Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an organization of military veterans that works hard to take care of its own by supporting the Veterans Administration's health care services. It is my privilege to introduce the work of the Allied Veterans of the World to my fellow Members of Congress.

Allied Veterans of the World was founded in 1979 as the 451st Bomber Group by Commander-in-Chief Harold Grossman. It became the first organized veteran group in Florida by

incorporating under the name Bomber Group 451st.

For the next 10 years, this small group of veterans donated items to the VA domiciliary and aided senior citizens in its Florida area by providing transportation for veterans to the VA hospital. The members realized they could make a bigger impact if they opened the organization to all veterans. So in 1989, they formed under the name Allied Veterans of the World.

Today, led by National Commander Johnny Duncan, Allied Veterans raises funds through bingo, car washes, cookouts and cyber centers. All funds directly benefit veteran or first responder organizations.

National Commander Duncan states, ``Our veterans deserve the best medical attention possible, and we understand the challenges their health care system faces today. We are proud to be assisting the VA volunteers and medical professionals with funds that will help them better serve our healing veterans.''

Allied Veterans has contributed to VA hospitals in Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina and Georgia supplementing federal programs for veterans such as recreation therapy, therapeutic supplies and homeless veterans programs.

In my district in Northeast Florida, the Allied Veterans have purchased flags of all the services to be used in our local hospices so that when a veteran is admitted into a program, his or her service flag stands watch at the veteran's door. This is a meaningful gesture very much appreciated by the veteran and his or her family members. The program allows the hospice staff a final chance to display honor and appreciation for the veteran's service. Allied Veterans of the World has donated over a million dollars to projects through VA medical centers, Fraternal Order of Police chapters, and other organizations that support veterans and first responders.

It is my honor to commend the Allied Veterans of the World and its National Commander Johnny Duncan and National Secretary Jerry Bass on a job well done.

Surely, this organization lives up to its motto Veterans helping Veterans.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to submit documentation consistent with the new Republican Earmark Standards.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ander Crenshaw

Bill Number: H.R. 6599--Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act For Fiscal Year 2009

Account: Military Construction, Navy

Legal Name of Receiving Entity: Naval Air Station Jacksonville

Address of Receiving Entity: Jacksonville, Florida

Description of Request: I have secured $12,890,000 in funding in H.R. 6599 in the

Military Construction, Navy account for Child Development Center project at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida.

Project will construct a Child Development Center (CDC) for 302 children ages 6 weeks to 6 years for full-day, part-day, and hourly care that are currently housed in substandard buildings and inadequate temporary trailers.

The existing child care facility accommodates approximately 246 children. Another 84 children are on an excess demand waiting list. Unborn infants projected list totals 46. Current facilities provide only a fraction of the space required for child care.

Additional space is required to reduce the waiting list of military dependents seeking child care services at NAS Jacksonville.

Naval Air Station Jacksonville is a strategic base for the Navy. This project was programmed by the Navy to receive funding in Fiscal Year 2009.

Military Construction projects are always 100 percent funded by the U.S. Federal government so there is no opportunity for matching funds.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ander Crenshaw

Bill Number: H.R. 6599--Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act For Fiscal Year 2009

Account: Military Construction, Navy

Legal Name of Receiving Entity: Naval Station Mayport

Address of Receiving Entity: Mayport, Florida

Description of Request: I have secured $14,900,000 in funding in H.R. 6599 in the Military Construction, Navy account for an Alpha Wharf Improvement project at Naval Station Mayport, Florida.

Upgrade 900' of steel sheet pile bulkhead by driving a new steel sheet pile wall in front of the existing bulkhead, replace concrete pile cap, provide compacted select backfill material in areas of failure behind the bulkhead and between the new bulkhead and existing; replace the concrete encasement of sheet pile and concrete fendering panels; demolish and provide new asphalt wharf deck paving; demolish and reconstruct electrical distribution structure and relocate transformers and switchgear to new facility; install new primary electrical transformer, switchgear and CMU substation enclosure with HVAC for 4160V ships power, install new concrete shore power igloos to support 4160V ships power distribution; install new high security steel reinforced sliding vehicle gate, pedestrian turnstile access facility, wire rope active vehicle barrier and concrete filled, steel pipe passive vehicle bollards; cathodic protection system; concrete retaining wall. The project will demolish concrete pile cap and fendering face, demolish concrete and 5800 SY of asphalt wharf deck paving.

