Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of the 7th District of Missouri's most valuable landmarks, Dick's 5 & 10, located in Branson, Missouri.

This summer they celebrated their 50th year of business, or as they say, of fun.

Ever since Dick Hartley started the store fifty years ago, Dick's 5 & 10 has been an important part of the Branson community. And for those who are not from the Ozarks, Dick's 5 & 10 is a must see for all visitors to Branson--I know it is for my family every time we're in the area.

Whether it's toys, games, gifts, souvenirs, novelties, or nostalgia; whether customers are 5 years old or 105 years old; whether customers know what they want or are just looking; at Dick's 5 & 10 there is something for everyone.

But more than the items on their shelves, the friendly smiles of the staff and the outstanding service is what keeps customers coming back for more.

The family that runs Dick's, the Hartley family, has been active in the Branson Community since Dick's first opened its doors in 1961. The Hartleys have been involved in many organizations, including the Downtown Branson Mainstreet Association, the Kiwanis Club, other civic organizations, and are very active in Branson politics.

Son Steve and daughter Melissa, along with Melissa's husband Dave Montgomery, continue the family tradition of helping guide the Downtown Merchants Association, as well as making sure that all of the customers at Dick's have that special experience of a true American tradition.

Dick's 5 & 10 is an important part of the Branson community and I know we can look forward to 50 more years of success, fun, and the community involvement that Dick's 5 & 10 is known for.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor one of the 7th District of Missouri's most distinguished individuals, Walter Cowart.

Walter, a resident of Springfield, Missouri, retired this summer after working in the United States Small Business Administration, SBA, for over 35 years.

Walter got off to a great start in college. There, he majored in economics at Sewanee, the University of the South, in Sewanee, Tennessee, as part of the class of 1964.

Cowart's career with SBA started in Lubbock, TX in 1976. In 1979, he Moved to the Kansas City, Missouri office as the Chief of Portfolio Management. He then transferred to Springfield, Missouri when the Branch Office opened there in 1981. He was recognized as the Region VII Regional Employee of the Year in 1997 and was presented his award by former Congressman Roy Blunt at the Springfield Branch Office. He was appointed Branch Manager in 2008.

As Branch Manager, Walter was an advocate for small business in the 28 counties served by the Springfield Branch of the Kansas City District. He oversaw efforts to expand and develop the small business community in southwest Missouri with the help of SBA lending partners.

Walter was also a member of the Springfield Planning and Zoning Commission from March 1984 until January 1991 and was a member of the Board of the Springfield Public Building Corporation from May 1991 until January 2002.

Walter has been married to his wife Laura for over 38 years. They both retired at the end of August; Walter from the SBA and Laura from the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Walter and Laura like to spend their free time with their family. They are blessed with three children and two grandchildren. Walter and Laura are spending their retirement with their family, friends, and are currently cruising across the rivers of Europe.

Although I am sad to see him go, I wish Walter a happy retirement. The SBA was fortunate to call him an employee, those of us who live in Springfield are proud to call him a neighbor, but most importantly, I am lucky to call him a friend. I hope Walter and Laura enjoy their retirement and wish them and their family the best in the future.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to congratulate the First Assembly of God Church in Bolivar, Missouri, on their 75th anniversary. I am honored to join them in their momentous milestone of celebrating 75 years of blessings.

In 1936, a small congregation in Bolivar, Missouri, received their official church charter from the Assemblies of God fellowship. Over the course of the last 75 years, First Assembly of God of Bolivar has served others with excellence, unity, and purpose.

First Assembly is a family-oriented, multi-generational church. They serve families and individuals through a variety of services and activities for all age groups, genders, and backgrounds. First Assembly believes that God makes His presence known in a variety of ways, and the church looks to Him to guide them in everything they do.

First Assembly is committed to the spiritual needs of the Bolivar community and provides their congregation the necessary tools to live a Christian lifestyle in an ever-changing world. By demonstrating the compassion of Jesus Christ, First Assembly of God reaches out to people of all backgrounds in Southwest Missouri to deliver their ministry of love.

