Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained in a meeting in my office and didn't make it to the floor before the gavel came down for the first vote (rollcall Vote 308) in this series. I did vote for the subsequent rollcall votes in this series. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Stated against:

Mr. Chair, I'm pleased to rise today in support of my bipartisan bill, the Deployed Troops Support Act, which has been accepted as an Amendment to H.R. 1960, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014.

I would like to thank House Armed Services Committee Chairman McKeon and Ranking Member Smith for their support in helping this important Amendment to move forward. I would also like to thank the cosponsors of H.R. 1756, the Deployed Troops Support Act for their support: Frederica Wilson of Florida, Dennis Ross of Florida, Louis Gohmert of Texas, William Enyart of Illinois, Christopher Gibson of New York, Kerry Bentivolio of Mississippi, Donna Christensen of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Larry Bucshon of Indiana, and Derek Kilmer of Washington.

Mr. Chairman, when our soldiers are deployed to defend our Nation, many patriotic Americans show their support for our brave men and women in uniform by putting together care packages. This Amendment simply allows the Department of Defense to transport, on a space available basis, goods supplied by nonprofit organizations to members of the Armed Services who are deployed overseas.

This Amendment gives veterans' nonprofits and other private charitable organizations that support our troops the same consideration that organizations are already given for transporting humanitarian goods to foreign nationals overseas. In this Amendment, we extend the same courtesy for our own troops that we have granted to foreigners under the ``Denton Program'' since 1985.

We also ensure that the Secretary has the authority to determine that there is a legitimate need for the goods being shipped, that supplies are suitable for distribution, and that adequate arrangements have been made for distribution.

This legislative idea was brought to my attention by veterans in my congressional district, specifically AVET Project in Brevard County. I especially commend Garren and Kim Cone and the members of AVET for their service to our Nation and their support for our soldiers. Again, thanks to everyone involved for helping to advance this common sense Amendment.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I am pleased that my bipartisan bill, the Deployed Troops Support Act, is part of an en bloc amendment later this evening.

My amendment simply allows the Department of Defense to transport, on a space-available basis, goods supplied by nonprofit organizations to members of the armed services who are deployed overseas.

We ensure that the Secretary has the authority to determine that there is a legitimate need for the goods being shipped, and that the supplies are suitable for distribution, and that adequate arrangements have been made for the distribution when the shipment arrives.

This legislative idea was brought to me by veterans in my congressional district, specifically, AVET Project. If enacted into law, it would give our troops the same consideration on a space available as currently granted to foreigners under the Denton Program.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mourn the passing of Sharon O'Keefe Evans. Sharon was an inspirational woman who touched many lives throughout her 56 years. She passed after a brief, yet courageous battle with cancer.

Sharon grew up in the Chicago suburbs and relocated to central Florida to pursue career opportunities. Before moving to Florida, she attended the University of Illinois, Champaign. After graduating in 1974, she became an accomplished advertising executive serving in a variety of senior positions with leading national advertising agencies such as J. Walter Thompson and Foot, Cone & Belding. After relocating to Florida she held account management positions with some of our state's leading advertising firms, including Fry, Hammond, Barr and PP+K. She was an avid golfer, enjoying the many beautiful courses our state has to offer. During her illness, Sharon was treated at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, a national leader in cancer research and treatment.

Sharon is survived by her parents, William O'Keefe and Gay Japinga of Evanston, Illinois, and her husband, Doug Evans, of Valrico, Florida. As a senior executive with Source Interlink Media, Doug is a leading voice in the motorsports and automotive industry, publishing magazines such as `Hot Rod' and `Motor Trend,' which I have read for many years. As a fellow automotive enthusiast, I count him as a friend and offer my heartfelt condolences to him and his family for this great loss.

Sharon's final days were spent with Doug courageously by her side. It is with sadness that we pay tribute to Sharon's life. This is yet another reminder of the need to redouble our efforts to find a cure for cancer so that institutions like Moffitt Cancer Center can successfully treat those, like Sharon, so that their days are no longer cut short by this disease.

Where are the jobs?

I'll tell you where they're not. They're not created or seemingly even encouraged by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The Department is still bullying small mom-and-pop businesses to complete lengthy, time- consuming, and expensive questionnaires about their personal business; but they don't have time to answer my questions about the need, the justification, or the actual use of the information in those questionnaires.

