Floor Statements

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

With our current economic situation, I think it's vital that we encourage responsibility. Congress is spending all of its time and energy rewarding those who have acted irresponsibly. We must not ignore those who have played by the rules and lived within their means.

Responsible homeowners are being left out of the equation, and that must change. We must recognize responsibility. For just that reason, last night I introduced legislation to give responsible homeowners who have paid and continue to pay their mortgages on time a $5,000 tax credit. This isn't another bailout or a taxpayer-backed debt obligation. It's a way for hardworking American families to keep more of the money that they earn so they can keep acting responsibly and help our economy grow. Just because responsible homeowners are paying their mortgages on time does not mean that they don't need help. The administration claims their plan will help one in nine homeowners. My commonsense plan helps the other eight of nine homeowners the administration and the Democrats ignore.

Mr. Speaker, this is simple. We cannot continue the policies pursued by the administration and my Democratic colleagues that reward irresponsibility and dependency. To pull ourselves out of this crisis we need real change. We must pursue policies that foster a culture of responsibility. So I urge my colleagues to take a look at my legislation and support it, because my plan does do just that.

Madam Speaker, consistent with the Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, I submit the following:

Requesting Member: Congressman Bill Shuster (PA-9).

Bill Number: H.R. 1105--FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act.

Division B--Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies.

Project Name: Operation Our Town.

Account: OJP--Bryne Discretionary Grants.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Operation Our Town.

Address of Requesting Entity: 5506 6th Avenue Rear, Altoona, PA 16602.

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$300,000 for Operation Our Town.

It is my understanding that funding for this project will be used to facilitate partnerships between community and business leaders to fight illegal drug use and crime through proven law enforcement, treatment, and prevention strategies. Operation Our Town focuses on coordinating resources to reduce the threats faced by drugs and related crimes as part of the ongoing national war on drugs and gangs.

It is also my understanding that approximately 33 percent of funding would be used for coordination with law enforcement, approximately 17 percent of funding would be used for prevention, approximately 17 percent of funding would be used for treatment, approximately 30 percent of funding would be used for blight eradication, and approximately 3 percent would be used for other expenses.

Project Name: Franklin County Emergency Services Alliance-- Interoperable Communications Initiative.

Account: COPS Law Enforcement Technology.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Franklin County Emergency Services Alliance.

Address of Requesting Entity: 4 North Main Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201.

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$500,000 for Interoperable Communications Initiative.

It is my understanding that funding for this project will be used to purchase and upgrade equipment for first responders in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Improved equipment will increase emergency, disaster assistance, and recovery efforts.

Increased interoperability will greatly improve the ability of Franklin County to assist in supporting critical response efforts for nearby major metropolitan areas and federal facilities including Baltimore, MD, Washington, DC, Harrisburg, PA, Letterkenny Army Depot (PA), Camp David (MD), and Fort Detrick (MD).

It is also my understanding that funding will be used for the acquisition of emergency services communications units, with approximately 40 percent of funding used to acquire portable units, approximately 40 percent of funding used to acquire base and mobile units, and approximately 20 percent of funding used to acquire pager units.

Project Name: Saint Francis University Center for Global Competitiveness.

Account: International Trade Administration.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: St. Francis University.

Address of Requesting Entity: 117 Evergreen Drive, Loretto, PA 15940.

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$350,000 for Saint Francis University Center for Global Competitiveness.

It is my understanding that funding for this project will be used to create jobs and stimulate economic development by assisting local small and medium sized businesses.

Specifically, the Saint Francis University Center for Global Competitiveness provides specialized marketing assistance to small and medium sized global businesses in a ten county region helping them to become more competitive in a global economy including international trade and expansion into domestic markets.

It is also my understanding that approximately 50 percent of funding will be used for labor costs, approximately 40 percent of funding will be used for coordination with Saint Vincent College, and approximately 10 percent of funding will be used for equipment and other expenses.

Division C--Energy and Water Development.

Project Name: South Central Pennsylvania Environmental Improvement Program.

Account: Corps of Engineers, Construction.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: US Army Corps of Engineers-- Baltimore District.

Address of Requesting Entity: 10 South Howard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201.

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$4.5 million for South Central Environmental Infrastructure.

It is my understanding that funding for the South Central Pennsylvania Environmental Improvement Program will provide design and construction assistance for water-related environmental infrastructure and resource protection and development projects in South Central Pennsylvania. The program provides the funding necessary for local communities to install basic sewer and water systems and is a key aspect of building and enhancing infrastructure for many rural communities in Pennsylvania. The program was authorized in the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 (P.L. 102-580).

It is also my understanding that funding will be administered by the US Army Corps of Engineers as authorized to provide design and construction assistance for water-related environmental infrastructure and resource protection and development projects in South Central Pennsylvania.

Project Name: Juniata Hybrid Locomotive.

Account: Department of Energy, EERE.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Pennsylvania State University.

Address of Requesting Entity: 17 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802.

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$713,625 for Juniata Hybrid Locomotive.

It is my understanding that funding for this project will be used to assess and develop technological alternatives to diesel locomotives and to develop a more energy efficient and environmentally friendly locomotive for yard, local, and main line applications. Associated with this research effort is the development of energy management and control technologies required to maximize the energy efficiency of hybrid locomotives. Converting the existing locomotive fleet to new technologies would reduce both emissions and our dependence on foreign oil, reducing impacts on the environment and improving our national and energy security.

It is also my understanding that approximately 20 percent of funding would be used for labor costs, approximately 20 percent of funding would be used for engineering consultants, approximately 20 percent of funding would be used for charger components, and approximately 40 percent of funding would be used for locomotive components.