The church also sponsors missionaries across the world, sending out members to spread the love and compassion of Jesus Christ. They have donated over $30,000 to purchase an African Tabernacle, vehicles, equipment, and study Bibles for international ministers.

It is clear that First Assembly has performed many great services and received many blessings over the past 75 years. I ask my distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating First Assembly of God for their exceptional service and wish them the best for another 75 years of blessings.

Mr. Speaker, I'm new to this House. I'm new to politics, actually. I'm a small business owner. I ran my own business for 30 years. And when you have your own business, you get a lot of free, unsolicited advice, and most of that advice is telling you how to run your business.

Back home, a fellow would tell you, after his 30-minute dissertation on how to run your business, he'd stop and revise and extend his remarks by saying, ``Well, I guess I can run everybody's business but my own.'' Because usually they've been bankrupt a couple of times and been fired, but they want to tell you how to run your business.

When I hear the United States government say, ``We need to create jobs, we need to tell the job creators how to operate, what to do,'' I'm reminded of the fellow back home who says I can run everybody's business but my own. Because we haven't had a budget in this country in over 850 days.

We don't do much right up here, and trying to run businesses is not something we should be doing. We should be reducing taxes, reducing spending, reducing regulation. And we need to get those three free trade agreements from the White House over here. If you don't believe me, ask the European Union. Car exports up over 200 percent after they signed their free trade agreement with Korea. Their aircraft is the same. It's up over 2,300 percent.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the people and leaders of the Republic of China on Taiwan as their day of National Celebration, October 10, 2011, approaches. This special day recognizes the founding of the country and this year the anniversary is especially powerful as October 10, 2011 marks the end of a ``Spectacular Century'' and the beginning of another great century for the Republic of China.

I would like to highlight the economic success of the Republic of China on Taiwan over the last century, a success which has rightly been called a miracle. Beginning with very little economic activity just a few decades ago, the Republic of China on Taiwan now has a dynamic economy which is the envy of the world. Moreover, Taiwan has been a fair trading partner; while total trade with the United States reached an all-time high in 2010, almost half of this trade total, $251 billion, was due to the Republic of China importing goods from the United States. In fact, U.S. exports to the Republic of China have grown even during the Great Recession, creating jobs all across America. Our relationship is a model for fair trade between countries benefiting both sides, a model we should highlight here today.

I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating the people of the Republic of China on Taiwan on their economic success and thanking them for their continued efforts to work with the United States to foster economic growth in our country. When the day of National Celebration arrives, the people of both the United States and the Republic of China on Taiwan have much to celebrate.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a great citizen of the State of Missouri. I offer the highest commendation to Eunice Lewis of Granby, Missouri, who has the distinction of being the oldest living member of the Women's Army Corps (WAC). Born in Lincoln, Arkansas and raised in Morris, Oklahoma, Ms. Lewis married Mr. George McFarland of the United States Marine Corps during World War II. At the age of twenty-eight, with her husband serving in the Pacific Theatre of Operations--where he was captured and held prisoner by Japanese forces for five years--Eunice joined the Women's Army Corps and completed her training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. Eunice was then stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, where her primary responsibility was writing the Last Will and Testaments for the soldiers. After her husband returned safely from overseas, they were anxious to begin their new life together. They found a home in Granby, a home which still stands to this day. Eunice and George McFarland had one son, Pat McFarland, who was all too young when his father passed away. Eunice then married Leon Lewis, who worked for Rocketdyne and Teledyne in Neosho, Missouri, and the couple enjoyed many years of wedded bliss prior to his passing twelve years ago. Eunice Lewis celebrated her ninety-eighth birthday on July 7, 2011. I salute the life accomplishments of Eunice Lewis, a proud daughter of the State of Missouri and the United States.

