Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, we are forever indebted to the brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines of our Armed Forces who have fought and continue to fight for our freedom. Though we can never truly repay the debt we owe them, we have a solemn duty to honor their service with more than mere words.

One important benefit for veterans is the Montgomery G.I. Bill, which provides funding for education and training to veterans after their service. Since its inception, the Montgomery G.I. Bill has helped millions of service members. But, Mr. Speaker, it's long past the time when we should modernize this important law.

Today, with my colleagues, I introduced The Enhancement of Recruitment, Retention, and Readjustment Through Education Act of 2008. This legislation enhances the existing G.I. Bill by improving education benefits for servicemembers, veterans, and members of the Guard and Reserve. The legislation will help more military personnel attend college debt free, and allow them to transfer their education benefits to their spouse or children. It also bolsters recruitment and retention efforts, encouraging servicemembers to continue their military careers in support ofthe all-volunteer force of today. Specifically this legislation would:

Provide an immediate increase in education benefits for active duty personnel to $1500 a month, and to improve retention, those benefits increase to $2000 a month after 12 or more years of service.

Significantly increase benefits for members of the National Guard and Reserves.

Provide transferability, allowing service members to transfer their education benefits to dependents. After 6 years of service, half of the benefit may be transferred and after 12 years of service 100 percent may be transferred to a spouse or dependent children.

Allow servicemembers to use up to $6,000 per year of G.I. Bill education benefits to repay Federal student loans.

Create a matching program to help more veterans graduate debt-free. Up to an additional $3,000 per year could be paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs in return.

Allow access to Montgomery G.I. Bill benefits for service academy graduates and Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps officers who continue serving.

Build on existing educational benefits program to ensure rapid implementation with minimal additional administrative costs.

On behalf of the over 30 million veterans in the United States who stand to benefit, I am very excited to introduce this legislation. While we can never fully repay the service and sacrifice so many brave Americans have made and continue to make on behalf of our nation, we must ensure they receive access to the kind of benefits they deserve.

Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, April 22, 2008, I was not present for three votes. Please let the record show that had I been here, I would have voted: ``Yea'' on H. Res. 981--Recognizing March 6, 2008, as the first-ever World Glaucoma Day, established to increase awareness of glaucoma, which is the second leading cause of preventable blindness in the United States and worldwide; ``yea'' on H.R. 5151-- Wild Monongahela Act: A National Legacy for West Virginia's Special Places; and ``yea'' on H.R. 831--Coffman Cove Administrative Site Conveyance Act.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and career of Polk County's beloved educator, Hazel Haley, who died on April 7, 2008.

Holding the record for the longest tenure of a Florida teacher, and thought to have been the longest-serving teacher in the country as well, Miss Haley dedicated 69 years of service to the classroom and to multiple-generations of Polk County families, including Florida Governor Lawton Chiles.

Polk County, and especially Lakeland High School--where Hazel taught for 67 years--has not only lost a dear friend, but an advocate, a mentor, and a community leader. Her legacy and memory lives on through the thousands of students lives she impacted. It is estimated that she taught 13,500 students, proving that one person can touch many lives. In addition, Florida Southern College and Polk Community College both award scholarship funds in her name.

A fan of crossword puzzles, episodes of ``Law & Order,'' and all things Shakespeare, Hazel also had a passion for traveling. Living life to the fullest, in 1973 at the young age of 57, Hazel made it a goal to take two international trips each year. Hazel even managed to physically travel around the world, not just once, but twice. She considered herself the biggest Anglophile in the USA, and always found a way to work London into her itinerary.

Known for her sharp wit, frankness, and big heart, Hazel will long be remembered in the halls of Lakeland High School. Classroom 106--where she taught from 1953 to 2006--will forever retain the many lessons Hazel instilled in students of American and English Literature. In 1984, the Polk County School District honored Hazel's steadfast commitment to education officially naming the wing where her room was located as the ``Hazel H. Haley Building.''

