Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, today, I would like to pay honor to the Indiana National Guard's 1313th Engineer Company, who will be deploying to Iraq in July and spending the next year there. These brave citizen soldiers, based out of Camp Atterbury in Edinburgh, IN, will be conducting a wide range of engineering missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; including searching for improvised explosive devices, building roads and bridges, and, in general, improving lives to both our service personnel in Iraq and Iraqi civilians.

I am confident that their skilled work and dedication to duty will save lives, improve conditions in Iraq, and ultimately work toward the completion of our country's mission in Iraq.

I would also like to honor the families of these Guardsmen, who without their love and support, would make this already difficult task that much more challenging. They too share in the hardships of military service, and they too deserve our utmost thanks and respect.

These brave Hoosier Guardsmen and their families will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Madam Speaker, Saturday, June 6, 2009, marks the official kick-off of Madison, Indiana's Bicentennial Celebration. And, what a storied history this wonderful town in my congressional district has amassed. Reflecting on the town's 200-year history takes time. So, it is only fitting that Madison residents and visitors will celebrate for 200 hours straight.

Madison is one of the most beautiful small towns in my congressional district. It was founded in 1809 and thrived on the commerce that the river provided. In its earliest years, Madison blossomed quickly and many stately mansions were built to accommodate its wealth. As rail became the prominent mode of transportation and commerce began to move away from the river, Madison's progress changed, and it became home to small, quaint businesses. At that time, it was yet to be told that what seemed to be the recession of the City would someday become the very thing that would bring it back to vibrancy.

Today, Madison has been recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of a dozen distinguished destinations in America and is home to the largest National Historic Landmark District in the state. This year, as the residents of Madison celebrate their 200th birthday, I'd like to congratulate them on the success of their community and offer them continued prosperity in the next 200 years. I hope to attend some of the bicentennial festivities. If not, I will certainly be there in spirit.

Congratulations on your bicentennial Madison, Indiana.

Mr. Speaker, in the year 2007, I introduced the Alien Smuggling and Terrorism Prevention Act. And as has already been mentioned, it passed

this House without any opposition, and it has bipartisan support.

When I came to Congress, back to Congress, I should say, in the year 2006, immigration was a very hot issue, and so I wanted to look at ways that we could provide Americans some relief. And one of the shocking things that I learned was the fact that if you smuggle an illegal alien in here, either against their will or willfully, it is only a misdemeanor, with a prison term for under 1 year and a small fine; and I didn't think that that was justified.

As has already been mentioned here by Congresswoman Jackson-Lee, it passed overwhelmingly without opposition, and this year it does have, again, bipartisan support. The bill failed in the Senate. For whatever reason, the Senate did not pass it. That is the reason why I have introduced it again, and have bipartisan support.

I'm glad that Representative Chaffetz is on the bill, and also the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, Representative Lamar Smith.

My bill, as has already been said, would significantly increase penalties against human smugglers and traffickers, raising the crime from a misdemeanor to a felony.

Smugglers would see increased prison time if convicted of smuggling persons under inhumane conditions, or for the purpose of criminal exploitation, or in the event that they are smuggling someone into the United States with the intent to carry out acts of terror.

In the case of serious bodily injury, rape or murder, the smuggler or trafficker could face upwards of life in prison.

This bill serves two important goals. First, it holds those who smuggle and traffic persons into the United States responsible for their crimes. It is estimated that over 17,000 people are smuggled into the United States each year. These are people who are forced into awful situations against their will. Those found trafficking for those purposes deserve a fitting punishment, and my bill works to ensure that justice is served.

Second, H.R. 1029 works to stem the flow of illegal immigration. I believe this bill will act as a deterrent for illegal alien smugglers and, therefore, greatly cut down on illegal immigration.

I believe that we need to ensure that our Border Patrol and Coast Guard have the tools they need to keep our borders safe.

This bill is critical in bolstering our economic and national security and, therefore, I strongly urge the passage of H.R. 1029.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

I am happy that we are taking up this important piece of legislation today. I think it's the right thing to do. The President and the First Lady have, of course, been strong advocates for national service programs.

The amendment that I am offering today evolved as a result of a bill that I introduced in this session. It's House Resolution 1090, called the Homefront Heroes Tax Relief Act. It's a bill that gives support to our troops and our military families who are serving our country.

This legislation actually came about because of a constituent of mine in Bloomington, Indiana--Indiana University Professor Catherine Dalton--who came up with the idea. She had been sending care packages to Iraq and incurring a lot of expense. These care packages were sent to families and to soldiers in Iraq that were not related to her own family.

