Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 3920, The Trade and Globalization Assistance Act of 2007. H.R. 3920 would expand the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, which assists workers who lose their jobs because of foreign trade. Trade Adjustment Assistance, TAA, was first established in 1962, in recognition of the fact that some workers would lose their jobs as a direct result of our national trade policies. The program is designed to assist these trade-dislocated workers by providing them with the opportunity to train for new careers. Although the program currently includes about 80,000 certified workers enrolled in training, there are thousands of other trade- displaced workers who deserve but have been unable to obtain training through the TAA program.

H.R. 3920 makes many long-sought improvements to TAA. The bill allows for industry-wide certification in certain instances, a change that will eliminate the delays and inconsistent results in the current firm- by-firm process. The bill also includes a number of changes that will simplify and improve the process by which eligible workers obtain training.

We must continue to provide our strong support to workers who are faced with the unfortunate event of losing their employment. H.R. 3920 is an excellent bill that will provide much needed and overdue help to displaced and unemployed workers. These programs are essential to the viability and livelihood of thousands of hard-working Americans. As a proud supporter of America's workers, I understand the vital importance of ensuring the social welfare of our labor force. I will continue to work with my colleagues to preserve their social and economic care. America's workers deserve America's support.

Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to honor three remarkable journalists at Houston's own KRIV-TV for winning the prestigious Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism.

Greg Groogan, Mark Muller and Aprille Meek last week received the 2007 Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism for short form television for their insightful story on the difficulties faced by Texas's parents of children using special education, ``Special Ed-Broken Promise?'' This story, the opening of a several-month series on special education in Texas, provided an eye-opening look at the hurdles that special education parents face in providing the ``free appropriate public education'' to which they are entitled per the Individual with Disabilities Education Act.

For Mr. Groogan, Mr. Muller and Ms. Meek, this impressive award represents the culmination of the excellent work that they have done over the years for KRIV-TV. Mr. Groogan alone has won over sixty journalism awards, including five Lone Star Emmys, 15 Associated Press Awards, and honors from the Houston Press Club, the Texas Cancer Society and the Texas State Teachers Association. Over 700 journalists entered the contest for the 2007 Casey Medals, demonstrating that these journalists truly went above and beyond the call of duty with the excellent work for which they received the Casey Medal.

In awarding these three deserving individuals with the Casey Medal, the Casey Journalism Center on Children and Families described ``Special Ed-Broken Promise?'' as a ``masterful job,'' and indeed it was. It is fitting that this award would go to individuals who have shown incredible courage, tenacity and wisdom in their reporting. I congratulate Mr. Groogan, Mr. Muller and Ms. Meek for this well- deserved award and I hope that their work serves as an inspiration to others across the nation.

I thank the chairman and the ranking member, but I also thank the subcommittee chairperson, Maxine Waters, for the fine, stellar job that she has done with this piece of historic legislation.

Mr. Chairman, this is an historic occasion with historic opportunities. This historic occasion provides the historic opportunity to not only cast an historic vote but to also be on the right side of history.

On July 2, 1964, this House made history when it passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which, among other things, outlawed discrimination in public accommodations and encouraged desegregation and education. 289 were on the right side of history. They voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

On August 3, 1965, this House again made history with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, benefiting millions of minority voters. 328 were on the right side of history. They voted right when they voted to protect voting rights.

On April 10, 1968, this House again made history when it passed the Fair Housing Act, prohibiting discrimination in housing. 250 were on the right side of history. They voted for equality of housing opportunities for all.

Today, we must cast another historic vote, a vote for a National Affordable Housing Trust Fund. For the first time in history, in the history of the United States of America, we will have a fund dedicated to making the American Dream of a place to call home a reality.

And, yes, there are other housing programs, some say 30, some say more than 30. Every one of them is needed. Every one of them, even under a Republican-controlled House, Republican-controlled Senate, Republican-controlled administration, the programs were not eliminated. Every one of them is needed.

There is a need for this affordable housing trust fund as well, and I say to my friends, whether we will make history today with our vote is not the question. The question is what side of history will we be on. Will we be on the side of those who need this affordable housing trust fund or will we be on the side of the rhetoric that is in opposition to a needed program?

