Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 559) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish an appeal and redress process for individuals wrongly delayed or prohibited from boarding a flight, or denied a right, benefit, or privilege, and for other purposes.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, and I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

H.R. 559, the Fair, Accurate, Secure, and Timely Redress Act--or the FAST Redress Act--was first introduced by Representative Clarke in the last Congress. Ms. Clarke is to be commended for her effort in steering this legislation through the House in a cooperative, bipartisan way.

H.R. 559 was marked up and was approved on a bipartisan basis by the Committee's Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee in the last Congress. Last June, the bill was unanimously passed by the House, but unfortunately, it was not signed into law. With our new President, I believe this bill will soon become law.

Everyone complains about the lack of sanity in the watch list process, but few have dared to wade into all the ins and outs of the system. Representative Clarke has done just that, and this legislation is the product of her thoughtful undertaking.

As you know, Mr. Speaker, this issue is of great concern to me as well. We must have prudent security policies, and these policies must ensure that people are not improperly identified as potential terrorists or are on any watch list or database. This bill promotes security while also protecting civil liberties. President Obama's swearing-in began a new era in our homeland and national security policies, and smart legislation, like these measures before us today, will be well served by our new leadership.

Certainly, the practice of watch-listing individuals plays an important role in identifying possible terror suspects. It is important to keep in mind that the watch list is only as good as the information on it. Without accurate, complete and reliable information, the purpose of a watch list is frustrated, and the database becomes unreliable.

Fixing the watch list and reducing misidentifications is a particularly difficult challenge. To meet this challenge, all of the intelligence and law enforcement components that populate the list need to come together and need to agree to clean it up. Unfortunately, this has not happened.

Since February 2007, over 32,000 Americans have sought redress through the DHS Traveler and Redress Inquiry Program, also known as DHS TRIP. Each individual voluntarily provides personal information to establish his or her identity. When there is a determination that this person is not a threat, his name is placed on a cleared list that is maintained by the Transportation Security Administration. This cleared list is populated with names of individuals who have the same or similar names as someone on the no fly or selectee list, but they have proven that they are not the people on the list. The cleared list is then only shared with the airlines for screening purposes, not with all other agencies that use the watch list.

Under H.R. 559, the updated information would be shared throughout DHS and with other Federal agencies that use the terrorist watch list or database. This would ensure that individuals who are cleared under the redress process are not stopped as potential terrorists by other Federal agencies.

Specifically, H.R. 559 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish the Office of Appeals and Redress to provide a timely and fair redress process. The Office of Appeals and Redress is directed to maintain a comprehensive cleared list that contains the names of individuals who have been misidentified and who have corrected erroneous information. The comprehensive cleared list would be made available to those who would use the terrorist watch list or database to resolve misidentification.

The bill directs TSA, CBP, the Coast Guard, and other DHS components to reference the Comprehensive Cleared List when assessing the security risk of an individual. This will ensure that individuals, such as our esteemed colleague from Georgia, Congressman John Lewis, will not be repeatedly stopped or delayed or will not have to seek redress from different components in the same Federal agency. Importantly, the measure includes protections to ensure that personally identifiable information is handled in accordance with privacy laws. Once enacted, individuals who go through the trouble of clearing their names will not have to repeat the exercise again and again.

With the inauguration of President Obama, America enters a new chapter, and this bill moves our security policies forward in a manner that protects our homeland and our civil liberties.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of every John Lewis and others who are frequently misidentified on the watch list, I urge swift passage of this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlelady from New York (Ms. Clarke) who has championed this issue ever since her arrival on the Homeland Security Committee. And obviously this is her bill and we support it.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, while the practice of watch listing individuals plays an important role in identifying possible terrorist suspects, we must keep in mind that the watch list is only as good as the information on it. Without accurate, complete, and reliable information, misidentifications persist. The database becomes unreliable, and the purpose of the watch list is frustrated leaving America vulnerable.

For the watch list to truly be cleaned up, there needs to be direction from the Obama administration to all of the consumers of the list throughout the Federal Government that the way the list is populated and maintained needs reformed. The intelligence community, Federal law enforcement, and DHS must all come together in order to revamp the watch list. In the absence of reform, America needs an immediate remedy. The FAST Redress Act provides just that.

I urge swift passage of this bill, H.R. 559. Ensuring that business travel and other Americans can fly without being misidentified against a terrorist watch list will also stimulate the economy. Air travel is already distressed. Inter-rhetoric against a solid stimulus bill does little to make things right.

Mr. Speaker, this bill moves our security policies forward in a manner that protects our homeland and our civil liberties.

I encourage the passage of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 549) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish an appeal and redress process for individuals wrongly delayed or prohibited from boarding a flight, or denied a right, benefit, or privilege, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to include in the Record an exchange of letters between the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology and myself.

Committee on Science

and Technology,

Washington, DC, January 15, 2009.

Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Ford House Office

Building, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman, I am writing to you concerning the

jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Science and

Technology in H.R. 549, the National Bombing Prevention Act

of 2009. H.R. 549 was introduced by Congressman Peter T. King

on January 15, 2009. H.R. 549 is identical to the reported

version of H.R. 4749 from the 110th Congress.

H.R. 549 implicates the Committee on Science and

Technology's jurisdiction over Homeland Security research and

development under Rule X(1)(o)(14) of the House Rules. The

Committee on Science and Technology acknowledges the

importance of H.R. 549 and the need for the legislation to

move expeditiously. Therefore, while we have a valid claim to

jurisdiction over this bill, I agree not to request a

sequential referral. This, of course, is conditional on our

mutual understanding that nothing in this legislation or my

decision to forgo a sequential referral waives, reduces, or

otherwise affects the jurisdiction of the Committee on

Science and Technology, and that a copy of this letter and of

your response will be included in the Congressional Record

when the bill is considered on the House Floor.

