Floor Statements

I want to thank the gentleman for yielding.

I am proud to come to the floor to talk about solutions that the Democratic Party has put forth and this House has tackled in the last year. But let's not try to rewrite history, as we see being done on the other side.

Let's remember when President Bush came to office in 2001, crude oil sold at $25.88 a barrel. When the Iraq war began, that terrible, misguided war, crude oil was $35 a barrel. Gas was approximately $1.56. In my district today, gas is $3.56. Crude oil is over $119. That is what the Republican policies have brought us, a bad war and gas and oil that we cannot afford.

The Energy Information Agency says gas will be $4 this summer. Diesel is already $4. So what have the GOP and this President said they are going to

do? Remember? He is going to jawbone his friends the Saudis to produce more oil so we would have it here in this country.

Oh, he jawboned all right. He jawboned all the way up to record prices, record profits, where ExxonMobil can pay its CEO a $400 million pension with $44 billion in profits last year. Oh, boy, they jawboned all right. Their jawbone is chewing on our pocketbook and is hurting the middle class in this country.

What have we done? The energy price gouging bill, H.R. 1252, which we passed last May 284-141. One hundred forty-one on the other side wouldn't even vote for us to stop the gouging of prices that we see day in and day out. This legislation would have provided the Federal Trade Commission with the authority to investigate and prosecute those who engage in price gouging, predatory pricing and other unfair practices.

I don't know about you, but I am tired of seeing gas go up 30 cents like it did earlier this month in my district. One day, 30 cents. Now, if that is not excessive pricing, predatory price gouging, I don't know what it is.

Let's take a look at the PUMP Act, a piece of legislation we have been working on since April of 2006, and we have plenty of cosponsors. We had a hearing last December, December 12. What did they say? Pass the PUMP Act to prevent the unfair manipulation of prices. Professor Greenberg said we could save $30 a barrel. For every barrel of oil that comes into this country, we can save $30 by getting the speculators out of the market.

Why do we continue to allow speculators to run this country? They sure did a good job with mortgages, didn't they, with the subprime mortgages. That is why the values of our properties have gone down. Now the speculators are in the oil field, in the energy field. And why is that? Because of a little thing when the Republicans were in charge called the Enron loophole. The Enron loophole in 2005 allowed the speculators to come into the energy field, and therefore they have run up the price. What did the hearings show?

Ninety-five to 98 percent of those playing in this market have no intentions of taking possession of oil or providing a product. They are there for one reason, to rake all the profits off the American people that they can through their excessive speculations.

This Democratic Congress has also passed a Renewable Energy Tax Act to help lessen our dependence on foreign energy sources.

Look. Since this war started in Iraq, everything has doubled and tripled. We have heard nothing from the other side. This Democratic Congress continues to do things to try to curb the abuses we find in the energy field, that we find in manipulation of prices and speculation. We will continue to work towards that.

To come down here and somehow try to rewrite history, it is just not going to work. It is important to note that tax breaks that are eliminated in the Renewable Energy Tax Act are equivalent to less than 1 percent of the oil companies' net income, but yet they complain.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

First of all, I would like to associate myself with the comments of Mrs. Miller and Mr. Ehlers from the other side as they talked about this very important Coast Guard bill. I am from the Great Lakes State. In fact, I have more shoreline than any other congressional district in the continental United States. I have over 1,600 miles of shoreline on the Great Lakes. It is critically important that we pass this Coast Guard bill.

But on this point, my colleagues on the other side use a very important bill like the Coast Guard bill to talk about energy, that somehow Democrats are not doing enough and somehow the Speaker is responsible for high oil prices. If you take a look, the Republicans have been in charge, until last year, for the last 12 years. What was their policy? Their policy has been no policy, do nothing, let the oil companies get away with it, record profits, record pensions to their CEO. Remember the $400 million pension for ExxonMobil?

I guess I agree with Mr. Peterson, the last speaker, maybe we ought to lock them up. We ought to lock them up when you see oil prices, when President Bush comes in, at $27 a barrel, we're up to $119. And where is it going to stop? Why do you see this rapid increase? Well, an ill- advised war where everybody said when you get involved in a war in the Middle East, the longer you're there, the prices are going to go up. When you have no policy, sure oil prices are going to go up. When you pass, as the Republican Party did, the Enron loophole which allowed speculators to come into the market and drive up the price of oil, you're going to get these criminal record prices we're paying. So Mr. Peterson is right, we should lock them up. We should lock them all up.

What have the Democrats done? Well, we've passed price gouging legislation, not once, but twice. And most of my friends on this side of the aisle, like Mr. Sessions and others who spoke here today, voted against it. How about the PUMP Act, Prevent the Unfair Manipulation of Prices. We have that legislation, all sponsored mostly by Democrats. I think we had two brave Republicans who came forward to help sponsor it.

So what do we have here? You talk about refinery capacity. I'm chairman of Oversight and Investigations. A 1995 memo from the American Petroleum Institute to all the big oil companies was to say, shut down the refineries. You want record prices? Shut down the refineries. We have those memos. They're part of the Congressional Record. And what did they do? Between 1995 and 2002 they shut down over 30 refineries, including one just outside my district in Alma, Michigan, which used to refine 51,000 barrels a day, that's over 1 million gallons of gas, because there's 33 gallons of gas in every barrel of oil, they shut it down to increase the price so they could have their record profits, so they can pay their CEO a $400 million pension plan, so they can have $40 billion in profits, as we saw with ExxonMobil just last year.

