and it will result in substantial savings to the taxpayers of the country, because, in fact, that has already occurred.

The current farm bill, if it were to be perpetuated, which I do not support, but if it were to be perpetuated, would cost $58 billion less for the next 5 years than it cost for the last 5. So the fact of the matter is there is already substantial savings being achieved.

There are, nonetheless, additional reforms that I and many others support as we move to conference with this legislation, and I think the outcome will be one that maintains the safety net for America's farmers and ranchers, but makes a number of very important reforms in a number of different areas and enhances those new areas that I know the gentleman has championed and others, like conservation, which I very much join him in supporting and making sure that the nutritional needs of many in this country are met, and other purposes. We can do that without tax increases, and, as a result, I think this is a very appropriate motion to instruct to adopt today.

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, during the week of February 25-29, 2008, I was unavoidably absent from rollcall votes 69-87.

Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote 69, H. Res. 978, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 70, H. Res. 930, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 71, H. Res. 944, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 74, H. Res. 974, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 75, H.R. 3521 the Sires of New Jersey Amendment, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 76, H.R. 3521 the Meek of Florida Amendment, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 81, H. Res. 1001, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 83, H.R. 5351 on Motion to Recommit with Instructions, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 84, H.R. 5351, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 85, S. 2272, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 86, H.R. 4454, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 87, H.R. 4454.

Madam Speaker, during the week of March 3-7, 2008, I was unavoidably absent from rollcall votes 88-106.

Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote 88, H.R. 1143, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 89, H.R. 1311, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 90, H.R. 816, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 91, H.R. 4191, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 92, H. Con. Res. 278, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 93, H. Res. 951, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 96, H. Res. 1014, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 97, H.R. 4774, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 98, H. Con. Res. 286, ``nay'' on rolicall vote 100, H.R. 1424 the Motion to Recommit with Instructions, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 101, H.R. 1424, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 102, H.R. 5400, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 104, H. Res. 1015, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 105, H.R. 2857 the Flake of Arizona Amendment, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 106, H.R. 2857 the Inslee of Washington Amendment.

Madam Speaker, during the week of March 10-14, 2008, I was unavoidably absent from rollcall votes 108-145.

Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote 108, H. Res. 537, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 109, H.R. 3196, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 110, H.R. 4166, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 115, H. Res. 924, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 116, Motion, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 117, H.R. 2082, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 118, H. Res. 948, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 119, H. Res. 493, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 122, H. Res. 1031, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 130, H. Res. 1036, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 131, H.R. 5563, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 132, H. Con. Res. 316, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 133, H. Res. 936, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 134, S. 2733, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 137, H. Con. Res. 312 Kilpatrick of Michigan Amendment, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 138, H. Con. Res. 312 Lee of California Amendment, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 140, H. Con. Res. 312 Ryan of Wisconsin Amendment, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 141, H. Con. Res. 312, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 142, H. Res. 991, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 143, H. Res. 1041 On Ordering the Previous Question, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 144, H. Res. 1041 On Agreeing to the Resolution, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 145, H.R. 3773.

Madam Speaker, during the week of March 31-April 4, 2008, I was unavoidably absent from rolicall votes 147-160.

Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote 147, H.R. 3352, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 148, H.R. 2675, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 149, H. Con. Res. 302, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 150, H. Con. Res. 310, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 151, H. Res. 1005, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 152, H. Res. 1021, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 154, H. Res. 1065 On Ordering the Previous Question, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 155, H. Res. 1065 On Agreeing to the Resolution, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 156, H.R. 5501 Carson of Indiana Amendment, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 157, H.R. 5501 On Motion to Recommit with Instructions, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 158, H.R. 5501 On Passage, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 159, H.R. 4847 On Motion to Recommit with Instructions, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 160, H.R. 4847 On Passage.

Madam Speaker, during the week of April 7-11, 2008, I was unavoidably absent from rollcall votes 161-182.

Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote 161, H.J. Res. 70, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 162, H.R. 2464, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 163, S. 793, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 164, H. Res. 1084 On Ordering the Previous Question, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 165, H. Res.