The Committee on Science and Technology also expects that

you will support our request to be conferees during any

House-Senate conference on H.R. 549 or similar legislation.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Bart Gordon,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I don't have any additional speakers for the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 549, and believe that authorizing the Office of Bombing Prevention will greatly enhance our Nation's preparedness and response to arguably the most likely method of terrorist attack.

In addition to authorizing the Office to develop a strategic vision and establish the capabilities level around the Nation, the bill provides support for efforts to research explosives detection and mitigation.

It is important to note, Mr. Speaker, that an informed public is a prepared public. In this spirit, the bill also directs the Office to develop and implement a public awareness campaign that can reach the private sector, as well as ordinary citizens.

Again, I'd like to commend Ranking Member King for bringing forth this important bipartisan legislation, and I urge immediate passage of

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

Mr. Chariman, first, I want to thank the Representative from North Carolina, Mr. Kissell for his amendment. The original Berry amendment covering procurement for the United States Military has ensured that U.S. troops wore military uniforms made from U.S. textiles and manufactured by U.S. factories since the beginning of World War II.

As we know, things have changed dramatically since 1941. Since 2003, the Department of Homeland Security has also been working hard to provide our citizens with added security both at home and abroad. With over 100,000 uniformed employees, I believe that it is imperative that Berry admendment be extended to include uniform and textile purchases at the Department of Homeland Security and offer my overwhelming support for this amendment.

Recent press reports have shown there are numerous questions of security and safety related to the current procurement process for these items. From the case of Customs and Border Protection uniforms and badges being manufactured in Mexico, to the most recent case of Transportation Security Officers reporting allergic reactions to the formaldehyde used in the production of their new uniforms, we can see the added benefit to not only the U.S. textile and manufacturing industry, but in ensuring that these uniformed employees, receive the quality that they deserve. I, like others, am deeply concerned that we could have people crossing the border illegally wearing CBP or TSA uniforms manufactured in foreign countries.

Chairman, as you know, manufacturing as a whole has been on a steady decline. My own state of Mississippi, much like many others, such as North Carolina, have been negatively impacted by the increase in overseas production of goods. I believe that this legislation is not only about security and safety, but also a way to help those communities that rely on the textile and manufacturing industry.

While the amendment by Mr. Kissell is a great step to ensuring that all DHS uniforms and textile purchases are made with U.S. components and in U.S. factories, I also believe that it should also be ultimately made permanent during the 111th Congress through the DHS Authorization process.

Thank you for the opportunity to express my support for this important amendment and I encourage all of my colleagues to support this amendment.

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

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of the Amendment offered by Mr. Platts and Mr. Van Hollen, which clarifies and expands whistleblower protections to federal employees and contractors.

In particular, I would like to speak in support of the provision to grant the Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) of the Transportation Security Administration the whistleblower protections they so rightly deserve. Mr. Chairman, our TSOs are not second class citizens and should not be treated as such.

In the 110th Congress, The Committee on Homeland Security worked to give a broad range of rights to TSOs in section 408 of H.R. 1. Whistleblower protections were a key part of this effort. Yet, when it came time to vote on our Conference Report, these protections were stripped from the final product. I am

therefore pleased to stand here today, in full support of this important and long overdue measure.

In 2001, when the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) was created, Congress provided the TSA Administrator the power to set TSO compensation, leave, and other basic employment rights. While this initial vesting authority helped establish TSA, it continues to breed confusion and low marks for management. The time for personnel experiments is now over. TSOs deserve to be treated like every other employee--fairly and equitably.

This amendment takes an important first step to restore the basic rights of the TSO workforce by providing them with the same whistle- blowing rights as other federal workers.

If you do not set up a system where employees are protected, there is a disincentive to report offenses and the system remains inefficient and hinders transportation security. In the end, the American public may end up paying the price in terms of its security.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not remind my colleagues that granting whistleblower rights to TSOs is not the end of our efforts; it must be the beginning of a sustained push for the rights of TSOs, so they are on par with their colleagues. We still have more work to do for the TSO workforce, such as fully providing them with collective- bargaining rights.

Providing basic employment protections and rights is critical to instill confidence in the workforce. These rights go a long way for the morale and the health of the workforce. In fact, earlier this week, an article was published that cited low marks for TSA management by the workforce on recognition and rewards for performance and promotion practices. I am submitting the article for inclusion in the record. We are obligated to provide the most basic labor protections to our front line workers who perform an important job and work to keep us all safe; rights that are afforded to thousands of workers.

As the Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, I look forward to working with my colleagues to provide not only these important protections but full rights for this valuable and worthy workforce.

Again, I commend my colleagues today on this important amendment and encourage its passage and inclusion into H.R. 1.

[From Government Executive.com, Jan. 26, 2009]

TSA Employees Give Management Low Marks

(By Alyssa Rosenberg)

Transportation Security Administration employees gave

agency management low marks for recognizing and rewarding

performance and encouraging creativity and fairness in the

workplace, according to a 2008 internal survey TSA conducted

and the American Federation of Government Employees recently

released.

From April 29 to June 27 of last year, 16,116 agency

employees responded to the survey. Of that total, 21 percent

of respondents said the process for rewarding and recognizing

employees was fair, with 29 percent reporting that pay raises

depend on job performance. Twenty-one percent of employees

surveyed said the promotions process was fair and

transparent, and 25 percent said differences in performance

were recognized in a meaningful way.

The results, compiled by TSA's Office of Human Capital,

were an improvement from previous years. In 2006, the first

year the question was asked, 18 percent said the rewards and

recognition process was fair, and in 2004, only 8 percent of

TSA employees said pay depended on performance. In 2006, 17

percent of employees surveyed said the promotions process was

fair, and 20 percent believed differences in job performance

were recognized.