Democrats have been in charge now for, what, 16 months? What have we done?

We've passed energy price gouging legislation. We have a PUMP Act to take the speculators and close the Enron loophole. We've passed the renewable portfolio standard.

We are moving forward. And we ask our friends on this side of the aisle to join us, not use a good bill like the Coast Guard bill to somehow say the Speaker is responsible. It was the President of the United States who said he would jawbone the Saudis to produce more oil to bring down our prices. He jawboned them all right, they jawboned right through to our pocketbook, with record prices at the pump, record prices of oil coming into this country.

Pass the PUMP Act. We can reduce the price of oil by $30 a barrel, as testified on December 12, 2007 by experts before our committee, the Energy and Commerce Committee. Stop the unfair manipulation of prices. Lower the price of oil. Give the American taxpayers relief. And pass the Coast Guard bill to clean up our environment.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Arenac County, Michigan on its 125th anniversary. On Friday, April 11th, I will be in Omer, Michigan to join local leaders and residents of the county at Arenac County's quasquicentennial kickoff celebration.

Located at the bottom of Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron, the area we now know as Arenac County was recognized more than 500 years ago as an ideal place for settlement by Native Americans. The Rifle and AuGres Rivers made excellent fishing and canoeing routes for the Ottawa Indians and eventually early European settlers. It is these rivers and other abundant natural resources that have sustained the area these many years.

Arenac County is rich in Native American history because of its abundance of hard chert and flint for arrowheads. Later, it was also an ideal location for European settlers. Most early settlers came from Canada, starting with the Scottish and English, and later people of French descent. Later came Germans, followed by Polish, Slavic and Balkan natives.

The county traces much of its 125-year history to its logging roots. Michigan's logging industry developed around Michigan's white pine and hardwoods and the county was at the heart of it. In addition to abundant forest lands, Arenac County was ideally situated as a conduit to the lake for shipping lumber. The county also was the location of a 19th century summer resort hotel, to which guests arrived

by ship. Its history was gradually reshaped due to the disastrous wildfires that eventually destroyed the logging business in the area.

Once part of Bay and Saginaw counties, Arenac County was founded in 1883, during Michigan's post-Civil War lumber boom. In addition to lumbering, other early industries included shingle mills, farming, commercial fishing and brick and tile manufacturing. Michigan's first coal mine shaft was dug in Arenac County, and although it was never productive because of an inability to remove excess water, the shaft remains there today.

The Rifle and AuGres Rivers continue to be favorite canoeing spots and provide ample opportunity for local fishermen. Arenac County's forests are favorite spots for hunting deer and small game. These areas, along with about 50 miles of Lake Huron shoreline, fuel the area's recreation and tourism economy.

As the residents of Arenac County celebrate their 125-year history, I am honored to join them in commemorating this milestone. Madam Speaker, I ask that you and the entire U.S. House of Representatives please join me in honoring Arenac County, Michigan on its 125th anniversary.

Madam Chairman, I rise in support of this legislation which would reauthorize the Beach Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act, or the BEACH Act.

My district has over 1,600 miles of beach frontage on the Great Lakes, and the BEACH Act has been instrumental in providing funding to protect beachgoers from bacteria and other dangerous pathogens.

Michigan residents rely on BEACH Act funding to protect them. In my district, residents on Sugar Island near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, depended on this important funding to monitor water that had been contaminated with E. coli, coliform, and other bacteria. Without the support of BEACH Act grants, the Chippewa County Health Department would not have been able to determine that the pollution was originating from a wastewater treatment plant in Canada.

This legislation would improve the BEACH Act program to ensure a fairer distribution of funds. In July of 2007, the Government Accountability Office released a report at the request of myself and several other Great Lakes colleagues. This report found that the EPA was using a funding formula that prioritizes States with warmer climates, ignoring other important factors such as beach miles and beach use. This formula put Great Lakes States like Michigan at a distinct disadvantage, making it more difficult for these States to protect their beachgoers.

This legislation addresses this problem by instructing EPA to revise its funding formula to take factors such as beach miles and beach use into consideration.

While monitoring water quality and tracing the sources of pollution to its origin are important steps to keeping our beaches clean, knowledge is only half of the battle. The July 2007 GAO report also found that while the BEACH Act has helped protect beachgoers from polluted waters, States still do not have the resources they need to clean up the pollution and prevent future problems.

The latest survey by EPA has estimated that an additional $181 billion is needed nationwide for infrastructure projects eligible for funding under the State revolving fund. I look forward to working with Chairman Oberstar and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee later this year to address our water and wastewater infrastructure needs and provide resources for the State revolving fund.

I appreciate the work of Mr. Pallone and Mr. Oberstar on this important legislation, and look forward to working with them as we continue to address important Great Lakes issues.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues, and I ask them to vote ``no'' on this motion to recommit.

The House bill is stronger than the Senate bill. The House bill provides stronger parity protections than the Senate bill for the same cost. The House bill requires parity in out-of-network benefits. The Senate bill does not. Out-of-network care is important where plans cover a limited number of providers and there are long waiting lists to access the care.

