Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that House Resolution 353, which was adopted by the House on June 26, 2008, be considered to have been adopted with the corrected text that I have placed at the desk, and that the resolution be re-engrossed in that corrected form.

I thank my friend, Congressman Boyd from Florida, for being a leader of the Blue Dogs on this particular issue.

Mr. Speaker, I remember when I got elected back in 1998 that PAYGO rules were in place, and there was the strong possibility that if we kept those rules in place that we would actually produce surpluses for the first time in, I think, probably 40 years. Well, that dream did come true. PAYGO rules were in place in 1998 when I got elected, and they were in place in 1999 and in the year 2000. Those rules that were in place caused this place to come up with surpluses for the first time in 40 years.

I can remember at the time how elated I was because, as a Blue Dog who believes in pay-as-you-go rules, the predictions that we were all making in our campaigns were actually coming true. That was, if you have PAYGO, it is the one discipline that Congress can practice that will actually produce balanced budgets and surpluses, and that's exactly what happened in the year 2000. I can remember at the time that I was thinking, now, finally, we've got a handle on the deficit, that we're actually producing surpluses, surpluses to the tune from a lot of economists of $1 trillion over 10 years, that we could actually start doing the things that have to be done to correct some problems that we have with Social Security, with paying down the debt, with maybe reducing some taxes. That's the position the Blue Dogs took when those surpluses materialized. We advocated paying down the debt, fixing Social Security and cutting taxes.

Then we had an election, and Mr. Bush became President of the United States, and the Republicans grew their majorities. They had a different way of looking at things, and that's okay. That's what elections are all about. In that particular year, the Republicans won, and they wanted to change the policies.

One of the policies they changed was in dropping the principle of PAYGO. I can remember, at the time they dropped the principle of PAYGO, that people like Allen Boyd and Baron Hill and other Blue Dogs were warning that, if you dropped this discipline, there would be a good chance that these surpluses that we had then would disappear. Well, that's exactly what happened.

In the year 2000-2002, there was an approximately $6 trillion deficit, which was bad enough, but with the surpluses that we knew were going to be created we thought we were going to be able to fix that. Now that those policies were changed, we predicted that the deficit would grow. Sure enough, it has. It is now $9 trillion in debt. So it took us well over 200 years to go $6 trillion in debt, and because we dropped those PAYGO rules, in 8 short years, we've added another $3 trillion to the national deficit.

As Congressman Moore said earlier this evening, we are paying huge amounts of interest on that deficit, and it is growing, and it is spiraling out of control. We have got to get a handle on it.

Now, there was an article in the U.S. News and World Report recently that talked about the Blue Dogs' advocating these PAYGO rules. Let me read you a bit of what it said. So this is just not the Blue Dogs who are pontificating here tonight and who are bragging on the policies that created surpluses in the year 2000.

``The Blue Dog Democrats are colorfully named, but they're dead serious about their mission of attacking the record $9.4 trillion national debt . . . The group's top dog, Representative Allen Boyd,'' who is leading this discussion tonight, ``a 63-year-old cattle farmer from Florida's panhandle, thinks Americans have been lulled into believing that any new program or tax cut will fly, `and if there's a gap, we just go overseas and borrow the money.' We go to the piggy bank in the People's Republic of China until it goes empty or until they cut it off.''

What is this talk about China that we're talking about here tonight?

Well, because the American government can not pay its debts, it has to borrow money. One of the countries that we're borrowing money from is the People's Republic of China. I think most people, when they hear that, are appalled that we're actually borrowing money from China to pay for our debts that we have here in the United States.

Now, what does this mean in translation in terms of how this affects the real lives of most Americans? Here is what it does.

These PAYGO rules are tough for Congress. They're tough for Members like myself and Congressman Boyd because we've got to make the tough decisions about how we're going to pay for programs that we think the American people deserve, and we've got a tough vote coming up here in the very near future on the GI Bill.