``We're looking to see the trends continue up,'' said

Elizabeth Buchanan, TSA's deputy assistant administrator for

human capital. ``I'm not sure there's some absolute value

we'd like to get to.'' A disclaimer noted that survey results

were for official use only. Government Executive obtained the

survey documents from AFGE, which, along with the National

Treasury Employees Union, is organizing TSA workers to obtain

collective bargaining rights.

TSA is not the only agency that has received mediocre

scores on some of these questions. In the 2008 Federal Human

Capital Survey, 28.5 percent of respondents governmentwide

said they agreed or strongly agreed that pay raises depend on

how well employees perform their jobs, a half of a point

lower than TSA's score in the internal survey.

Buchanan said the 2008 survey did not reflect all the

changes that have been made to TSA's pay-for-performance

system, and she believes the next survey will provide more

meaningful data on pay perceptions.

The 2008 respondents were more satisfied with benefits than

with pay, with 36 percent saying they thought their salaries

were fair and competitive with similar jobs in other fields,

while 62 percent said their benefits ``have a strong impact''

on their decisions to stay at the agency. Bill Lyons, a

national organizer for AFGE involved with the union's efforts

to organize TSA workers, said employee perceptions of

arbitrary enforcement of pay and work rules were due partly

to lax oversight by TSA of airport federal security

directors.

``One officer said to me, `Bill, I walk into the airport

every day and it's like I'm walking into Pandora's box. I

don't know what's going to be there,' '' Lyons said. ``The

federal security directors, I believe they each think their

airport is their own little empire, and [their attitude is]

`I can do whatever I want to do, whatever the directive is

coming out of D.C.' ''

Half the survey's respondents said their supervisor or team

leader gave them useful suggestions for improving job

performance, but only 38 percent said those supervisors

modeled fair, inclusive and transparent behaviors themselves.

Buchanan said she hoped some new programs would improve

perceptions of management and consistent enforcement of

agency directives. About 60 percent of the TSA workforce has

participated in two training programs called COACH and

ENGAGE, which aim to improve employees' confidence and

increase the strength of communication between security

officers and their supervisors.

She also noted that a new peer review program, which has

been launched in the nation's largest airports, already has

addressed 32 cases in which employees felt they were being

treated unfairly by management. As part of the program,

panels of three peer employees and two supervisors hear

complaints. If they conclude that an employee has been

treated unfairly, they can overturn a federal security

director's decision. Buchanan said TSA planned to roll out

the program at all airports, but was still figuring out the

time frame.

Those initiatives are designed to address a gap in

perception between how TSA employees feel about their work,

and how they think the agency views them. Ninety-four percent

of survey respondents said their work is important, but only

22 percent said they feel personally empowered on the job and

48 percent believed TSA values their work.

Despite those frustrations, 66 percent of respondents

reported that they were proud to work for TSA, and 64 percent

registered overall job satisfaction. Seventy-eight percent of

respondents said they were likely to stay at TSA for another

year, and only 6 percent said they were likely to retire by

the middle of 2009.

``A lot of people took this job out of wanting to dedicate

themselves to the mission of protecting and serving the

flying public,'' Lyons said. ``They look at it as a way of

serving their country.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2816, a bill that will alter how the Chief Human Capital Officer is appointed at the Department of Homeland Security.

This bill will give the Secretary of Homeland Security authority similar to other Federal agencies where a determination is made to place a careerist or a political appointee in the Chief Human Capital Officer position. This authority is particularly important as DHS makes its first transition to a new administration. Undoubtedly, there will be numerous staffing challenges ahead and the DHS Secretary must have a Chief Human Capital Officer to depend on to meet the Department's goals.

The job of the Chief Human Capital Officer requires unique qualifications. Not only must this individual develop and maintain a cadre of national security personnel, but he or she must also ensure integration throughout the new Department and its many components.

The men and women of the Department are some of the hardest working, most selfless individuals in the Federal workforce. Their mission contains little room for error. This is why it is so important that the Department provide a positive workplace that puts employees first. Over the past few years this has not always been the case and low employee morale has plagued the Department and limited its effectiveness.

The 2006 Federal Human Capital Survey conducted by the Office of Personnel Management found that DHS was rated ``dead last'' in job satisfaction among its peers and received very low marks on leadership and management capabilities. And in the recent DHS 2007 Employee Survey, employees cited their dissatisfaction with the Department's pay, performance and promotion practices. Moreover, there have been numerous documented incidents regarding mismanagement within some of the major DHS components. These factors contribute to a fractured workforce and low morale.

These are problems that must be addressed by the next Chief Human Capital Officer. Addressing employee concerns must be his or her first priority.

One of the major sources of low morale is the MAX-HR system, a so- called ``pay-for-performance'' system. MAX-HR and its proposed ``follow-on system'' have been repeatedly rejected by my Committee in legislation and, many Members of Congress, for the past two years. The damage that DHS's relentless pursuit of such a system has done to morale is immeasurable.

The next Chief Human Capital Officer has the chance to make some great strides and improvements at the Department. He or she must work to address the employee concerns and dissatisfaction with a commitment to providing proper training, career development and the tools necessary for its employees to do their jobs. Also at the top of the Chief Human Capital Officer's priority list should be recruiting the best and brightest for DHS, including individuals with diverse backgrounds and a patriotic spirit to fill its ranks.

Given the extensive investment we have made in developing TSA and its workforce, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge that the TSA workforce does not have the same rights and protections that are afforded to their colleagues at DHS. As the eyes and ears in our airports, TSA workers need to have whistleblower protections and collective bargaining rights to be able to report security concerns without fear of losing their jobs. Moreover, granting basic employment rights is critical to recruiting our Transportation Security workforce. We know firsthand what low morale can do to the health, recruitment, and retention of the DHS workforce.