The House bill requires coverage for all clinically significant disorders if the insurer chooses to provide coverage for mental illness. The Senate bill lets health plans pick and choose which diseases they will cover, so they could deny care for autism, eating disorders, alcoholism and more.

And also, on this motion to recommit, when it comes to protecting human life, I stand with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. But this abortion provision in this legislation is a red herring. If this abortion provision was a problem, why would my colleagues, our colleagues, our friends in the Senate like Senator Coburn, Senator Brownback, Senator DeMint vote for it?

I sit on the Energy and Commerce Committee where this bill came from. The abortion issue never was raised.

Under the House bill, health care plans retain the right to make decisions about medical necessity, and nothing in this bill would overturn the ability of health care plans to impose a conscience clause and not cover certain services due to religious or moral objections. This was made part of Federal law in 2005 under the Abortion Nondiscrimination Act authored by Congressman Dave Weldon. That is the law today. Nothing in this bill would affect the Weldon amendment as we know it. Nothing in this bill would affect the ability of a plan to prohibit coverage of abortion either on medically necessary grounds or on a conscience clause.

The bill provides for treating mental health services and physical services with parity. It doesn't address how plans cover physical, i.e., abortion

services. The bill addresses the diagnoses plans must cover, but does not tell plans what specific benefits they have to provide for those diagnoses.

Madam Speaker, on February 27, 2008 the U.S. House of Representatives agreed to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 5264 by voice vote. Had I been given the opportunity to vote on this measure I would have voted ``no'' on H.R. 5264, the Trade Preference Extension Act of 2008.

In fact, prior to the voice vote on H.R. 5264, I sent a Dear Colleague with Representatives Dale Kildee and Marcy Kaptur to all Members of the U.S. House of Representatives urging our colleagues to vote against extending the Andean Trade Preference Act.

The Trade Preference Extension Act of 2008 extends the Andean Trade Preference Act for another 10 months. Since the last extension, 8 months ago, Congress has still not adequately addressed fundamental problems of labor practices in the region and the agreement's effect on U.S. agriculture. Furthermore, with the on-going debate surrounding the Colombia Free Trade Agreement it is irresponsible to simply extend these preferences without thorough discussions.

Originally passed in 1991, the Andean Trade Preference Act, ATPA, was designed to develop economic alternates to narcotics production in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. However, ATPA has failed to reduce cocaine production, but it has harmed American farmers.

In both Colombia and Peru, the size and production of illegal drug crops has remained virtually unchanged. In a 2001 report to Congress, the U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service said that they ``do not believe that Peruvian asparagus production provides an alternative

economic opportunity for coca producers and workers--the stated purpose of the Act.''

As a result of the ATPA, the U.S. had a $10 billion trade deficit with the four ATPA countries in 2006. Specifically, the asparagus and fresh-cut flower industries have been severely hurt by lower prices. Since the implementation of ATPA, asparagus acreage in the United States dropped from 90,000 acres in 1991 to under 49,000 acres in 2006.

There are 40,000 flower workers in Ecuador and over 100,000 in Colombia working to grow, harvest, and package flowers. Unfortunately, these workers routinely experience labor rights violations including violations of the right to freedom of association. H.R. 5264 does not include stronger labor provisions.

Before agreeing to extend the Andean Trade Preferences Act for a third time, Congress should have taken a closer look at damage it has done to American farmers and how it has failed to reduce illegal drug production in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a northern Michigan resident who has been an exemplary leader in his community. Michael Welsch is celebrating his retirement after more than 35 years of service to losco County, Michigan. Mr. Welsch served as the Iosco County Clerk from 1988 until his retirement on December 31, 2007. But long before that he was serving his community, State and country.

Enlisting in the U.S. Air Force on August 15, 1966, Mr. Welsch was assigned to parachute rigging for technical schooling, where he graduated with honors. On February 14, 1967 he arrived at Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan and remained there until he was honorably discharged in May 1970. While serving in the Air Force, Mr. Welsch also began working part-time for the losco County Sheriff's Department as a dispatcher/turnkey, working four consecutive days on the job, followed by four consecutive days off.

Upon his honorable discharge from the Air Force he began working full-time for the losco County Sheriff's Department as the marine officer. He became the first certified SCUBA diver employed by losco County. In this capacity, he was responsible for the recovery of 25 bodies. In 1970, Mr. Welsch attended basic police training at Delta College, where he finished first in his class. In late 1971, he left the losco County Sheriff's Department to work in the private sector. But his days of public service were far from over.

Just over a year later, in March 1973, he returned to the Sheriff's Department as a road officer. He was later promoted to detective then detective sergeant. It was during this time that he worked as an undercover narcotics officer throughout the state of Michigan. For his undercover work, Mr. Welsch sported long hair, a beard and a Harley- Davidson motorcycle. He also trained his cocker spaniel, Brandy, for drug searches.

In April 1977, Mr. Welsch married Debra Roach. Nearly 5 years later, in January 1982, their first son, Andrew, was born. Two years later, in April 1984, their son Peter was born. Peter's tragic death in 2004 brought shock and grief to the Welsch family, yet he remained active as ever with his work in the community.

In 1979, Mr. Welsch was promoted to undersheriff in Iosco County, a position in which he served until December 1984. In January 1985, he accepted a position with the 81st District Court as the probation officer and was later given the additional duties of court administrator. In addition to working in the court, he also worked nights and weekends at Freel's Market in Tawas City, Michigan.