We all believe as Blue Dogs that our veterans who are coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan deserve additional education benefits through the GI Bill, and the Blue Dogs want to vote for this bill, but we've got to pay for it because it's going to cost approximately $60 billion.

I would think that any veteran who is listening out there on C-SPAN all across this Nation, that most of the American people and that most people in this Congress would believe that we should not be borrowing money from the Chinese to pay for the GI Bill. I think most veterans would agree to that, but that's what I mean when I say it's tough to have these PAYGO rules. We have to make the tough decisions about how to balance the needs of the American people in terms of veterans' programs and also how to balance the needs of the American people because, I think, most veterans would not want us to borrow this money from the Chinese in order for their children and grandchildren to pay for that veterans' program.

So that is the reality of PAYGO rules. It disciplines Congress. Quite frankly, the Blue Dogs are the only ones in Congress right now who are insisting that these rules remain in place so that we can discipline the Members of Congress in doing the right thing.

I throw that out there about the veterans' programs. These are the tough decisions that we have to make. Congressman Boyd and myself and every Blue Dog in this Chamber want to make sure that we extend those benefits to our veterans who deserve them,

but we're going to insist that it be paid for because, I think, our veterans would demand that, and I think the American people would demand that.

Will the gentleman yield?

I was listening with great interest what the gentleman from Florida was talking about as he went again down history lane and about what happened in late 1999 and the year 2000, because I get asked quite often, you know, how are we going to balance our budgets? It's almost like when I go home that my constituents don't feel like it is it's realistic for us to be thinking about balancing the budget.

They don't think there is any practical way that we can balance our budget, but we can now use history as our guide that back in the late 1990s and 2000, these issues of PAYGO worked and produced surpluses, and it was Blue Dog proposals during those surplus years, that we should cut taxes, that we should pay down the debt, and that we should fix Social Security.

Now, we are not able to do that because we are running up these huge deficits again. It's important that we return to fiscal discipline by implementing these PAYGO rules.

Now, I don't know about you, Congressman Boyd. Well, I do know about you. We have had many, many discussions about this in the Blue Dogs. Blue Dogs meet every Tuesday at 5:00 to talk about this issue.

But I believe, as you pointed out today very eloquently at the Blue Dog meeting, that it is immoral for us to be passing on this debt. It is immoral that we are not fixing Social Security for our children and our grandchildren.

It's going to be probably okay for us, but it's going to be a real problem if we don't fix it for our children. It's also going to be a problem if we don't fix Medicare. It's probably going to be okay for us, but it's probably not going to be okay for our children and grandchildren unless we start to fix these problems.

One of the ways that we fix it that was thrown down and thrown away after the elections in the year 2000, one way we fix it is to return to the days of fiscal discipline so that we can create these surpluses again.

We create the surpluses, and then we can begin to fix Social Security and Medicare and other programs that the American people demand, want and deserve.

So the Blue Dogs are not only speaking for the principle of PAYGO rules and fiscal discipline just on the merits of fiscal discipline and PAYGO, this is about programs that we believe in and getting our fiscal House in order so that we can preserve Social Security, so that we can preserve Medicare and so that we can start paying down this debt so that we are not passing it on to our children and grandchildren.

Congressman Boyd was right at the Blue Dog meeting today, and he is right tonight to say that it is immoral if we don't start fixing these problems.

Madam Speaker, 2008 marks the 200th anniversary of the town of Corydon, in Harrison County, Indiana. Just 19 miles west of Louisville, Kentucky, and with a population of approximately 2,700, the town's welcoming citizens and good nature are what help define the term ``Hoosier Hospitality''. Corydon is a most extraordinary community and one that forms an integral part of the rich history of my home state and our Nation.