Mr. Speaker, the National Association for Biomedical Research, NABR and Foundation for Biomedical Research, FBR, are the Nation's oldest and largest organizations dedicated to improving human and veterinary health by promoting public understanding and support for humane and responsible animal research. I would like to submit their following comments for the record on the passing of legislation to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Michael E. DeBakey:

The National Association for Biomedical Research, NABR and Foundation for Biomedical Research, FBR, salute you and your colleagues in the House of Representatives for recognizing Dr. Michael Ellis DeBakey and his unparalleled contributions to cardiovascular medicine. Dr. DeBakey's work has improved the health of millions of American citizens and people around the world. His extraordinary talents as a surgeon, inventor, educator and medical statesman make him a true medical legend.

Dr. DeBakey richly deserves his reputation as one of this country's most innovative and pioneering physicians and the most famous cardiovascular surgeon in the world. A former president of the International Cardiology Foundation referred to him as ``. . . the genius . . . the father of open heart surgery.'' Upon receiving the prestigious Lasker Award, Dr. DeBakey was cited for: ``His pioneer contributions in cardiovascular surgery . . . His laboratory investigations, translated with extraordinary courage and unprecedented skill to the patient, have resulted in the correction and cure of previously incurable cardiovascular disease, replacing what would have been lingering chronic disease and disability, or sudden death, by vigorous, happy, and productive life.''

Among his many inventions and innovations was the Dacron tube. Using his wife's sewing machine and fabric purchased from a local store in Houston, Dr. DeBakey created the first artificial artery. These Dacron tubes yielded remarkable advancements in vascular surgery. Dr. DeBakey continued to perfect new vascular surgical techniques, which spawned the modern era of the surgical treatment for stroke. His innovative work didn't end there, as he continued to develop new pioneering surgical techniques for the treatment of aneurysms, again leading to new, effective treatments and the saving of thousands of lives.

In 1964, Dr. DeBakey triggered the most explosive era in modern cardiac surgery when he performed the first successful coronary bypass. Two years later, he made medical history again by becoming the first person to successfully use a partial artificial heart (left ventricular bypass pump) to help patients who could not be weaned from a heart-lung machine following open-heart surgery. Later in that decade, Dr. DeBakey again became part of medical history, supervising the first successful multi-organ transplant, in which a heart, both kidneys, and lung were transplanted from a single donor to 4 separate recipients. Also during that decade, Dr. DeBakey pioneered the field of telemedicine with the first demonstration of open-heart surgery to be transmitted overseas by satellite. Medical staff in Geneva, Switzerland were able to watch aortic valve replacement surgery being performed at The Methodist Hospital in Houston.

In 1942, still early in his career, Dr. DeBakey had achieved a national reputation as an authority on vascular disease. Rather than returning to his university employer and working to enhance his career, Dr. DeBakey felt morally bound to serve his country during World War II. He volunteered for military service, joining the Surgeon General's staff and rising to the rank of colonel and Chief of the Surgical Consultants Division. His work, inspecting field hospitals and actively caring for the wounded, led to his proposal for the proper staged management of war wounds. These recommendations made possible the development of mobile army surgical hospitals, or MASH units. Dr. DeBakey's experience during the war also caused him to recommend the creation of specialized medical centers in different areas of the U.S. to treat wounded military personnel returning from war. That recommendation evolved into the establishment of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, VAMC, System.

As a scholar and man of letters, Dr. DeBakey would later initiate the concept and spearhead the movement to establish a national facility for historical medical papers and artifacts. His idea and leadership brought about the establishment of the National Library of Medicine in 1959, housed at the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. DeBakey has also made enormous contributions to the city of Houston and what is now known as the Baylor College of Medicine. In 1948, Baylor University College of Medicine was a small, virtually unknown institution recently moved from Dallas to be the cornerstone of the new Texas Medical Center. At the time, it was the only medical school in Houston and lacked most of the facilities and programs essential to a viable medical and teaching institution. Dr. DeBakey reluctantly accepted a faculty position, but once on board, he worked quickly to set the standard that would allow the College to become one of the most respected health science centers in the Nation and the world. In 1969, after working for 2 decades to build the institution into a world-

class health science center, Dr. DeBakey was elected the first President of the newly named Baylor College of Medicine. Under his leadership, the College would experience an unprecedented era of growth and renowned reputation.