1084 On Agreeing to the Resolution, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 166, H. Res. 1077, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 167, H.R. 2016 the Grijalva of Arizona Amendment, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 168, H.R. 2016 the Bishop of Utah Amendment, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 169, H.R. 2016 the Bishop of Utah Amendment, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 170, H.R. 2016 the Bishop of Utah Amendment, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 171, H.R. 2016 the Altmire of Pennsylvania Amendment, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 172, H.R. 2016 the Pearce of New Mexico Amendment, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 173, H.R. 2016 On Motion to Recommit with Instructions, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 174, H.R. 2016 On Passage, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 175, H.R. 2419, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 176, H.R. 5489, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 177, H.R. 5472, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 179, H. Res. 1083, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 180, H. Res. 1038, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 181, H. Res. 1092, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 182, H.R. 2537 the Flake of Arizona Amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5489) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6892 Main Street in Gloucester, Virginia, as the ``Congresswoman Jo Ann S. Davis Post Office''.

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

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 5489, which seeks to honor the life of Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis, and the example she has set for all of us; as an American stateswoman, legislator, and most importantly, as our friend, by naming a U.S. post office in her name.

Congresswoman Davis represented Virginia's first Congressional District from 2001 until her untimely death in 2007. She was the second woman ever to be elected to Congress from Virginia.

A woman of faith and strong conviction, Congresswoman Davis lived admirably and with down-to-earth humility, which is why her presence here in the House is sure to be missed for quite some time to come.

The bill before us, H.R. 5489, was introduced by Representative Robert Wittman of Virginia on February 26, 2008 and was considered by and reported from the Oversight Committee on March 13, 2008 by voice vote. The measure has the support of over 20 Members of Congress, and provides our body a collective opportunity to acknowledge one of our very own for her dedication and congressional action to improve the lives of others, whether in her congressional district, her beloved home State of Virginia, or throughout our great country.

Jo Ann Davis was born in Rowan County, North Carolina on June 29, 1950. At the age of 9, her parents moved to the Virginia peninsula. Despite her humble beginnings, Congresswoman Davis set her sights high and the expectations for herself even higher. In 1968 she graduated from Kecoughtan High School in Hampton, Virginia and then went on to attend Hampton Roads Business College. After graduating she became an executive secretary at a real estate company in Newport News until she obtained her real estate license in 1984 and soon thereafter, founded Jo Ann Davis Realty.

Her whole life she exceeded expectations, so it should come as no surprise when she ran for Congress in 1999 and won by receiving 58 percent of the vote in her Southern Virginia District.

Representative Davis' congressional record is a testimony to her fight for employees' rights and fairness in the workplace. Her first piece of legislation raised the life insurance benefit paid to survivors of military members killed on duty, and she also pushed for improving dental and vision benefits for government employees, and argued in favor of a more evenhanded system for compensating Federal law enforcement officers.

Our country owes her our sincere appreciation for her efforts in making public service, which is the lifeblood of our Nation, a more equitable and beneficial system.

In September 2005, our dear friend Congresswoman Davis was diagnosed with breast cancer and for years underwent the necessary treatments. Although she was planning to seek re-election in 2008, Congresswoman Davis unfortunately succumbed to the cancer on October 6, 2007 in her home in Gloucester, Virginia.

She is survived by her husband, Chuck Davis, a battalion chief of the Hampton Fire Department, two sons, and a granddaughter.

Mr. Speaker, let's join together this day to express our thanks and to pay our respects for the sacrifices and battles Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis fought in the name of liberty and justice and pass H.R. 5489 which would designate the Main Street post office in her hometown of Gloucester, Virginia, as the ``Congresswoman Jo Ann S. Davis Post Office.'' I urge the swift passage of the bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I will reserve the balance of my time.

I continue to reserve.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to give this recognition to our former colleague, Representative Jo Ann Davis, and urge the passage of this bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5489, a bill to designate a United States Postal Service facility located at 6892 Main Street in Gloucester, Virginia, as the ``Congresswoman Jo Ann S. Davis Post Office.'' I introduced this legislation to honor Jo Ann who dedicated her entire being to serving the First District of Virginia.

As you've heard, Jo Ann made history in 2000 when she became the first female Republican elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Commonwealth of Virginia. In Congress, she was a passionate advocate for better government, lower taxes, and a strong national defense. Jo Ann believed that God called her to service, and in her years of service to this Nation, Jo Ann's reliance on God never wavered.

Virginia's First District is home to one of our Nation's most treasured historical sites. In 1607, our Nation's first settlement was founded at Jamestown. Jo Ann often reminded others in Virginia and around the Nation that she actually represented America's First District where the beginnings of America were founded.

Indeed, the First District has a rich history, including a significant and important military community. And Jo Ann was a tireless advocate for our brave servicemembers. She constantly supported legislation that strengthened our armed services and improved benefits for our men and women in uniform. As cochair and founding member of the Ship Building Caucus, she worked tirelessly to ensure that Congress provided for our Navy.