This experience in law enforcement, the private sector and with the court, prepared Mr. Welsch for his next challenge. He successfully ran in 1988 for the position of losco County Clerk, a position in which he served until his retirement at the end of last year. He faced opposition in every election, but always prevailed. The community clearly recognized his selfless dedication to public service.

At the same time Mr. Welsch was preparing to take over the responsibilities of County Clerk, his wife began attending Alpena Community College, where she received her associate's degree in 1990. She then went on to Saginaw Valley State College, and in December 1991 she graduated suma cum laude with a bachelor's degree in accounting. As Debra was furthering her education, Mike worked nights as the janitor of Emanuel Lutheran School, while also taking care of the kids, cooking, cleaning and doing laundry.

Mr. Welsch has received recognition for his professional accomplishments over the years. In 1997 the Northeast Sunrise Chapter of the American Business Women named him Business Associate for the Year and in 2001 the Michigan Association of County Clerks selected him Clerk of the Year.

Serving from 1998-1999, Mr. Welsch was the longest serving president of the Michigan Association of County Clerks. He served from 2005-2007 as the president of the United County Officers Association of Michigan. He is a past chairman of the Statewide Pool board of directors, an arm of the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority, an organization for which he currently serves as secretary. He also serves on the board of directors for AuSable Valley Community Health.

Michael Welsch's service to his community, State and country goes beyond elected office, professional accomplishments and time served in the Armed Forces. He has served as chairman of trustees, school board chairman and treasurer at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Tawas City, Michigan. He has been a coach, referee and referee assessor for the Tawas Area Soccer Association. He has been a member of the Tawas Area Kiwanis Club since 1989, of which he served as president from 1994 to 1995 and was awarded a George F. Hixon Fellowship by the club, one of the highest honors the organization bestows.

He has worked as a pyrotechnician for the Tawas Area Fourth of July fireworks for 15 years and was grand marshal in the 2001 Fourth of July parade. He has served as the secretary of the Men's Major Bowling League for 10 years and was Perchville King in 1998.

Madam Speaker, all of us struggle to balance our professional lives with involvement in our local communities. As a public servant and community leader, Michael Welsch exemplifies that balance. I regret that I cannot personally attend his retirement party on March 1 in East Tawas, Michigan.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you and the entire U.S. House of Representatives join me in saluting Mr. Michael Welsch for his years of dedication to his community and in congratulating him on a well deserved retirement.

Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Madam Chairman, the loan forgiveness programs under the Ford Direct Loan Program and Federal Family Education Loans encourage teaching professionals to take positions in low-income schools.

Like teachers, qualified school administrators and principals are crucial to creating an effective learning environment. Unlike teachers, however, school administrators and principals at low-income schools are not given access to the same loan forgiveness programs. In fact, under current law, if a teacher is eligible for loan forgiveness but is promoted to an administrator or principal in that same school, the newly promoted teacher loses access to the loan forgiveness programs for which they were previously eligible. As a result, low-income school districts often have difficulty recruiting talented principals and administrators to their districts.

My amendment would extend eligibility of the Ford Direct Loan Program and the Federal Family Education Loans to full-time school superintendents, principals, or other administrators after completing 5 consecutive school years in a school district in which at least 30 percent of the schools are defined as low income.

This amendment is supported by the National Education Association, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, and by the American Association of School Administrators. Furthermore, the Congressional Budget Office has indicated that this amendment will not violate the pay-as-you-go rules.

I urge Members to support my amendment to help recruit and retain talented and qualified school administrators and principals.

Also, Madam Chairman, I include for the Record a letter from the National Association of Secondary School Principals in support of this legislation.

Hon. Bart Stupak,

Rayburn House Office Building,

Washington, DC.

February 6, 2008.

Dear Congressman Stupak: On behalf of the 31,000 members of

the National Association of Secondary School Principals

(NASSP), I would like to express our support for an amendment

you will be offering to the College Opportunity and

Affordability Act (H.R. 4137). The amendment would extend

eligibility of the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program and

the Federal Family Education Loans to principals and other

school administrators who serve for 5 consecutive years in a

low-income school or school district.

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) expanded the federal

role in education and brought to light the impact educators

have on improving student achievement. A study by the

Southeast Center for Teaching Quality on the working

conditions of teachers found that high-quality leadership was

the single greatest predictor of whether or not high schools

made adequate yearly progress as defined by NCLB--more then

either school size or teacher retention. But the demands on

principals and their need for advanced training particularly

in instructional leadership--are growing and have made the

job much more challenging.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to attract

prospective candidates to the principalship, but just as

troubling, it is harder to keep effective and experienced

administrators on the job. The U.S. Bureau of Labor

Statistics projected a 13 percent increase in job openings

for principals between 2000 and 2010, stemming in part from a

large proportion of principals who planned to retire during

the same time period. Additionally, Advocates for Children

& Youth released a study in December 2007 that found ``an

alarming proportion of Maryland's poorest and lowest-

performing schools have the least experienced principals and

struggle with high turnover in leadership.''

Congress must be creative in providing new incentives to

attract effective principals and school administrators to

enter and then remain in the profession, and your amendment

is an opportunity to do just that. While new programs are

being developed to attract teachers to low-income schools,

principals are not given the same access to these loan

forgiveness programs. In fact, under current law, if a

teacher is eligible for loan forgiveness but is promoted to

an assistant principal or principal position in the same

school, the newly promoted teacher loses his or her

eligibility.