In recognition of his life-saving achievements, Dr. DeBakey has been honored numerous times with hundreds of awards, including the Legion of Merit from the United States Army, the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, the Eleanor Roosevelt Humanities Award, and the Presidential National Medal of Science. He has been honored by kings and queens, and virtually every U.S. President since Harry Truman has sought the wisdom of ``the maestro.''

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 474) to award a congressional gold medal to Michael Ellis DeBakey, M.D.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on S. 474.

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

Mr. Speaker, today we take the final steps in the legislative process to accord the Honorable Dr. Michael E. DeBakey a Congressional Gold Medal.

While I am proud to be here at the revelation of this process while we are now revealing all that has taken place and all that has happened for us to have this great opportunity, I must confess that I was not there at the genesis of the process. But, Mr. Speaker, there is one person who has been a constant throughout the entirety of this process, and that one person, Mr. Speaker, is the Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison, Senator from the great State of Texas. She has been consistent in that she has annually filed this bill to get it to this point, and she has been persistent in that she has insisted that we work together so as to cause the Honorable Dr. Michael E. DeBakey to have this opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, while I am the original sponsor of the House bill, H.R. 1154, to accord this Congressional Gold Medal, there are many other persons who must be thanked. I want to thank my chairman of the Financial Services Committee, the Honorable Barney

Frank, for the outstanding job that he has done to help get this piece of legislation, the bill that has already passed, out of the committee and to the floor. But he has also done an outstanding job in helping us to get the Senate bill to the floor, and for this we thank him.

I also would like to thank my colleagues Congressman Michael Burgess and Congressman John Culberson for the outstanding job that the two of them jointly performed in getting the necessary signatures to get this bill to the floor.

That would be the bill in the House, not the Senate bill. But I want to thank them for what they did because it took getting the House bill through to get us to the point where we can now get the Senate bill passed, such that we can accord the Gold Medal.

I would like to thank the entire Texas delegation. They have all thought highly of Dr. DeBakey, and they have worked with us to make sure that we were in a position to get this done.

We want to thank the 313 cosponsors of this legislation. Literally, we have gone to the floor of the House and we have talked to persons who agreed that the Honorable Dr. Michael E. DeBakey should be accorded this preeminent privilege and this great honor.

I want to thank the House leadership because the leadership made it possible for the fellowship to be in this position today. And again, we thank Senator Hutchison and all of the Members of the Senate who have helped us with this process.

Mr. Speaker, the Congressional Gold Medal has 535 judges, 100 in the Senate, 435 in the House, because each Member of the House and each Member of the Senate has a vote on the Congressional Gold Medal. And I am honored to say that, while we must receive 290 votes in the House and 67 votes in the Senate, we have exceeded the required numbers in both the House and the Senate. People were excited about the opportunity to accord the Honorable Dr. Michael E. DeBakey a Congressional Gold Medal.

What is a Congressional Gold Medal? It is the Nation's highest and most distinguished civilian award. It was originally awarded to military leaders for their service and later became a civilian medal. It is the congressional equivalent of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Each medal is unique. It is designed by the U.S. Mint and is duplicated in bronze for sale.

The Congressional Gold Medal has been awarded approximately 134 times to approximately 300 individuals. Some notable recipients include our first President, George Washington; General Andrew Jackson; the Wright brothers; Thomas Edison; Sam Rayburn, former Speaker of this august body; Sir Winston Churchill; Robert Kennedy; Lady Bird Johnson; Mother Teresa of India; Nelson Mandela; Rosa Parks; Pope John Paul, II; the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King; and the last recipients were the Tuskegee Airmen. I was honored to be present in the rotunda when they received their Congressional Gold Medal in April of 2006.

Mr. Speaker, I think that Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, the oldest of five children, born of parents of Lebanese descent, has truly been an outstanding American. He was born in Louisiana in Lake Charles, performed his residency at Charity Hospital. Mr. Speaker, I am from Louisiana. I was born in New Orleans. I was born in Charity Hospital. And while it may be a bit of wishful thinking, there may be the possibility, or the possibility may exist, that I am a DeBakey baby and that he was performing his residency at Charity Hospital at the time that I was born.