It is clear from the Committee's record of work that more can be done to support human capital efforts at the Department. And I am pleased to say that this bill is one of those needed measures of support. I look forward to working with my colleagues and the Department to continue to build a strong workforce at DHS. And I also take this opportunity to commend the men and women of the Department for their tireless work and dedication to the mission.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 1429 which applauds the public servants at Department of Homeland Security for their outstanding dedication to securing our Nation.

More importantly, House Resolution 1429 encourages citizens to prepare themselves and their families to respond to emergencies-- whether it is an act of terror, natural disaster and other crisis.

The Department of Homeland Security has partnered with over 1,700 organizations, including the American Red Cross, to promote September as the National Preparedness Month.

In fact, this is the 5th year that the Department of Homeland Security has observed September as the National Emergency Preparedness Month.

As a former volunteer firefighter, I know that lives are saved when the public takes steps to prepare for the worst.

Likewise, as the Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, I want the people of this Nation to take the necessary steps to prepare themselves in the event of an emergency.

Constituents should be encouraged to visit the following websites to get information on how to be prepared for different types of emergencies: www.ready.gov and www.redcross.org. Among the Department's recommendations to help Americans prepare for emergencies are:

1. Get a Kit--Build a disaster supplies kit that includes enough supplies for each family member for three days and remember to check the kit every six months. Be sure that the kit includes water, food, medicine, batteries, flashlights, hygiene materials, blankets, etc.

2. Make a Plan--Every family should develop and communicate with each other their evacuation or sheltering plan. The plan should correspond to the school, work and community of every member of the family. All families are encouraged to practice this plan to ensure familiarity with evacuation or meeting routes, have cell phones charged and have a charger in the car.

It should be known that at times it may be easier to make a long- distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.

Also every family should have a secure location of important documents such as, insurance papers, etc.

3. Be informed about the type of disasters or emergencies that may occur where you live, work and play and how they can affect you, your family and community. In other words do you live in a place prone to hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, etc? Every citizen should also learn about what to do in the event of a biological, chemical, explosive, nuclear or radiological attack.

It is important to identify how authorities will notify you and how you will get important information.

You should learn what you can do to prepare for that emergency as well as first aid, CPR and disaster training.

Consider sharing what you have learned with your family, neighbors and friends.

4. Get Involved--After preparing yourself and your family for possible emergencies by getting a kit, making a plan and being informed, take the next step and get involved in preparing your community. The American public should visit the www.citizencorps.com website to learn about how Citizen Corps brings together community, emergency and government leaders to involve community members in emergency preparedness, planning, mitigation, response and recovery.

More than 2,200 state, local, tribal and territorial governments in all 56 states and U.S. territories have formed Citizen Corps Councils, and every day new Councils are formed in communities around the country.

These Councils assist with outreach and educational efforts to the public; training and exercises that effectively integrate emergency responders, volunteers with a response role, and the general public; and volunteer programs that support emergency response services.

I conclude by asking my colleagues to adopt this resolution.

Mr. Etheridge. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5170) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide for a privacy official within each component of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, as amended.

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 bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure and yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5170, the Department of Homeland Security Component Privacy Officer Act of 2008.

The Department's Chief Privacy Officer was the first ever statutorily created Federal Privacy Officer. The creation of this Office served as the ``gold standard'' for other Federal agencies to follow.

Along those same lines, this bill advances the committee's authorization process by improving DHS and making it the first Federal agency to have statutorily created privacy officers in its component agencies. Hopefully, this will put the Department at the forefront of individual privacy protection.

Under the current structure, the Chief Privacy Officer has to rely on component agencies--such as TSA, Customs and Border Protection and FEMA--for information concerning programs and policy that impact privacy rights. Sometimes this information is shared, sometimes it's not. When it's not, the risk includes spending valuable taxpayer funds on programs that may become stalled or cancelled due to privacy concerns or missteps.

The component agencies are the pulse of the Department of Homeland Security. Most homeland security efforts stem from component agency actions. Privacy officers need to be where the action is happening, not waiting for a phone call after decisions have already been made.

Establishing privacy officers in the component agencies that make up the Department of Homeland Security is the first step in ensuring that privacy protections are in place at the beginning of the process.

Under the leadership of Management, Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee chairman, Mr. Carney, this legislation is informed by Government Accountability Office findings, internal discussions with the Department's Office of Privacy, and publications released by the DHS Chief Privacy Officer.

H.R. 5170 requires the component privacy officers to, among other things,

serve as the main point of contact between their component head and the DHS Chief Privacy Officer; draft and review Privacy Impact Assessments and Federal Register notices published by their component; monitor the component's compliance with all applicable Federal privacy laws and regulations; and conduct supervision of programs, regulations, policies, procedures or guidelines to ensure the component's protection of privacy.

As a result, Mr. Speaker, of the committee's oversight and its commitment to the authorization process, this bill would ensure that privacy considerations are integrated into the decision-making process at all of the DHS components.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation that is not only critical to privacy rights, but the security of our country as well.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and if the gentleman from Florida has no speakers, then I am prepared to close after the gentleman closes.

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

Mr. Speaker, public trust in the Department's ability to protect personal privacy rights is abysmally low.

Recently, the Department's Inspector General determined that the Science and Technology Directorate's ADVISE program should be cancelled due to privacy concerns. This determination was made after the Department had spent $42 billion on the program. We also learned that the chief privacy officer was not brought into the process until almost 2 years after the system had been deployed.

This bill would put a privacy officer in the Science and Technology Directorate. Moreover, the Automated Targeting System, which is a Customs and Border Protection program, has been heavily criticized by privacy advocates. Again, this was a program that was operated for some time in the dark without proper safeguards and departmental oversight. Under this bill CBP would get a privacy officer too.