Everybody wants to help our troops, and this fine young woman was doing just that. She was helping our troops, on her own. But she was also incurring a lot of expense. So she came to me and said, ``Congressman Hill, I think it would be a good idea to help people like myself who are trying to help our troops, and that is the expenses that we incur are tax deductible on our income taxes.''

So I filed the bill, the Homefront Heroes Tax Relief Act, to allow people like Professor Dalton to do just that.

So my amendment simply ensures that sending care packages to members of the armed services deployed in combat are also included in the eligible national service program.

Currently, people like Professor Dalton have to just absorb these expenses. If this amendment is passed, it would allow volunteer programs that send care packages to members of the armed services to be eligible for grant funding under the GIVE Act.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

I will yield.

I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank the chairman and the ranking member for this bipartisan support. This is a bipartisan bill and amendment, and I am sure it will gain a lot of Democrat and Republican votes.

This is the right thing to do. This is how democracy is supposed to work. We are supposed to listen to our constituents who have good ideas and come here to Washington to pass good legislation. So I am happy that we have this bipartisan support.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on Saturday, February 14, 2009, the Miss Madison will be crowned the 2008 National Championship Winner by the American Boat Racing Association in Madison, Indiana. I regret that I will not be able to attend the event, but want to reiterate my heartfelt congratulations to those responsible for the win and the entire Madison community.

Miss Madison is a real source of pride to Southern Indiana, and rightfully so. As the only city-owned hydroplane race boat, the Miss Madison is not only this year's champion, but holds the record for most consecutive seasons run at 47. Miss Madison has been racing since 1961 and can boast of a Turbine Engine motor capable of reaching about 19000 rpms.

Congratulations, again, to the Miss Madison, its fans and supporters. I look forward to attending award banquets in the future for this powerful boat.

Mr. Speaker, some of you may know that, in my younger days, I broke a few athletic records, but today, John Dingell has broken a record that shows exactly what kind of man he is--a devoted public servant. I rise today to honor John Dingell's service to the people of Michigan and to the Nation.

He is an undeniable leader but also a teacher and a mentor. He has been in Washington for some years now, but he has never strayed from his midwestern roots. Everything he does is for the betterment of his constituents.

Mr. Speaker, back in the '50s and '60s, the reputation of Congress was much higher than what it is today. Today, the low approval ratings are of concern to me and to, I think, a lot of people, but back in the '50s and '60s when Mr. Dingell was a prominent Member of this body, the reputation of Congress was high. People in America respected the Congress of the United States, and it was because of the way people like John Dingell respected the institution of our Congress.

We need to return to those days. The days of slashing and burning this institution need to disappear. We need to follow the leadership of people like John Dingell, who throughout his entire career was never a slash and burn politician. He was a person who may have disagreed with you, but he never disrespected you, and that is why all of us in this body respect a man like John Dingell. It has been an honor and a privilege for me to serve on the commerce committee with him. He has helped me tremendously.

John, I pause today to thank you for your service and to tell you how much

I respect you, not only for what you have done for me but for what you have done for this institution.

I thank my friend from Louisiana for yielding me this dedicated time.

Fourteen days ago, Mr. Speaker, Barack Obama became President of the United States. And listening to some of my colleagues earlier in the evening, you would have thought by listening to them that the $10 trillion deficit that we're now facing was created by President Obama within the last 14 days. And we all know that that is not true.

As a matter of fact, the largest budget deficits that we've ever had have, quite frankly, come under the presidencies of three Republican presidents: one in the 1980s, one in the 1990s, and this last President that we've had for the last 8 years.

And the Blue Dogs have the special hour here today, and for years we have been coming to this microphone to talk about the dangers to the long-term economy by driving up these deficits. And we have had a day of a reckoning that happened several months ago that, in part, was caused by wasteful spending and deficit spending. What we have been warning this Congress about for many years is that if we do not get a fix on our national deficit, it is going to have a devastating effect upon our economy.

Now here we are standing before the American people telling the American people that that day has arrived.

Now, in totality, it was not the fault of the Federal budget deficit. There were a lot of things that were going on with the financial markets that were no good, but here we are trying to figure out what to do next.

Now, the Blue Dogs did something that was extraordinary, or at least most of the Blue Dogs--not all of the Blue Dogs--but many of the Blue Dogs felt like that this economy was in such dire straits that we had to forego the disciplines that we have practiced for many, many years. In light of the fact that our economy was tanking, many of us felt like we should borrow more money in order to stimulate the economy.

But in the process of doing that, we have had ongoing negotiations with the folks in the Obama administration that while many of us were willing to suspend our feelings about fiscal discipline in order to jump start the economy, that somewhere down the line very soon, as a matter of fact, that we had to implement new PAYGO rules in order to get a handle on this spiraling budget deficit that is out of control.