The Town's ceremonial observance of this anniversary will be held on Saturday, June 7, and I look forward to celebrating Corydon's Bicentennial with its residents. This Saturday's event, however, is just one event of a year-long celebration that includes a Bicentennial Ball, an old fashion ice cream social, a bicentennial parade, the dedication of a time capsule and other competitions and displays.

Corydon has a rich history dating back to the American Revolution when the region was still inhabited by Native Americans. It was in this fertile wilderness that in the early 1800's the family of Edward Smith located. General William Henry Harrison, Governor of the Northwest Territory, frequently traveled between the east and the Territorial capital in Vincennes and often stopped at the Smith property during his travels. While visiting, he discovered a good site for a town where two creeks, the Big Indian Creek and Little Indian Creek, joined to become one. Taking the name of a shepherd from a favorite song known as The Pastoral Elegy, he chose the name ``Corydon''.

Harvey Heth, a government surveyor, officially founded the town by platting it in 1808. The town was connected by road to Doup's Ferry 15 miles to the south in Mauckport in 1809, giving it good access to the Ohio River, the dominant transportation route of the time. The land for the town was originally purchased by Governor Harrison and he lived in the town for a period of time before moving to Ohio, and was eventually elected President of the United States.

In 1811 construction on the first state capitol was begun by Harrison County with intention of the building serving as the courthouse. The structure was completed in 1813 using limestone quarried near the town, and that same year became the second capital of the Indiana Territory when it was moved there from Vincennes.

In 1817, other structures, such as the Governor's Headquarters and First State Office Building, were built. The home of Colonel Thomas Posey was also built during this time. Posey would serve as Treasurer of Harrison County, a State legislator and Adjutant General of Indiana. His father, Thomas Posey, served Indiana as Territorial governor from 1813 until the creation of the state in 1816.

The state's first constitution was written in June of 1816 in Corydon. The 43 delegates in charge of writing the state's constitution met inside the original Harrison County Courthouse, but due to cramped conditions inside the log structure and the summer heat, the delegates would often seek refuge outside under a giant elm tree along Big Indian Creek. Now known as the Constitution Elm, it died in 1925 but its trunk is still preserved at its original location.

After statehood, Corydon served as the first State capital of Indiana from 1816 until 1825, when the capital moved to Indianapolis. During that time Corydon was the center of politics in the state and residents included Jonathan Jennings, the first Governor of Indiana; Dennis Pennington, first Speaker of the House; Ratliff Boon the second Governor; and William Hendricks, Indiana's first Congressman, third Governor and a U.S. Senator. The Old Capitol Building is now a State historic site and the entire downtown area was designated a National Historic District in 1973.

In 1860 the first annual county fair was held in Corydon and has continued each year as the longest continuously running fair in the state. Using natural terrain, the fairgrounds were built in the southwest corner of the town where it is bordered on the south and west by a large ridge to serve as a grandstand until the first grandstands were built around 1910.

Corydon was the site of the only Civil War battle fought in Indiana. On July 9, 1863, a Confederate contingent led by Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan, aided by the citizens of Brandenburg, Kentucky, crossed the Ohio River into Indiana during what became known as ``Morgan's Raid.'' More than 2,500 mounted cavalry men with two pieces of artillery engaged about 400 hastily prepared home guard units at the Battle of Corydon, resulting in a Confederate victory and the town surrendering to Morgan. The town was subsequently sacked, the treasury robbed of $690, and inmates of the jail released. Morgan demanded amounts of money ranging from $600 to $700 from each mill and shop owner to spare their businesses being burned. Town myth says that one such miller overpaid two hundred dollars which Morgan promptly returned to him.

Corydon was home to the late Indiana Governor, and my personal friend, Frank O'Bannon, who served Indiana as Governor from 1997 until his death in 2003. Known as a tenacious consensus-builder who quietly pressed others to do the right thing for the people of Indiana, his greatest legacy may be his work on behalf of children. He championed initiatives to provide health care to nearly half a million children who did not have insurance and created Building Bright Beginnings to emphasize the importance of emotional and brain development of children from birth to 4 years of age.