Quite frankly, Mr. Speaker, there has been a litany of DHS programs that have been cancelled, delayed, or discontinued due to privacy concerns. Almost all of these were the products of Department Component Agencies that do not have a privacy officer within their ranks.

H.R. 5170 will ensure that privacy protections and appropriate safeguards are part and parcel of how each component develops its policies and programs.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5983) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance the information security of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, as amended.

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 bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure and yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Keeping our Federal and critical infrastructure network secure is an issue of national security. The United States and its allies face a significant and growing threat to our information technology systems. The acquisition of our government's information by outsiders undermines our strength as a Nation. Over time the theft of critical information from government computers could cost the United States our advantage over our adversaries.

This legislation is the result of extensive oversight work undertaken by the chairman of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Science and Technology, Mr. Langevin.

An organization is only as strong as the integrity and reliability of the information that it keeps. H.R. 5983, a piece of the DHS authorization package, seeks to improve cybersecurity at DHS by ensuring that DHS's defenses of information systems are robust and by holding individuals at all levels accountable for mitigating vulnerabilities.

H.R. 5983, which was approved by voice vote in the committee, Mr. Speaker, is composed of five important provisions:

First, it establishes authorities and qualifications for the Chief Information Officer position at the Department. Through our oversight work, Mr. Speaker, we have observed how lack of an information security background can hamper the CIO's understanding and ultimately efforts to secure DHS' networks.

Second, the bill establishes specific operational security practices for the CIO, including a continuous real-time cyber incident response capability, network security architecture, and vulnerability assessments. These are fundamental elements for a comprehensive information security program.

Third, H.R. 5983 establishes testing protocols to reduce the number of vulnerability exploitations throughout the Department's networks. Time and again we have heard the current Federal information security requirements do not go far enough to actually ``operationalize'' security to reduce the number of successful attacks. Under H.R. 5983 security will be ``operationalized'' at DHS, a Federal agency that has a critical homeland security mission and is the receptacle of highly sensitive information.

Fourth, Mr. Speaker, the bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to determine if the internal security policy of a contractor who provides network services to DHS is consistent with the agency's requirements. This is a standard operating procedure for all private sector companies. It should be also for DHS as well.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, this bill seeks a formal report from the Secretary of Homeland Security on meeting the deadlines established by the Office of Management and Budget for Trusted Internet Connections, encryption and authentication mandates. These are critical for the Department's efforts to improve information security. It is unclear whether proper deadlines are being met.

I encourage my colleagues to support the Homeland Security Network Defense and Accountability Act of 2008.

House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and

Government Reform,

Washington, DC, July 24, 2008.

Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Ford House Office

Building, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Thompson: I am writing about H.R. 5983, the

Homeland Security Network Defense and Accountability Act of

2008, which the Homeland Security Committee ordered reported

to the House on June 26, 2008.

I appreciate your effort to consult with the Committee on

Oversight and Government Reform regarding H.R. 5983. In

particular, I appreciate your willingness to strike the

provision of the bill addressing the Freedom of Information

Act and for agreeing to add rule of construction with regard

to application of the Federal Information Management Security

Act (FISMA) to the Department of Homeland Security.

In the interest of expediting consideration of H.R. 5983,

and in recognition of your efforts to address my concerns,

the Oversight Committee will not request a sequential

referral of this bill. I would, however, request your support

for the appointment of conferees on the Oversight Committee

should H.R. 5983 or a similar Senate bill be considered in

conference with the Senate.

Moreover, I believe it is important to identify additional

provisions in H.R. 5983 that are of particular concern to me.

Specifically, H.R. 5983 creates new responsibilities that

might cause confusion with existing requirements under FISMA.

Although these requirements do not necessarily contradict

FISMA, I am concerned that when the Department seeks to

implement these new requirements there may be uncertainty as

to which law takes precedence. The unique set of requirements

created in H.R. 5983 does not appear to align with current

governmentwide requirements.

In addition, I am concerned that H.R. 5983 puts too much

responsibility with the Department's Inspector General. In my

view, primary responsibility for performance reviews and

testing should reside with the Department.

Again, thank you for your efforts to address my concerns

with H.R. 5983. Although I still have reservations about a

few provisions, I look forward to working with you to resolve

these matters and develop policies that benefit the federal

government as a whole.

This letter should not be construed as a waiver of the

Oversight Committee's legislative jurisdiction over subjects

addressed in H.R. 5983 that fall within the jurisdiction of

the Oversight Committee.

Please include our exchange of letters on this matter in

the Homeland Security Committee Report on H.R. 5983 and in

the Congressional Record during consideration of this

legislation on the House floor.

Sincerely,

Henry A. Waxman,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and if the gentleman from Florida has no more speakers, then I am prepared to close after the gentleman closes.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5983 is the product of extensive oversight by Chairman Langevin and the other members of the Emerging Threats, Science and Technology Subcommittee.

After hearing from hundreds of experts on how best to improve information security, reviewing best practices in the public and private sectors, and investigating cyber incidents across the public and private sectors, Chairman Langevin authored the Homeland Security Network Defense and Accountability Act.

H.R. 5983 will ensure that a qualified leader serves as the Chief Information Officer and has direction on what specific operational security practices should be implemented to make DHS's information security defenses robust.

This legislation seeks to make DHS the gold standard when it comes to information security. After all, Mr. Speaker, how can DHS legitimately be the lead Federal agency for cybersecurity and infrastructure protection when it doesn't have its own house in order.

I am pleased to include H.R. 5983 in the package of DHS authorization bills that the Committee on Homeland Security has approved on a bipartisan basis. I urge my colleagues to support me in passing this critical piece of legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5531) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to clarify criteria for certification relating to advanced spectroscopic portal monitors, and for other purposes, as amended.

