Commending the City of Jacksonville, Arkansas, for its outstanding support in creating a unique and lasting partnership with Little Rock Air Force Base, members of the Armed Forces stationed there, and their families.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1724) commending the city of Jacksonville, Arkansas, for its outstanding support in creating a unique and lasting partnership with Little Rock Air Force Base, members of the Armed Forces stationed there and their families, and the Air Force, 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.

People in America support our men and women in uniform. Everywhere, from coast to coast, regardless of political view, Americans support our military. Nowhere is this more true than in

Arkansas. Nowhere is this more true than in the city of Jacksonville, Arkansas. Any Arkansan can tell you the Little Rock Air Force Base is not in Little Rock. Until this debate today, however, I would guess that most Members of Congress assumed the Little Rock Air Force Base is in the town of Little Rock. Be assured it is not; although all of central Arkansas, including the people of Little Rock, are supportive of the Little Rock Air Force Base.

Recognition of the great work done by the men and women of the Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, Arkansas, is apparent to anyone familiar with the C-130 mission. Every Member of Congress who has flown in a C-130, including the one Member, Mr. Boccieri, who flies C-130s, relied on the training done at the Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, Arkansas. Yet compliments don't tell the full story.

When the attacks of September 11, 2001, occurred, community access to all our military bases was disrupted, including access to on-base college classes by the civilian faculty and students. Yet we all know higher education is essential to our military. Anticipating a solution, the city of Jacksonville, Arkansas, and the leadership of the Little Rock Air Force Base came up with a plan to build a Joint Education Center on base property but outside the perimeter. Time went by, but the city of Jacksonville, Arkansas, did its part. Tax votes in a community are difficult, but the city of Jacksonville taxed itself through a vote of the people and raised $5 million to donate to the Air Force to help build the Joint Education Center.

Soon after that vote, the money began accumulating. Unaware, in fact, that there would be a delay in construction approval, $5 million sat in the account for quite a long time. Legally, permission finally was given for the $5 million to be transferred to the Air Force. Long after the vote in Jacksonville, construction began. You will be very pleased, Mr. Speaker, to see the almost complete Joint Education Center underway. It is about ready.

It came about because of the people of Jacksonville, Arkansas and their willingness to donate $5 million to the Air Force.

They have also raised money for the air show, which I attended with my little boys this year, and for the rodeo teams. The community council has been very, very active through the years and, in fact, the city of Jacksonville originally put together the land that was donated to the Federal Government, to the Department of Defense and the Air Force, on which the Air Force base is located today.

This partnership between the city of Jacksonville, Arkansas, and the Little Rock Air Force Base has gone on for over a half a century. Particularly in view of their willingness to tax themselves and donate $5 million to the Air Force, it seemed to me appropriate to recognize their work today, and I recommend approval of H. Res. 1724.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I appreciate the kind words of the gentleman.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1724, which commends the city of Jacksonville, Arkansas, for its outstanding support and enduring partnership with Little Rock Air Force Base.

I also want to commend my friend and colleague, Representative Vic Snyder from Arkansas, for sponsoring this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, the city of Jacksonville has long embraced the Air Force members and their families stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base, treating all like lifelong members of the community. While the city supports the base in a number of ways, one recent action was especially unusual. Recognizing the need for a new education facility, the voters of Jacksonville overwhelmingly agreed to temporarily raise their own taxes to pay for a Joint Education Center, donating $5 million to the Air Force for that purpose.

It is no surprise that the city of Jacksonville was honored by the Air Mobility Command with the award of the Abilene Trophy for the city's exceptional support for the Little Rock Air Force Base.

I urge all Members to support this resolution.

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, on that I demand the yeas and nays.