Along with Dr. Suellen Reed, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and a team of education professionals on the Education Roundtable, O'Bannon tackled the most intractable problems facing public schools and developed some of the toughest academic standards and accountability system in the country, ensuring that Hoosier children learned more and improving Hoosier schools. As a result of this leadership, Indiana was one of the first states to meet new Federal standards, while at the same time Gov. O'Bannon continued to champion the implementation of full-day kindergarten statewide.

Prior to his service as Governor, Frank O'Bannon also served the state as a State senator from 1970 until 1988 when elected Lieutenant Governor on ajoint ticket with Evan Bayh. His father, Robert O'Bannon, also served as a state senator prior to Frank and

as part of the ceremony on June 7, 2008 the family will be honored with the dedication of a statue in the late Governor's honor.

Because of its historic nature, Corydon is a well-known regional tourist destination. The community hosts weekly events from early spring until late fall, usually centered around the historic town square. Some of the better-attended events include the annual Halloween parade, summer band concerts, an annual reenactment of the Battle of Corydon, and a long string of country and bluegrass performances.

Few locations in our Nation have such a remarkable and storied past, and it is an honor and privilege to represent this community in Congress. I want to congratulate Corydon on its Bicentennial, and look forward to seeing how this unique and wonderful town thrives for decades to come.

Madam Speaker, on May 10, 2008, the Hoosier state lost another of its brave young men. Army SGT Joseph A. Ford died from injuries sustained when his vehicle rolled over in Al Asad, Iraq. SFT Ford was from Knox, Indiana, but had been living in New Albany with his wife, Karen Christina Grimm Ford. SGT Ford deployed to Iraq with more than 3,000 members of the Indiana National Guard's 76th Infantry Battalion Combat Team.

SGT Ford was known as an intellectual among his peers and comrades. He was drawn to military and ancient history, often carrying a book along with him. While in high school, Ford was a member of the fencing club. He choreographed the sword fight scenes in his school's production of ``The Three Musketeers.''

SGT Joseph A. Ford is an American hero. His sacrifice for our Nation, and our State, deserves our deepest respect and most heartfelt thanks. I, along with the towns of Knox and New Albany, mourn the loss of Joseph. His mends and family are in my prayers.

Mr. Speaker, I have sponsored legislation to allow farmers who grow fruit and vegetables for processing to opt out of farm programs on an acre for acre basis without limitation. That legislation would reduce farm program costs and improve the environment by allowing more extensive crop rotations. I am very pleased that the conference report takes a step toward that proposal by establishing a pilot project to allocate 75,000 acres of new authority for production of fruit and vegetables for processing in specified Midwestern states. USDA has broad discretion in administration of this pilot project to meet the objectives of the pilot project. The conference report does not specify a procedure for allocation of the pilot project acreage or other administrative matters, such as reallocation of unused acreage allocations among States. However, USDA is clearly required to establish rules to assure that this additional fruit and vegetable production authority will not be abused. Only fruit and vegetables under contract for processing are to be produced under this authority. USDA is to assure that all of the crop produced is delivered to a processor and that the quantity of crop delivered under the original contract, the contract in existence upon Farm Service Agency certification, does not exceed the quantity that is produced on the contracted acreage. Further, the effects of the pilot project and FAV restrictions on the specialty crop industry, both fresh and processed, are to be evaluated. These restrictions are intended to ensure protection of the objectives of the pilot project, not to compel food waste or excessive regulatory burden. Further, the conference report includes an important statement of policy indicating that in the next recalculation of base acreage, fruit and vegetable production will not cause a reduction in farmer's base acreage. While this is a timid step in reducing restrictions on production of fruits and vegetables, I commend this step in the right direction.

I'd like to thank the gentleman for yielding his time.