There is no arguing the multitude of contributions Hazel conveyed to her students, her community, and her profession. Hazel's life is not one that we should mourn, but one that we should commemorate for her genuine love of live she bestowed upon so many lives.

Madam Speaker, due to advancements in technology and health care, people are living longer than ever. As a result, the United States is experiencing a rapidly aging population due to the baby boomers, those born from 1946 to 1964. Florida leads the United States in aging population. According to the American Association of Retired

People, AARP, in 2005 Florida was ranked number one in the highest population above the age of 65 at 16.8 percent. AARP estimates that Florida will continue to be ranked number one in this category and by 2020 21.8 percent of Floridians will be above the age of 65.

Long-term care can be provided in a few different ways. According to the National Long-Term Care Study, NLTCS, 60 percent of those over the age of 65 live alone, increasing their need for long-term care. With regard to nursing homes, a study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that people who reach age 65 have a 40 percent chance of entering a nursing home. About 10 percent of the people who enter a nursing home will stay there 5 years or more. More than nursing homes, adult children or grandchildren are cited as the main caregivers to the elderly population. According to research conducted by the American Association of Retired People, AARP, two-thirds of older people with disabilities relied solely on ``informal'' help; approximately 75 percent of which was unpaid care from friends and family. With the leading elderly percent population in the country, 13.8 percent of Florida citizens 18 and above are caregivers. The AARP found that the total economic value of this type of caregiving was $350 billion in 2006, which is more than what was spent on all ``formal,'' hospice, paid caregiver, nursing home, etc . . . long-term care, including both institutional and home and community-based services.

Long-term care is a variety of services that includes medical and non-medical care to people who have a chronic illness or disability. Long-term care can be provided at home, in the community, in assisted living, or in nursing homes. While long-term care is often used for the elderly, it is important to remember that you may need long-term care at any age.

While there are a variety of ways to pay for long-term care, it is important to think ahead about how you will fund the care you get. Generally, Medicare doesn't pay for long-term care. Medicare pays only for medically necessary skilled nursing facility or home health care.

With an ever aging population and the variety of services provided by long-term care, most families at one point or another are forced to make a decision regarding the future of a loved one who needs assistance with everyday living. These decisions are limited and costly, and many find themselves struggling between the high price of institutionalization or informal family care. In an effort to alleviate the financial and emotional burden that families find themselves under, I have introduced the Long-term Care Retirement and Security Act of 2008.

This legislation would amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for eligible long-term care insurance premiums for a taxpayer and the taxpayer's spouse and dependents; and a credit for eligible caregivers caring for certain individuals with long-term care needs. This legislation has three provisions. The first two detail the major elements of the legislation regarding deductions and credits. The final part of the bill deals with consumer protections. Specifically this legislation would:

Permit individuals to make a tax deduction in an amount equal to the ``applicable percentage'' of eligible long-term premiums. An ``Applicable Percentage'' is defined as 25 percent in 2009/2010, 35 percent in 2011, 65 percent in 2012, and 100 percent thereafter.

These dedications would create incentives for individuals and by 2017 the number of individual LTC policy holders will increase by 9 percent and 8 percent of individuals will increase the richness of their policy.

Require coordination of deductions and prohibits an individual from making the same deductions twice.

Permit long-term care deductions to be made under cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements.

Under cafeteria plans 12 percent increase in the number of active employees with LTC policies by 2017, as well as, flexible spending accounts creating an incentive for individuals to enroll in FSAs and use their funds towards LTC.

Establish an ``applicable credit'' for caregivers of those with long- term care needs. An ``applicable credit'' refers to $1,500 in 2009, $2,000 in 2010, $2,500 in 2011, and $3,000 for 2012 and thereafter. The applicable credit is multiplied by the number of individuals with respect to whom the taxpayer is an eligible caregiver.

Establish consumer protections based on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners recommendations for qualified long-term care policies.

Creating incentives and helping families to afford long-term care insurance will encourage many more Americans to take personal responsibility for their long-term care needs, not only providing more LTC coverage for Floridians but preserving public funds for those who need them.