Now, it's going to take some time to climb out of the hole that we find ourselves in after 8 years of the Bush administration. But we must start now to impose fiscal discipline on the Federal Government so that our children and grandchildren do not bear the burden of our debts.

Blue Dogs know that we need to work quickly to put budget enforcement tools, like statutory PAYGO, in place so that we can begin paying down the national debt that's crippling our economy and putting future generations of Americans in jeopardy. This is why we have been working with our leadership in the House, as well as newly appointed Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag, to make sure that we put our country back on a path to fiscal responsibility and economic sustainability.

Now just recently, at the Blue Dogs' asking, Dr. Orszag recently sent a letter to the House leaders stating the President's support for a return to PAYGO budgeting: ``Moving forward we need to return to the fiscal responsibility and pay-as-you-go budgeting that we had in the 1990s for all non-emergency measures. The President and his economic team look forward''--this is not me reading my words; this is Dr. Orszag saying this, ``The President and his economic team look forward to working with Congress to develop budget enforcement rules that are based on the tools that helped create the surpluses of a decade ago. Putting the country back on the path of fiscal responsibility will mean tough choices and difficult trade-offs, but for the long-term health of our economy, the President believes that they must be made.''

That letter was sent to the leaders of this Congress at the request of the Blue Dogs who have been consistently and perpetually making sure, Madam Speaker, that this Congress get its fiscal house in order.

President Obama has been very clear about his intentions to clean up the Federal budget, cut out wasteful spending, reinstitute pay-as-you- go budgeting, and address the long-term fiscal challenges facing the country. As a strong, moderating force within the House of Representatives, we look forward to continuing work with the President and others in Congress to put forward a plan for real fiscal reform over the long term.

The bottom line is that our country is maintaining an unsustainable level of debt that is threatening not only our economy, but our national security and the quality of life of every single American. We have to do something about it now, and the Blue Dogs stand ready to make the difficult decisions necessary to reverse the out-of-control spending and reckless fiscal policies of the last 8 years, not the last 2 weeks.

And so, Madam Speaker, the Blue Dogs look forward to working with this President and working with the leadership of this Congress to make sure that after we've done the stimulus that we start the process of getting our fiscal house in order by paying pay-as-you-go statutory PAYGO rules.

With that, I yield back to my good friend from Florida, Alan Boyd, who's been a stalwart champion in this regard as the leader of the Blue Dogs for the last 2 years. We welcome his remarks here this evening.

Madam Speaker, I rise for two reasons this morning, on this snowy day in Washington, DC.

Number one is to congratulate Katie Stam, who is the new Miss America, who won her crown last Saturday in Las Vegas. Katie is from my hometown of Seymour, Indiana, and we could not be more proud of Katie and her accomplishments, more than ever before. This is a real tribute to her. She is a talented young lady. I know her personally. I had the opportunity to speak with her on Sunday to congratulate her on her accomplishments. She is a great singer and a beautiful woman.

She is also a friend of the family. She and my youngest daughter, Libby, know each other very well, and we all speak very highly of Katie. I know for certain that she is going to represent not only Seymour, not only Indiana, but the entire United States of America as America's not only beautiful person outside, but beautiful person inside as well.

We are immensely proud of Katie. I know her family very well. They are great people. It is just a proud moment for all of us to stand here in the well of the House today to congratulate Katie on all of her accomplishments that she has done.

Tribute to Ryan Guthrie, Chief of Staff

Madam Speaker, the second reason that I rise here this morning is to honor my Chief of Staff, Ryan Guthrie, who is moving on to bigger and better things.

Ryan Guthrie has been with me since day one, when I began the campaign for Congress back in 1998. He is a graduate of Indiana University. He is also from Seymour, Indiana, my hometown. He has been with me from the get-go.

Madam Speaker, in this business of politics you get to a point where you have to depend reliably on people that you trust, and I can't think of anybody that I trust more than Ryan Guthrie. He has been a stalwart companion of mine. He has been there with me from day one. He has been through the battles. He has been through the victories and through the defeats. We have laughed and cried together, and I am going to miss him very much, but I wish him well.

Madam Speaker, earlier this year, I made remarks with regard to the Celebration of the Bicentennial of Corydon, Indiana, the county seat of Harrison County 19 miles west of Louisville. Noting the rich history of this community, it was a privilege for me to share with my fellow members and the Nation my affection for this community, and I have appreciated being involved with their Bicentennial Celebration.