Naval Station Mayport is a strategic base for the Navy. This project was programmed to receive funding in Fiscal Year 2009.

Military Construction projects are always 100% funded by the U.S. Federal government so there is no opportunity for matching funds

Thank you, Mr. Wamp, for yielding the time and thank you for your leadership on the subcommittee. And I certainly want to commend Chairman Edwards for all the hard work that he puts in.

Mr. Chairman, I have served on this subcommittee for as long as I have been on the Appropriations Committee, and I can tell you that there is never a time that I am more proud than when I am working with the young men and women in uniform.

I think we ought to note tonight that this is the first appropriations bill that we're taking up, and I think that speaks volumes about the priority and the commitment that we have in this Chamber to the men and women that wear the uniform. And this bill touches literally everyone, whether they are active duty today, as we provide money for new barracks, new training facilities, new hangars and airfields, and we improve our port facilities for the ships and the planes. It touches those that have served us in the past as veterans, building new facilities, veterans clinics, hospitals, even providing a suicide prevention line to help those troubled veterans as they come back and save, literally save, their lives.

And it also touches the people that are no longer with us because we have money in this bill to maintain and construct national cemeteries to give a final resting place for those who have served us, provide money for the monuments around the world to pay tribute to our fallen heroes.

But it also touches the lives of the family members of our men and women in uniform, day care centers we have talked about, quality of life issues.

So I would say this is a very important bill. It's a good bill. It serves those who serve us the most, and it deserves our support. So I urge my colleagues to join us in passing this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to submit documentation consistent with the new Republican Earmark Standards.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ander Crenshaw.

Bill Number: H.R. 6599--Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies.

Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2009.

Account: Military Construction, Navy.

Legal Name of Receiving Entity: Naval Station Mayport.

Address of Receiving Entity: Mayport, Florida.

Description of Request: I have secured $3,530,000 in funding in H.R. 6599 in the Military Construction, Navy account for an Aircraft Refueling project at Naval Station Mayport, Florida.

This project will construct a two (2) outlet, 300gpm/outlet aircraft direct fueling system to include concrete foundations and slab on grade, 15,000 gallon double wall steel tanks (to be relocated from the existing truck fill stand), concrete containment berms, double walled underground piping, valves, pumps, pressure gauges, filter separators, leak detection monitors for piping and tanks, float switches, double wall steel product recovery tank, emergency shut off valves, fuel quality monitors, pipe vents, fire protection, pressure indicating transmitter and water drainoff system. It would also construct underground double walled fuel transfer line from bulk storage to the direct fueling facility. The project will properly close, by abandoning in place, the existing underground fuel transfer line from the bulk storage to the existing truck fill stand. Closure will include pigging/ purging the lines, grout injection of ends, core boring and soil sampling along the fuel transfer line, and submission of a Florida Department of Environmental Protection Closure Assessment Report.

In addition, this project will construct a 150 m2, single story building on a concrete slab on grade and concrete footings. The building and fuel lab will include vinyl floor tile, steel stud/gypsum wallboard walls, hollow core interior steel doors, solid core exterior steel doors, double glazed single hung windows, modified bitumen roofing, interior plumbing, electrical power and lighting wiring, data/ communication wiring, fluorescent lighting fixtures, ceramic bathroom tile, HVAC system/distribution/controls and site utilities (electric, water, sanitary, fiber optic communication/data). The project demolishes building 18 (32 m2) and the truck fill stand facility 142 (400 GM).

Naval Station Mayport is a strategic base for the Navy. This project was programmed to receive funding in Fiscal Year 2012 but was identified by the base commander as the highest unfunded priority in Fiscal Year 2009.