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 bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure, and yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today to express my strong support for H.R. 5531, the Next Generation Radiation Screening Act of 2008, and I ask my colleagues to support this bill. I would like to congratulate Ranking Member King for offering this legislation. I thank him for continuing to work in a bipartisan manner in accepting some of our recommendations to improve the bill in his amendment in the nature of a substitute, which passed out of our committee unanimously.

This legislation reflects the committee's oversight of next generation radiation portal monitors. It fits well within our package of DHS authorization bills, since H.R. 5531 will greatly improve DHS's operational effectiveness in the areas of border and port security, domestic preparedness, and nuclear detection.

Specifically, H.R. 5531 will put in motion a plan to deploy next generation radiological detection technology at our ports of entry to help more effectively and more efficiently scan cargo as it enters the United States. Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups, as well as rogue nations, have made clear their plans to obtain fissile material and aspirations to detonate a radiological or nuclear device in the United States.

Events around the world continue to sharpen our focus on this growing threat. Just last year, it was reported that Pakistan was expanding its nuclear program, constructing new facilities capable of producing weapons grade plutonium. In November of last year, three men were arrested in Slovakia for illegally possessing highly enriched uranium. That same month, a coordinated attack took place in South Africa's most secretive nuclear facility, where a laptop containing sensitive information was stolen, only to be recovered during a shoot-out with guards.

It is imperative that we implement the best, most effective technology at our disposal to protect the American people from attack. This bipartisan legislation requires firm benchmarks for the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office to measure progress and to ensure that only the best technology is installed at our borders.

It also requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to clearly define what he considers a significant increase in operational effectiveness, the standard required by law to procure and deploy Advanced Spectroscopic Portals, or ASPs.

The Department expects to complete its certification this fall. H.R. 5531 will ensure the certification criteria are clearly laid out and quantified before a final decision is made. The bill also authorizes $40 million for the Securing the Cities Initiative, which my committee strongly supports. The initiative employs the concept of defense in- depth, and deploys an array of detection technologies, both stationary and mobile, throughout New York City, for added layers of security.

This initiative shows what is possible when Federal, State, and local authorities cooperate. Certainly, it is a model that can be replicated in other major U.S. cities.

H.R. 5531 will ensure that both the ASP program and the Securing the Cities Initiative are operationally effective and cost-effective too. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and if the gentleman from Florida is prepared to close, I am prepared to go after him.

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

In closing, I once again want to express my strong support for H.R. 5531, the Next Generation Radiation Screening Act of 2008. I again thank Ranking Member King for offering this legislation and for continuing to work in a bipartisan manner as we move legislation to make our country more secure.

This bill will help to ensure the state-of-the-art technology that allows our Customs and Border Protection officers to effectively and efficiently scan cargo is procured and deployed. This was the promise of the Advanced Spectroscopic Portal Monitors program.

We have to make sure that the ASP delivers and provides significant improvement of operational effectiveness. Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups are interested in attacking us with dirty bombs, and we must do everything we can to find and intercept these materials. That means looking for materials not just at our borders and ports, but inside the United States too, and that is why authorizing the Securing the Cities Initiative is so important.

I am proud to support this critical bill that also advances the important process of providing congressional input to improve the Department. H.R. 5531 represents an important step in protecting the country from nuclear terrorism, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2490) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a pilot program for the mobile biometric identification in the maritime environment of aliens unlawfully attempting to enter the United States, as amended.

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 bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure, and yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 2490 is an important milestone in protecting our Nation's maritime security. This bill authorizes a program that has been conducted by the Coast Guard since November of 2006. The Biometric Identification at Sea Pilot Project has allowed the Coast Guard to collect biometrics from individuals interdicted in the Caribbean to run them against terrorists and criminal data bases.

Under this program, the Coast Guard has collected biometric information from over 1,100 individuals, using state-of-the-art handheld scanners. As a result, over 250 individuals with criminal records have been identified, and 72 have been brought ashore for prosecution under U.S. laws.

This program breaks the cycle of migrants with criminal histories being returned to their country of origin without prosecution. It also has proven itself to be an effective partnership between the Coast Guard and Federal law enforcement.

I would note that these provisions also are carried on H.R. 2830, the FY 2009 U.S. Coast Guard Authorization, a measure that was approved by the House in April of 2008.

I am pleased that this is being considered today as one of the key provisions that we have included in our DHS authorization package. I urge passage of this important legislation, which will significantly improve the security of our Nation's maritime environment.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, first of all I would like to congratulate Mr. Bilirakis on what is a good bill. We enjoyed working with him on it. I look forward to working with him on future bills.

I support H.R. 2490, Mr. Speaker, because it breaks the cycle of migrants with criminal histories being returned to their country of origin without prosecution. This bill also requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to analyze the cost of expanding the biometrics program outside the Caribbean.

Every day, the United States Coast Guard men and women are valiantly protecting our Nation's 95,000 miles of shoreline with aging infrastructure. This legislation will provide them with the additional high-tech tools they so desperately need.

For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2490.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and urge support of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, it gives me immense pleasure to recognize the life and accomplishments of one of America's most prolific icons in college football history, Coach William ``W.C.'' Gordon.

Coach Gordon's career in college football began at Tennessee State University, TSU, where he played wide receiver and earned All-Mid Western Conference honors. He was also a 4-year baseball letterman at first base and team captain for the TSU Tigers. After graduating from Tennessee State University in 1952, he went on to serve in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955.

After serving in the military, Gordon returned to sports as athletic director and coach for Eva Gordon High School, in Magnolia, MS. He also served at Temple High School, in Vicksburg, MS, in 1966, where he coached his team to the High School Football Negro Big 8 Conference state championship with an 11-0 record in 1966.

From 1967 to 1994, Coach Gordon led and mentored at Jackson State University in a multitude of coaching capacities. Though most known for football, Coach Gordon served as head baseball coach from 1971 to 1972, leading the Tigers to the Southwestern Athletic Conference, SWAC, baseball title in 1972.