On October 5, the town of Corydon will again gather to celebrate its history at a classic Ice Cream Social at one of the community's most historic sites, Cedar Glade. Cedar Glade is one of the oldest homes in Corydon--and certainly one of the most beautiful. It was built in 1808 by Jacob Kintner and his wife Agnes--the same year Corydon became a town. Over its two centuries, just three families--Kintner, McGrain and now Bennett--have owned Cedar Glade.

The name Cedar Glade stems from the rows of cedar trees Jacob Kintner planted on the property--those trees accentuating the many native cedars found in the area, and especially on the hillsides along Indian Creek, which runs through Corydon.

No one seems to know exactly from where Jacob Kintner came--or the source of the wealth he possessed when he arrived in Corydon. In fact, it is not known exactly when Kintner arrived in frontier Indiana--but he was definitely one of the first to do so.

The land on which Kintner built Cedar Glade was entered into the property rolls in his name in 1808, the year he built the house, and the year the town of Corydon was laid out. At that time there were only a few dwellings in the town--and certainly none as large or stately as Kintner's Cedar Glade. Speculation is that Kintner came from Virginia, where records record his marriage to Agnes Crist. The couple's Corydon home is architecturally similar to those of the time in Virginia.

Cedar Glade had Corydon's first water works, with Mr. Kintner laying pipe from springs behind the home to supply ever-flowing clear and cool spring water to the house, barns and his tan yard across the road. Few homes anywhere in those early days would have had such a system.

During the Civil War, in July 1863, Confederate General John Hunt Morgan crossed the Ohio River and launched a raid into the North. After the brief Battle of Corydon south of the town, Morgan set up a siege to persuade the town and its Home Guard to surrender by lobbing artillery shots over Corydon. While many of those cannonballs landed in the yard of Cedar Glade, none actually struck the house.

Luck also saw this property through tight spots during normal, everyday occurrences. While in the ownership of the McGrain family, a potentially disastrous fire could have destroyed the home. While burning corn cobs in the fireplace, a flaming cob jumped out and landed on the wood floor. The problem was noticed in time and the flames were extinguished before fire could envelop the house. However, a section of the wood floor was badly scarred. When Bud and Betty Bennett, the present owners, refurbished the home, that part of the floor was purposely not refinished--leaving the history evident and visible within the home.

One of the Kintner sons, Peter Shipley Kintner, lived a far-flung life of ease, often traveling abroad. After Jacob Kintner's death, Peter--the world traveler--``traded'' Cedar Glade in 1849 to Thomas McGrain, Sr. for a business building on Main Street in Louisville. McGrain moved from Louisville to Corydon--and young Peter Kintner moved to Paris, France. When Peter died, his remains were shipped back to Corydon and he was buried in the family plot on Cedar Hill. Of course, this was before the age of refrigeration and embalming, and Peter's body was shipped across the Atlantic in alcohol.

Life went on at Cedar Glade with the McGrain family in a style similar to the Kintners. The McGrains had 12 children, and the home was a hub of social activity. After the death of Thomas McGrain, Sr., his wife Matilda McGrain married Corydon attorney John Q. Gresham, who became a Union general in the Civil War and later served as a judge. He went on to become Postmaster General and Secretary of the Treasury in the cabinet of President Chester A. Arthur, and finally Secretary of State under President Grover Cleveland. All the while--and for more than 100 years--Cedar Glade was the McGrain family home.

Today, Cedar Glade is the home of Bud and Betty Bennett, and the family seat of son Larry Bennett and daughter Pam Bennett Martin--all prominent in historic preservation and the civic affairs of Corydon and Harrison County. In

fact, Bud Bennett is currently the President of the Main Street Corydon Board of Directors and has been active in Rotary and other community organizations since moving to the town in 1960. Throughout this time, his wife Betty has been the anchor of the family, often pushing Bud and their children to give to their community.

Betty, Bud, and Larry purchased the home in 1999 and conducted an extensive renovation updating it to modern standards and adding a new rear bedroom suite to the home. The process required two contractors-- one adding the addition and another updating the main house. Particular attention was paid to preserving the structure's historic value. After more than 3 months of diligent, backbreaking work it was completed.

I am grateful to the Bennetts for preserving this treasure in Corydon, and the community is richer for Cedar Glade's history and contribution to the Corydon landscape. In recognition of Cedar Glade's Bicentennial, as well as that of Corydon, I want to again congratulate its citizens and wish them well at the October 5 event. I look forward to seeing how this unique and wonderful town develops for decades to come.