Military Construction projects are always 100 percent funded by the U.S. Federal Government so there is no opportunity for matching funds.

I thank the gentleman for yielding the time.

I am very proud and privileged to join with my colleagues from Florida to sponsor this resolution commending Tim Tebow for winning the Heisman. As has been pointed out, it's the most prestigious award in college football, and it's the first time a sophomore has ever been awarded this. They have been giving this award for over 70 years, and never has a sophomore won it, but of course never was there a Tim Tebow before this year.

He has pointed out a lot of the statistics, the highlight I think is the fact that he is the first quarterback in major college football to throw for more than 20 touchdowns and also run for more than 20 touchdowns. He went on the rest of the year to win the Sullivan Award, the Danny O'Brien Award and the Maxwell Award. He was voted the AP Player of the Year. But I would say to you that, in spite of all those great athletic achievements, his strength of character maybe surpasses his athletic ability.

And just a word about Tim Tebow, the person, one of the reasons I'm so pleased to be here tonight is because his mom and dad, Pam and Bob Tebow, have been great friends of mine since we were together at the University of the Florida. I have watched Tim grow up. He is the youngest of five children. He has two older sisters, Katy and Christie, he's got two older brothers, Peter and Robbie. And when you grow up as the baby--even though he was a big baby, he was pretty competitive, looking after his big brothers and sisters. He worked on a farm. They live in Jacksonville, and he would go out and mow the lawn and pull weeds and fix the fence, and developed a pretty good sense of work ethic.

I think he would say to you today, Tim Tebow, as I listen to him talk, one of the reasons he has been so successful in athletics is because he understands that there are things in life that are more important than football. And I think because of that perspective, it has made him a better individual and also a better football player. But as has been pointed out, he spends a great deal of his free time going back to the mission field with his dad to the Philippines, where they started an orphanage. When he has time, he will go to hospitals and visit with young people today, who maybe have serious injuries. He has been a real inspiration to them.

And because of his deep and abiding faith in God, he sees his athletic ability as a platform so he can go into schools and go into prisons and go into churches and talk about his faith.

So I would just say that I want to add my words of congratulations to Tim Tebow and to his family. And not only has he been a great football player, but he has exhibited a great strength of character. I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution honoring him for winning this most prestigious award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the families of members of our United States Armed Forces.

Today, the United States House of Representatives passed H. Con. Res. 295, a concurrent resolution ``expressing the deepest appreciation of Congress to the families of members of the United States Armed Forces.'' I was proud to add my support to this legislation.

In northeast Florida, we are honored to live in an area with a large community of military members and families. They are a tremendous asset, not only to our Nation as a whole, but to our local municipalities as well.

While husbands and wives are serving our Nation all over the world through military service, their families are also sacrificing for the benefit of our Nation. Their willingness to frequently relocate, separate from spouses and parents, and ``face increased worry and uncertainty when their loved one serves extended tours overseas'' demonstrates their commitment to our Nation. For that and more, they deserve our deepest and most grateful thanks.

Many times these families are not recognized, nor seen in the spotlight of our society. While there are no medals awarded to spouses or children, their sacrifice and service could not be any more distinctive.

It has been said that families are the fabric from which any strong culture is built, and certainly the strength of our military families bolsters the foundation of America.

So it is with great appreciation and sincere thanks that I salute some 3 million United States Armed Forces members and their families serving our Nation around the world.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and recognize Florida's oldest child service agency, daniel, located in Jacksonville.

On July 19, 2008, daniel will celebrate 124 years of service to Northeast Florida's abandoned, abused and neglected children. Founded in 1884 as The Orphanage and Home for the Friendless and later named for Colonel James Daniel, a well-known community leader who died as a result of his fight against Jacksonville's yellow fever epidemic, daniel has continued to serve our children and our community uninterrupted since that time.

Over the years, daniel has served more than 100,000 children, gained national acclaim as a leader in the area of independent living services and offered our children structure, routine and discipline in caring and comfortable facilities where they can learn, live and know that they are valued.