I urge my colleagues to cosponsor and support this important tool for all Americans' financial and health security.

I thank my friend for the time.

Mr. Speaker, much of what we debate down here often is theoretical. We say if this passes, we believe this will happen. If this fails, we believe that will happen. Much of it is speculative. It is our opinions coming down here and directing, gazing into the future about what we think will happen.

Much in this toxic atmosphere that is Washington that we debate is very partisan. This issue is neither theoretical nor partisan. It is not theoretical anymore, because this is now the 27th day that we have denied our intelligence agencies and law enforcement officials the tools they need to keep America safe.

It is not partisan because the bill that we are asking you to vote for and support here in a few minutes already passed the Senate with 68 Senators voting for it. It was voted out on a bipartisan basis.

Now, anyone who follows the activities of the Senate knows that they have a hard time getting 68 votes for a Mother's Day resolution. For them to find 68 votes on an issue of this magnitude is remarkable.

The only way that we can put back into place the provisions of the Protect America Act that allow us to prevent future plots and conspiracies and attacks on our homeland is to pass the Senate bill. If we do not pass the Senate bill today, Congress will leave for 2 more weeks, 2 more weeks that we will deny the eyes and ears to our law enforcement and intelligence officials who keep us safe.

Now, let me just draw attention to the fact that 21 Blue Dog Democrats have put their names to a letter saying pass the Senate bill; 68 Senators have voted to pass the Senate bill. The bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee said, and I quote, ``Electronic communication service providers acted in good faith on a good faith belief that the President's program and their assistance was lawful.''

This is not a theoretical debate. This is an important tool that we must restore to the hands of our intelligence agencies before Congress goes home for 2 more weeks. This is an example of the tyranny of the few blocking the will of the many. It is not just Republicans who say we need to pass this. It is Senator Rockefeller, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. It is 21 Blue Dog Democrats.

It is 25 States' attorneys general. This is too important to let it slip through our fingers before we go home for 2 weeks. Pass the previous question. Deem the Senate bill passed and give those who stand on alert as the guardians of our freedom and liberty, liberty and security on a daily basis, what they need to continue to keep us safe.

Don't extend the 27 days of darkness for another 2 weeks. Give them the tools they need. Pass the previous question. Pass the Senate bill.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the House Republican Conference, I send to the desk a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 845 to bring awareness and recognize the 60th anniversary of our beautiful and unique Everglades National Park.

The Everglades are truly a national treasure, an irreplaceable part of our national landscape with its vast wetland wilderness unlike any other in the world. The Everglades National Park is part of the south Florida ecosystem that includes over 3 million acres with subtropical wetland landscapes that stretch 220 miles from Orlando to Florida Bay. As President Truman noted when he dedicated the park in 1947, ``To its natural abundance we owe the spectacular plant and animal life that distinguishes this place from all others in our country.''

The Everglades National Parks constitutes the largest subtropical wilderness in the Nation featuring slow-moving waters and provides critical habitat to ecosystems for countless animals including rare and endangered species such as the American crocodile, Florida panther, Western Indian manatee and more than 350 species of birds, including the Great Egret, Wood Stork, Swallow-tailed Kite, Cape Sable seaside sparrow, and Roseate Spoonbill.

For good reason, it has been designated an International Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site, and a Wetland of International Importance--in recognition of its significance to all people of the world.

Many people have had a great impact on the establishment and history of the Everglades, including former Florida Governor Spessard Holland, who incidentally is a Bartow native. His work in the 1940s to secure thousands of acres needed for the creation of the park along with his 25 year Senate career in which he championed and ensured resources were made available for projects was instrumental. He was one of the first great champions of the Everglades and I am so grateful for his work, without which, we might not be here celebrating the Park's 50th anniversary.