Madam Speaker, this year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of President Abraham Lincoln, one of our Nation's greatest Presidents. Our Nation began a three-year celebration this year honoring Lincoln's life. This bicentennial celebration includes a number of events throughout the Nation--including events in my southern Indiana congressional district, where Lincoln grew from a young boy to a man between 1816 and 1830. Throughout Lincoln's formative years in southern Indiana, he experienced a number of life-changing events including the tragic loss of his mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, and his sister, Sarah Lincoln Grigsby.

One of the events commemorating President Lincoln's time in Indiana is the recreation of his 1828 flatboat trip to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he delivered a load of produce for a local merchant. Popular lore indicates that it was on this trip that Lincoln witnessed a slave auction, helping to shape his views on the practice of slavery. The voyage also illustrates Lincoln's enterprising nature at a relatively young age.

The recreation of this journey will include 22 stops over 27 days down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers in eight States: Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. At each stop, the flatboat crew will educate citizens about the importance of Abraham Lincoln's legacy, as well as increasing awareness of the Abraham Lincoln historical sites in southern Indiana, including the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial in Lincoln City, Indiana.

The flatboat journey, dubbed Lincoln's Journey of Remembrance, will begin today, September 9, 2008, with a ceremony in Rockport, Indiana. The ceremony will include remarks by State and local officials, as well as patriotic musical performances. Hundreds of residents and school children will witness the event, and dignitaries will join crew members for the first leg of the voyage to Owensboro, Kentucky. The Rockport Post Office will also issue a commemorative postmark cancellation stamp to commemorate the occasion.

Lincoln's Journey of Remembrance will reach out to citizens that otherwise would not have known or experienced an Abraham Lincoln bicentennial event. The chance to educate individuals outside Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and Washington, DC, cannot be undervalued and is one of the primary responsibilities for the bicentennial celebration. I am proud that this recreation, which also recreates a similar 1958 trip, was developed by my fellow Hoosiers.

This project would have not been possible without the assistance of Mr. Ron Drake, the flatboat owner and project underwriter, as well as several local and regional business and civic contributors. On behalf of my constituents, I wish to thank and commend these individuals and organizations. Special tribute must also be paid to the Lincoln's Journey of Remembrance Organizing Committee for their dedication and hard work, which ranged from raising funds to support the voyage to physically refitting the flatboat for this adventure. It has been a pleasure to work with them to facilitate this voyage.

It is an honor and privilege to represent Rockport and the Abraham Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial in Congress. It is my sincere hope that other Members of Congress and citizens from across the Nation will participate in the many planned public events commemorating President Lincoln. I congratulate the community on organizing this celebration and wish the crew Godspeed.

Madam Speaker, on August 4, 2008, the great Hoosier state lost one of its sons. Army SPC. Jonathan Menke was killed in Baghdad, Iraq, when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. Specialist Menke was born in Columbus, Indiana, and raised in Madison, Indiana.

An honor roll student, Jon graduated from Madison Consolidated High School in 2005, where he played football and ran track. During his senior year, he surprised friends and family by landing the role of Gaston in ``Beauty and the Beast.''

Jon joined the Indiana National Guard in March 2004. In 2008, while living and attending college in Indianapolis, Menke was activated by the Indiana National Guard and sent to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Specialist. Menke served with the 38th Military Police Company, stationed in Rustamiyah, Iraq. During his tour, Specialist. Menke frequently asked his father to send him things for the Iraqi children-- namely shoes, toys, and candy. In Jon's mind, the needs ofthe Iraqi children were more important than his own comforts.

SPC Jonathan Menke is a hero and a true example of Hoosier values. His ultimate sacrifice deserves our most sincere thanks. I, along with the towns of Madison and Columbus, mourn the death of SPC Jonathan Menke. His friends and loved ones are in my prayers.

Madam Speaker, 2008 marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of Tell City, in Perry County, Indiana. Nestled on the Ohio River and surrounded by the natural beauty of the Hoosier National Forest, the city's 7,500 citizens personify a warm and welcoming demeanor and help define the term ``Hoosier Hospitality.''

The Town's ceremonial observance of this anniversary will be held beginning Saturday, August 2nd continuing through August 9th, 2008. Organized to coincide with the city's annual Schweizerfest, itself a Hoosier treasure developed in 1959 after the city's centennial celebration, a number of celebratory events have been planned including musical performances, historical tours, steamboat river cruises, a city picnic, as well as a parade and trolley tours. I look forward to celebrating Tell City's Sesquicentennial with its residents and attending some of these events during the festival.

The history of Tell City is richly accentuated by the story of European immigrants that came to our country during the 19th Century. The story begins not in Indiana but in neighboring Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati was a

major departure point for German immigrants hoping to settle further west, and in 1856 a group of investors paid $15.00 per share to found the Swiss Colonization Society. Their desire was to locate and purchase land for a new community--and their search was exhaustive. The search included potential sites as far west as the Nebraska and Kansas prairie. The members of the Swiss Colonization Society finally agreed upon a 4,100 acre site between the Town of Troy and the City of Cannelton in Perry County, Indiana.