Mr. Speaker, I knew Julia Carson for more than 20 years. I served with her in the legislature, and I got to know her very well. She was a great public servant in the Indiana legislature and she was a great public servant in the Congress of the United States.

Now, we've had several speakers here today, and I'm not going to repeat everything that they have said, but I would like to leave you with this departing thought about Julia:

Julia had a difficult childhood; she had a difficult life growing up. I have talked to Julia many times about her reaching to the point where she became an elected official in the Indiana Legislature and she actually became a Member of Congress.

I can't tell you how proud she was to be a Member of this august body. It was the highlight of her life. Other than her family, I don't think there was anything else that she felt better about than becoming a Member of Congress.

I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that one of the biggest honors, and if Julia is looking from above, I know she's got a big smile on her face right now, and to have a post office named in her name would be the highlight of her career. And so it's with a great deal of happiness that I have the opportunity to speak on her behalf to acknowledge her great accomplishments in the Congress of the United States.

We all know about Julia's political points of view, but more importantly, I think I want to leave with this body that she was so proud to be one of the Members of the Congress of the United States. And I know that she would be very proud to have this post office named in her honor.

I rise today to honor one of Indiana's finest, Julia Carson. I knew Julia for more than 20 years, and am a better person for it. She was a dear friend and her spirit will unarguably live on not only in the halls of Congress, but in the neighborhoods of Indianapolis where she touched the lives of so many.

I am pleased we are able to recognize her by dedicating a post office in her hometown of Indianapolis in her honor. She had an enormous presence in Indianapolis and was always striving to help those in need. Julia embodied the true meaning of a ``liberal''--a woman who was always fighting for those without a voice.

She championed civil rights and walked alongside Martin Luther King, Jr. fighting for equality. She was to me, and so many others, a true hero. Julia was not only proud to be a Member of Congress and represent the fine people of Indianapolis, but she was constantly amazed at how far she had come.

As many know, Julia had a difficult upbringing but only used those experiences to strengthen and shape her political views. Julia constantly reminded us all how fortunate we are to be Members of Congress. I am so honored to have known Julia for so many years and to have worked so closely with her.

Madam Speaker, on April 2, 2008, Tom Crean was named the 28th head basketball coach at Indiana University. I wish to congratulate Coach Crean and welcome him to Indiana's 9th Congressional District.

Coach Crean comes to Indiana University from Marquette University. At Marquette, Coach Crean led the Golden Eagles to five NCAA Tournament appearances and a Final Four berth in 2003. Coach Crean also consistently graduated his players. Marquette's graduation rate was often ranked in the Top Ten amongst major NCAA conferences.

Indiana's 9th Congressional District is in the heart of Hoosier Hysteria. Tiny Milan High School defeated Muncie Central High School in 1954, creating inspiration for one of the greatest sports movies of all time, ``Hoosiers.'' Many young men and women grow up dreaming of walking into Assembly Hall in Bloomington and playing for the Hoosiers.

Coach Crean is ready to embody and embrace the tradition that is Indiana basketball. From the five national championship banners that hang in Assembly Hall to the famous candy striped warm-up pants, Indiana University is steeped in basketball tradition. When asked why he left Marquette, Coach Crean simply responded, ``It's Indiana, and that's the bottom line.'' Coach Crean understands the tradition.

Again, congratulations to Coach Crean. I know Hoosier fans across the 9th District are looking forward to seeing him on the sidelines.

Madam Speaker, on April 8, 2008, Anna Ethel Louise Moore Porter will celebrate her 100th birthday. I would like to not only recognize this incredible milestone in Mrs. Porter's life, but also reflect upon all that she and her late husband, Corden Porter, have accomplished in their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Porter have given so much to the Jeffersonville community, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

The young Porter couple moved to Jeffersonville, Indiana, in 1928. Corden Porter's daughter described his life as ``spent trying to overcome poverty and racial segregation.'' And, Mrs. Porter was always at his side, always supporting this mission.

