To provide for an extension of the legislative authority of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. to establish a Vietnam Veterans Memorial visitor center, and for other purposes.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Subcommittee on National Parks.

The hearing will be held on Thursday, December 3, 2009, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the following bills:

S. 760, to designate the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as the ``National World War I Memorial'';

S. 1838, to establish a commission to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War;

S. 2097, to authorize the rededication of the District of Columbia War Memorial as a National and District of Columbia World War I Memorial to honor the sacrifices made by American veterans of World War

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, at 10:00 a.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on S. 2052, a bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require the Secretary of Energy to carry out a research and development and demonstration program to reduce manufacturing and construction costs relating to nuclear reactors, and for other purposes and S. 2812 the Nuclear Power 2021 Act.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record may do so by sending it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510-6150, or by e-mail to Rosemarie Calabro@ener.senate.gov

For further information, please contact Jonathan Epstein at (202) 224-3357 or Rosemarie Calabro at (202) 224-5039.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3689) to provide for an extension of the legislative authority of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. to establish a Vietnam Veterans Memorial Visitor Center, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3689, sponsored by the chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources, the gentleman from West Virginia, Mr. Nick Rahall, and the committee's ranking member, the gentleman from Washington State, Mr. Doc Hastings, will extend the time during which the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is authorized to establish a visitors center for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial here in Washington, D.C.

Better known as the Vietnam Wall, the memorial is among the most visited sights in Washington and is an international symbol of reflection and healing. Establishing a visitors center for the memorial is critical and more time is needed to complete the extensive planning, design, and approval processes required for such a sensitive project. This bipartisan legislation extends the authorization through 2014.

Chairman Rahall has been intimately involved with the development of this visitors center, and I join him, along with Representative Doc Hastings, in urging our colleagues to support this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, but I would like to inquire of the minority if he has any additional speakers.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for recognizing Alaska, the greatest State in the Union, the largest State in the Union, with the one congressman that does the whole job of the State of the Union. Thank you. I yield myself such time as I may consume.

This bill was introduced by Chairman Rahall and Ranking Member Hastings to allow additional time for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund to raise private funds for the construction of the underground visitors center on The Mall.

I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this great piece of legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I have no other additional speakers.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I was unable to be present in the Capitol for three votes on Tuesday, October 13, 2009.

However, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on H.R. 3689, providing for an extension of the legislative authority of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. to establish a Vietnam Veterans Memorial visitor center; ``yea'' on H.R. 3476, reauthorizing the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Citizen Advisory Commission; and ``yea'' on H. Res. 659, congratulating Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. on 98 years of serving local communities and enriching the lives of collegiate men throughout the Nation.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I missed recorded votes on the House floor on Tuesday, October 13, 2009.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 772 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to HR. 3689); ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 773 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to HR. 3476); and ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 774 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 659).