As interim and head football coach, Gordon became one of the most winning coaches in the history of college football with 28 consecutive league victories and a career record of 119-47-5. Gordon coached 65 JSU players into the National Football League. Gordon was inducted into the SWAC Hall of Fame in 1994.

Gordon coached the Tigers to eight SWAC Championships and was awarded SWAC Coach of the Year honors six times. He has been inducted into Mississippi Conferences Hall of Fame & Museum in 1977 and most recently was enshrined in the National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, IN on July 18-19.

Again, it gives me great pleasure to recognize and honor one of America's finest legendary football icons and true patriots of the game, Coach W.C. Gordon. His legacy not only left a mark on Black college football but also on college football at-large.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of legislation I authored to recognize a remarkable young woman, Ensign DeCarol Davis.

On May 21, 2008, Ensign Davis graduated from the Coast Guard Academy with a grade point average of 3.96 in electrical engineering. She earned the distinction of being the first African American valedictorian of the Coast Guard Academy.

The Coast Guard Academy was founded in 1876, but the first African American did not graduate from the institution until 1966. Women were not admitted to the school until 1976. Today, we honor Ensign Davis, who, through her hard work and perseverance, accomplished what no African American has done before her, she achieved the Academy's highest honor.

This achievement is remarkable, given that over the past three decades the number of minorities graduating from the Coast Guard Academy has not kept pace with the other military service academies. Legislation approved by the House earlier this year, Mr. Speaker, would bring about more diversity within the Coast Guard Academy by allowing Members of Congress to nominate individuals for this academy, just as we do all other military service academies.

I would also note that outside of the classroom Ensign Davis has distinguished herself as a community leader. On her own initiative, in the little spare time that she had, Ensign Davis wrote and directed a play for a local elementary school that introduced engineering as a possible career to the students.

During her time at the academy, Ensign Davis also excelled in sports. In fact, she was selected to be the 2006 Arthur Ashe First Team Sports Scholar for basketball. She was also selected to be on the 2007 ESPN Academic Women's Basketball Team for All-District

One Colleges. This is just a sample of this gifted young person's accomplishments. Ensign Davis clearly is destined for a successful career in the Coast Guard.

Earlier this month, Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to meet Ensign Davis and spent some time getting to know her. During our meeting, she spoke passionately about her internship with D.C. Voice, a group of education activists concerned about public education in our Nation's capital. As a Truman scholar, Ensign Davis could have worked anywhere, but she chose to focus her energies on the District of Columbia and work to make a difference in the lives of thousands of children who attend D.C. public schools.

Today, Mr. Speaker, we honor Ensign DeCarol Davis for being a trailblazer whose academic accomplishments are matched by a commitment to protecting our Nation and contributing to our communities.

Congratulations to Ensign Davis and the rest of the Class of 2008. This Nation is appreciative of your commitment to service. Your talents are needed to ensure that the Coast Guard can continue to be a ``can do'' agency that we have all come to rely upon to keep our ports and waterways safe and secure.

I urge you to support this resolution and join me in recognizing a future leader of our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4010, legislation designating the United States Post Office located at 100 W. Percy Street in Indianola, Mississippi as the ``Minnie Cox United States Post Office''.

Minnie M. Geddings Cox was one of two daughters born to William and Mary Geddings of Lexington, Mississippi. She graduated from Fisk University and first taught school at the common schools in Lexington. Soon after, she married and assisted her husband, Wayne, when he was principal of the Indianola Colored Public School.

Minnie M. Geddings Cox, was appointed postmistress of Indianola, Mississippi in 1891, by President Benjamin Harrison, and was reappointed by President William McKinley; thereby, becoming the first Black postmistress of the United States. On January 25, 1900, President McKinley raised the rank of the Indianola Post Office from fourth class to third class and appointed Mrs. Cox for a full 4-year term.

However, in the fall of 1902, under the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, a controversy brought national attention to Mrs. Cox. James K. Vardaman, running for governor, in 1902 used Minnie Cox as proof that African Americans had too much power, and that President Theodore Roosevelt was a Negrophile. Vardaman, who was indeed elected governor, called Theodore Roosevelt that ``coon-flavored miscegenationist in the White House.''

Jim Crow Laws overran Reconstruction in America and whites wanted blacks eliminated from leadership positions. Mrs. Cox was threatened with violence by local whites, who held several mass or mob meetings to demand her removal (her term expired in 1904). The mayor and sheriff declined to protect her, and as a result of the increased tension and threats of physical harm, she resigned as postmaster, effective January 1, 1903, and left town for a time.

President Roosevelt believed Mrs. Cox had been wronged, and that the authority of the federal government was being compromised and refused to accept her resignation. Instead, he closed Indianola's post office on January 2, 1903, rerouted the mail to Greenville, MS, thirty miles away and Minnie Cox continued to receive her salary. For four hours in January 1903, the Indianola postal event was debated on the floor of the United States Senate, and appeared on the front pages of newspapers across the country. One year later, at the expiration of Mrs. Cox's term, in February 1904, the post office was reopened, but demoted in rank from third class to fourth class.

Minnie Cox and her husband Wayne W. Cox, who had been an employee in the railway mail service, returned to Indianola and organized the ``Delta Penny Savings Bank.'' They had been substantial property owners before 1903, and they bought more land and became successful bankers as well. Much of

the success of African-Americans is attributed to Wayne and Minnie Cox. Both descendants of parents who were former slaves, through their ability to penetrate barriers, promote progress, and instill pride as educators, bankers, entrepreneurs, real estate investors, and political activists, exemplify remarkable courage, wisdom and tenacity.