Division E--Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.

Project Name: Flight 93 National Memorial.

Account: National Park Service, Construction.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: National Park Service.

Address of Requesting Entity: 109 West Main Street, Suite 104, Somerset, PA 15501.

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$1.2 million for Flight 93 National Memorial.

It is my understanding that funding will used for construction costs at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. The Flight 93 National Memorial honors the men and women who gave their lives in the first counterattack of the Global War on Terror on September 11, 2001.

The Flight 93 National Memorial Act (P.L. 107-226) established the creation of the Flight 93 National Memorial ``to commemorate the passengers and crew of United Flight 93 who, on September 11, 2001, courageously gave their lives thereby thwarting a planned attack on our Nation's Capital.''

It is also my understanding that funding will be used by the National Park Service as authorized for construction and associated costs such as design development and construction management at the Flight 93 National Memorial.

Project Name: Historic Mishler Theatre.

Account: National Park Service, Save America's Treasures.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Blair County Arts Foundation.

Address of Requesting Entity: 1212 Twelfth Avenue, Altoona, PA 16601.

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$150,000 for the Historic Mishler Theatre.

It is my understanding that funding for this project will be used for renovations to the Mishler Theatre in Blair County, Pennsylvania. Known for its cultural and architectural significance and listed on the National Register of

Historical Places, renovations to the Mishler Theatre are vital to preserving and restoring this vibrant center for the arts.

It is also my understanding that funding will be used for the acquisition costs, labor, and construction related to improvements of the facility for performers and patrons.

Division F--Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.

Project Name: Altoona Regional Health System, Equipment.

Account: Department of Health and Human Services, Health and Human Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Altoona Regional Health System.

Address of Requesting Entity: 620 Howard Avenue, Altoona, PA 16601.

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$238,000 for Altoona Regional Health System for facilities and equipment.

It is my understanding that funding for this project will be used to purchase digital mammography and radiology equipment in preparation for developing a breast imaging center. This project will ensure improved accessibility for residents in Blair County and surrounding areas to state of the art breast imaging to replace traditional film-based mammography.

It is also my understanding that funding will be used for the purchase of digital mammography screening equipment and radiology work station equipment. I also understand that the funding provided is only a piece of the total funding required for this project and anticipated allocations may change.

Project Name: Nason Hospital, Equipment.

Account: Department of Health and Human Services, Health and Human Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Nason Hospital.

Address of Requesting Entity: 105 Nason Drive, Roaring Spring, PA 16673.

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$143,000 for Nason Hospital, Roaring Spring, PA for purchase of equipment.

It is my understanding that funding for this project will be used to purchase a high definition camera system for orthopedic arthroscopic procedures. This equipment will increase productivity within the operating room and produce more confident diagnoses, benefiting both patients and physicians.

It is also my understanding that approximately 75 percent of funding will be used for equipment and installation and 25 percent of funding will be used for a service agreement. I also understand that the funding provided is only a piece of the total funding required for this project and anticipated allocations may change.

Project Name: Somerset Hospital, Equipment.

Account: Department of Health and Human Services, Health and Human Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Somerset Hospital.

Address of Requesting Entity: 225 South Central Avenue, Somerset, PA 15501.

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$190,000 for Somerset Hospital, Somerset, PA for facilities and equipment.

It is my understanding that funding for this project will be used to purchase equipment to increase patient safety, enhance efficiency, and reduce operational costs. These technology upgrades will greatly benefit residents of the Somerset, Pennsylvania area.

It is also my understanding that approximately 15 percent of funding would be used for a pharmacy system/bar coding, approximately 60 percent of funding would be used for electronic medical records, and approximately 25 percent of funding would be used for physician order entry system. I also understand that the funding provided is only a piece of the total funding required for this project and anticipated allocations may change.

Division I--Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies

Project Name: AMTRAN Transit System Improvement.

Account: Department of Transportation, Buses and Bus Facilities.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: AMTRAN.

Address of Requesting Entity: 3301 Fifth Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602.

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$475,000 for Bus Facility, AMTRAN Transit System.

It is my understanding that funding for this project will be used by AMTRAN, the local transit system in Altoona, PA, for improvements to their system. Specifically, it is my understanding that these funds will be used for a new bus facility.

It is also my understanding that approximately 40 percent of funding will be used for real estate acquisition, approximately 10 percent of funding will be used for environmental mitigation, approximately 10 percent of funding will be used for demolition and site preparation, and approximately 40 percent will be used for building renovation. I also understand that the funding provided is only a piece of the total funding required for this project and anticipated allocations may change.

Project Name: Flight 93 National Memorial, Public Lands Transportation Needs.

Account: Federal Lands (Public Lands Highways).

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: National Park Service.

Address of Requesting Entity: 109 West Main Street, Suite 104, Somerset, PA 15501.

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$4.275 million for Flight 93 National Memorial, Public Lands Transportation Needs.

It is my understanding that funding for this project will be used by the National Park Service for road, parking, and utility improvements related to the Flight 93 National Memorial. The Flight 93 National Memorial honors the men and women who gave their lives in the first counterattack of the Global War on Terror on September 11, 2001.

The Flight 93 National Memorial Act (P.L. 107-226) established the creation of the Flight 93 National Memorial ``to commemorate the passengers and crew of United Flight 93 who, on September 11, 2001, courageously gave their lives thereby thwarting a planned attack on our Nation's Capital.''

It is also my understanding that funding will be used by the National Park Service for construction costs.

Project Name: Hollidaysburg Car Shop Redevelopment Project.

Account: Department of Housing and Urban Development--Economic Development Initiatives.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation.

Address of Requesting Entity: 3900 Industrial Park Drive, Altoona, PA 16602.