A letter received by a constituent just yesterday threatens that if they don't get their economic census back within 2 weeks, they will refer their case to general counsel. How can constituents trust this agency when even the formerly independent IRS is now used as a partisan tool to punish people the administration does not like?

If the Department of Commerce really cared about improving our commerce, they would leave our mom-and-pops alone to make a living, creating jobs.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize William R. Ellis who has been an integral part of Brevard County, Florida for more than 50 years. Bill currently serves as the Vice President of Government and Industry Relations for Health First, Inc. in Meltourne, Florida. He will retire from that position on June 14, 2013, after 57 years of distinguished service to our community and the State of Florida.

For the past 15 years, Mr. Ellis has been responsible for all governmental and industry relations for Health First, Inc. Bill also currently serves as a consultant for The Viera Company and has served as a consultant for the Governmental and Community Affairs of the Canaveral Port Authority. In that position, Bill was responsible for maintaining community and governmental relations locally and statewide.

Bill Ellis is well recognized for his early years of service. From 1956-1982 he served in various managerial positions with the Florida Power & Light Company in Brevard County, Florida. From 1982-1986 he held the position of Federal and State Regulatory Representative in Washington DC and in Tallahassee, Florida. From 1986-1991 he served as District General Manager with Florida Power & Light Company in West Palm Beach, Florida. From 1991-1993 he served as an Area Manager for Florida Power & Light Company in Brevard County, Florida and retired in 1993. From 1993-1998 he served as the Director of Public Affairs for the Canaveral Port Authority in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Bill's community service includes: past President and current Board Member for BCC Foundation and Brevard Cultural Alliance; Secretary of Civilian Military Affairs Council; past Chairman of Brevard County Tourist Development Council; past Chairman of Cocoa Beach Area Chamber of Commerce; past Chairman and current Executive Committee and Board Member EDC Government Relations of the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast; Board of Governors, Executive Committee, Florida Chamber of Commerce; Chairman of Governmental Relations Committee for the Melbourne-Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce; past President and member of the Space Coast Tiger Bay Club; and past Chairman of United Way. Bill is also member of the following professional associations: the American Hospital Association; the Associated Industries of Florida; the Florida Hospital Association; Keep Brevard Beautiful; the Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce; and serves as an associate member with the Florida League of Cities.

Bill Ellis is married to Carol, with 3 grown children and 5 grandchildren. He is a 4th generation Floridian and was raised and educated in the Florida school system.

Bill has been an integral part of Brevard County for more than 50 years and for that we are grateful. Bill and Carol will be missed as they leave Brevard and relocate further south. Now, that community will be the beneficiaries of their commitment to service.

Thank you for making the Space Coast and Brevard County a better place.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw the attention of the Congress and the American people to the Autism epidemic that is tragically ravaging too many of America's children.

April is Autism Awareness Month, and I am pleased to join with parents, siblings, grandparents, special education school teachers, medical care providers, and interventionists to draw attention to the rapidly expanding autism community.

When I was young, autism was virtually unheard of. In the 1980s rarely did you meet someone who knew someone with autism. Yet, in the 1990s there was an explosion of autism. Indeed, in the course of just my lifetime, Autism Spectrum Disorder has grown from a very rare condition to--according to the Centers for Disease Control--a developmental disorder affecting 1-in-50 school aged children. And, tragically, the rate for school aged boys is a disturbing 1-in-31.

On December 19, 2006, the effort to address this epidemic took a major step forward as President Bush signed into law the bipartisan Combating Autism Act. I look forward to working with my colleagues and the Autism community to reauthorize this program next year. Though the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee each year produces a strategic plan to address Autism, the billion-dollar allocation of resources to autism has not been evenly invested among genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. I must concur with the experts who have been willing to speak out, that the epidemic increase in the rates of autism are not a 'genetic' epidemic. Indeed, you don't have genetic epidemics. While there is likely a genetic component to many who have been diagnosed with Autism, we must seriously consider that there are likely several key factors in autism.

Also, so some who have suggested that the increase in Autism is due to better diagnosis, you don't go from 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 80 in three decades due to better diagnosis alone. And, if that were the case, where are the tens of thousands of autistic adults in their 40s, 50s and 60s. While better diagnosis may be a factor, common sense says there is a real increase and something is causing it.