Mr. Speaker, he was on the faculty of the Baylor College of Medicine from 1948 to 1993, where he chaired the Department of Surgery. He served as President and Chancellor of the Baylor College of Medicine.

And Mr. Speaker, I say from the bottom of my heart that I thank God for the Honorable Dr. Michael E. DeBakey. He has earned the right to receive a Congressional Gold Medal. He served his country in World War II, and he volunteered to perform this service. He helped to develop, while in the military, the mobile army surgical hospital, we know it as the ``MASH'' units. And Mr. Speaker, there is a TV program and a movie that was made popular because of the MASH units that were developed because of the Honorable Michael E. DeBakey. In fact, it may be said that, but for the Honorable Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, there might not be a MASH television series.

He helped to establish the VA Hospitals. He helped to establish the current Veterans Affairs medical system. He was one of the first to successfully perform a coronary bypass. He established the field of surgery for strokes. He led the movement to establish the National Library of Medicine. He performed the historic transplantation procedure, with a team of surgeons of course. He was the first person to successfully use a partial artificial heart to help patients who could not be weaned from the heart-lung machine following heart surgery.

He pioneered the field of telemedicine, with the first demonstration of open heart surgery transmitted overseas via satellite. He invented the Dacron tube, using his wife's sewing machine and fabric he purchased from a store in Houston, Texas. This, Mr. Speaker, was the first artificial artery.

He was a leader in the development of the artificial heart. He operated on more than 60,000 patients in Houston. He has published over 1,600 articles. He helped to establish health care systems around the world in Jordan, Morocco, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, to name a few countries.

He became one of the persons to work at the Baylor School of Medicine, to the extent that Baylor has recognized his unprecedented achievements by naming the DeBakey Heart Center in his honor. And also, the Baylor College of Medicine has named the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery in his honor.

Dr. DeBakey is a great citizen, Mr. Speaker, not only of the United States but also of the world. He is a great humanitarian; he has helped rich and poor alike. If we did not have the Congressional Gold Medal, Mr. Speaker, we would have to create one for the Honorable Dr. Michael E. DeBakey.

On his 99th birthday, we called him to let him know that we had completed the process in the House in terms of passing the House bill so that we can move forward to this bill, and his comment was, ``I am so grateful that I am a citizen of the United States.'' Mr. Speaker, I believe that his life stands for the proposition that one person can not only impact the world, but can change the world for the good of all.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Congressman Burgess, for it was he who called this piece of legislation to my attention. And he has been steadfastly with me throughout the process, and I am honored to have worked on this piece of legislation with him and Congressman Culberson.

I also think that we would be remiss, Mr. Speaker, if we did not mention Mrs. DeBakey and the persons who are caring for him currently. We have had conversations with the persons caring for him. They have indicated that, of course, he was doing well when last we spoke to them, and they do an outstanding job of caring for Dr. DeBakey.

Earlier, I mentioned that he has had the Methodist Hospital DeBakey Heart Center named in his honor, and I may have misspoken and said Baylor, but it is Methodist.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, this piece of legislation has received bipartisan as well as bicameral support. I had the honor of meeting with Senator Hutchison, and we talked about continuing the effort together to move this piece of legislation as quickly as possible through the process so that the President can sign it and get the actual award ceremony to take place. The President will now have 10 days to sign this bill. History will show us that at no time has a President refused to sign a Congressional Gold Medal. So my suspicion is that this President, who is from the State of Texas, will move expeditiously to sign the bill. After the bill has been signed, the U.S. Mint will meet with the sponsors and with interested parties, which may include family members, to discuss possible designs for the medal.

The Mint engravers will then prepare a series of sketches and possible designs for consideration. These designs will be commented on by the Commission of Fine Arts, and subsequently the Secretary of the Treasury will make the final decision as to the medal's design. The medal is created by the Philadelphia Mint. The medal will be in bronze. The gold medal, of course, will be the one presented to Dr. DeBakey, but there will be replicas in bronze to offset the cost of the medal, and arrangements will be made for the presentation of the gold medal, a ceremony to honor the Honorable Michael E. DeBakey.