They created the new city from scratch, laying out more than 7,300 lots along wide streets named after leaders in science, education and the arts. The first 620 settlers arrived in May 1858 and within weeks more than eighty homes were either constructed or being built.

The first name proposed for the city was ``Helvetia'' after the early Latin name for Switzerland. However, out of a desire to fit the new country they had come to settle, they reconsidered and instead chose to honor their Swiss heritage by naming the city after William Tell, the legendary 14th century Swiss freedom fighter well-known for sparking the rebellion against the Hapsburg Emperors that led to the formation of the Swiss Confederation, a precursor to the modern day Switzerland.

The immigrants that settled in Tell City desired a community founded on the principles of free enterprise, hard work, and freedom. The community's founding mothers and fathers spoke mostly German and were born in Swiss cantons or the yet-to-be-unified Germany.

These settlers left behind political tensions and the economic perils of Europe for the promise offered in America.

Quickly developing sources of trade and commerce, these industrious men and women offered their fellow citizens the staples of the day through the milling of grain, brick making, and the production of clothing, food and beer. One of the earliest trades established in Tell City was that of woodworking and furniture building. That tradition continues today through businesses such as Tell City Chair, William Tell Woodworkers/Swiss Plywood, and Castlewood Corporation.

As Tell City grew, other industries and services also came to the emerging community, including attorneys, the first postmaster and a fire-fighting company. The first school was constructed in 1859 in a small, two story school house. While the lower level was used for teaching, the upstairs room was used as living space for the school's teacher.

Faith also played an important role in the growing community and remains a key component. The first church was a catholic church, built in the 1000 block of Main Street. While the original structure has long since been razed, St. Paul's Catholic Church continues that legacy and has been joined by ten other denominations throughout the city.

The Swiss Colonization Society continued to direct the city's development through its early years and functioned in large part as a municipal government until the new city could function independently. Over the course of its last several years, the Society deeded the remaining land not settled to the city and the community schools and on April 17, 1879 disbanded.

It wasn't until 1886, however, that the town elected August Schreiber as its first mayor. A native of Prussia, Schreiber came to America in 1855 and entered the pharmacy business, founding Schreiber's Drug Store in Tell City. His term as Mayor lasted only two years. It wasn't until 1892 when Albert Fenn was elected to the position that a native born in Tell City became mayor. Fenn held many other public offices, including that of county auditor, city clerk, and city councilman. Fenn also played an important role in politics outside of Tell City, serving as a delegate in 1896 and as a sergeant-at-arms from 1900-1912 at the Democratic national conventions.

One of Albert Fenn's greatest legacies to Tell City is the City Hall. Conceived in 1895 by Fenn and others to lure the county seat to Tell City from neighboring Cannelton, the original intent was to construct the structure and then donate it to the County. This action set off a competition with the residents of Cannelton, who also began work to raise funds and construct a new structure for the county.

Cannelton completed its project first and provided the structure to the county without cost or the legal process of relocating the county seat. Tell City retained its building as the city hall, using the extra space in the structure for a myriad of civic and community functions, including use as school space. In what is perhaps the most ironic and controversial footnote to the story, Perry County did relocate its county seat to Tell City in 1994 to a new structure located on Payne Street.

Tell City played an important role for shipping during the 1880's. Early commerce and travel was easier along the Ohio River than via the rough roads that connected the city with other communities such as Paoli and Jasper, Indiana. As a result, Tell City developed one of the largest ports between Louisville, KY and Evansville, IN and in 1889, the Louisville and Evansville Mail line named a new boat Tell City in honor of the city's importance on the route. Comprising nearly 38 acres, the Tell City River Port continues the city's river heritage, specializing in the handling of bulk materials such as pig iron, coke, coal and woodchips for area manufacturers.

The river has also served to challenge the community. A victim of the 1937 Ohio River Flood, much of the community had to be restored or rebuilt. Ohio River Flood Markers are painted on the William Tell Woodcrafters Office Building on Seventh Street depicting the actual levels of the water during this and other floods. As with other communities following that historic flood, the Army Corps of Engineers constructed a flood wall to protect the citizenry from future flooding.

Tell City stands as Perry County's largest community and serves as the largest economic district in the county. To that end, the City recently completed a renovation of its downtown district with new landscaping, street lights, and bike racks. Bike lanes were also added throughout the four-block district.