Through its many programs, daniel works hard to give the children entrusted in its care

the tools to develop solid character traits for life. Character builds slowly but can be torn down with incredible swiftness. Through the years, daniel's staff has continued to strengthen our community by dedicated devotion to the children they serve. They are in the business of building lives. They plant a thought and reap an act. They plant an act and reap a habit. They plant a habit and reap a character trait. They plant character and reap a destiny.

As a community it may be years before we realize the full value of daniel's services. But each time one of daniel's kids goes on to become a productive member of our community, it is testimony to their hard work. I congratulate this very special program and rise today to acknowledge the accomplishments of daniel's 124 years of service to the children of our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to submit documentation consistent with the new Republican Earmark Standards.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ander Crenshaw.

Bill Number: H.R. 5658--The Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2009.

Account: Military Construction, Navy.

Legal Name of Receiving Entity: Naval Station Mayport.

Address of Receiving Entity: Mayport, Florida.

Description of Request: I have secured $3,530,000 in authorization funding in H.R. 5658 in the Military Construction, Navy account for an Aircraft Refueling project at Naval Station Mayport, Florida.

This project will construct a two (2) outlet, 300gpm/outlet aircraft direct fueling system to include concrete foundations and slab on grade, 15,000 gallon double wall steel tanks (to be relocated from the existing truck fill stand), concrete containment berms, double walled underground piping, valves, pumps, pressure gauges, filter seperators, leak detection monitors for piping and tanks, float switches, double wall steel product recovery tank, emergency shut off valves, fuel quality monitors, pipe vents, fire protection, pressure indicating transmitter and water drain off system. It would also construct underground double walled fuel transfer line from bulk storage to the direct fueling facility. The project will properly close, by abandoning in place, the existing underground fuel transfer line from the bulk storage to the existing truck fill stand. Closure will include pigging/ purging the lines, grout injection of ends, core boring and soil sampling along the fuel transfer line, and submission of a Florida Department of Environmental Protection Closure Assessment Report.

In addition, this project will construct a 150 m2, single story building on a concrete slab on grade and concrete footings. The building and fuel lab will include vinyl floor tile, steel stud/gypsum wallboard walls, hollow core interior steel doors, solid core exterior steel doors, double glazed single hung windows, modified bitumen roofing, interior plumbing, electrical power and lighting wiring, data/ communication wiring, fluorescent lighting fixtures, ceramic bathroom tile, HVAC system/distribution/controls and site utilities (electric, water, sanitary, fiber optic communication/data). The project demolishes building 18 (32 m2) and the truck fill stand facility 142 (400 GM).

Naval Station Mayport is a strategic base for the Navy. This project was programmed to receive funding in Fiscal Year 2012, but was identified by the base commander as the highest unfunded priority in Fiscal Year 2009.

Military Construction projects are always 100 percent funded by the U.S. Federal government so there is no opportunity for matching funds.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and recognize the Clara White Mission located in my district in Jacksonville, Florida.

Tomorrow, the Clara White Mission will be awarded the 2007 HUD Secretary's Award for Excellence. This award, made in partnership with HUD and the American Planning Association, recognizes ``model'' programs that improve employment, education, and housing opportunities, and I cannot imagine any more deserving recipient than the Clara White Mission.

The Clara White Mission, which was founded in 1904, but traces its origins to 1880s Jacksonville, is committed to eradicating chronic homelessness in blighted areas. It should be noted that the Clara White Mission is unique in many ways, but most notably their passion for bettering not only the community but also the individual.

Tomorrow, at the Mission's ``Miracle on Ashley Street'' event, community and corporate leaders will serve the homeless and community guests a gourmet lunch prepared by area restaurants and the Clara White culinary students in an effort to help raise awareness for the program.

The project assists homeless members of the community through a variety of programs. The Mission offers permanent housing, substance abuse mediation, mental health counseling, and help to those in need of developing marketable job skills tailored to the demands of the local job market.

The saying goes, ``Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.'' The Clara White Mission puts this principle in practice every day through the programming they offer those who have the greatest need.

