Commending the soldiers and civilian personnel stationed at Fort Gordon and their families for their service and dedication to the United States and recognizing the contributions of Fort Gordon to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and its role as a pivotal communications training installation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a cosponsor of H. Con. Res. 206, a resolution commending the soldiers and civilian personnel stationed at Fort Gordon and their families for their service and dedication to the United States and recognizing the contributions of Fort Gordon to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and its role as a pivotal communications training installation.

Fort Gordon dates to 1940, when the United States Army recognized a need for a military installation near Augusta, Georgia that could aid in combat during the ensuing Second World War. The groundbreaking actually took place in 1941, and the base was originally named Camp Gordon after John B. Gordon, a general during the Civil War and former Governor of Georgia. During World War II, Camp Gordon was home to the 4th Infantry Division, 26th Infantry Division, and 10th Armored Division of the Army until they were deployed to Europe. However, in 1948, Camp Gordon became the home of the Signal Corps Training Center-- for which it is most commonly known today.

Throughout the Korean war the need for signalmen grew, and the Signal Corps Training Center became the largest single source for Army communications specialists. Camp Gordon was also made a permanent installation in 1956 and was renamed Fort Gordon. Further, during the Vietnam war era and after, communications specialists became an absolutely necessary component of highly technological and modernized warfare, and Fort Gordon was recognized as an exemplary institution for these soldiers as the Signal Corps Training Center came to be known as the United States Army Signal Center at Fort Gordon.

Fort Gordon and the troops and families stationed there were instrumental in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and during the 1990s the installation was responsible for training most of the DoD personnel who operate and maintain satellites, as well as training signal troops of allied and former nations.

Currently, approximately 19,000 soldiers are stationed at Fort Gordon, and Augusta has been a welcome home to all of them. To this day, the base continues its tradition of success in the Signal Corps, as it trains soldiers for deployment into theater in Iraq and Afghanistan. On behalf of Georgia's 11th Congressional District, I am proud of the continued dedication to the safety and security of the United States of the men and women at Fort Gordon and thank them for their nearly 60 years of service to this Nation. Georgia has been blessed with an abundance of willing men and women who are committed to ensuring freedom and liberty for America, and I thank each of them for their service.

I believe that the brave men and women at Fort Gordon and every military installation who sacrifice for our present freedoms deserve our fullest support. Our Nation's service men and women represent the best our country has to offer, and they must be treated with the respect and honor they deserve. As we ask these courageous soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines--and their families--to do more and more, it's only right we continue doing all we can for them. Commending the accomplishments and service of our troops at Fort Gordon is just one small example of the gratitude that every American should express to our troops at home and abroad.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I missed the following recorded votes on the House floor during the week of Monday, December 7, 2009, to Friday, December 11, 2009.

For Tuesday, December 8, 2009, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 931, on motion to instruct conferees regarding H.R. 3288; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 932, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to Con. Res. 199; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 933, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Con. Res. 206; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 934, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 940; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 935, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 845; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 936, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 2278; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 937, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 915; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 938, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 907.

For Wednesday, December 9, 2009, had I been present I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 939, on ordering the previous question to provide for consideration of H.R. 4213; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 940, on agreeing to H. Res. 955); ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 941, on motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 3951; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 942, on motion to table appeal of the ruling of the chair regarding H.R. 4213; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 943, on passage of H.R. 4213; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 944, on motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended, H.R. 3603; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 945, on agreeing to the resolution H. Res. 956; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 946, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 86.

For Thursday, December 10, 2009, had I been present I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 947, on ordering the previous question to provide for consideration of the Conference Report to H.R. 3288; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 948, on agreeing to H. Res. 961, which provides for consideration of the Conference Report to H.R. 3288; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 949, on agreeing to the Conference Report to H.R. 3288; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 950, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 4017; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 951, on agreeing to H. Res. 962; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 952, on agreeing to H. Res. 964, which provides for consideration of H.R. 4173; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 953, on agreeing to the Frank amendment No. 1 to H.R. 4173; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 954, on agreeing to the Sessions amendment to H.R. 4173; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 955, on agreeing to the Lynch amendment to H.R. 4173; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 956, on agreeing to the Murphy (NY) amendment to H.R. 4173; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 957, on agreeing to the Frank (MA) amendment to H.R. 4173; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 958, on agreeing to the Stupak amendment to H.R. 4173; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 959, on agreeing to the Stupak amendment to H.R. 4173.