While some may be borne with Autism, there are many parents who testify to the fact and present cases where their children were progressing normally but something triggered a regression where they lost speech, abilities, and regressed from developmental milestones that they had earlier met. Was that regression due to external factors such as medical injury, exposure to environmental toxins such as lead or mercury, or was it adverse reactions to medications that lead to high fevers, brain inflammation or seizures? We must get answers to these questions.

I was pleased to participate in a November 2012 House Oversight and Government Reform hearing on the Federal Response to Autism. That was one of the most attended hearings I have participated in since coming to Washington in 2009. Indeed at this hearing it was standing room only, and overflow rooms had to be used to accommodate the public. This was a much anticipated hearing from many parents of children suffering from Autism who want clear and unbiased answers to questions surrounding the epidemic.

I, like many in Congress, were frustrated with the lackluster response from the federal witnesses, particularly the CDC witness that was evasive and took more than five months to respond to the Committee's questions. The responses that finally arrived this month were incomplete, often evasive, and showed a complete lack of urgency on the part of the CDC. I was also disappointed that the federal government witnesses did not have the courtesy to remain at the hearing to listen to the testimony of the public panel representing non-profit organizations and academic institutions focused on Autism and Asperger's Syndrome.

Parents, grandparents, educators, health professionals, and highly functional adults on the autism spectrum are frustrated at the federal response to this epidemic. There is much more that we could and should be doing.

Some believe that toxins like thimerosal, which is 50% ethylmercury, have played a role in the rise in autism and neurodevelopmental disabilities. In 2000 there was near universal agreement that mercury should be removed as a preservative for vaccines. Yet, today, nearly half of all annual flu vaccines, which are recommended for children and pregnant women, still contain mercury as a preservative--not simply trace amounts of mercury. It's 2013! Why are we still injecting ethylmercury into babies and pregnant women?

I have been deeply disappointed in the failure of the CDC and the Department of Justice to see that Dr. Poul Thorsen is extradited to the United States to stand trial for orchestrating an elaborate scheme stealing more than $1 million from the CDC-Denmark grant. That money was supposed to be used to investigate the causes of autism and developmental disabilities. Instead it was diverted to personal use by Dr. Thorsen. Thorsen was a key author on 22 of the CDC's key studies related to autism and developmental disabilities.

Before coming to Congress in 2009, I heard from some in the autism community who have advocated for a retrospective study to examine whether there are different health outcomes when comparing vaccinated children and unvaccinated children, including autism and chronic conditions. I have continued to hear these requests over the past four years. At the hearing I asked CDC if they had conducted such a study and they said they've done dozens of studies related to autism but never have looked at a comparison of vaccinated versus unvaccinated. In fact, a recent study they published compared fully vaccinated children to those who were not fully vaccinated, but for some reason it did not include data on completely unvaccinated children. Seems like common sense to do a study comparing vaccinated children vs unvaccinated and this week I was pleased to be joined by my colleague Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) in introducing H.R. 1757, The Vaccine Safety Study Act. This would direct the National Institutes of Health to conduct a retrospective study of health outcomes, including autism, of vaccinated versus unvaccinated children. That should bring an answer to this decades long question.

Whether the number is 1-in-88 twelve-year-olds, or 1-in-50 school- aged children, or 1-in-33 young boys, we can all agree that the number is devastatingly high. We must overturn every stone to get to the bottom of this epidemic. We cannot afford to see this epidemic grow. We must examine every possible risk factor to protect the world's greatest resource: our children. And, we must invest to develop the best interventions to help those who are autistic.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my sincere respect and appreciation to four high school seniors in Indian River County who have answered the call of service to enlist in the United States Army. I commend Dominick Lambino, Christopher Larson, Tomasz Cabaj, and Ryan Paris for their decision to protect and defend the United States of America.

These young men will be recognized on May 9, 2013, in a high school enlistee ceremony. Soon after enlisting, they will graduate high school. This will mark the beginning of their valiant service to our country as soldiers. Many of the men and women who have served before them are now local and national leaders. As American citizen's privileged to live in liberty, these young men have learned how to appreciate freedom and will soon be handed the baton by the generations of warriors before them.