Jo Ann truly loved her family and had an unwavering faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She regularly attended the Members' weekly prayer breakfast, and she was also cochair of the 2007 National Prayer Breakfast, an event designed to bring leaders of the country and leaders from around the world together in recognition of our dedication to God.

Jo Ann was known as an extraordinarily caring and helpful person, and anyone who came across her was touched. She worked on both sides of the aisle and truly defined bipartisanship.

Jo Ann represented the people of the First District of Virginia with extraordinary distinction, and through her service, she set an example of courage in the face of adversity. She refused to allow a disease that afflicts many to affect her life or to take away from her work that she loved so dearly. She was dedicated to representing her constituents even while undergoing chemotherapy treatments. And I have to say that the day after one of those chemotherapy treatments, she was in the little town of Kilmarnock in the northern neck of Virginia to celebrate their 75th anniversary. I had the privilege of being with Jo Ann that day, and it was a cold, windy spring day, and she was there without a coat on. And I thought, how brave for her to be there right after a chemotherapy session, to be out there celebrating with the folks of Kilmarnock. And afterwards I got her aside and said, Jo Ann, I am so surprised that you're here after that chemotherapy treatment. And she said, Rob, listen, I'm not different than anybody else. I have adversity in my life just like everybody else, and I don't expect for me to do anything different than anybody else who faces adversity would have to do.

And that just proved to me what a brave and humble soul Jo Ann was and how she really had in mind others above herself.

Mr. Speaker, because of Jo Ann Davis' diligence and devoted service to our country, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the people of the First District, I am proud to sponsor this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5489.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was not present to vote on rollcall votes 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, and 177 due to a family medical matter. Had I been present, I would have voted:

``Yea'' on rollcall vote No. 164 on ordering the previous question on H. Res. 1084, Providing for consideration of the bill H.R. 2016, to establish the National Landscape Conservation System, and for other purposes.

``Yea'' on rollcall vote No. 165 on H. Res. 1084, Providing for consideration of the bill H.R. 2016, to establish the National Landscape Conservation System, and for other purposes.

``Yea'' on rollcall vote No. 166 on H. Res. 1077, calling on the Government of the People's Republic of China to end its crackdown in Tibet and to enter into a substantive dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama to find a negotiated solution that respects the distinctive language, culture, religious identity, and fundamental freedom of all Tibetans.

``Yea'' on rollcall vote No. 167 on agreeing to the amendment to H.R. 2016, to reiterate that nothing in the bill shall impede efforts by the Department of Homeland Security to secure the borders of the United States.

``No'' on rollcall vote No. 168 on agreeing to the amendment to H.R. 2016, to strike the purposes of the National Landscape Conservation System.

``No'' on rollcall vote No. 169 on agreeing to the amendment to H.R. 2016, to strike the existing management objectives of the National Landscape Conservation System and inserts language directing the Interior Secretary to manage the system in accordance with each applicable law (including regulations) relating to each component of the system included under subsection (b).

``No'' on rollcall vote No. 170 on agreeing to the amendment to H.R. 2016, to provide that nothing in the bill additionally restricts or hinders energy development within the National Landscape Conservation System.

``No'' on rollcall vote No. 171 on agreeing to the amendment to H.R. 2016, to provide that the bill does not in any way limit access for hunting, fishing, trapping or recreational shooting on the 27 million acres administered by the Bureau of Land Management. It also provides that H.R. 2016 does not in any way infringe on a State's right to manage, control or regulate its hunting, fishing, trapping and recreational shooting activities on these lands.

``No'' on rollcall vote No. 172 on agreeing to the amendment to H.R. 2016, to provide that inclusion in the National Landscape Conservation System does not affect existing grazing rights or operations on those Bureau of Land Management Lands.

``No'' on rollcall vote No. 173 on the motion to recommit H.R. 2016.

``No'' on rollcall vote No. 174 on agreeing to the passage of H.R. 2016, to establish the National Landscape Conservation System, and for other purposes.

``Yea'' on rollcall vote No. 175 on motion to construct the conferees on H.R. 2419, to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes.

``Yea'' on rollcall vote No. 176 on agreeing to the passage of H.R. 5489, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6892 Main Street in Gloucester, Virginia, as the ``Congresswoman Jo Ann S. Davis Post Office'' suspension bill.

``Yea'' on rollcall vote No. 177 on agreeing to the passage of H.R. 5472, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2650 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St., Indianapolis, Indiana, as the ``Julia M. Carson Post Office Building'' suspension bill.