Mr. Speaker, this has been one of the great pleasures of my life in terms of being in Congress, in fact, one of the great pleasures of my life period. But this is a high point in my congressional career. I am so honored that my friends have worked with me on this process and that Senator Hutchison has been there throughout the entirety of the process. We are committed to making this happen as expeditiously as possible. If Dr. DeBakey were here today, I am confident that he would continue to talk about how great it is to be a part of this great country that we know as the United States of America.

So I close by saying, God bless you, Dr. DeBakey, and thank you for what you have done to make life better for all of us, and God bless America.

Mr. Chairman, I am honored to be a co-sponsor of H.R. 3121, ``The Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2007'' and I would like to thank Chairman Frank. Subcommittee Chairwoman Waters, Representative Taylor, and Representative Jindal for their leadership in reforming a program that plays a vital role in protecting residents and communities in flood prone areas.

Flood protection is an important issue in my district and in Texas, a state which has experienced the greatest number of flood and flash flood deaths over the past 36 years. In 2006, Texas saw an increase of over 20 percent in new flood insurance policies under the National Flood Insurance Program.

I want to thank Chairman Frank for working with Congressman Hinojosa and I in committee to preserve subsidies for those properties that serve as affordable rental housing for many families. A measure was included in the bill to acknowledge that the loss of subsidies for properties that serve as primary homes for rental households could result in significantly higher premiums, to the detriment of these families. Higher premiums would increase the cost of property ownership, a cost that apartment owners would likely pass on to tenants in the form of higher rents. By protecting subsidies for these properties, this measure would ensure their continued affordability at a time when our nation is faced with a shortage of affordable housing.

I want to also express my strong support for a provision in the bill authored by my colleague Congressman Taylor to expand the National Flood Insurance Program to include coverage for wind damage.

Multi-peril coverage, or the coverage of both wind and flood risk in one policy, has proven especially important in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita as survivors continue to struggle to receive fair compensation for the damages they experienced. Private insurers have used anti-concurrent causation clauses to deny payment for damages on the grounds that the damages occurred as a result of flooding, which is covered by the Federal government. Multi-peril coverage would shield consumers from these arguably deceptive practices, protecting consumers in the absence of a solution to this controversy.

Again, I express my full support for this important piece of legislation.

Madam Speaker, today I was unavoidably delayed and missed the vote on final passage of H.R. 3121, The Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2007 (Rollcall 921). Although H.R. 3121 passed by a vote of 263-146, I respectfully request the opportunity to record my position. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on Rollcall 921.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my strong support for H. Res. 590, a resolution supporting the goal and ideals of National Domestic Violence Awareness month.

Within the United States, we know that one out of every four American women will experience violence by an intimate partner sometime during her lifetime.

Great strides have been made in breaking the vicious cycle of domestic violence in this country. With the impact of legislation such as the Violence Against Women Act, VAWA, the rate of domestic violence against females over the age of 12 in the U.S. declined between 1993 and 2001.

Despite this progress, however, we must continue to raise awareness and actively work to combat this epidemic. We must speak out on behalf of victims who, for too long, were forced to suffer in silence.

Domestic violence can, and often does, turn deadly. A study released by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2005 reported that roughly 22 percent of murders were committed against family members. This study also shows that women are much more likely than men to be victims of domestic violence. In fact, over three-quarters of domestic violence victims are female, while over three-quarters of domestic violence perpetrators are male. It was also found that family members were responsible for an astounding 43 percent of murders of females.

According to a survey conducted in 2007 by the Family Violence Prevention Fund, 56 percent of men have had reason to believe that a member of their immediate or extended family, a close friend, or an acquaintance has been in a domestic violence or sexual assault situation. However, this survey also shows that 57 percent of men believe that they personally can make at least some difference in preventing domestic violence and sexual assault.

I believe that we can all make a difference in the battle against domestic violence. I do not only believe that we can make a difference, but that we must make a difference. I would like to thank my colleague, fellow Texas Congressman Ted Poe for introducing this important resolution.

I would also like to recognize the numerous organizations and individuals who work tirelessly to eradicate domestic violence and its devastating impact on individuals, families, and our communities.

Madam Speaker, I wish to recognize the importance of National Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Week which was celebrated September 9 through September 15, 2007. During Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week, all Americans are encouraged to highlight our Nation's commitment to these notable institutions and their efforts to provide more Americans with the tools to accomplish their goals, realize their full human potential, and contribute to the advancement of our country's great ideals.