During this time of celebration and recognition, we should all salute the courage within Dominick, Christopher, Tomasz, and Ryan. For each soldier who has served our country, there exist many citizens, myself included, that benefit from their hard work. Many of my most esteemed colleagues in Congress served as members of our Armed Forces.

Let us not forget the challenges these soon-to-be soldiers and their families will face. We must not overlook the intensive training and challenges ahead. As a support group, mothers, fathers, siblings, and spouses will have to endure the challenging road ahead and act as the foundation where these young men can gain strength in difficult times. I have confidence they will accomplish all that is asked of them. The bottom line is that our Republic continues to thrive because of the call to duty these individuals and others before them have vowed to accept.

The men and women who serve our country as members of our Armed Services go above and beyond day in and day out. I commend Dominick, Christopher, Tomasz, and Ryan for their service to our community and nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the brave men and women of the Coast Guard Station, Port Canaveral on their reunion which is set to take place on May 4, 2013. I rise to commend the meritorious service and commitment of Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral Active Duty, Reserve, and Auxiliary personnel who supported National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Shuttle missions. Their service was critical to the safety of the public and the Shuttle missions. A special thanks, also, to retired Admiral G. Robert Merrilees, who has kept a watchful eye on the Space Coast and played a significant role in this celebration of service.

On April 12, 1981, the Coast Guard Station, Port Canaveral began their service in support of NASA's Space Transportation Program (STS) program and provided that support for 135 manned space flight missions. Responsible for over 550 square miles surrounding the Kennedy Space Center, the Port Canaveral station managed STS recovery and safety missions for 30 years. These resolute men and women successfully carried out their mission to ensure the safety not only of the Shuttle, but also for over 200,000 viewers per Shuttle mission.

This dedication and mission accountability would not be possible without the contributions and calculated efforts of over 100 personnel that supported each launch.

Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral personnel played a substantial role as first responders to the Space Shuttle Challenger tragedy on January 28, 1986. Contributing 1,300 hours surveying 150,000 square miles of ocean surface throughout an 11 day mission and recovery operation, Station Port Canaveral deserves recognition for its stamina, professionalism, and commitment to mission execution. Their service was exemplary throughout their 30-year space shuttle support mission.

I offer my sincere gratitude and thanks to Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral and the men and women who served active duty, reserve and auxiliary roles in support of our Space Shuttle program between April 12, 1981 and February 24, 2011. May the Space Coast and our nation always remember the service of these brave men and women.

Mr. Speaker, generally, we believe that what's good for the goose is good for the gander. That's why I was a little bit shocked when it was brought to my attention by a number of my colleagues that they received an economic census in the mail--a very complex, 14-page document asking them in very great detail about their business, about their suppliers, about their cost, about who they sell to, and who their customers are. These were received by mom-and-pop businesses, sometimes just mom businesses, no pop--one-person businesses. One said:

It will take me two days to fill out this questionnaire. I

have to work. If I don't work 2 days, my business will go

down the drain.

I wondered how important this information was, so I wrote a letter to the Department of Commerce and the Census Bureau to ask just a few questions about it. I asked about their constitutional authority to do that, and they gave me their statutory authority. I'll talk about their letter in a minute. Then, while they didn't have time to answer my letter on a timely basis, they did have time to send another relatively harassing letter to the businesses threatening them with more penalties--a fine--and just scared the daylights out of them if they did not take time to return that form.

I finally got my response from them, and what I found was that they didn't answer all my questions. I asked them:

Please provide me with the information describing the

universe the economic census questionnaires were mailed to

and how they were selected.

No answer.

One constituent who received a questionnaire was a sole proprietor with no other employees; another was a sole proprietor with two employees.

Please provide me a summary, if you have one, as to how

many of the businesses to which economic censuses were mailed

were sole proprietors or small businesses or corporations?

How many would you consider to be large corporations? Were

there any Fortune 500 companies?

They didn't tell me.

Please tell me how many Federal employees from your

agencies were involved in the development and execution of

the economic census. Do you not need to count Postal Service

time while delivering or returning the forms?

No answer.

Please provide me with the names of any Federal employees

associated with the development of the economic census that

have ever owned or operated any business whatsoever in the

private sector.

They did not answer.

Please provide me with the identity of any Federal agency

which has ever provided the kind of detailed financial

information and operating information to citizens that you've

requested from the people you are supposed to serve.