NASSP strongly feels that your amendment will help to

attract and retain highly effective principals in the schools

where they are most needed. We look forward to working with

you to ensure that this important provision is enacted into

law.

Sincerely,

Gerald N. Tirozzi,

Executive Director, National Association of Secondary

School Principals.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to Mr. Miller, the chairman of the full committee.

Madam Chairman, I would just like to thank the committee chairman, Mr. Miller, and Mr. Keller for their help and support of this amendment, and the staffs and my staff for making this a possibility.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the Huron Humane Society (HHS) in Alpena, Michigan, on its 25th anniversary this year. HHS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to caring for the homeless dogs and cats of Alpena County. On any given day, the shelter is charged with caring for more than 20 dogs and more than 80 cats. With a maximum capacity of 120 animals, the shelter often houses closer to 150. With so many urgent needs in our local communities, our pets are often overlooked. The Huron Humane Society is making sure the welfare of four-legged friends, considered family to many, is not overlooked.

The Huron Humane Society has been providing a valuable service to Alpena and the surrounding communities for more than a quarter century. HHS is a no-kill shelter and works to heal and rehabilitate the pets that come through its doors. While HHS cooperates with local governments to provide services to the surrounding city, township and county, it relies mostly on private donations to keep the doors open. Fundraisers, grants and donations account for more than 85 percent of its budget. And even with limited resources, the shelter continues to put the animals it cares for first.

The Huron Humane Society provides a full range of services to help keep animals in homes and rehabilitate those animals that come to the shelter. The shelter serves as safe haven for stray animals, and provides a service for the residents of the community by making sure all animals that come through its doors are properly vaccinated. HHS provides shelter for stray and lost pets, rehabilitates those that are ill or injured, and ultimately locates suitable homes for those pets. The Huron Humane Society promotes a public education program, urging individuals to spay and neuter their pets, helping to reduce the number of unwanted animals in the community. HHS also offer valuable training to pet owners on properly caring for their pets, and offers a microchipping service to the community to aid in locating pets should they become lost.

The shelter manages to accomplish this great work with a full-time staff of three and three additional part-time employees. While the shelter also receives assistance from those required to perform community service and local inmates, it is the community volunteers that provide the additional labor to keep the Huron Humane Society running.

This coming weekend, the Huron Humane Society will hold its 25th Anniversary Gala. One year ago, this annual event raised more than $15,000. More than 200 people opened up their checkbooks to help the shelter continue to provide its valuable service to the community. Especially as we see story after story in the news of helpless animals being abused and mistreated, it is important every community have its own Huron Humane Society to look out for the animals that can't look out for themselves.

Madam Speaker, as the Huron Humane Society celebrates its 25th anniversary, I ask that

you and the entire U.S. House of Representatives join with me in recognizing the valuable contribution the shelter, its staff and volunteers make to Alpena County. Please join with and the people of Alpena County, Michigan in congratulating the Huron Humane Society on a job well done and best wishes for the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Private First Class Billy MacLeod.

Private First Class Billy MacLeod of Cheboygan, Michigan, was a brave 19-year-old who answered the call to duty and served our Nation during the Korean War.

Billy was among the thousands of U.S. and other United Nations servicemembers pitted against the North Koreans and Chinese in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. These men were outnumbered by the Chinese and faced bitter cold winter temperatures.

It was in this battle on November 28, 1950, that Billy lost his life fighting for his country.

The Army first declared Billy missing in action, but soon after informed his family that Billy was, in fact, killed in action. Unfortunately, Billy's body was not recovered, and Billy's family was never able to welcome him home.

After 58 years, and through the use of modern technology, the Army positively identified Billy's remains. Billy's body, along with five of his comrades, was discovered in 2002 by accident when a road was being built near the trench where he was buried.

Army officials recovered about 90 percent of Billy's remains and were successful in matching his DNA with that of his half-brother, Burnie Potter. Burnie Potter had given the Army a DNA sample years ago on the chance that Billy's remains might one day be recovered.

On October 31 of just last year, Burnie Potter and the rest of Billy's extended family finally received their answers. Billy had been found and was coming home.

Since October, the family and the community has been busy planning for his return. Originally, Billy was to be reunited with his family at the Pellston Regional Airport, just a short 20 miles from his hometown of Cheboygan, Michigan, on January 15.

However, just a few days short before Billy's expected arrival, his family was informed that they'd have to pick up his remains in Traverse City, Michigan. Traverse City is 100 miles away from his home. This is easily a 2-hour drive, if not more, during the winter months.

Upon learning this news from a friend, I offered my assistance and immediately contacted the Army. After numerous phone calls, I learned that repatriated soldiers like Billy are treated differently than soldiers who are killed in active military theaters like Iraq and Afghanistan.

Under current regulations, the Department of Defense does not use military aircraft to transport repatriated soldiers to their final resting place and instead use only commercial aviation. I was told that the Pellston Airport was too small to accommodate a commercial plane that could transport Billy's remains. I don't buy it. The Pellston Regional Airport is a rather large airport. It is not a small airport.

Furthermore, I was told by the Department of Defense that it does not provide an honor guard at the airport when a repatriated soldier returns home. Both policies differ for current theater deaths. For soldiers who are killed in active theater, the military uses both military and civilian aircraft to reach a family's desired resting place and provide a military honor guard at the airport upon the body's arrival.