Mr. Speaker, our debt ceiling is currently $14.3 trillion-- or more than $45,000 for every American man, woman, and child. By the end of the year, our debt will be larger than the size of our entire economy, a significant amount of that owed to foreign countries. Oddly enough, even though we're driving faster and faster towards a cliff, instead of slowing down, President Obama is hitting the gas.

After President Bush's second term, the national debt was $10 trillion. This was accrued over 43 Presidents. In just 2\1/2\ years, President Obama has managed to increase our Federal deficit by over $4.3 trillion, 40 percent since he was sworn into office January 20 of 2009.

Let me say that again. In 2 years our government has borrowed nearly 40 percent of the debt that it took 200 years to accumulate. There is no word in the English language for this kind of recklessness.

At the turn of the 20th century, the Federal Government consumed about 6 to 8 percent of the gross domestic product. Back then America became the greatest industrial power and the wealthiest economy in the history of the world when the Federal Government spent just between 6 and 8 percent of GDP. Today, the Federal Government spends no less than 25 percent of GDP. And on top of that, the rest of the government, State and local, spends even more. Total, around 40 percent of GDP is consumed by government at all levels.

What have we gotten for this unprecedented level of Federal spending? Our infrastructure is crumbling, our economy is weak, and jobs are not being created. If government spending stimulated anything, then business should be booming. It turns out the only stimulus going on is the debt.

And despite all of that, despite common sense, the President is asking for even more credit. The President wants us to trust that government will live within its means this time. Giving a blank check to the government makes as much sense as investing with Bernie Madoff.

Democratic leaders think they can continue to spend as much money as they want whenever they want to. They are upset that Republicans are making a big deal about the debt ceiling increase because they want to be able to spend taxpayer dollars without ever having a check or balance to ask if that spending is necessary.

Enough is enough. It's time to end this irresponsible spending. Families in southwest Missouri cannot spend 42 percent more than they take in, and neither should the Federal Government.

I came to Washington to stop the spending and abuse of government. That's why I will fight this debt ceiling increase without a serious plan to reduce our debt. And the people of southwest Missouri agree with me.

I have had hundreds of phone calls and emails and messages in my office about the debt ceiling. It is something that the people of the Seventh District feel very strongly about, and I want to share a few of their thoughts with you:

Fifty-one percent of the calls and letters to my office say don't raise the debt ceiling under any circumstances; 26 percent say raise it with substantial cuts; 10 percent are okay to raise it whatever; and 10 percent say you can raise it but do not increase taxes. The people have spoken.

There's an old saying that if you owe the bank a thousand dollars, that's your problem; but if you owe the bank a million dollars, that's the bank's problem. We're at a point where the financial community, our bank, is starting to fear that our problem is becoming their problem. Two major rating agencies, Moody's and Standard & Poor's, have publicly announced that they are going to reassess America's AAA credit rating.

The people have spoken. The business community has spoken. When will the President and the Democrats listen?

Every dollar we spend on political preferences is one more dollar American families cannot spend on their children, one more dollar that small business cannot spend hiring an employee, one more dollar that a worker can't save for his retirement. This time it's serious.

Cut, Cap, and Balance is the first step but by no means the last. We have to make immediate cuts to show the financial community that we're serious about being good on our promise to repay our debts. And the President needs to get serious. He refused to put his plan in writing but vows to veto our Cut, Cap, and Balance. A speech or a framework is not a plan.

Well, the first thing to do when you dig yourself into a hole is to stop digging. We need commonsense reforms that will make sure this will not happen again. We need spending caps, a balanced budget amendment, spending cuts which will balance our budget. But most of all, we need something that's not very common: common sense.

I would like to close with one of the hundreds of letters from one of my constituents:

``Dear Congressman Long, do not budge. We put you in office to stop these big spenders. Go ahead and call his bluff. I am in tornado- ravaged Joplin and rebuilding my house. I'm glad you are covering my wallet in Washington.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War Battle of Carthage, Missouri.