Mr. Porter had a distinguished career as a long-time educator at Taylor High School in Jeffersonville. First a teacher, then a principal, Mr. Porter worked at Taylor High School from 1928-1952. Because of his position at the high school and well-regarded intellect, most of the Porter's friends and neighbors referred to him as ``Doc Porter.'' He was an unparalleled leader in the African-American community of Jeffersonville. Unfortunately, his life was cut much too short when he passed away in 1963.

Mrs. Porter was also a presence at Taylor High. School, often serving as a substitute teacher. When not teaching, Mrs. Porter was known to collect donations for the local Red Cross and give piano lessons. She and her husband were very active in their church--Wesley Memorial Methodist Church. Mrs. Porter has been awarded two Guiding Light Awards as an outstanding person in the Jeffersonville African-American community. What she most often speaks about, however, is her family. The Porters have five children, 16 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren.

Happy birthday Mrs. Porter and thank you for giving so much back to the Southern Indiana community during your 100 years.

I thank the gentlelady from Ohio for yielding this time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise not to make a recommendation to Members on how to vote on this bill; I rise to remind Members that if they decide to vote this bill down, that does not mean that there is no alternative that they can vote for.

A great deal of talk tonight has been made about bipartisanship, and I think that's very important. We need to have a bipartisan bill, and we had one. I introduced legislation last year that would create a new Ethics Committee consisting of former Members of Congress.

Just a few weeks ago, my good friend from Tennessee (Mr. Wamp) made a similar recommendation with a few differences. His recommendation was to have six members who were former Members and six members who are current Members. I joined with Mr. Wamp, and now we have huge bipartisan support for a concept that merits a vote.

Now, when I campaigned on this particular issue back in 2006, this gained a great deal of support in my district when I outlined the specifics. This is a good bill, and I think if you go back to the Ninth District in Indiana, they will confirm that this is a good bill. And it is a bipartisan bill. Let's for once in this body act in a bipartisan way.

As I said, I make no recommendation as to how you should vote on this bill. But if you decide that you want to defeat this bill, there is an alternative. It is bipartisan. It is substantive, and it has subpoena powers. In many ways this bill is a better bill because it is a stronger bill.

I urge Members to consider what I have said, that there is an alternative out there. It's not the end of the day. The game is not over. The game can go on. We can pass a good bill with bipartisan support.

I have been working on this issue for over a year. I filed a bill that would, in my view, be true reform.

As my friend, the majority leader, knows, I filed a bill last year that, in my view, required real reform on ethics. I campaigned on this issue extensively in the year 2006, and it is a bill that I actually talked about in that election year in 2006, and it fell on friendly ears for people who listened to it.

It is a proposal that would allow former Members of Congress to comprise the ethics commission. They would have full subpoena powers. The Republicans on this commission would be appointed by the Democrats, and the Democrats would be appointed by the Republicans.

This bill is now changing because it is now gaining bipartisan support.

Madam Speaker, I will try to be brief. What happened today is my friend from Tennessee (Mr. Wamp) had some ideas that were similar to mine, and so we joined forces today to try to make this a bipartisan bill. So it is a third alternative. I hope people will take a look at it. I think it's something that both Republicans and Democrats can support, and I believe that it is a real reform.

Madam Speaker, today, the Indiana National Guard is hosting a National Guard Day at the Indiana Statehouse. This event will highlight our Hoosier citizen soldiers' capabilities, and provide an update as to their status as they prepare to deploy to Iraq. The event will also show strong support for the families of our Hoosier Guardmembers.

I applaud Maj. Gen. Umbarger's work with the Indiana National Guard. He has been an unwavering champion of the Indiana National Guard. His efforts today are to show support for Guardmembers and their families, as well as to help elected leaders and citizens better understand the role of the National Guard.