Why does the Department of Defense not treat our soldiers the same way? Why does it matter, or does it really matter, if a soldier was killed yesterday or 50 years ago defending our country? A man died fighting for our country and we should honor him to the fullest possible extent. This means bringing his remains to the airport closest to his final resting place and providing full military honors upon the plane's arrival as well as at the funeral.

It was only through pressure from my office that the military provided a nine-member contingent of the Michigan State Funeral Honors Team at the Traverse City Airport. To honor Billy's memory, and to ensure that this does not happen again to another family member, I will work to change the current Department of Defense policy on repatriated soldiers. In my short time in Congress, this has been the third repatriated soldier. Whether it was from Vietnam or World War II or now the Korean War, each and every soldier should be treated the same and should be given full military honors when they return home after sacrificing their life for their country. Every soldier should be treated the same, with the same honors and respect upon their homecoming.

The Korean War, Mr. Speaker, is often referenced as the United States' forgotten war, but Billy MacLeod will not be forgotten. I know all of Cheboygan County and northern Michigan residents are proud of Billy and are pleased that this brave soldier will be coming home to his northern Michigan home.

On behalf of a grateful nation, we say thank you and may God bless you, Billy MacLeod. You were never forgotten.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Consumer Protection Safety Modernization Act, of which I am a cosponsor. There is no better time to pass this legislation than right now before the holidays when parents are buying toys for their children.

After months of recalls of Chinese-manufactured toys, it is evident that the Consumer Protection Safety Commission lacks strong authority and needs additional resources to protect the safety of our children and loved ones.

This legislation will implement a graduated reduction of lead standards, reducing 100 parts per million, a level unmatched anywhere in the world.

The bill will also require manufacturers to include tracking labels to aid in the event of a recall on all toys intended for children 12 and younger, and mandate third-party testing of toys for lead by labs accredited by the CPSC.

This legislation strengthens the commission by authorizing significant increases in funding levels over the next 3 years, allowing the Product Safety Commission to hire additional employees, which has been at an all-time low since their inception. Furthermore, this legislation provides an additional $20 million to modernize CPSC's testing laboratory to ensure safe products.

Madam Speaker, I applaud Chairman Dingell, Chairman Rush, Mr. Barton and Mr. Stearns for bringing this bill to the floor. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

I rise in support of the Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act of 2007. Currently, when a servicemember is wounded in combat and cannot return to duty, the Department of Defense allows each military branch to determine, in their discretion, whether to pay a servicemember any portion of a bonus still due to them. As a result, some members of the Armed Forces, who have served their Nation bravely, sustaining severe injuries, are not receiving their full bonus.

In the last month, I have written to the President on three occasions urging him to immediately terminate this disgraceful policy. In response, I received conflicting information from the Department of Defense regarding this policy. Deputy Under Secretary William Carr wrote me on December 12, in a letter, and he stated: ``The Army pays all unpaid enlisted and re-enlistment bonus installments.'' Not true.

In conversations with the Department of the Army National Guard Bureau, my staff has been told that instead of paying the full bonus due, the Army prorates a soldier's bonus based on the number of months the soldier served before their medical discharge. It's still unclear as to what the policy is with the Army. This is why we need to enact a Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act. We need to establish a uniform Department of Defense policy to ensure all outstanding bonuses are promptly paid to our deserving heroes. Bonuses should be paid in full, without question.

I was first alerted to this program by an Iraqi war veteran in my district, Derek Gagne, from Wilson, Michigan. Derek, an Army National Guardsman, had been denied the remainder of his bonus after suffering a severe eye injury, losing part of his foot and his leg when his Humvee struck an IED in Iraq. Only after numerous calls and questions from my office is Derek now receiving his bonus. Our veterans should not need to fight so hard for something they are entitled to.

I am pleased to join my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire) in cosponsoring the Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act. This bipartisan bill, supported by over 200 Members of Congress, would require the Department of Defense to establish a uniform policy which provides veterans who are discharged from the military due to combat-related injuries or service-connected injuries their full payment of any bonuses within 90 days of discharge.

This legislation should not be necessary. As Commander in Chief, the President has the ability to correct this policy by requiring all military branches to provide severely wounded members with their full bonuses. This administration is quick to go to war, but slow to respond to the needs of our veterans.

Our Nation must be committed to caring for and honoring our veterans not just with words, but with deeds. Ensuring that our soldiers receive the bonuses they were promised is the least we can do for those who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms.

Madam Speaker, with the holiday season upon us, it is more important than ever that all of us take a moment to honor the service and sacrifice of our brave men and women deployed abroad. With that in mind, I ask that all of my colleagues join me in celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Veterans Food Drive in Delta County, Michigan.

The Veterans Food Drive has provided holiday food baskets to local veterans, their families, and widows over the last two decades. Gary Bjorkquist first undertook this generous project in 1987 when he served as a Local Veterans Employment Representative. He was joined in this venture by his friend Richard Kryza, then a Disabled Veterans Outreach Worker for the State of Michigan.

As veterans outreach workers, these two distinguished men saw that some local veterans needed additional help during the holiday season to make ends meet. Seeing some veterans struggle, Mr. Bjorkquist and Mr. Kryza organized a Veterans Food Drive.