An extensive network of recreational facilities has also been developed in the community to provide assorted athletic opportunities to the residents of the community. New walking trails and further developments of these facilities demonstrate the pride and dedication enjoyed by this community.

Above all else, the real treasure of Tell City is it citizens. Despite any challenges they may face, they continue to display a collective confidence and ingenuity that overcomes any problem and has allowed the city to flourish.

It is an honor and privilege to represent this community in Congress. I want to congratulate Tell City on its Sesquicentennial, and look forward to seeing how this unique and wonderful city thrives for decades to come.

Madam Speaker, this year marks the 125th anniversary of the founding of the town of Birdseye, in Dubois County, Indiana. This rural community of approximately 500 citizens represents the epitome of Hoosier values and, like many small communities across the United States, forms the bedrock of our Nation.

The city's ceremonial observance of this anniversary will be held beginning Thursday, August 21, continuing through August 24. A number of celebratory events have been planned, including musical performances, a farm machinery show, a queen contest, parade and children's activities. I look forward to celebrating Birdseye's Quasquicentennial with its residents and supporting some of these events during the celebration.

The foundations of Birdseye began much like other frontier communities as a trading crossroads in the early 1800s. For many years, this crossroads did not have a formal name, but by 1846 migration west had produced enough settlers in this rugged wilderness area to necessitate a Post Office. Benjamin Goodman, a popular minister and postmaster in nearby Worth (later renamed Schnellville), was asked to help select the site for the new office. Upon finding a site he liked, he commented, ``It suit Bird's eye to a T-Y-tee.'' The phrase so struck the other frontiersmen that they named the Post Office and community ``Birdseye.''

It wasn't until 1880, however, that the community took on a more formal appearance as a town. Seven property owners--Enoch and Martha Inman, Elbert and Mary Baxter, John and Sarah Pollard, and Scott Austin--gathered together and laid out a plat, each donating a portion of their land to divide into streets and lots.

This platting proved to be well timed. The expansion of the Louisville, New Albany, and St. Louis Airline Railroad through the community in 1882 created an economic boom, growing the small community's population. By 1883, the community incorporated and held its first town board meeting on December 26, with William Koerner serving as board President.

The early settlers of Birdseye were a hardy bunch. The main source of power was the horse or mule and fields had to be cleared of timber, rocks and other natural debris. The soil, although fertile, was often ``corned to death'' by early farming practices, forcing settlers to use early fertilizers or let the field lay fallow. Citizens relied on each other to help harvest crops, build homes and storage buildings or care for one another in an emergency. Despite changes through the ages, this community spirit persists today and is the foundation of daily life in Birdseye.

The town's history, written and edited by L.L. Tussey for the Quasquicentennial and sponsored by the Birdseye Volunteer Fire Department and the Birdseye Park Board, recalls many of the town's more popular family and community stories. The book contains stories of small, one-room schools from the area and notes the common occurrence of baptisms in the nearby Anderson River. It recalls the annual Birdseye Reunion, when young boys would dress in their finest ``church clothing'' to present themselves to young ladies. They would often purchase tickets for their sweetheart to ride the steam swing--a version of our modern merry-go-round--at the event. An essay included in the book by Sereina Comstock remembers Birdseye's thriving sorghum industry. Known worldwide for its ``smooth texture'' and sweet taste, it was the town's fundamental cash crop at the turn of the 20th century. Farmers processed the sorghum into syrup, graded it according to color, and then sold the product both locally and abroad using the railroad as a distribution network.

Then there are stories like the one about Carl Neukam, written by his grandson Josh Neukam. A tribute to his grandfather, Josh wrote about Carl's service with the 151st Airborne Unit during the Korean War, his strong work ethic with companies such as Jasper Novelty, J.H. Hines, Jasper Desk, and Kimball International, and his love and dedication for his wife Helen Whaley. It tells his unique life stories, such as the time he worked for the State Highway Department and battled for 72 hours straight against a winter storm or his recollection of returning from Korea only to have his plane catch fire. Carl's life may never be highlighted in any history books or be made into a movie, but it is nonetheless a quintessential example of a true American story and of a regular American hero.

Birdseye has grown over the years and seen many changes and improvements to the town. The creation of a Volunteer Fire Department in 1968, the establishment of a municipal park in 1983, and the opening of a new town hall this year are representative of the town's growth and development.

Many more stories from Birdseye serve as a testament to its strong Hoosier values and warm community spirit. But the greatest treasure Birdseye possesses is the people of this small Indiana community. Regardless of the challenges they face or the difficulties that lay ahead of them, they illustrate the best qualities of rural America.