Unfortunately, the Everglades have been negatively impacted by encroachment and disruption that has harmed wildlife and destroyed wetlands. I am pleased that Congress and the State of Florida have been working together through to restore and rehabilitate this treasure through the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, CERP. I join my colleagues in continued support and dedication to these efforts in the years to come to ensure and preserve the Everglades' majesty and beauty for future generations to enjoy.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to congratulate Mrs. Betty Sembler as she receives the Drug Enforcement Agency Museum Foundation ``2008 Lifetime Achievement Award.'' It is certainly well-deserved as

she has dedicated her life to helping prevent and mitigate drug use among our Nation's younger generation.

Most notably, Mrs. Sembler helped found the Drug Free America Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to developing, promoting and sustaining global strategies, policies and laws that will reduce illegal drug use, drug addiction, drug-related injury and death.

Through her efforts, the Drug Free America Foundation has helped raise awareness about drug use and its harmful effects to kids across Florida, our Nation and the world. Having received Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, Mrs. Sembler has worked collaboratively with other non-governmental organizations globally to support international efforts to sustain sound drug policy. In fact, the Foundation convened the International Task Force on Strategic Drug Policy in 2001 which is now composed of more than 20 member nations who help advise governments to effect change in their nations.

Her accomplishments do not stop there. Mrs. Sembler helped re-launch the ``Students Taking Action Not Drugs,'' or STAND, which has launched several public-service campaigns regarding drug use and help youth with addiction problems find help. Their mission is to use science-based principles to educate college students about the danger of drugs and reduce drug use among 18- to 25-year olds. She has also been instrumental in working with and combining forces with other related organizations, including the National Drug-Free Workplace Alliance, which was merged with the Drug-Free Workplaces if Tampa Bay project in 2006.

In short, Mrs. Sembler has led an active life of public service that has greatly benefited her state and Nation, and I am so pleased she is receiving this prestigious award. Congratulations Betty, I wish you and your family continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Danny Whittenton, a history teacher at Lakeland's Kathleen High School in Florida's 12th Congressional District, for being recognized as the Polk County Public Schools 2008 ``Teacher of the Year''.

Danny Whittenton has devoted his career to teaching American history to three generations of Kathleen High School students. Ensuring that students have the opportunity to learn and experience the importance of history and civic responsibility, he continues to develop innovative teaching methods and is committed to making knowledge accessible to all students.

Polk County Public Schools employ over 12,300 employees, making them the largest employer in Polk County. Over 6,770 are fellow teachers. From those teachers, more than 300 applications were submitted for consideration. Danny was one of eight finalists whose nominee application was reviewed. His leadership, community and school involvement and teaching style earned him the honor of ``Teacher of the Year'' by a committee of community members, former teachers of the year and school-related employees of the year.

In 2006, Danny retired but it was short-lived as his will to teach was too strong and he returned to the classroom after only 1 month of retirement. Clearly his dedication is unwavering.

Thirty-eight years as an educator taught Danny Whittenton how to truly engage students. Dressing up as historical figures including Davy Crockett and George Washington helps spark his students' interest, and he utilizes game show concepts like History Jeopardy and History Trivial Pursuit as a contemporary way to teach history. His students also take part in the political process; organizing a Get-Out-The-Vote project, corresponding with candidates and even providing transportation to the polls for elderly citizens.

Danny is a leading example of how teachers raise student achievement through an exceptional approach. Principal Cecil McClellan of Kathleen High School shared that, ``Danny is an excellent communicator with peers, parents and students. He possesses the ability to have students on the edge of their seats while engaging them in the learning process.''

I would like to extend my congratulations to Danny Whittenton for exemplifying the core qualities of a teacher. His hard work and dedication have persevered through many years of teaching, decades of change, and thousands of students. I commend Danny for his service to three generations of Polk County students and wish him the very best in all of his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the House Republic Conference, I send to the desk a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my condolences to the victims of the deadly 70-car pile up on Interstate 4 in Polk County, Florida earlier this month. I would also like to express appreciation for the work of many local and state agencies that responded to the accident and provided assistance.