The western plains of Missouri would not likely have been the scene of an important battle in the early months of the Civil War. Yet as the Missouri State Guard, under Major General Sterling Price, moved south toward Confederate reinforcements in Arkansas, with the Union Army under Brigadier General Nathanial Lyon in hot pursuit, the engagement at Carthage, on July 5, 1861, would become the largest battle of the Civil War thus far.

The Federal pursuit of the secessionist militia was not a single column chase. Lyon's forces split with the intention of cutting off the Missouri State Guardsmen and preventing their reinforcements from arriving from Arkansas. They intended, too, to blunt the wave of pro- militia public sentiment stemming from the humiliation of the Camp Jackson Affair. With a three pronged attack, Lyon hoped to nip their recruitment and burgeoning morale in the bud.

Union Colonel Franz Sigel arrived in Sarcoxie on June 29, and discovered that not only were Price and his men camped south of Neosho, but deposed Missouri Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson, with his thousands of Missouri State Guardsmen, was waiting in Lamar for Brigadier General John S. Rains, commanding a state force out of Lexington. Sigel decided to move southwest to take out Price, then head north to take on Jackson and Rains. When Sigel reached Neosho on July 3, he was surprised to learn that Price had already reached Arkansas, and was camped near Maysville. That same day Rains reached Jackson's camp, while Lyon moved south out of Boonville, in hopes of buttressing his forces with reinforcements out of Kansas. His goal was Springfield.

Sigel modified his plan, leaving a garrison of 94 men under Captain Joseph Conrad at Neosho. He continued on toward Carthage on July 4, and while camping for the night east of town, his outposts on the northern edge of town discovered that Jackson, and his 4000 men, were camped within 15 miles of Carthage.

Colonel Sigel had 1100 men and eight six-pounder guns. None of the men were cavalry. He couldn't have known that half of Jackson's men were unarmed, and most were untrained, unorganized, and similarly afoot. Though Sigel's men were three month volunteers, they were well trained for the military maneuvers the former German soldier would order. They were well rested, well fed, and well organized under their disciplined leader.

The same could not be said of the Missouri State Guard. They seemed to run on pure adrenaline and excitement--never mind that those that had shoes might not have guns, or those that had guns might not have ammunition. They wore the clothes they enlisted in, thus there were no uniforms to distinguish them from one another, let alone from the opposing side or civilians. Jackson was a civilian, and as a commander in the Missouri State Guard, issued orders in his capacity as commander in chief, albeit a deposed one. Their organization, their discipline, and their capacity to serve as a cohesive military unit operating toward a common goal, was vastly limited before they even met their enemy.

Rains had joined up with Jackson north of Carthage, and the excitement in the camp at the oncoming hostilities created such a stir that most of the men heading out before dawn to battle the Federals had not eaten or adequately rested for the battle. Sigel's men, on the other hand, were fully prepared to endure the long day ahead of them, despite the enormous numbers and seeming advantages of the enemy.

At 8:30 a.m., Sigel's advance guard skirmished briefly with Captain Joseph ``Jo'' Shelby's cavalry company. Sigel then sent in two companies of infantry in support, and the bulk of his own troops to take on Jackson's main force gathering on a nearby hill. One company and one piece of artillery remained with the wagon train to protect the rear.

The Missouri State Guard forces gathering on the high ground between North Fork and Dry Fork, north of Carthage, were representative of Jackson's forces in whole. There was no reserve, unless the unarmed mass of men at the rear could be considered as such. Jackson seemed to operate on the notion that sheer numbers would intimidate, and thus force the retreat, of Sigel.

The Union forces began firing, their German sharpshooters and competent artillery an excellent asset. The shots reverberated through the Ozark hills, and word of the battle reached the small Union garrison at Neosho. Captain Conrad received orders from Sigel to retreat to Sarcoxie, if necessary. Knowing his commander was hotly engaged and greatly outnumbered, Conrad commenced to a southward retreat. It was too late. Confederate forces out of Arkansas, alongside Missourians under Sterling Price, were already on a northward march to assist Jackson and Rains. Conrad and his men became prisoners of war.