No answer.

The cost of completing the questionnaire will be costly for

small business. How much do you anticipate the cost of labor

will be to a business to comply with your request to complete

the questionnaire?

No answer.

Please advise how the information gleaned from these

questionnaires will be used.

They gave me some generalizations.

Please explain the benefit you anticipate the public will

gain from the questionnaire.

Well, sort of. They said it would help them look at statistics.

Please provide me with a one-page summary of major

activities performed by your agencies. Please cite the number

of times you perform each activity and the cost of performing

each activity on a unit cost basis. The aggregate cost of all

performing activity should be equal to the exact amount of

money that was passed through your agencies during a 1-year

period.

Of course, they did not answer that.

They have no problem demanding that information from the private sector, but the government sector is completely unwilling to go through the least little amount of trouble to provide Congress with that same information.

We are often thought to believe that what's good for the goose is good for the gander, and so I will persist on trying to get answers to those questions for the constituents in my district, and hopefully for those in your districts that have also been interested.

Awarding Congressional Gold Medal to Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry

Regiment

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to say I am pleased to be here today and joined by Resident Commissioner Pierluisi in support of a bill awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Borinqueneers.

When the Korean war erupted in 1950, the soldiers of the regiment served in a segregated unit, despite President Truman's order desegregating the military 2 years earlier.

Army commanders doubted the effectiveness of these Puerto Rican troops, calling them ``rum and Coca-Cola soldiers.'' They were required to use separate showering facilities and ordered under penalty of court-martial not to speak Spanish. They were even told to shave their mustaches until ``they gave proof of their manhood.''

Despite this adversity, the Regiment embraced their Hispanic heritage, calling themselves ``Borinqueneers'' after the Taino word for Puerto Rico.

The Regiment served with distinction during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in December 1950. Fighting alongside the 1st Marine Division, they covered one of the greatest strategic withdrawals in military history. Fighting in temperatures as low as Negative 37 degrees, the Borinqueneers were among the last defenders of Hungham harbor, and suffered tremendous casualties during the evacuation.

The Regiment later participated in numerous battles, conducting the last recorded battalion-size bayonet charge in Army history. Though they struggled with a grave shortage of trained non-commissioned officers and personnel policies that pushed it to the breaking point, they overcame these challenges, fighting valiantly, and earning the respect and admiration of their commanders.

The Borinqueneers are part of a proud tradition of service in the face of adversity that includes the Tuskegee Airmen, Montford Point Marines, Navajo Code Talkers and the Japanese-American 442nd Regimental Combat Team--all of whom have already received the Congressional Gold Medal.

I therefore rise in support of the Borinqueneers--the Forgotten soldiers of a Forgotten war--and urge all of my colleagues to join us by cosponsoring this legislation to ensure that the Borinqueneers receive their long overdue recognition.

Madam Chair, a nation that does not operate on a budget is plagued by irresponsible spending with bloated budgets, unfathomable debts and jeopardizes its long-term sustainability. That's true of any family or business and it's true of governments as well.

Every state is required to have a budget and nearly all states are required to balance their budget. Sadly, the federal government has failed to operate on a budget for the past four years, and it's past time for that to come to an end.

In four out of the last five years, the President has failed to submit a budget to the Congress by the date required by law. Furthermore, each of those budgets, when eventually submitted, projected trillions of dollars in deficit spending as far as the eye could see. That is a recipe for national bankruptcy and it is morally wrong.

You would not steal from your children or grandchildren and we should not let Washington do it either.

That is why I rise in support of legislation that I have cosponsored, H.R. 444. This bill is really very simple. It requires the President to do what the U.S. House of Representatives has already done--pass a budget that balances.

I am also hopeful that the U.S. Senate will do something that it too has failed to do for the past four years--pass a budget. Any budget. That will enable the House and Senate to do what is required by law: establish a budget for the U.S. Government and live within that budget.

The House and Senate can have disagreements, but the Senate and the Administration need to go on record with their spending priorities so our system can work.

In 1997, the Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution passed the House of Representatives, but fell one vote short of passage in the Senate. That year the national debt was $5.4 trillion. Today it is more than three times that amount--$16.5 trillion. The debt burden for each American citizen has grown from about $20,000 to over $52,000.