We must continue to provide our strong support to HBCUs so that every citizen can enjoy a future of hope, accomplishment, and opportunity. We commend these great institutions as they build on a foundation of continued success for every college student.

There are 114 historically black colleges in the United States today, including 2-year and 4-year institutions as well as public and private institutions. Most are located in the Southeastern United States. Four are located in the Midwestern states (two each in Missouri and Ohio), two are located in Pennsylvania, one is in Delaware, nine in Texas, and one is in the Virgin Islands. It is fitting that we take this week to honor all of these institutions for their service, accomplishment, and continuing legacy.

It is important that we as a nation take a moment to reflect on the tremendous service HBCUs have provided on behalf of our great Nation. America's HBCUs have a proud and solid tradition. Since their inception, HBCUs have furthered the development of African Americans who have become leaders in science, health, government, business, education, the military, law, and world affairs. Graduates of HBCUs have made great contributions to our society, and America, and they continue to serve as role models for all Americans.

As a graduate of Texas Southern University, I understand the vital importance that Historically Black Colleges and Universities play in the advancement of minority education and empowerment. I will continue to work with my colleagues in preserving the educational institutions that have given knowledge and hope to so many minorities for so many years.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the importance of National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week.

I want to thank you and the chairman of the full committee for this brilliant and well thought-out legislation. I absolutely support it. I am convinced that this bill, had it been in place, would have helped many borrowers to avoid the subprime market and many of those who also went into the predatory lending areas, because it would provide reasonable rates without prepayment penalties.

But this bill also has the Affordable Housing Fund, and I support it wholeheartedly. There is no question that there is a need to build, preserve, and renovate, rehabilitate affordable housing in this country. This bill gives us the means by which it can be done.

I also would like to point out that the bill has an amendment that we introduced to deal with the mortgage brokers.

This bill requires mortgage brokers and correspondent lenders to safeguard and account for a borrower's money. It is actually codified into law. It would require them to follow reasonable and lawful instructions of the borrower and to act with reasonable skill, care, and diligence in handling the money of borrowers and the business of borrowers. It allows the Secretary of HUD to deny a violator the privilege of originating loans. It's a good amendment. I beg that my colleagues would support it.

Finally, I want to talk about the alternative credit amendment that was added that we introduced, which is a pilot program to establish an automated process using alternative credit such as rent, utilities, phone bills.

Many persons are credit worthy, but they don't have the traditional credit necessary to purchase a home. This bill will establish an alternative system so that they too may enter the marketplace and purchase a home.

After 4 years, the GAO is to give Congress a report on the bill. I support all of what is in this bill, and I beg that my colleagues do so as well.

Again, I commend the Chair and the ranking members for what they have done as well.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1154) to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Michael Ellis DeBakey, M.D.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this bill, H.R. 1154.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be the original sponsor of this bill. However, Mr. Speaker, I would like to make it conspicuously clear that to award this Congressional Gold Medal to the Honorable Michael DeBakey, many other persons are to be thanked.

I would like to start by thanking the chairman of the Financial Services Committee, my chairman, Chairman Barney Frank, for helping us to expeditiously get this bill out of committee. I would also like to thank the majority leader, Steny Hoyer, for the outstanding work that he has done to get this bill to the floor; my colleagues, Congressman Michael Burgess and the Congressman who is with

me right now, Congressman Burgess is en route, Congressman John Culberson. They have both worked with me, Mr. Speaker, to help us acquire the necessary votes, 290, and I assure you we have acquired more than 300 votes, to get this bill to the floor. The Texas delegation has worked with us and deserves an expression of appreciation. The 313 cosponsors in the U.S. House, the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives, and of course we would like to thank Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, and the Members of the Senate for what they have done with this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, the Congressional Gold Medal has many judges. In fact, 535 people act as judges with reference to the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal. Each Member of the House, 435, and each Senator has a vote. Each one judges the merits of a candidate for a Congressional Gold Medal.

I want you and all others to know, Mr. Speaker, and I understand this and I guess I want people to understand that I understand, that it is not easy to get 290 Members of the House and 67 Members of the Senate to agree. However, with Dr. Michael DeBakey, I found that it was a labor of love, and I found all of the Members that we approached to be most receptive to having this medal be accorded the Honorable Dr. Michael DeBakey.