The Union battery continued to pummel the scattered Missourians, eventually ceasing fire for lack of ammunition. Sigel assumed the Guardsmen guns were running low, as well. He had ordered the advance of his troops when he noticed the mass of Rebel cavalry on his perimeter. He likely believed that the enemy reserve would be armed, but little did he know that there what he saw was not a reserve to speak of, nor were any of them armed. His advance quickly became a retreat, a maneuver for which the German leader would be notorious.

It was a slippery spot from which to escape, and he barely achieved it. He concealed one of his batteries in an advantageous hilly spot, and briefly held the ford. Upon the advance of a State Guard cavalry to the east, which wrapped around the rear of his forces and secured Buck Branch to the south, Sigel realized his strength was in jeopardy. His men blasted their way south through Buck Branch in a furious move, fortuitously through inadequately armed State Guardsmen.

His military skill checked the advancing Rebels at Spring River, and again south of Carthage in a desperate move to save the Union supply line. Reaching the previous night's camp south of James Spring, Sigel ordered his rear guard to keep Confederates out of Carthage proper. The pursuing Guardsmen were met with Union gunfire, and the sun set on a continued barrage of bullets. Sigel moved his forces east, along the Sarcoxie road, and continued to give as good as he got from the Rebels. He marched through the night, rested at Sarcoxie, and moved on to the relative safety of Mount Vernon thereafter.

Both sides claimed Carthage as a victory. At the time, the prevention of further Union encroachment into southwestern Missouri gave the Confederates their sense of victory. Sigel's vastly outnumbered army may have failed to achieve the Union mission of checking the Southern troops, but his precarious escape with relatively low casualties gave his day at Carthage a higher regard in historical interpretation. The Union reported 44 casualties, not counting the 94 men captured at Neosho. The Confederate tally is estimated at between 74-200.

The State Guard united with their Confederate brethren out of Texas and Arkansas, and was reinvigorated by the success at Carthage. The scattered but passionate men received a heavy dose of training, consideration from the leaders in Richmond for their persistence, and a much needed boost to their enthusiasm after their defeat at Boonville. Hoping to parlay the passion into a campaign to recapture the state, Jackson, Price and

their men would continue their struggle against the Union at Wilson's Creek, and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, May 23, Tuesday, May 24, Wednesday, May 25, Thursday, May 26 and Friday, May 27, I was in Joplin, Missouri, assisting my constituents as they work to recover from one of the deadliest tornados in United States history. I was able to interact directly with Federal Emergency Management Agency officials, including Administrator William Fugate, in trying to assist my constituents as best I could.

Due to this tragedy, I was unable to vote on any legislative measure this week.

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass as Amended the Honoring American Veterans Act of 2011, Rollcall Vote No. 330, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass as Amended the Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011, Rollcall Vote No. 331, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 1657, Rollcall Vote No. 332, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

On Ordering the Previous Question, Rollcall Vote No. 333, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

On Agreeing to the Resolution H. Res. 269, Rollcall Vote No. 334, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

On Motion that the Committee Rise for H.R. 1216, Rollcall Vote No. 335, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Mr. Tonko of New York, Amendment No. 2 to H.R. 1216, Rollcall Vote No. 336, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Mr. Cardoza of California, Amendment No. 9 to H.R. 1216, Rollcall Vote No. 337, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Ms. Foxx of North Carolina, Amendment No. 7 to H.R. 1216, Rollcall Vote No. 338, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

On Motion to Recommit with Instructions H.R. 1216, Rollcall Vote No. 339, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On Passage of H.R. 1216, to amend the Public Health Service Act to convert funding for graduate medical education in qualified teaching health centers from direct appropriations to an authorization of appropriations, Rollcall Vote No. 340, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