I congratulate this very special program and rise today to acknowledge the wonderful accomplishments of the Clara White Mission as they receive HUD's 2007 Award for Excellence.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize and honor all law enforcement officials for the crucial and irreplaceable job that they so tirelessly do for our communities' benefit. When I meet with various officials throughout my district and see the job that they do, I am continually impressed by the sense of honor and the level of commitment with which they so unselfishly serve. Many of them continually place their lives on the line in order to protect the families and individuals in our area. Some have indeed given their lives in the line of duty, and for that there is no measure of gratitude that can possibly rise to the level of what our community owes them.

These dedicated individuals give of their time, energy, and heart. They ask for little other than our support. They crave no spotlight or public applause. They serve out of a sense of deep love for their community and out of a sense of purpose in ensuring the citizenry is protected and justice is served.

I would like to especially recognize a fallen officer whose name was added to the wall on the National Police Memorial in Washington, D.C. this week, in a ceremony attended by Jacksonville Sheriff Rutherford.

Jacksonville Sheriff's Officer Eric Bell was killed, on duty, on October 12, 2007 when a vehicle pulled in front of his patrol car. Officer Bell was returning from a call on Heckscher Drive when a van traveling on New Berlin Road collided with his cruiser.

Officers like Eric Bell embody the belief that there is no greater purpose than serving our fellow neighbors, and Officer Bell gave his life in this noble effort. In doing so, he and other law enforcement officials model character and integrity for generations to come.

It is with a grateful heart and a sense of tremendous pride that I recognize and honor Jacksonville Sheriff's Officer Eric Bell and each individual serving our community in a law enforcement capacity during this 2008 National Law Enforcement Week.

Madam Speaker, today the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee considered S. 934, a companion bill to H.R. 1374, which passed the House of Representatives on December 17, 2007. This legislation provides the Forestry Service the flexibility they need to properly manage their assets. This legislation modifies the Florida National Forest Land Management Act in two simple ways which will provide the Forest Service essential authority to manage the national forests in Florida effectively.

The first provision simply adds an unmanageable tract of land located in Tallahassee, FL to the list of lands the Secretary of Agriculture is currently authorized to sell. This specific property, tract W-1979, is approximately 114 acres of land that has evolved into an unmanageable, problem area for the Apalachicola National Forest. Due to the configuration and surrounding development, the vegetation cannot be managed through prescribed fire. Although a very valuable tract from a real estate/commercial aspect, this tract has lost its national forest character. The sale of this land will allow the Forest Service to purchase other lands located within the Forest that are more manageable and will enhance national forests in Florida.

Secondly, this legislation would allow the Forest Service to use proceeds from the sale of other ``non-green land'' to be used for construction and improvements to administrative facilities essential to the proper management of the Forest. These ``non-green land'' tracts of land are owned by the Forest Service, but have urban improvements like fairgrounds or sporting complexes and are not conducive to the overall purpose of protecting our national forests.

This legislation would allow the Service to use the proceeds from the sale of improved lands to build critical infrastructure they need to manage the forests in Florida, while allowing the forest service to continue its practice of using receipts from all non-developed ``green land'' tracts for the acquisition of other ``green land'' tracts to enhance the national forests in Florida. I am pleased that this legislation is moving forward and the Forest Service will have the ability to efficiently and effectively manage our Nation's precious resources.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the members of the Navy League of the United States for their exemplary work in supporting our sea services. In my hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, we have two Navy bases, a Coast Guard Sector, a U.S. Marine Corps Command and a large port, so we are constantly aware of the impact your members have on our mariners.

Our area is home to several Navy League Councils, including the Mayport Council, which is one of the largest in the country and the home Council for J. Michael McGrath, your incoming National President. As Mike prepares to accept the challenges of guiding this fine organization, I want to congratulate him and wish him well. I am confident he will lead the Navy League with the same dedication and commitment your membership is accustomed to.

Following a full Navy career, Mike continued his support of the sea services through the Navy League. Both he and his wife, Gloria, are active life members. Based on his experience and insight, Mike can provide a clear and knowledgeable plan for the future of this organization.