Let me at this time explain what a Congressional Gold Medal is. It is the Nation's highest and most distinguished civilian award. It was originally awarded to military leaders and later became a civilian medal. It is the congressional equivalent of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Each medal is unique, and it will be coined by the United States Mint and designed by the United States Mint. There will be duplicates made in bronze, and they will be available for public consumption.

The Congressional Gold Medal has been awarded approximately 134 times to approximately 300 individuals. Some noted recipients include the first President of our Nation, George Washington; General Andrew Jackson; the Wright Brothers; Thomas Edison; Sam Rayburn, a former Speaker of this august body; sir Winston Churchill; Robert Kennedy; Lady Bird Johnson; Mother Teresa; Nelson Mandela; Rosa Parks; Pope John Paul II; the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King; and Coretta Scott King. And the last recipients were the Tuskegee Airmen.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank God for Dr. Michael DeBakey. He is truly one who epitomizes the American Dream. Born the oldest of five children, his parents were of Lebanese descent. He was born in my home State, New Orleans, Louisiana. And, Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that he had his residency at Charity Hospital, the hospital where I was delivered, and I am currently researching to find out if it is entirely possible that I might be a person who was delivered by the Honorable Michael DeBakey.

He received his degree from Tulane Medical School. He was on the faculty of Baylor University from 1948 to 1993. He chaired the department of surgery at Baylor. He was the president of Baylor College and also a chancellor.

Mr. Speaker, the Honorable Michael DeBakey has earned the right to receive a Congressional Gold Medal. He served his country during World War II, helped to develop the mobile army surgical hospital units known as the MASH units. We probably would not have a MASH TV series if not but for the Honorable Michael DeBakey.

He helped to develop and establish the VA hospitals. He helped to establish the current Veterans Affairs medical system. He established the field of surgery in the area of strokes. He led the movement to establish the National Library of Medicine. He performed the historic multiple transplantation procedure. He was a leader in the development of the artificial heart. He operated on more than 60,000 patients in Houston alone. He has published more than 1,600 articles. He has been awarded 57 honorary degrees. He helped to establish health care systems around the world, in Jordan, Morocco, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Spain, to name a few.

Dr. DeBakey is a great citizen not only of the United States of America but also of the world. He has been a humanitarian par excellence, and he has helped both rich and poor alike.

Mr. Speaker, if we did not have a Congressional Gold Medal, we would have to create one to honor the Honorable Dr. Michael DeBakey. On his 99th birthday, I am proud to say, we called him to let him know that we had reached the 290 signatures necessary in the House. And his comments were, ``I am so grateful that I am a citizen of the United States.''

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to just make a few closing comments, if I may.

Mr. Speaker, as was indicated by Dr. Burgess, who has worked tirelessly, I might add, to help us get the necessary signatures to bring this bill to the floor, as was indicated, Dr. DeBakey is a living legend. But he is really more than that. He is a person who is loved by many people. The people over at Baylor College of Medicine, the staff, they have worked with us to help us get this piece of legislation through the Congress.

I am honored to tell you, Mr. Speaker, that Mrs. DeBakey is a real asset as well, and we don't want to overlook her.

He is a gentle spirit, a person who is warm, a person who exudes a sense of confidence that is almost infectious. He is a person who is not only a great citizen of the United States, a great humanitarian, but a person who will be remembered throughout history for all that he has done to help humankind.

Mr. Speaker, I will close with a poem, the author whose name is not known to me, but it is most appropriate for Dr. DeBakey:

``While some measure their lives by days and years

Others by heartthrobs, passions, and tears

The surest measure under God's sun

Is what for others in your lifetime have you done.''

Dr. DeBakey, we thank you for what you have done, and we honor you today for your great place in history that you will acquire.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Financial Services be authorized to file a supplemental report on the bill, H.R. 1852.

Madam Speaker, I wish to honor the life of Staff Sergeant Jason M. Butkus 34, of New Jersey, who died in Bagdad, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom on August 30, 2007. Staff Sergeant Butkus died of injuries sustained when his mounted patrol was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade.

Staff Sergeant Butkus was assigned to A company, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas. He enlisted in the army in 1995 and completed basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Prior to enlisting in our Nation's armed forces, Staff Sergeant Butkus graduated from West Milford High School in West Milford, New Jersey, where he was a scholar-athlete and member of the wrestling and track teams.