On Ordering the Previous Question for H. Res. 276, Providing for further consideration of

H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 341, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

On Agreeing to the Resolution, H. Res. 276, Providing for further consideration of H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 342, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

On the amendment of Ms. Woolsey of California, Amendment No. 2 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 343, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Mr. Hunter of California, Amendment. No. 12 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 344, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Mr. Sarbanes of Maryland, Amendment No. 24 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 345, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Mr. Murphy of Connecticut, Amendment No. 25 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 346, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Mr. Cole of Oklahoma, Amendment No. 27 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 347, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

On the amendment of Mr. Garamendi of California, Amendment No. 28 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 348, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Ms. Maloney of New York, Amendment No. 26 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 349, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Mr. Himes of Connecticut, Amendment No. 30 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 350, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Ms. Jackson Lee of Texas, Amendment No. 31 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 351, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Mr. Andrews of New Jersey, Amendment No. 32 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 352, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Mr. Richmond of Louisiana, Amendment No. 37 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 353, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Mr. Mica of Florida, Amendment No. 38 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 354, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

On the amendment of Mr. Flake of Arizona, Amendment No. 40 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 355, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

On the amendment of Mr. Smith of Washington, Amendment No. 42 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 356, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Mr. Buchanan of Florida, Amendment No. 43 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 357, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

On the amendment of Ms. Maloney of New York, Amendment No. 47 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 358, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Mr. Mack of Florida, Amendment No. 48 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 359, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

On the amendment of Mr. Langevin of Rhode Island, Amendment No. 49 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 360, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Mr. Amash of Michigan, Amendment No. 50 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 361, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Mr. Campbell of California, Amendment No. 53 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 362, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Mr. Campbell of California, Amendment No. 54 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 363, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Mr. Chaffetz of Utah, Amendment No. 56 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 364, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Mr. Polis of Colorado, Amendment No. 60 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 365, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Mr. Conyers of Michigan, Amendment No. 61 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 366, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

On the amendment of Mr. Flake of Arizona, Amendment No. 62 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 367, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Mr. Ellison of Minnesota, Amendment No. 63 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 368, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Ms. Loretta Sanchez of California, Amendment No. 64 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 369, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On the amendment of Ms. Jackson Lee of Texas, Amendment No. 111 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 370, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

On the amendment of Mr. Turner of Ohio, Amendment No. 148 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 371, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

On the amendment of Mr. Cravaack of Minnesota, Amendment No. 152 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 372, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

On the amendment of Mr. McGovern of Massachusetts, Amendment No. 55 to H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 373, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On Motion to Recommit with Instructions H.R. 1540, Rollcall Vote No. 374, had I been present I would have voted ``no.''

On Passage of H.R. 1540, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2012 for military activities of the Department of Defense and for military construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes, Rollcall Vote No. 375, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment to the House Amendment, S. 990, the Small Business Additional Temporary Extension Act of 2011, Rollcall Vote No. 376, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Chairman, I ask that the House observe a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the tornado which hit Joplin, Missouri, on May 22. As the Congressman representing Missouri's Seventh District, which includes Joplin, I ask that we observe a moment of silence for those effected by the EF-5 tornado that struck this town of 50,000 people on the 22nd of May. This horrific event led to a loss of life of 153 individuals, from babies to folks in their nineties. Also, they lost 54 percent of their school capacity, 8,000 homes, and 500 businesses.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of the cornerstones of American capitalism and my profession for over 30 years, that being auctioneering. Auctioneers sell approximately $250 billion in assets each year in the United States, and this figure does not include the millions of transactions that occur online with online auctions.

It's estimated that there are 20,000 auctioneers in the Nation, the vast majority of which are small business owners. Auto auctions make up the largest volume of auctions, with over $80 billion in vehicles being sold by auctioneers annually in the United States. If you drive a used car, chances are very good it's been across the auction block.