As Gary Bjorkquist explains it, the Veterans Food Drive is not charity it simply provides veterans with a helping hand ``from one friend to another.'' This program embodies the spirit of the holiday season: giving your time and resources to those who are in need.

My district is home to more veterans than any other Congressional District in Michigan. As such, the annual Veterans Food Drive has been very important to many of my constituents in Delta County.

During the first year of the food drive, Mr. Bjorkquist hoped to distribute 50 holiday food baskets. Not surprisingly, the first Veterans Food Drive reached that goal. As the years have passed, the Veterans Food Drive now distributes more than 100 baskets a year.

The generosity of local community members who provide cash donations for the holiday food baskets make the Veterans Food Drive a reality. Gary Bjorkquist collects donations all year round from employers, organizations, and community members. Some have given every year! Local veterans' organizations, including the Disabled American Veterans of Delta County, the American Legion of Rapid River, and the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 571, have been very supportive of the Veterans Food Drive.

Each year, Elmer's County Market in Escanaba arranges the holiday baskets. These baskets include enough food for a family of four to have two complete meals during the holiday season.

Something that started as a small gesture for our veterans has now turned into a community affair. Every year, more volunteers come out to help their fellow neighbors and join those who have been making deliveries since 1987. I had the pleasure of taking part in the Veterans Food Drive last year. If I have a break in the Congressional schedule, I will join in delivering veteran holiday food baskets again this year!

Gary Bjorkquist works diligently to ensure that as many veterans and families as possible are given a food basket through the Veterans Food Drive. If a veteran is already receiving a holiday basket from a different organization, the food basket is saved for another veteran in need.

Any remaining baskets are given to families in the community who are in need of help, through the local Salvation Army and Society of St. Vincent DePaul. And if there are left-over donations, they too go right back into the community. Last year, Mr. Bjorkquist gave donations to the Society of St. Vincent DePaul councils in Gladstone and Escanaba as well as the Menominee-Delta-Schoolcraft Community Action Agency's Walk for Warmth program.

In honor of the 20th anniversary, many of the volunteers who participated in the first Veteran Food Drive will be back in Escanaba to help Gary Bjorkquist mark this tremendous

achievement. Mr. Kryza, who is now the Michigan State Veterans Director, will also be on hand to celebrate this occasion and spread the holiday cheer.

I would like to recognize Gary Bjorkquist for his vision and his tenacity in keeping the Veterans Food Drive alive and running all these years. As old and new volunteers gather on December 14, 2007 for the 20th anniversary Veteran Food Drive, I salute the great number of individuals who volunteer their time going door to door with holiday baskets in hand as well as those who have graciously donated to the Veterans Food Drive each year.

The duty, honor, and commitment these volunteers show to those who have sacrificed for our country are just a few of the values that make this Veterans Food Drive special.

Madam Speaker, as we honor our brave fighting men and women serving around the world and especially in Iraq and Afghanistan this holiday season, it is important that we care for their families. In that spirit, for 20 years, the Veterans Food Drive has truly provided a helping hand to those who have served our country. Given the unique spirit of volunteerism and community service exhibited by Gary Bjorkquist and the local community, I know we can expect the Veterans Food Drive to be serving today's soldiers, when they are tomorrow's veterans, 20 years from now.

Madam Speaker, I close by asking that you and the U.S. House of Representatives join me in paying tribute to the Veterans Food Drive, Gary Bjorkquist, and all the volunteers and contributors who are truly serving those who have served all of us. In this time of conflict, it is more vital than ever that we retain those values of volunteerism, duty, honor, and commitment--values that the Veterans Food Drive truly exemplifies.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to a man who is a longtime activist in labor, politics, and community service in Northern Michigan. With that in mind, I ask that all of my colleagues join me in celebrating the retirement of Daniel A. Benac of Montmorency County, Michigan. Dan Benac will retire on January 4, 2008 after a distinguished career in the United States Army, at General Motors, and as an advocate for his fellow workers and veterans.

Dan Benac was born in Alpena, Michigan on June 8, 1922, as one of twelve children of George and Rose Benac. Nearly 65 years ago he married Geraldine on February 9, 1943 and the couple raised three children: Charlotte, Carolyn, and David. Dan and Geraldine have eight grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.

Dan Benac served in the U.S. Army's 103rd Infantry Division from 1942 until receiving an honorable medical discharge. After serving his country, he then began his career as a skilled tradesman at Besser Manufacturing in Alpena.

Dan then worked at a small manufacturing plant in Walled Lake, Michigan before taking a position with Pontiac Motors in 1948. He tried his hand as an entrepreneur in 1955, when he started and operated two gas stations. During the time he ran these businesses he began an apprenticeship as an electrician and earned the status of a journeyman electrician in 1962.

In 1969, Dan Benac took his skills to Warren, Michigan, where he worked at General Motors' Chevrolet plant. He began his union career in 1948 when he joined the United Auto Workers. While at the Chevrolet plant, Dan accepted the position as a UAW committeeman.

In 1974 Dan Benac took a medical retirement from General Motors, but as with so

many union brothers and sisters, Dan continued his work with the union. In addition to his membership in the UAW, he also joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in 1956.

In 1983 Dan was named chairman of the UAW Retirees for the Alpena International Council. As chairman, he organized presentations on a monthly basis for his fellow retirees that ranged from elected officials to speeches about prescription drugs and Medicare.