Back then, liberals in Washington said the same thing that they say today--that we don't need a Balanced Budget Amendment to control spending and responsibly manage the Nation's finances. There are eleven trillion reasons to prove they are dead wrong. Washington needs a spending intervention.

Earlier this week the Administration once again missed the statutory deadline for submitting a budget to Congress. It's been four years since the Senate approved a budget. All the while allowing billions of dollars in wasteful spending to slip through the cracks, further adding to our trillion dollar deficits.

We need a responsible plan to bring federal spending under control and ultimately balance the budget. Washington can no longer afford to fund itself on short-term stop-gap resolutions, last minute deals struck in the wee-hours of the morning and massive, ``too big to read'' 1,000 page omnibus spending bills.

Washington is literally charging away our children and grandchildren's futures, depriving them of the opportunities that were so readily available to current and previous generations.

Let's pass H.R. 444 and set the Nation on a more secure footing. Let's act today, before we are actually confronted with the inevitable debt crisis to come, which we have been warned about and can avoid if we get serious.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the life and service of Colonel Charles H. Greene, U.S. Army (Ret) for his distinguished service to the United States Army and his nation. Colonel Greene honorably served his country in Korea and Vietnam.

Colonel Greene served as the Unit Commander with the 467th Military Intelligence Detachment from October 1982 through April 1985 and retired from the United States Army on September 23, 1990.

After retiring from the Army, Charles held the position of Engineer for Lockheed Martin and was co-owner of a lapidary shop in Melbourne, Florida. He was an active member of the Crossroads Community Church UCC and the Melbourne Elks Lodge #1744.

Beginning in 1975, Charles served as the 15th District of Florida General Chairman for nominations to our nation's military service academies until his death on November 30, 2012. I applaud his commitment to our community, military and the future of our Armed Services. Charles embodied the true meaning of public service.

``Charlie loved his job as Chairman of the nominating committees. He enjoyed talking with prospective candidates and he had a gift for making them feel comfortable before their interviews. Although he was from a different generation, he understood today's teens and the changing Academy and military environment. His goal was always to select the most qualified individuals and to encourage students who were interested in attending our nation's service academies and serving in the military. I will have big shoes to fill as I assume the position of Chair, District 15 Academy Nominating Committee,'' said Angelika Evangelist, Captain, United States Navy Reserve (Ret).

Charles is survived by his wife Jackie; son Stephen (Pat); daughters Diane (Tim) Benson; Karen (Craig) Schenck; Leslie Hodgkins; Susan (Greg) Reeves; 6 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Charles took up the flag and served this great nation selflessly. He is a great credit to our community, the United States Army and

our nation. He will be deeply missed by his family, his community and his nation.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends that knew and loved him.

I am honored to rise today to draw the attention of the U.S. House of Representatives upon Colonel Charles Greene so that a grateful nation can honor him for his service to our nation. We are proud of his commitment to the cause of liberty, freedom and public service.

Mr. Speaker, on December 15, 2012, Palm Bay families, businesses and local community organizations will gather together to celebrate the Fourth Annual Christmas Extravaganza. This wonderful event, which will take place at the Max K. Rodes Park in West Melbourne, will provide an uplifting message of hope during this Christmas season as so many families are still facing difficult challenges.

``The House'' of Palm Bay (House of Prayer International), Brevard County Parks & Recreation and their partners have recognized the importance of providing a positive venue for residents and children to celebrate Christmas.

What makes the Christmas Extravaganza so special is that there is no cost to attend--everything is free to the public. From cotton candy and hot dogs, to live music and fun activities for kids, the sponsors of this annual event have committed to serving others during this Christmas season and giving back to their community in order to make a difference in someone's life.

This year, over forty local businesses and organizations have made donations of food, gift certificates, equipment, cash and goodie bags. Toys for Tots donated hundreds of books for local children while police and firemen have volunteered their time. Even ``Chagy the Clown'', a former Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus clown, will be in attendance.

Pastor Ken Delgado of The House of Palm Bay said, ``At this time, especially at this season, when economic difficulty has been rampant, there's only a small window of opportunity to bring out the smiles in children's faces. To see the business community come together and create a venue where families can find hope and joy--it's really an example of the kind of peace and love as expressed to us through the life of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago.''