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$95,000 for transformation of the current facility into one that can be utilized for manufacturing, contributing to economic development and stimulating job creation.

It is my understanding that funding for this project will be used to support redevelopment efforts for the former Hollidaysburg Car Shop property based upon a recently completed redevelopment strategy and plan to promote job retention activities and economic development.

It is also my understanding that funding will be used for activities related to site preparation, building improvements, and environmental remediation. I also understand that the funding provided is only a piece of the total funding required for this project and anticipated allocations may change.

Project Name: Altoona Recreational Facility.

Account: Department of Housing and Urban Development--Economic Development Initiatives.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Central Blair Recreation and Park Commission.

Address of Requesting Entity: 2101 Fifth Avenue, Altoona, Pennsylvania 16602.

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$71,250 for development of a multi-faceted outdoor park for the local community.

It is my understanding that funding for this project will be used for the development of a multi-faceted outdoor park for the local community. The facility will offer a safe and positive environment for young people and provide safe alternatives to the temptations of drug use, gangs, and violence.

It is also my understanding that funding will be used for construction and related costs associated with skateboard ramps, playground equipment, trails, pavilions, and restroom facilities. I also understand that the funding provided is only a piece of the total funding required for this project and anticipated allocations may change.

Project Name: Indiana County Business and Industrial Park.

Account: Department of Housing and Urban Development--Economic Development Initiatives.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Indiana County Commissioners.

Address of Requesting Entity: 825 Philadelphia Street, Indiana, PA 15701.

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$190,000 for acquisition and development of a new pad ready business/ industrial park consisting of approximately 150-200 acres.

It is my understanding that funding for this project will be used for the development of a new industrial park to help serve the growing economy of the region. The project will assist in the growth of an emerging technology and manufacturing market. I further understand that it is estimated the completion of the new industrial park will create 300 to 500 new jobs.

It is also my understanding that funding will be used for all development phases including

acquisition, master plan design, engineering, and construction costs. I also understand that the funding provided is only a piece of the total funding required for this project and anticipated allocations may change.

Project Name: Community Redevelopment and Restoration, Lower Fairview.

Account: Department of Housing and Urban Development--Economic Development Initiatives.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The Nehemiah Project.

Address of Requesting Entity: 800 Valley View Boulevard, Altoona, PA 16602.

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$71,250 for redevelopment of buildings in the downtown Lower Fairview area of Altoona, Pennsylvania.

It is my understanding that funding for this project will be used to aid in the redevelopment of buildings in the Lower Fairview area of Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Specifically, I understand the project is centered on the rehabilitation of an abandoned and condemned church building that used to serve as a safe haven for those in need. Once restored, the facility will be home to a variety of programs designed to meet the needs of area residents and provide tools to put them in a position to succeed in the future.

It is also my understanding that funding will be used for a variety of acquisition and construction needs. I also understand that the funding provided is only a piece of the total funding required for this project and anticipated allocations may change.

Madam Speaker, I submit for the Record a letter to the Honorable Nancy Pelosi, the Honorable John Olver, and the Honorable Dave Obey from myself and Chairwoman Corrine Brown regarding infrastructure enhancement projects included in the economic stimulus bill and the potential impact on existing utility infrastructure.

Washington, DC,

February 12, 2009.

Hon. Nancy Pelosi,

Office of the Speaker, H-232, U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC.

Hon. John Olver,

Chairman, Trans-HUD Subcommittee, Room 2358-A, Rayburn HOB,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Dave Obey,

Chairman, House Appropriations Committee, H-218, U.S.

Capitol, Washington, DC.

Dear Colleagues: As the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of

the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Railroads,

Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee, we wanted to

take this opportunity to bring to your attention a serious

issue impacting utility infrastructure and ratepayers.

The economic stimulus bill that we are debating directs

billion of dollars toward infrastructure enhancement

projects--with a significant portion allocated for highway

construction. As is common with highway projects, their

construction may require the relocation of existing utility

infrastructure located within the existing public right-of-

way or adjacent to the right-of-way, including natural gas

distribution pipelines and power lines (both overhead and

underground). With the substantial increase in federal

funding provided by the stimulus package to states, counties

and cities for highway projects, it is our understanding that

utilities want to make sure that their customers are not

asked to absorb major new and unforeseen costs.

As you may know, the current blueprint for how natural gas

and electric utilities are reimbursed for these relocation

costs is not uniform. Some states have laws or policies that

allow for federal highway funds to be used to cover all or a

portion of the costs of relocation. However, in many states,

utilities are not reimbursed and these costs are ultimately

borne by utility ratepayers. These increased costs to

ratepayers could potentially negatively impact the goals of

the stimulus package by creating a de facto ``economic

stimulus bill'' surcharge in their future rates.

Additionally, pipeline and power line relocation

associated with highway construction are often hampered by a

lack of coordination and communication between the highway

authorities and utilities. This can result in project delays

and interruption of utility service. With the large number of

projects that will be funded by the stimulus, there is a need

for an effective consultative process under which utility

companies and highway project mangers would discuss and can

reach agreement on construction scheduling. Such a process

would allow all parties to discuss the timing of construction

and relocation and secure the availability of labor and

material so that the projects funded by the stimulus bill can

advance expeditiously.

Let's make these taxpayer dollars work effectively by

ensuring that highway infrastructure projects not only

proceed in a coordinated and efficient manner but also allow

utilities to be fairly reimbursed.

We appreciate your attention to this important matter and

look forward to working with you to advance the economy of

our country while protecting the interests of taxpayers and

utility rate payers.

Sincerely,

Bill Shuster,

Member of Congress.