United in matrimony October 31, 1889, Wayne and Minnie Cox had one daughter, Ethel Grant Cox. The Coxes acquired thousands of acres of land and ranked among the wealthiest of the race in Mississippi. Their spacious home sat on some five acres of land in the white section of town. As premier supporters of the business enterprises of blacks in the state, they sold homes to hundreds of African Americans on terms that would not have been possible if they were dealing with people who had no interest in them.

Today, a street in Indianola named in their honor, Cox Street, bears their name. Also, the city's most popular park, Cox Park, located within minutes of the business district at Faisonia Avenue and West Gresham Street in Indianola, is named in their honor. Minnie Cox died in 1933.

Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to in strong support of this resolution and urge Congress to pass this legislation renaming the Post Office in Indianola, MS, after the first African-American postmistress, Mrs. Minnie Cox.

Madam Speaker, I would like to introduce legislation to help minimize the hardship of home and business owners who are most at-risk prepare for the next, inevitable natural disaster. As people from the gulf coast and those States bordering the Atlantic Ocean are only too well aware, this year's hurricane season officially began in recent days. Once again this year, weather experts are predicting several severe storms. While the reasons for the increased number of storms remains a subject of much argument and debate, their disastrous results lie beyond dispute.

A better way exists, however, and that way is prevention. ``Prevention,'' when it comes to storm damage, takes many forms. At- risk home and business owners can take preventive measures by ``hardening'' their homes and other structures against preventable storm damage. They can strengthen their roofs, install storm shutters, elevate their electrical systems and even construct ``safe rooms'' within their homes.

The ``Property Mitigation Assistance Act of 2008,'' would establish a homeowner mitigation loan program within the Federal Emergency Management Agency to promote pre-disaster property mitigation measures. The bill would provide for grants of at least $500,000 to States based on the State's risk of natural disaster, and would authorize $200 million for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2014 for the homeowner mitigation loan program.

Although, the challenge to rebuild in the aftermath of a natural disaster remains, there must be legislation in place to assist homeowners and businesses that are located in areas that are at risk and subject to repeated hazards or natural disasters. I urge my colleagues to carefully consider The Property Mitigation Assistance Act of 2008 and enact this legislation into law.

Madam Speaker, last Friday, 121 truckloads of needed Household supplies arrived in the Gulf Coast for people displaced by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Though these supplies are surely still welcome, they arrived 3 years late.

Tragically, at the same time that 90,000 ``living kits'' were distributed by FEMA in Louisiana, other Americans, this time in the Midwest, have experienced a trauma of their own, as flood waters rose and levee after levee was breached. Resources-whether human, financial, or equipment-must be made available immediately to the American people in need, whether that need is a result of storms, floods, terrorist attacks, and other emergencies.

A recent Mason Dixon poll indicates that some residents of hurricane- vulnerable states say they will not evacuate and prefer to weather storms at home. Furthermore, the results of the poll indicate that many residents lack disaster plans and are still misinformed about how to protect themselves and their

families during a storm. These results are particularly troubling when we consider how many citizens of the Gulf Coast did not have plans and were forced to accept relocation to toxic trailers.

The Homeland Security Relief Corps Act of 2008 will ensure that the areas ravaged by Katrina will not go unattended by providing trained workers to engage in actual rebuilding efforts. This bill will assist us in addressing some of the harms caused by Katrina.

As introduced, the Homeland Security Relief Corps Act will establish a much needed Response and Recovery Corps within the Department of Homeland Security. The Corps members will receive core training in emergency response, post-incident recovery, and rebuilding efforts. Equipped with the knowledge and preparation needed to make the disaster recovery process more efficient, the Corps members will be of tremendous assistance to the ravaged areas.

With the floods in the Midwest and the other disasters this Nation has seen since Katrina, it is time for citizens to get more involved in disaster response and recovery. This bill provides a path to the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast and provides hope for quicker recovery for residents of other ravaged areas.

Madam Speaker, I rise to salute one of Mississippi's finest politicians and agriculturist, former State Senator and farmer, Mr. Grey Flowers Ferris. Grey was a lifelong advocate for public education and a marvelous steward of farmland. His steadfast devotion to his family, friends, and farming are remarkable and will never be forgotten.

Madam Speaker, not long after graduating from college and pursuing a career in politics, Ferris returned to his passion of farming. As a child he grew up on a farm with four other siblings and it was then when he discovered his love for farming.

Madam Speaker, as a local farmer and family man, Ferris developed a passion for creating a better future for the children of Mississippi. Ferris was elected to the first board of the Vicksburg-Warren School District and served working to unite the school systems. With the deep divisions in local education in the Warren County, Mississippi, region, Ferris decided to run for State Senate to better address the State's education challenges. During his two terms in MS State Senate, Ferris was elected to serve as chairman of the Senate Education Committee and worked to reform education in rural and underfunded areas in Mississippi. He served as a lead author of the Adequate Education Act, which regulated the way money was allocated and spent among public schools.

Madam Speaker, Grey not only worked hard to advocate for education but he was lover of the environment and a first class citizen. He was well-respected by his peers not only for who he was but more so for what he did.

Madam Speaker, Grey saw the need to and retained the desire to change the world. Grey stared racism in its ugly face and combated it. The people of Mississippi hold him with high regard and respect.

Madam Speaker, Grey Ferris was a man who saw the ability to serve the public as a privilege--not just an obligation. He served the citizens of Mississippi well through his continuous efforts of seating on the board of the Vicksburg Art Association, the Mercy Regional Medical Center, the Soil and Water Conservation Commission, the Mississippi School Board Association and the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation.

Grey Ferris wore many hats--an advocate of education, a protester for equality, devoted family man, committed farmer, and fine and just politician who worked to ensure fairness among all citizens of Mississippi. Today, Madam Speaker, it gives me great pride to recognize and honor the many contributions and continuous service of Grey Flowers Ferris to the State of Mississippi.