I commend all those who have given so much to make the Annual Christmas Extravaganza possible, and applaud all the communities across our great nation who have seized upon this opportunity to spread the Christmas spirit through good deeds and charitable acts.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, today we take an important step to honor the lives of Harry T. Moore and his wife, Harriette Moore. These leaders in the struggle for civil rights were taken from us 61 years ago this Christmas.

Harry T. and Harriette Moore propelled the struggle for justice and equality far beyond the borders of their home in Brevard County, Florida. Leaders in the modern civil rights movement, they are remembered for their dignity, compassion, and emphasis on education. They left a legacy that remains close to the hearts of community leaders and one that is sure to outlast the length of their lives that were so tragically cut short.

At a young age, the Moores were dedicated teachers and educators in our local community. Harry began his first job as an elementary teacher at Monroe Elementary School in Cocoa in 1925. Two years later, he began a decade of service as a high school principal in Titusville. Then, from 1936 to 1946, he served as a principal and fifth- and sixth-grade teacher at Mims.

The couple first met in Brevard County when Harry was serving as a principal in Titusville and Harriette was an elementary schoolteacher. They were married on Christmas Day in 1926, and were later blessed with two daughters. They committed the remainder of their lives to the pursuit of civil justice for African Americans.

The Moores first founded the Brevard County chapter of the NAACP in 1934,

which led to a statewide NAACP conference in 1941. Mr. Moore served as president of the Florida State Conference of the NAACP chapters, as well as the founder and executive director of the Progressive Voters League, as was mentioned earlier.

It was through these channels that the Moores championed such issues as equality, education, and voter registration. But their steadfast adherence to equality was not without a price, as both Mr. and Mrs. Moore were fired from their teaching jobs and found it difficult to find employment. To proclaim them as pillars of the community would be an understatement.

The couple celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on Christmas Eve 1951. As they celebrated, a bomb exploded beneath their home. Mr. Moore died on his way to the hospital, and Mrs. Moore died as a result of her injuries 9 days later.

The tragic murders sparked an even more resounding outcry for civil rights.

Harry T. Moore has been called the first American civil rights martyr. Brevard County has honored the Moores' deep impact on the community by designating their homesite a Florida Historical Heritage Landmark, creating the Harry T. and Harriette Moore Memorial Park and Interpretive Center, and naming its Justice Center after the trailblazing couple.

Additionally, the NAACP posthumously awarded Mr. Moore the Spingarn Medal for outstanding achievement by an African American. Both these fine citizens undoubtedly touched the lives of others with the dedication, integrity, persistence, compassion, and commitment each of them so courageously demonstrated.

I am pleased that the U.S. House of Representatives is acting today to pass this legislation to name the U.S. Post Office in Cocoa, Florida, in honor of Harry T. and Harriette Moore. Passage of H.R. 2338 will further honor the achievements and sacrifices of the Moores, the leaders and first martyrs of our Nation's modern civil rights era.

Designating the United States Post Office at 600 Florida Avenue in Cocoa as the Harry T. and Harriette Moore Post Office will commemorate the Moores' legacy in a town where Mr. Moore began his service to others. This will serve as a constant reminder to our community of the important and lasting contributions the Moores made to Cocoa and the Nation.

I urge my colleagues to join me in passing this legislation.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I appreciate the opportunity to join with my colleagues in recognizing Chairman Ralph Hall for his tenure and as chairman of the House Science Committee.

During his service, Congressman Hall has been one to reach across the aisle and forge bipartisan coalitions to support important legislation. And no program, in my view, has benefited more from his bipartisan commitment than the United States space program.

Representative Hall has been an especially strong voice for our Nation's human space flight program, which has benefited not only Texas and Florida, but has propelled our Nation on a path of unprecedented scientific and technological advancements.

We can all learn a lot from our colleague. Congressman Hall leads by example, and he is well known for calling a spade a spade. His word truly is his bond, and you can always take that to the bank.

Advancing our Nation's human space flight program has been a hallmark for Chairman Hall. And as we look out at America's next generation of explorers, space is their destiny. And he'll help ensure that they reach it.

Ralph, there's a lot of work to do, and I'm truly honored by the opportunity to serve with you to get 'er done. I only hope and pray that when I'm 65 years old, I'll be in half as good shape or half as smart as you. God bless you, Ralph.