As our military is stretched in resources, organizations like the Navy League are even more important in fighting for the priorities and goals of our sea services, not only to Congress but also to local community leaders and businesses who must understand the value that our military institutions bring to local economies,

The 21st Century is still young, and the roles of the sea services are ever evolving. It will take innovative and effective leadership to weather these transformational times. I look forward to continuing to work with Mike McGrath in his new role as National President of the Navy League of the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to question the new majority's earmark reform for the 110th Congress.

On July 31, 2007, I supported and the House of Representatives passed S. 1, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007, which provides for greater transparency in the legislative process. It is with great disappointment that I take this time to recognize the lack of this same transparency in the conference report for H.R. 1495, the Water Resources Development Act of 2007. This legislation authorizes Federal funding for local water and civil works projects that are extremely important to the State of Florida, and the Nation as a whole.

At the start of the 110th Congress the new Democratic majority made repeated promises to the American public about their goals for this newly led Congress, ensuring ``accountability, honesty, and openness at all levels of government.'' It is now November and the unfortunate reality is that these promises are not being kept.

In accordance with House Rules, I submitted a written request letter for the authorization of Federal funding for several local water and civil works projects in my district to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The intent of the new earmark disclosure rules was to make all earmark requests transparent and accessible to the American public. In addition, these new rules require the committee to ``identify, on a publicly accessible congressional Web site each congressionally directed spending request through lists, charts, or other similar means, including the name of each requesting Member or Senator.''

In a recent review of the conference report for H.R. 1495, the Water Resources Development Act of 2007, it came to my attention that one of the projects authorized in the report, which I requested, Sec. 5158 (125) the Jacksonville Septic Tank Replacement, did not include my name with it, as required. I do not bring this to your attention today seeking recognition for doing the job I was sent here to do. However, I do bring it to your attention to express my disappointment that the new earmark disclosure rules are not being followed properly.

The American public deserves the accountability, honesty, and openness promised to them. Let's ensure that all of our bills conform to this standard.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize the admirable efforts of the Jacksonville Elks Lodge #221 for the outstanding service they have provided our nation's veterans. In these uncertain times where foreign radicals continue to pose a threat to our Nation and our troops continue to fight this threat overseas, their contributions are made even more significant.

Over the past 3 years, the 352 members of Jacksonville Elks Lodge #221 have raised almost $42,000 and donated much needed supplies for our veterans. They have traveled almost 39,000 miles to veterans hospitals, nursing homes and private homes of veterans and have invested almost 2,500 hours of service to our veterans population.

Every month members of Jacksonville Elks Lodge #221 visit the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Lake City to volunteer their time for our veterans and have supported more than 100 homeless veterans each year through donations and goods to the City of Jacksonville's Homeless Veterans Stand-Down. Currently they have adopted four veterans whom they are assisting with shopping, groceries, transportation to and from medical appointments and other day-to-day activities. They have held luncheons and provided support for spouses and families of deployed service men and women and adopted units deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, sending them supplies and recreational equipment.

Taking into account their service for our veterans community, it is no surprise that at least three of the recent past State Veterans Chairpersons of the Florida State Elks Association Veterans Service Committee have come from this Lodge and their current Chairperson was selected as the Female Veterans Services Volunteer of the Year for the State of Florida in an award presented at the Florida State Elks Convention in June 2005.

It is my distinct honor to call the members of the Jacksonville Elks Lodge #221 my friends and neighbors and I am proud to represent them as their Member of Congress. On behalf of Jacksonville and our entire Nation, I would like to express my utmost appreciation and offer them our thanks for their service to our community.

Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained in my congressional district on Monday, September 24, 2007. I respectfully request the Congressional Record to reflect that, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 891 on motion to suspend the rules and pass House Concurrent Resolution 193; ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 892 on motion to suspend the rules and pass House Resolution No. 668; ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 893 on motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 1199 and ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 894 on motion to suspend the rules and pass House Resolution 340.