Dan was later named chairman of the UAW Region 1-D retirees, serving members from sixty-two counties. He was also a board member of the UAW statewide coordinating committee for the Democratic Party.

In addition to his union activities, Dan Benac was instrumental in forming the Montmorency County Democratic Party, and served as chairman for many years. While he is no longer chairman, he remains active in the Party.

Dan Benac was a board member of the National Council for Senior Citizens and was nominated Senior of the Year in Region 4 in 1995 and 2003. He is also a member of other organizations including the Shrine Club, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, and Masons. He was also chairman of the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund for Montmorency County.

Madam Speaker, Dan Benac's activities are amazing for a person of any age but as an eight-five year old his many activities are exceptionally admirable. Dan and Geraldine have been great assets to their family, their fellow workers, and their community, as well as good friends of mine. On January 4, 2008, family and friends will gather for a well deserved and final retirement party for Daniel Benac at the Addison Oaks Conference Center in Leonard, Michigan.

Today, as Dan prepares to enter a well deserved retirement, I offer him, his wife Geraldine, his three children, eight grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren all the best for the future. I would ask, Madam Speaker, that you and the entire U.S. House of Representatives join me in thanking Dan Benac for his service to the Montmorency community and commending him for the many years he has spent his life in service to others.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a news professional in my district who has served the people of northern Michigan with distinction. The Publisher of the Gaylord Herald Times, Jim Grisso, will retire at the end of this year after a 47-year career in the newspaper industry, 39 of them at the helm of the Gaylord Herald Times.

As the publisher of the Gaylord Herald Times (the Times), Mr. Grisso has made the newspaper a leader in the industry, garnering nearly 500 awards at the state and national levels since 1968. In 2007, the Herald Times was named the national Newspaper of the Year in its circulation class by the Suburban Newspapers of America, a testament to Mr. Grisso's vision and leadership of the paper.

Under Mr. Grisso's leadership, the Herald Times has been a steadfast advocate of the public's right to know, on occasion resulting in challenges, even lawsuits, against public bodies that violated the Open Meetings Law or failed to comply with the Freedom of Information Act. Mr. Grisso has always insisted that the newspaper represent the people of Otsego County and reflect the values of the residents of Gaylord: hard work, honesty, tenacity and telling it like it is.

Mr. Grisso's leadership in northern Michigan extends beyond the Times. Mr. Grisso has held several leadership positions with professional associations: Past President, Michigan Press Association; Past President, Michigan Newspapers Industry and Michigan State Chairman, National Newspaper Association.

Over the years, Mr. Grisso has also been a leader in the Gaylord community and used his position at the Times to promote community service within Gaylord. In 1980, Mr. Grisso established the Buergermeister Award, which the Herald Times annually presents to recognize an individual who epitomizes service and dedication to the community. The Buergermeister Award is considered the most prestigious award in Otsego County and, thanks to Mr. Grisso's leadership, it has been used to recognize and encourage community service throughout the county.

Mr. Grisso's commitment to community does not end there. He has donated enormous space in the Gaylord Herald Times in the form of community announcements and in-kind advertising for charitable and nonprofit organizations. While the Gaylord Herald Times has certainly put plenty on his plate, he has donated generously of his personal time through work on many boards and organizations. He co-founded and was the first vice-president of Otsego County Big Brothers organization. He served as President of the Gaylord Rotary Club and the Gaylord High School Athletic Boosters Club. He served on the Boards of the Otsego Memorial Hospital Foundation, the Gaylord/Otsego County Chamber of Commerce, Gaylord Little League, and Alpenfest. He continues to serve today as Otsego County Economic Alliance Executive Committee and is currently Vice President of the University of Michigan Alumni Club of Gaylord.

Over the years, Mr. Grisso has been recognized with numerous awards for his participation in community and civic groups. The Gaylord/Otsego County Chamber of Commerce honored Mr. Grisso with the ``You Made It Happen Award'' and the Otsego County United Way recognized his service with the ``Thanks To You, It Worked For All of Us.'' He has been named Otsego County Fair Association Citizen of the Year. Mr. Grisso has received the Founder's Award of Appreciation, presented by Alpenfest Committee as a founder and leader in building Gaylord as the Alpine Village. The Otsego County Emergency Medical Service honored him and five other Gaylord Rotarians for raising $15,000 to purchase defibrillators as a result of a 150-mile walk from Gaylord to Manistique in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Madam Speaker, I have a special relationship with Mr. Grisso. His paper has covered my work since I began serving Michigan's 1st Congressional District in 1992. As might be expected, I have not agreed with every word his paper has written or his angle on every story. However, without a doubt he has endeavored to ensure that the Gaylord Herald Times covers the issues important to the people of northern Michigan and informs and serves them with excellent local journalism. As the Publisher of the Times, he has ensured the Times covers the challenges facing Gaylord and Otsego County. As a leader in his community, he has helped develop solutions to those same challenges.

Today, as he prepares to enter a well deserved retirement I offer him, his wife Sue, his four daughters, four step sons and eight grandchildren all the best for the future. I would ask, Madam Speaker, that you and the entire U.S. House of Representatives join me in thanking Jim Grisso for his service to the Gaylord community, commending him for his many years of exceptional work as a journalist

and newspaperman and congratulating him on his many achievements.