Corrine Brown,

Member of Congress.

President Obama said that something must be done to stimulate our economy, and I wholeheartedly agree. Unfortunately, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle must have thought President Obama said spend $1 trillion of our children's and grandchildren's money on programs that drive up the national debt and do little to stimulate the economy.

The fact is, little of the dollars spent in the Democratic stimulus actually creates jobs. But for every $1 billion we spend on infrastructure, 30,000 jobs are created; however, the Democrat stimulus package has less than 10 percent that they are spending on a proven job creator.

Instead of accepting a bill that is long on waste and short on substance, House Republicans have an alternative that provides lasting long-term tax breaks to help hardworking families, home buyers and small businesses through these difficult times.

Basic economics teaches us that high Federal spending will dramatically increase inflation.

Madam Speaker, the American people do not need Congress to add to their list of economic problems. We must address the true problems at hand and fix our economic crisis, not quench the Democrats' thirst for more big government.

The Republican approach will work to pull our economy out of this recession. It's time to put politics aside and put Americans first. It's time to adopt the Republican alternative.

I have an amendment at the desk.

My amendment is a very simple amendment, a straightforward amendment. And it states that if a governor is unable to certify Federal funds will not supplant non-Federal funds pursuant to the subsection, then the Federal funds apportioned to that State under this act that will supplant non-Federal funds will be recaptured by the appropriate Federal agency and redistributed to States or agencies that can spend the Federal funds without supplanting non- Federal funds.

What this means is that the stimulus moves money out to the States. We want to make certain that there are no games played at the State level with the budgets. For example, if a State budgets $1 billion for highway spending and they are to receive $1 billion from the Federal Government, that they can't move that money around, reduce what they have budgeted for their funding of the highway projects and transportation projects in that State.

I think that is important to put in here to put some teeth in the stimulus bill so that those types of things don't happen, so that we get the full effect, the full impact of the stimulus if it moves forward through the House and the Senate and we have a law that, as I said, will have the full impact of those dollars in the transportation arena in those States that will in fact create jobs. That is the basis of this amendment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

If I can respond to the gentlelady from Texas, I don't believe this cuts anything. It just makes certain that the States aren't able to cut what they have in their budgets. Because, at the end of the day, the idea in the stimulus is to have a net increase in total spending from all levels of government. And if this moves forward, we want to make sure that the States don't reduce what they spend on their transportation projects and use the Federal funds to offset their budget.

I yield to the gentlewoman.

I certainly will.

I appreciate the chairman's clarification.

I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Latham).

Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have left?

I thank the chairman for not opposing the amendment. And just to close, I think this puts teeth in the legislation that is going to help this bill and improve this bill some. I think it needs a lot more improvement, but this is one step in the right direction.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to salute the service of COL Jerry Warnement, whose dedication to excellence has earned him three separate colonel commands and two lieutenant colonel commands over the course of a career that has spanned more than 30 years.

Having studied extensively and earning two masters degrees, Colonel Warnement is an outstanding officer whose leadership and extraordinary command of logistics have made him a mainstay of combat service support for all of the Army. From 1988 to 1990, Colonel Warnement served as Commander of the 15th Forward Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. Here, his logistical support during two NTC rotations, and his subsequent efforts to deploy his battalion to Desert Shield/Storm were especially praiseworthy and indicative of the colonel's dedication and self sacrifice.

Colonel Warnement's service to his country extended to the classroom as well as the field. As a professor of military science for the University of Pennsylvania and five satellite universities, Colonel Warnement was responsible for recruiting, retaining, and commissioning a highly competent, freshman class which resulted in 95 percent of his students being commissioned on time and prepared for active duty. While Assistant Chief of Staff for the Material, 19th Theatre Army Area Command, the colonel consistently demonstrated his multifunctional leadership capabilities as he accomplished a diversity of missions on time, within budget, and always with the best interest of the soldiers at heart. From 1995 to 1997, as Commander of Anniston Army Depot, Colonel Warnement managed 2,900 personnel, a $266 million operating budget--spread out over 25 miles--and accomplished every mission within budget. His unparalleled ability to manage money, material, and personnel ensured positive results, while his performance indicators within his area of responsibility were among the best in the world.

In his most recent and final assignment, Colonel Warnement exhibited brilliance in his ability to command one of the most unique and important colonel-level logistics organizations in the Army. His sound judgment and strong leadership guaranteed mission accomplishment. This coupled with his professional initiative to develop the Army's Logistics Integrated Database, while executing additional field training within budget, will have a long-term positive impact on the United States Army and the Nation as a whole.

Throughout his career, Colonel Warnement has faithfully executed his duties at home and abroad. He is a soldier's soldier and a consummate professional. Colonel Warnement's performance reflects great honor and credit upon himself, the Army, the Army Materiel Command, and our Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to salute the service of Sergeant Major Curtis B. Green, whose meritorious service to the United States Army has spanned thirty years and culminated with his distinguished service as Sergeant Major of Letterkenny Army Depot.

Throughout his career, Sergeant Major Green has been an exceptional leader and has served in numerous positions of great responsibility. Beginning his military career as a rifleman, he spent 9 years in the 82nd Airborne Division followed by assignments in Germany, Aberdeen Proving Ground, and Alaska. In the past 10 years Sergeant Major Green has compiled an exceptional record of achievement at Fort Sill, Camp Casey, and Camp Red Cloud, Fort Hood, and Letterkenny Army Depot. In each position he consistently produced exceptional results.