On this day, I too would like to express my support and deepest thanks to our Guardmembers, and their families. Many of these brave men and women are preparing to leave their homes, their loved ones, and their lives stateside in order to defend our Nation. Their commitment to duty and steadfast determination is an example to Hoosiers, and all Americans alike. They all deserve our most heartfelt thanks and admiration. Our Hoosier Guardmembers and their families will be in my prayers.

Madam Speaker, on January 19, 2008, the great states of Indiana and Ohio lost a brave son. Army SPC Jon Michael ``Mike'' Schoolcraft III was killed in Iraq from injuries sustained when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. A native of Wapakoneta, OH, several members of Specialist Schoolcraft's family currently live in Madison, IN, in Jefferson County.

Mike, as he was known, enlisted in the Army with a friend after graduating from Wapakoneta High School in northwest Ohio in 2001. At Wapakoneta High he excelled at wrestling and baseball, and enjoyed spending time outdoors.

Before embarking on his second 15-month deployment, Schoolcraft promised his mother that this would be his last deployment. He looked forward to finding a stateside military contracting job and living with his new wife.

Specialist Schoolcraft's father, Mike, Jr., described him as a ``typical All-American boy.'' He was a hero to his father. He further described his son as ``very respectful'' and that the Army took this wonderful young man and made him better.

Before deploying, Schoolcraft told his mother that he was going to Iraq for a reason: to keep his loved ones safe.

SPC Jon Michael Schoolcraft III is a true American hero. His sacrifice for our Nation deserves our most heartfelt thanks. I, along with Specialist Schoolcraft's family, and the towns of Madison, IN, and Wapakoneta, OH, will mourn Mike's premature death. His friends and family are in my prayers.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the courageous soldiers of Indiana's 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and their families for their unwavering commitment to defending our great Nation. For many of these soldiers it will be their second trip to Iraq and another period of extended time away from their families. I know this must be a difficult time for them, but let me stress again how grateful I am for such noble service.

The deployment of the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team will be the single largest deployment of Indiana National Guard soldiers since World War II. In sum, approximately 3,400 of our Guardsmen will be serving in Iraq when their unit deploys.

I will certainly be keeping these Hoosier soldiers and their families in my thoughts and prayers. Thanks to our troops for protecting and defending the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. And, thanks to our soldiers for their steadfast service to our country.

Mr. Speaker, Congress has sent a clear message to the American people that it is time for Government to raise CAFE standards for the first time in 32 years. We have worked very hard during the past year--negotiating language to increase the statutory standards by 40 percent. It is important that the entire Federal Government follow the guidelines set forth in H.R. 6 in order to provide regulatory certainty for the domestic auto industry, including manufacturers, suppliers, and dealers.

Mr. Speaker, there is an old saying that says, in order to travel a thousand miles you have got to take the first step. And this is the first step that we are taking on a long road to energy independence.

This is such an important issue, energy independence, and there are almost too many people to thank for putting this first step together. But I want to begin by thanking the environmental groups and the automobile industry for coming together on a compromise on CAFE standards. For the first time in 32 years, we are actually increasing the fuel efficiencies that car manufacturers must adhere to in terms of making a car that travels on better fuel efficiencies. That standard has been raised to 35 miles per gallon. And this is a very tough standard to attain, but one that the automobile industry says that they can do.

As I said, for the first time in 32 years we have these new standards in place, and I think that is a major, major accomplishment.

In order to travel the other thousand miles, we have got a lot more things to do and we have time to do it to make us energy independent. But I would like to take the opportunity to thank the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, who comes from automobile land in Michigan, for stepping forth and making sure that these new standards were to become law. Nothing short of big compliments to

him for stepping up to the plate and making sure that we move forward on these new standards.

This is a new day. This is a good energy bill, one that we are going to pass today. These new CAFE standards are something that we should all be proud of, and I would again like to thank my coauthor on the bill that I introduced, Lee Terry from the great State of Nebraska, for helping us move this piece of legislation forward.