It is an honor and a privilege to represent this community in Congress. I want to congratulate Birdseye on its Quasquicentennial, and look forward to seeing how this unique and wonderful town thrives for decades to come.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2607) to make a technical correction to section 3009 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.

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

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

I rise today in support of S. 2607, the Digital Television Transition Assistance Act. We have little more than 7 months until February 17, 2009, the date of the digital television transition when all full-power television stations in the country will stop broadcasting analog signals and broadcast only digital signals.

The Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, of which I am a member, has been working hard to prepare consumers for this event. However, not all television stations will immediately start broadcasting in digital on that day of transition. There are many stations that broadcast at low-power levels or that rely upon translators and boosters to reach viewers, and many of these stations will be transitioning to digital some time after February 17. Many of these stations serve viewers in districts like mine that are largely rural.

When Congress passed the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act in 2005, it recognized that many of these smaller, rural stations lacked the resources necessary to immediately switch to digital. Therefore, the statute established two grant programs designed to aid these stations.

One grant program provides funds so that low power and translator stations may purchase the equipment needed to facilitate continued service for viewers of low-power stations and translators on analog television sets.

The other grant program provides funds for low-power stations to upgrade

their facilities to digital. The provision establishing the grant program for low-power stations to upgrade their facilities to digital included a technical error that S. 2607 will correct. Current law prohibits grant funds from being awarded to stations after October 1, 2010, more than a year after full-power stations are broadcasting only in digital.

S. 2607 changes that date to February 18, 2009, one day after the transition begins. This technical correction will ensure that low-power stations can begin to transition to digital as quickly as possible. S. 2607 would also ensure that the funds Congress set aside for the translator grant programs are used to further the DTV transition.

This program allocated $10 million for qualified low power and translator stations to buy digital-to-analog conversion equipment so they can continue to offer analog signals after February 17.

However, it is estimated that at least $3 million of these funds will be unspent because not all stations are expected to take advantage of the program. Therefore, S. 2607 would permit the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to use the excess moneys to further consumer education efforts concerning DTV transition and the TV Converter Box Coupon Program.

S. 2607 would permit the NTIA to use extra funds from the $10 million grant program to create a program that addresses the educational and technical assistance needs of vulnerable populations such as senior citizens, residents of rural and remote areas, and minorities.

This is a simple bill that would make commonsense changes designed to speed the transition to digital television in all areas of the country and ensure that consumers are informed about the transition.

I urge Members to join me in supporting S. 2607.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Boucher).

(Mr. BOUCHER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel).

I yield the gentleman an additional minute.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis).

Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentlelady from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).

Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers if the gentleman from Florida, my good friend, would like to close.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I'd like to reiterate that this bill fixes two technical errors in order to bring great benefits to our constituents through their digital television transition.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1260) supporting the goals and ideals of ``National Internet Safety Month''.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 1260, a resolution that expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Internet Safety Month.

During the past decade, the Internet has become an integral part of our lives. Members of our armed services stationed abroad use the Internet to stay in contact with their families.

Telemedicine relies on the Internet to bring cutting-edge medical care to rural residents in their communities, reducing health care costs without sacrificing the high quality of service that everyone deserves.

Through the Internet, our students have access to the world's informational and educational resources. Distance learning levels the playing field so that all students have the opportunity to learn.

The Internet has also had a profound impact on the way that we do business. Through the Internet, the entire world has become a market for American goods and services.

Our children have never known a world without the Internet. They have incorporated the advantages of the Internet into their everyday lives, to communicate with their friends, to do research for school assignments, and to entertain themselves.

The Internet offers great promise to the next generation. In order to achieve those promises, we must give our children the tools they need to safely navigate the Internet.

Just as the Internet has offered many good people the opportunity to better themselves, it has also created a pathway for dangerous activities. This is most troubling when the potential victims are our children.

Internet Safety Month reminds us all that there are ways to use the Internet wisely and responsibly.

The Federal Trade Commission has created ``OnGuard Online,'' a resource for both parents and children to take advantage of all of the opportunities of the Internet in a safe and responsible manner.

Congress provided for the establishment of a kids.us domain to provide a safe online environment for children and help prevent them from being exposed to harmful material on the Internet.

Educational, industry, and community-based organizations have also created resources to help families use the Internet safely. If we educate our children, we give them the tools they need to navigate the Internet safely.

I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the goals and ideals of National Internet Safety Month.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, the creator of this piece of legislation is our next speaker. She has worked tirelessly and skillfully in bringing this issue to the floor of the House of Representatives, and at this time, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlelady from Illinois (Ms. Bean).

Mr. Speaker, a designated National Internet Safety Month would provide parents, educators, and communities with an opportunity to further coordinate efforts to protect our children on the Internet. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.