After 4 years as a unit first Sergeant, his exceptional record earned him the rank of Sergeant Major as well as immediate reassignment as the 2nd Infantry Division G4 Maintenance Sergeant Major. Here he led the Division maintenance inspection teams and became Division Readiness NCO. In 2003 he returned to the United States and was assigned as Support Operations Sergeant Major and was directly responsible for the coordination of external and internal support among division battalions and COSCOM support units. And later, when deployed to Iraq--Sergeant Major Green left with an advance party and was responsible for preparing the area for the arrival of the 1st Cav.--his dutiful performance earned him the Bronze Star.

In 2005, Sergeant Major Green became the Letterkenny Army Depot Sergeant Major. His logistics background and strong military leadership skills facilitated a quick transition into a predominately civilian organization. Here, he identified with the Letterkenny workforce, and orchestrated rehabilitative transfers that dramatically improved soldier performance.

Sergeant Major Green's accomplishments were not limited to improving the depot's mission. He also reached out to the depot community and provided outstanding leadership for Armed Forced Week activities, the depot/community organizational day program, and increased support to the local Scotland School for Veteran's Children. Sergeant Major Green took the initiative to lead depot soldiers and workers to visit local veteran homes, and his work to clean up and repair local cemeteries is also noteworthy.

Throughout his career, Sergeant Major Green faithfully discharged his extensive duties at home and abroad. Over the last 30 years he has made great personal sacrifices for the good of the United States military. Sergeant Major Green is a soldier's soldier and a consummate professional. He has demonstrated great concern for our soldiers and their families, and his significant contributions will have a lasting impact upon our Nation. Sergeant Major Green's professional performance reflects great honor and credit upon himself and the United States Army.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to salute the service of a distinguished group of American citizens. This dedicated group has worked for many years to enhance the military value of Letterkenny Army Depot and sustain the installation's work to increase support to our military. Each of these individuals has professionally served our Nation with great distinction.

Mike Ross has aggressively led Team Letterkenny from the start. Mike has sacrificed countless days, night and weekends to ensure that Letterkenny projects move forward and Letterkenny is prepared to meet worldwide military priorities. Mike has led numerous team visits to Washington and Harrisburg to ensure that we understand the importance of Letterkenny and support their initiatives. Mike has also focused his Franklin County Area Development staff to work countless individual projects to modernize, expand and promote the depot. Mike Ross's professional leadership and hard work have significantly increased the military value of Letterkenny Army Depot and dramatically increased community understanding and support for Letterkenny.

Dave Sciamanna and Commissioner Robert Thomas serve as co-chairs of the local component of Team Letterkenny. Dave is also President of the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce and Bob is the President of the Franklin County Commissioners. These dedicated community leaders have many high priority community responsibilities, but they always find time to work on initiatives to support Letterkenny's military mission. Dave and Bob are instrumental in marketing Letterkenny's capability, and they aggressively partner with Letterkenny to show potential workers the highlights of working at Letterkenny and living in Franklin County. Despite their busy schedules, Dave and Bob are always ready to adjust their calendars and do whatever is needed to support Letterkenny and our military.

John Gray chairs the depot component of Team Letterkenny. His brilliant leadership and professional focus have dramatically increased the community's understanding of Letterkenny's importance to our military services. He has consistently dedicated countless off-duty hours to expanding community support for the depot and raising awareness of military contributions to the economy of the State. John Gray consistently provides thought provoking ideas and focuses the organizational energy on the best way to turn ideas into reality.

Stacy Gregson and Joe Spielbauer chair the State component of Team Letterkenny. They have worked tirelessly to obtain Pennsylvania resources to support Team Letterkenny initiatives and they can always be counted on to actively support all of the team initiatives. They have done an outstanding job educating Commonwealth leaders on the importance of Letterkenny to our military and our State.

I am proud of the work of these fine Americans, and I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring this team for their long and honorable service to our great Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and work of the Reverend George M. Docherty, whose influential sermon in 1954 led to the insertion of the phrase ``under God'' in the Pledge of Allegiance. Reverend Docherty passed away on Thanksgiving Day in his home in Alexandria, PA at the age of 97.

Reverend Docherty came to the United States from Glasgow, Scotland to become the pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, which was attended by President Lincoln in the 1860s and later became known as ``Lincoln's church.'' It is tradition for the President to attend a special service at the church on the Sunday closest to Lincoln's birthday. It was during this special service on February 7, 1954, that Reverend Docherty gave a sermon before President Dwight D. Eisenhower calling for the Pledge of Allegiance to be amended to acknowledge God. Reverend Docherty took the phrase ``under God'' from the Gettysburg Address, in which Lincoln said, ``this Nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom.''

Reverend Docherty first heard the Pledge of Allegiance from his then 7-year-old son, Garth, and was surprised that it made no reference to God. He argued in his sermon to the President that ``To omit the words `under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance is to omit the definitive factor in the American way of life.'' Without any acknowledgement of God, Reverend Docherty said the pledge could apply to nearly any nation, including the communist Soviet Union. The sermon had an immediate effect on President Eisenhower, and several bills were introduced in Congress that week to amend the Pledge. The bill to add ``under God'' to the Pledge of Allegiance was signed into law by President Eisenhower just 4 months later on Flag Day 1954.

The Pledge of Allegiance is a national symbol of unity and a reflection of our shared

ideals upon which this country was founded, and it is with great honor and respect that we honor the life and service of Reverend George Docherty. Our great thanks go to this remarkable individual, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Peter Hart for his diligent and outstanding leadership as chairman of the Alleghenies Chapter of SCORE, a nationwide organization providing free counseling to small businesses around the country. As chairman of Alleghenies SCORE from 2006-2008, Peter led a team of 45 volunteers in assisting and counseling 400 small businesses around the region.