For the morning of Friday, December 11, 2009, had I been present I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 960, on agreeing to the Kanjosrki amendment to H.R. 4173; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 961, on agreeing to the McCarthy (CA) amendment to H.R. 4173; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 962, on agreeing to the Peters amendment to H.R. 4173.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 206) commending the soldiers and civilian personnel stationed at Fort Gordon and their families for their service and dedication to the United States and recognizing the contributions of Fort Gordon to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and its role as a pivotal communications training installation, 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 might consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support House Concurrent Resolution 206, commending the dedication of soldiers, civilian personnel, and families stationed at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and recognizing the 60th anniversary of Fort Gordon as the vital training center of the United States Army Signal Corps.

Fort Gordon has a long and storied history of preparing our soldiers to effectively utilize technological advances on the battlefield. Now, Fort Gordon is training our soldiers in the advanced communication technologies needed to execute missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

I also want to commend the civilian personnel at Fort Gordon who are key members of the United States Army Signal Corps team and whose hard work and dedication to the mission are critical to the United States Army's success. To be the best, we need soldiers and civilians working together.

And finally, I want to express my gratitude to the families stationed at Fort Gordon. While their loved ones train for long hours and deploy overseas for extended periods of time, the families remain supportive and steadfast, understanding the sacrifice that comes from keeping the United States safe and secure. I also commend the entire Augusta, Georgia, community who rally around the great men and women of Fort Gordon.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, Mr. Broun of the State of Georgia, for his work in bringing this resolution to the floor, and I ask all my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 206.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, unfortunately earlier today I was unable to cast my votes on H.R. 3288, H. Con. Res. 199, H. Con. Res. 206, and H. Res. 940 and wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote.

Last night, as you are aware, there were no votes in the House of Representatives due to the White House Christmas Party. I took this opportunity to meet with some of my young constituents at the Farmhouse Fraternity on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign to discuss agricultural issues and the implementation of the Farm Bill. Early this morning I boarded an airplane in Champaign, Illinois, and unfortunately due to weather, my plane was drastically delayed, I was unable to arrive in Washington, DC to cast my votes.

Had I been present on rollcall #931 on the Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 3288, Making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, HUD, and related agencies for FY 2010, I would have voted ``aye''. This vote would have blocked any attempt by the Majority from using H.R. 3288 as the vehicle for an Omnibus Appropriations bill and require that the language for this bill be posted online for 72 hours prior to any vote. Madam Speaker, omnibus appropriations bills that are hundreds of pages long and have not been fully vetted is no way to fund our government and I urge you to refrain from using this bill for those purposes.

Had I been present on rollcall #932 on suspending the rules and passing H. Con. Res. 199, Recognizing the 10th Anniversary of the activation of Echo Company of the 100th Battalion of the 442d Infantry, and the sacrifice of the soldiers and families in support of the United States, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present on rollcall #933 on suspending the rules and passing H. Con. Res. 206, Commending the soldiers and civilian personnel stationed at Fort Gordon and their families for their service and dedication to the United States and recognizing the contributions of Fort Gordon to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and its role as a pivotal communications training installation, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present on rollcall #934 on suspending the rules and passing H. Res. 940, Recognizing and honoring the National Guard on the occasion of its 373rd anniversary, I would have voted ``aye.''

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 206, which commends the soldiers, civilian personnel, and their families stationed

at Fort Gordon, Georgia, for their service and dedication to the United States.

I want to commend Representative Paul Broun of Georgia for sponsoring this legislation which has drawn wide support of other Members as cosponsors, including a great number of non-Georgians.

Mr. Speaker, Fort Gordon has been an important site of Army training for more than 60 years. Initially a training area for newly formed combat divisions preparing for battle in World War II, the 4th Infantry, the 26th Infantry, and the 10th Armored Divisions trained at the then-Camp Gordon before they were deployed to combat in Europe and distinguished themselves in hard fighting across France, the Low Countries, and Germany.

After the war, the newly designated Fort Gordon became the home of the Army's Signal Corps. In every conflict since, from Korea through today's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Fort Gordon has trained Army combat communicators in their essential combat duties.

This is why it is, therefore, right and proper that we recognize Fort Gordon, the home of the Army Signal Corps, for its outstanding contributions to our Nation. I urge all Members to support this resolution.

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