I specifically would like to commend Polk County Sheriff Deputy Carlton Turner III who was the first deputy on the scene in the early morning hours of January 9th, and who used his vehicle as a barrier and later a place of refuge for victims. I would also like to commend Deputy Paul Buoniconti, who was also

on the scene very early and provided critical assistance to the victims.

In emergency situations it is rightly expected that government agencies respond and help citizens in need. The Polk County Sheriff's Office, under the leadership of Sheriff Grady Judd, provided critical incident command services and logistical support for many responding agencies--and they did an outstanding job.

During the course of this accident, agencies that came together to provide critical support included the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Lake County Sheriff's Office, the Lake County Fire Department, the Auburndale Police Department, the Haines City Police Department, the Lake Alfred Police Department, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Florida Department of Transportation, the State Fire Marshal's Office, the State of Florida State Emergency Response Team, the Polk County Emergency Medical Services, Polk County Fire Rescue and Osceola County Fire Rescue.

The State of Florida is often credited with having one of the best-- if not the best--emergency response models in the nation, and the combined efforts of all responding agencies earlier this month exemplified this well. Their service likely prevented an even greater number of deaths or injuries, and I thank them for their work and service.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the International Baccalaureate School at Bartow High School in Florida's 12th Congressional District for being recognized as a gold medal school in U.S. News & World Report's first ever ranking of America's Best High Schools.

U.S. News & World Report analyzed over 18,000 public schools across the United States in an effort to find the top 100 public schools. They used a three-step analysis to sort through the many schools taking into consideration how each school's students performed on state tests, evaluating how well each school's disadvantaged students performed, and looking at whether the school was successful in providing college-level coursework. Bartow's IB School placed third among the 100 other gold medal schools. This is quite an accomplishment and I commend the school for leading the way in excellence and for their commitment to empowering young minds.

Bartow High School has a rich history of providing a high caliber education. Distinguished from other high schools in Polk County and from most high schools in Florida, its origin began in 1887 as the Summerlin Institute. Bartow High School is proudly 117 years old and because of its history and tradition, many of its former students have gone on to achieve great success.

Included in this list are distinguished leaders from various professions. Spenssard Holland served as Florida's Governor in the 1940s and as a U.S. Senator from 1946-1970. Army General James Alward Van Fleet served as a commander and led major campaigns in WWII and the Korean War, and President Truman once remarked that he was America's ``greatest general.'' In addition, Kenneth Jerome Riley was honored as a Rhodes Scholar Candidate while attending Florida A&M University and went on to play as an NFL defensive back for the Cincinnati Bengals.

In 1996, Bartow High School embarked on its next endeavor when the school was selected by the International Baccalaureate World School program to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma program. Students that attend the IB School are challenged with increased expectations in both academic and community involvement, and because of this they graduate ready to compete and enter into a fast-paced world that offers endless opportunities.

The IB School's mission is ``to ensure each student has the opportunity to achieve his or her potential and creatively influence society by providing students with an advanced international curriculum.'' Today, it is my honor to commend Dr. Edwin Vetter and his staff of extraordinary educators, including some who shaped my classroom experience, for their dedication and hard work. It is clear that the commitment by both staff and students surpasses their mission, as the IB School continues to be recognized for its performance, not only in the State of Florida, but across the nation too. As an alumnus of Bartow High School, which hosts the IB school, I look forward to their many future accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the House Republican Conference, I send to the desk a privileged resolution (H. Res. 885) and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

I ask unanimous consent, Madam Speaker, that my name be removed as a cosponsor from H.R. 3120.

Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Madam Chairman, I have an amendment today that would direct the GAO to conduct a study to determine the effects the enactment of H.R. 3915 will have on the availability and affordability of credit for homebuyers and mortgage lending, and then submit a report to Congress containing the findings and conclusions within 1 year of enactment.

With that, I would yield to my chairman.

So the gentleman would agree that we could join together and request the study even prior to final passage of the bill?

I thank the gentleman. And I look forward to joining him on that request to the GAO.

Madam Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.