SCORE was most fortunate to have had Peter as its chairman for the past two years. His background in the railroad and steel industries and as a college educator has served him well in the dual role of counselor and administrator. His accomplishments include providing formal training for new counselors; establishing a chapter Web site; renaming the chapter ``Alleghenies'' to better identify the wide region that is served; and establishing a system for providing clients with counselors who closely match their professional needs. Peter has zealously devoted many extra hours into publicizing SCORE's mission and service in the Allegheny region. He is an excellent recruiter for the chapter, and his son has followed in his father's footsteps, becoming a counselor in the Pittsburgh Chapter.

Peter has demonstrated extraordinary devotion toward providing counseling for start-ups and continuing businesses located in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton and Somerset Counties. Peter Hart's chairmanship of the Alleghenies SCORE Chapter has inspired and enthused the volunteer members of the chapter and many others who have benefited from his selfless and tireless dedication and leadership. I and the volunteers of Alleghenies SCORE would like to thank Peter Hart for his devotion to assisting his community and for inspiring so many others to do the same.

Madam Speaker, this is one of the most difficult and complex issues I have had to deal with in my 8 years in Congress. I am proud of my no vote on Monday against the original rescue plan. My no vote enabled me to push this legislation forward towards an improved and positive bill. This is a different bill. It is an improved bill.

I have pushed as far as I can and we are at the point where the only two directions we can go from here are backwards or nothing. Neither is an option.

I share the anger of my constituents that we have been forced into this economic crisis by Wall Street greed and irresponsible lending by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. But we cannot let our anger cloud our judgment.

Over the past 5 days, I have been hearing from more and more of my constituents who are beginning to feel the pain of the economic crisis we are entering. I am convinced that my constituents will feel that pain grow if we do not act, and that pain will be felt in job losses.

Therefore, I have decided to support this economic recovery effort. Make no mistake, this bill is a far better deal for American taxpayers than what was originally brought to the House floor. My colleagues and I fought hard to include additional taxpayer and market driven protections that will restore trust in our banks, including raising the FDIC insurance limit to protect my constituents' bank accounts. My vote is the right decision for my constituents and America, not for political popularity.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of John R. Blackburn, Jr., Chairman of the UPMC Bedford Memorial Board of Directors. Mr. Blackburn will be retiring after 53 years of service to the UPMC Bedford Memorial Hospital. During his tenure John, or Jack, as he prefers to be known, has served in multiple leadership roles and has been active in a variety of committees including the Finance Committee and the Scholarship Committee. Jack helped form the Memorial Hospital of Bedford County Foundation, worked on the Spring House Estates project, and was a key player during the transition of the hospital to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Mr. Blackburn was born on December 19, 1922 and has been a life-long resident of Bedford County. After graduating from Bedford High School he enrolled and graduated from the prestigious Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. Jack served in the Army Air Corps for 3 years and was 1st Lieutenant in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. He was also one of the select few who flew the B-32 bomber in the Philippines during that conflict. After his military service Mr. Blackburn returned home and became a partner of Blackburn Russell, a grocery distributor in Bedford.

When Jack became a member of the Bedford Memorial Hospital Board of Directors in 1955 he was following a path paved by his father, John Blackburn, Sr., who has been one of the original Board members. Jack's service to the hospital was anything but in his father's shadow. He served on 12 different hospital committees administering everything from the Buildings and Grounds Committee to the Congestive Heart Failure Committee. He was elected Secretary of the Board in 1964 and served in that role until he was elected Vice-President in 1976. Ten years later Jack found himself elevated to the position of President of the Board of Directors. His position was retitled in 1994 making him Chairman of the Board. After 22 years of leading the Board, and 53 years of service overall, Jack made the decision to step down and enjoy retirement.

Mr. Blackburn and his late wife, Elizabeth dedicated their lives to improving their community. Jack has been an active member and leader in the Bedford community for many years and is well respected. A life of servitude to one's community is something to be proud of. It is also not one that is easy to step away from, because in a man like Jack Blackburn, the desire to help others and the community is something that never truly disappears. I would like to wish Mr. Blackburn all the best in his future endeavors. It is my pleasure to honor Mr. Blackburn today for his many years of service to the Bedford Community, and I hold him up as a model example of good citizenship.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the career and mark the retirement of Alan Loessy from the Letterkenny Army Depot in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Alan Loessy began his 33 year long career in public service as a field representative in Franklin County for Congressman Bud Shuster. His exemplary work for the people of the 9th Congressional District made him a perfect candidate to join the outstanding team at the Letterkenny Army Depot and in May 1989 he joined the Letterkenny staff as a personnel management specialist.

In his capacity at Letterkenny, Mr. Loessy worked on behalf of the thousands of employees entering or departing civil service from Letterkenny and its many tenant activities. It was a job that required dedication, extreme patience, and a complete understanding of the Depot's position in the family of Department of Defense facilities as the installation down-sized. Alan's support to those many individuals during the transition will long be remembered.

In July 1995 Alan was assigned as a public affairs specialist and became the Letterkenny Public Affairs Officer. He worked to convey the message of the contributions the men and women of Letterkenny made to the defense of the nation. He was the public face of the depot to the media and worked cooperatively with print and television reporters to leave a positive and lasting impression of the good work being done inside the depot fence line.

In 2002 Mr. Loessy was one of the founding members of Opportunity 05, a local group that helped build the case for Letterkenny's continued growth under 2005 Base Realignment and Closing round. The success of that effort was celebrated by many but none more so than Alan who played a key role behind the scenes.