Staff Sergeant Butkus's 12-year military career took him to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served with the 82nd Airborne Division, and to Alaska and South Korea. Among his many assignments over the years, Butkus served as an instructor at the U.S. Army Training Center at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Additionally, Staff Sergeant Butkus was commended on two separate occasions for his leadership as a noncommissioned officer.

Staff Sergeant Jason M. Butkus dedicated his life to protecting and ensuring our Nation's freedom. He served his country, his community, and his fellow soldiers with the determination, integrity, and courage that is exemplary of a true soldier. He demonstrated his courage on the battlefield while fighting for democracy abroad. His service is a shining example for future soldiers.

Staff Sergeant Jason M. Butkus is survived by a loving mother, father, and a 9-year-old son, Connor. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Staff Sergeant Jason M. Butkus.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a wonderful man and the former president of Texas Southern University, Everett O. Bell. Mr. Bell passed away last Thursday after a lengthy illness and he will be deeply missed.

Everett Bell was born on September 23, 1918 in Kosciusko, Mississippi to Ebb Owens Bell and Allie Glee, as one of ten children. He quickly showed his dedication to serving his community and his country, attaining the rank of Captain during his service in the United States Army during World War II. After leaving the service, Mr. Bell returned to the University of Kansas to attain his Bachelor of Arts degree.

Mr. Bell first came to Texas Southern in 1948 as a registrar and assistant professor at my alma mater, Texas Southern's School of Law, later to become the Thurgood Marshall School of Law. This marked the beginning of 46 years of distinguished service to the university in various capacities. He served as director of personnel, acting dean of the School of Law, assistant to the president under seven different administrations, vice president for administrative affairs, and executive director for regent relations, among other positions. From 1979 to 1980, Mr. Bell served as Texas Southern's fifth president following the departure of President Granville Sawyer. He continued working at the school through 1994, when he retired after his extremely distinguished career.

Mr. Bell served Texas Southern University and the rest of his community admirably throughout the course of his life. In 1983, Texas Southern recognized his tireless service by naming the Student Services Building in his honor as Everett O. Bell Hall. He also served admirably in the Episcopal Church, where he served on the Diocese of Texas' Executive Board and Race Relations Board. Mr. Bell also demonstrated his commitment to his community by serving on the Board of St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital.

I would like to express my condolences to Everett Bell's family, friends and all those who will miss him dearly. I would also like to express my admiration for his lifelong dedicated service to his community and his country.

Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to support House Resolution 34 and to honor the life and works of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, an ardent advocate of civil rights for all.

Archbishop Tutu became the Dean of St. Mary's Cathedral in Johannesburg in 1975, becoming the first black African to hold that position. In 1978, he went on to become the General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches (SACC), an ecumenical organization working for social justice, where Archbishop Tutu was again the first black African to hold his position. In this capacity, Archbishop Tutu performed yeoman's work in crusading for racial justice and the end of apartheid. Indeed, under Archbishop Tutu's leadership, SACC's nonviolent leadership played a pivotal role in bringing about the disintegration of South Africa's apartheid government.

In 1984, in recognition of this work, Archbishop Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, a well-deserved honor given all of his efforts. This award, though, did not signify the end of Archbishop Tutu's efforts to create a more just world. In 1986, he was elected the Archbishop of Cape Town, making him the head of the Anglican Church in South Africa and giving him an appropriately prominent platform for his message in support of equality.

After the downfall of South Africa's apartheid government, Archbishop Tutu continued to be an inspiration for us all. In 1996, President Nelson Mandela appointed him to chair South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a body designed to probe human rights violations under the apartheid government and to reconcile the country's black and white communities. This commission created a new model for countries looking to overcome violent, discriminatory histories in peaceful ways. Archbishop Tutu later became the founding trustee of the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre, an organization dedicated to spreading peace through South Africa and the world.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu's life provides a shining example of compassion, dedication and unyielding work for justice. I congratulate Archbishop Tutu for reaching his 75th birthday and for all of his good works over the course of his life, and I commend my friend and colleague from the great state of Texas, Ms. Jackson-Lee, for introducing this resolution.