Throughout his long career, Alan Loessy personified dedication, commitment and excellence to the people employed by Letterkenny and the corps of civilian employees in the Department of Defense. I know first hand how hard he worked with my own staff to promote the mission of the Letterkenny Army Depot. While Alan will be missed by everyone, his retirement brings new opportunities for him to follow. I along with the entire Shuster family wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors and congratulate Alan Loessy for a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I am very, very disappointed to be here today speaking on this bill. The TRACS Act is much too controversial to be considered under suspension. I wrongly believed that we had an understanding with the majority that we would continue to work in a bipartisan manner to improve this bill before we brought it to the floor. That is very unlike, very uncharacteristic of the T&I Committee. We did have one hearing. We had no subcommittee hearings. As I said, that is not characteristic of the Transportation Committee and how it works. So it is disappointing to me to bring this bill here under those circumstances.

I oppose H.R. 6707 because I am concerned that changing the Surface Transportation Board's merger and acquisition review process could have unintended consequences of hampering the growth of our Nation's railroad industry. I know that the folks who serve on the committee know how important it is that we expand the capacity of the railroad industry in this country.

One of the ways to do that is through mergers and acquisitions. It is an important part of how the industry has to grow and needs to grow because it allows railroads to invest in underutilized trackage around the country.

Some on the other side have complained that the class 1 railroads have given up track around the country. I believe they have, and they did it because they were not profitable. But here we have a situation where they are trying to use trackage that will be important to increasing capacity in this country.

This bill is likely to have a chilling effect on rail transactions. We are living in an increasingly difficult economic climate, and the last think that we want to do is discourage investment that will improve capacity, and especially in Chicago. Anybody that ships across this country knows that Chicago is the most congested area in the country. It is a bottleneck and it is not only a bottleneck in the upper Midwest, it is a bottleneck to the entire system because so much of our freight goes through Chicago.

The port of Seattle, 70 percent of what comes into the port of Seattle flows through to Chicago. So I think Americans need to realize how important Chicago is to the shipment of goods in this country.

In the next 20 to 25 years, we expect rail demand to increase 90 percent over today's level, and the industry will need to invest $135 billion in infrastructure just to keep pace with this unprecedented growth. We cannot afford to discourage this investment, and I believe the TRACS Act will do just that.

It is also very troubling that this legislation will be retroactive because we are creating a new standard of review for deals reached years ago. This type of retroactive congressional action can, and I believe will, undermine confidence in our regulatory system and deserves much more scrutiny than we have given it.

This bill was introduced to kill a single merger, and this has generated significant controversy in the Chicago area, which as I said, is one of the most congested areas in the country. But it will also affect, I believe, all future rail mergers in this country.

I am unconvinced that this bill will even accomplish the goals of the Chicago community, to stop CN purchasing the EJ&E line. I understand that CN will spend an astounding $25 million to review the environmental impacts of their acquisition of the EJ&E line. They are offering at least $40 million to offset negative impacts of an increase in train traffic in that area and on that line.

But there is nothing in the bill that would prevent the current owner, EJ&E, from running additional trains over those tracks. If the CN deal falls through, the increase in traffic may very well happen. And the $40 million that CN is offering to mitigate the effects, will be off the table. If that turns out, that the $45 million is off the table, that CN is not going to put that the money into the deal, it would be very troubling for those communities.

But the STB today has the authority to increase from $40 million to $45 million, to mitigate those problems that they believe will occur. But if it goes too high, it also likely will kill the deal.

I am sympathetic to the needs of the communities that are affected by the deal. There are two sides, and I am sorry that we haven't heard much more from the communities that will be affected in a positive way. We hear from the suburbs, the wealthy and upper middle-class suburbs of Chicago that are fighting this, but we haven't heard from the inner city of Chicago where low-income folks will see train traffic decrease so they won't have to deal with the freight trains as much as they do today.

I am not in a position to judge whether this transaction should go forward. That is not Congress's job. It is the STB's job. The STB was not brought into this process in drafting the bill. The chairman of the STB and his staff have warned of serious concerns about the affects of this. We need

more involvement and input from the STB before we change the rules of the game.

Again, I am very disappointed we are here today. I hope we can defeat this and go back to committee and produce a bill that has broad, bipartisan agreement.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Whitfield).

May I inquire as to how much time I have remaining?

I would like to yield myself 30 seconds just to respond to what the gentleman mentioned about the automotive industry and the $25 billion loan they want and about the $700 billion.

Well, the good news in this debate today about the railroad industry is that the railroad doesn't need it. The railroad industry is successful, and we need to make sure that they continue to be successful and that they don't require any kind of assistance from the Federal Government. They're the only freight rail system in the world that doesn't require the Federal Government's propping it up. So that's a good news story here today, and that's what we want to keep doing.

I would also like to submit for the Record a letter from the Association of American Railroads and the short lines in this country that are directly affected by this legislation, and they are opposed to it.

Association of American Railroads,

Washington, DC, September 27, 2008.

Dear Representative: The House may consider H.R. 6707 on

the suspension calendar today. The Association of American

Railroads (AAR) and the American Short Line and Regional

Railroad Association (ASLRRA) strongly oppose H.R. 6707--

Taking Responsible Action for Community Safety Act.

Under current law, the Surface Transportation Board (STB)

must evaluate the merits of a railroad merger transaction

under a ``public interest'' standard if it involves two Class

I railroads. The STB's evaluation takes into account and

weighs all issues relevant to the public interest including

efficiencies, productivity gains, capacity improvements, and

environmental benefits that the transaction will realize.

H.R. 6707 would distort that standard and STB evaluation

process by requiring the STB to specifically weigh the

adverse impacts on safety and local communities against the

transportation benefits of a merger.

The bill's mandate for the STB's evaluation to

specificallly focus on the impact on local communities as a

counterweight to the overall transportation benefits that a

merger would otherwise realize can result in the disapproval

of mergers with significant benefits to the public and to the

nation solely because of ``nimby''ism. This would clearly be

at odds with rail transportation policy at 49 USC 10101 which

has as a goal the development sound transportation system to

meet the needs of the public.

The bill's requirement for a specific STB focus on local

impacts creates an additional regulatory burden and imposes

potentially conflicting regulatory requirements. The costs

and uncertainties arising from the proposed regulatory

process will further discourage parties from entering into

transactions that could otherwise bring significant

transportation and other public benefits,

For all of the above reasons we strongly urge a no vote on

I would like to now yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert).

I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Roskam).

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time I have remaining?

I now yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo).

We have none. I am prepared to close.

I have how much time left?

Again, I just want to reiterate the reasons that I oppose this bill today. First and foremost, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is a committee that does its homework usually, that works hard to understand the issues and come forth with something that is good legislation, and it's also bipartisan. And I think that in this situation, we're not able to reach that standard that we typically do in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Not bringing in the STB to have them at the table, the experts, to really understand how the nuts and bolts of this legislation going forward is going to have a chilling effect, I believe, on our rail industry.

We do have the most efficient, the safest railroad industry in the world. It's the gold standard. Countries around the world look at our rail industry and want to copy it, want to try to have that type of freight industry in their countries.

But we in Congress sometimes do our best to try to make it extremely difficult for them to operate, to cause them to put mandates on them that I don't believe serve the best interests of not only communities, but of the rail industry and of our economy.

As I said, we have the most efficient and safest rail industry of the world, and we should continue to want to see that so that we don't, down the road 10 years, 15 years, see the rail industry coming to Congress asking them to bail them out.

As I said, I believe there are going to be unintended consequences of this bill. There are going to be negative effects on the growth of the railroad industry which we desperately need to see going forward as I talked earlier about the increase and demand for rail. The retroactive provision is going to undermine the confidence in our regulatory system, and it's going to, as I said, have a chilling effect on investments when rail companies in the future want to merge.

The CN and EJ&E deal, if it's killed, the increase in traffic can still occur on those lines. The situation is going to be, though, that the EJ&E is not going to have to put $40 million of money into mitigating some of the problems and the increase in traffic. So I think that's going to be bad for those communities.

And we can't forget the benefits that decreased congestion in Chicago is going to have on America. And also, most importantly, as I said earlier, we're not hearing from those low-income communities in Chicago that have hundreds of trains going through their neighborhood every week. They are going to see a decrease. That voice of those low-income neighborhoods is not being heard, is not being addressed because that is what is going to happen here. Those neighborhoods will benefit also with a decrease in traffic if we are able to spread out trains to decrease that bottleneck that's occurring in Chicago.

So I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this piece of legislation, and I urge other members of the committee, let's go back to the committee, let's work together and produce something that we can see improvements to the STB that will be a positive for the communities as well as the economy of this country.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, it is my distinct privilege to rise today to congratulate and celebrate the congregation of Aguath Achim of Altoona, Pennsylvania, on their 125th anniversary. Agudath Achim which translates to ``a union of brothers and sisters'' began its long and rich history in 1883 when its members began meeting in the homes of their neighbors and fellow worshipers.

It was through this humble beginning that the men and women of Agudath Achim were able to pool their resources, their faith and their effort into the construction of their first wooden synagogue in 1895. This wooden Shule sat on the site of the congregation's second synagogue which dates back to 1925 and has served as the congregation's home ever since.

The contribution made by the Jewish people to Pennsylvania and our national heritage cannot be understated. In 1746 the first man to explore what is now Blair County and the home to Agudath Achim was a Jew named Colonel Conrad Weiser. He was followed in 1754 by Stephen Franks, founder of Frankstown, Pennsylvania. In 1778 General Daniel Roberdeau, a Jew from York, Pennsylvania and a member of the Continental Congress became aware of the presence of lead mines in central Pennsylvania. At his own expense, General Roberdeau traveled to our region and built a fort in what would one day become Altoona to begin mining and processing much-needed lead ammunition to General Washington's troops at Valley Forge.

These early pioneers were part of a larger group of hardworking and devout Jews that helped lay the foundation for the Pennsylvania we know and love today. The men and women of Agudath Achim carry with them this heritage and they have given tirelessly and

unflinchingly of their energy, time and finances to enrich and improve their community.

The congregation of Agudath Achim is an extended family who shares in the celebrations, joys and sorrows life brings. The Agudath Achim membership is proud of their heritage and with God's help will grow in strength and continue to be an inspiring factor in the lives of its membership and to the larger community of Blair County and the city of Altoona.

Over the past 125 years, the members of Agudath Achim and Jews throughout the world have born witness to immense transformations of their people. They have endured the horrors of intolerance and inhumanity brought on by the Holocaust. They have been uplifted by the formation of the State of Israel and they have seen their community flourish though Jewish immigration from post-war Europe. Through it all, the congregation of Agudath Achim endured and provided a stable foundation on which to grow.

The fact that we are able to commemorate Agudath Achim's 125th anniversary is a testament to the character of its members and the congregation's success is a testament to all of the men, women, and children who have made the Agudath Achim Synagogue the paramount focus of their lives. I would like to congratulate Hazzan G. Michael Horwitz, Dr. Elliott Bilofsky, Joel H. Hollander and the synagogue's past presidents of both the Synagogue Boards and the Sisterhood and all of their past and present members who have guided Agudath Achim's destiny over the past 125 years. I have no doubt that the members of Agudath Achim will continue their path of excellence as they begin to write the next chapter of their history.