Auctions and auctioneers have existed for over 2,000 years. Auctioneering was fundamental in the creation of commerce here in the United States. Auctioneers first arrived in the United States when the Pilgrims arrived.

You go to an auction in Kalamazoo, Michigan; Branson, Missouri; Tucson, Arizona; Portland, Oregon; Miami, Florida--anywhere you go to an auction in this country, we all go by one handle, and that handle is ``colonel.'' You can walk up to an auctioneer in any auction in the United States, you don't know that auctioneer's name, you say, ``Hey, Colonel,'' they'll turn around and answer you.

Why ``colonel''? That dates back to the Civil War in this country. After the Civil War, they needed a way to get rid of the mules and tack and things they had left over, supplies; so they did that by a matter of public auction. They nominated the Army colonels to serve as the auctioneers. Now, they didn't have any professional training as auctioneers; however, they would just say, ``I'm at a dollar for this saddle, a dollar-fifty. Anyone give two dollars? Sold at a dollar- fifty.'' So when you hear the term ``colonel,'' that's where it originated, back in the Civil War.

Auctioneers were instrumental in the formation of early commerce by selling crops, imports, livestock, tools, tobacco, fur, and farms. Even President George Washington was a big auction fan and an avid buyer at public auction.

For over 30 years, I had the honor of selling real estate at public auction. Did I sell depressed, distressed real estate? Once in a very great while. But I sold real estate as people's first option, not their last resort. So keep in mind, auctions could be a way to achieve the highest value in the shortest amount of time. If you've got a hot property, instead of having it listed and sold in 1 day or 2 days, put it up at public auction and see what happens.

Every day auctioneers work with banks, attorneys, accountants, businesses, individuals, and government agencies to liquidate property seized and surplus property. Auctioneers create a competitive marketplace and connect buyers with sellers every day.

The National Auctioneers Association and its members strive to advance the auction methods of marketing and upholding the highest standards of professionalism to the national public. For over 20 years, National Auctioneers Day has been observed by State and local governments.

For those reasons and more, Jeff Duncan, another freshman auctioneer Member of Congress here, and I want to make this, the third Saturday in April, National Auctioneers Day. We will be dropping a bill to that effect. This would heighten the awareness of people in the United States of the contributions made by auctions and auctioneers to the history of the Nation and its economy.

Auctions are the last stronghold of the competitive free market enterprise system and continue to be the most effective means of establishing a fair market value.

Also, one other thing. Being an auctioneer in Congress, the way our debt is running out of control, they find it very handy to have Jeff Duncan and me here in Washington. We are two of the few people that can actually keep up with the national debt:

I'm at a trillion now 2, 2 trillion dollars now 3 woodygive 3 trillion, 3 trillion bid and now 4, 4 trillion, now 5, 5 trillion dollars now six are ye able to buy 'em at 6, 6 trillion now 7, woodygive 7 trillion, 7 trillion dollars bid now 8, 8 trillion dollars now 9, 9 trillion now 10 woodygive 10 trillion dollars, 10 trillion dollars now 11, 11 trillion now 12, do I hear 12 trillion dollars, 11 trillion bid now 12, 11 trillion bid now 12 now 12 woodygive 12 trillion dollars, 12 now 13, 12 trillion bid now 13, 13 trillion now 14 woodygive 14, 14 trillion dollars now 15 woodygive 15 trillion. Sold, 14 trillion dollars.

Thankfully, Mr. Speaker, we also can say those numbers backwards; so when we get the spending under control here, I'll be back.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about National Golf Day. Earlier today, I attended an event and heard the story of one of our Wounded Warriors and how the sport of golf has helped him to overcome his traumatic brain injury, and learn the sport of golf even with prostheses, and how much that's helped him.

The first small business I owned happened to be a miniature golf course. I also went to high school with the late great Payne Stewart. And no, none of his golf abilities rubbed off on me, unfortunately.

Golf is a $76 billion industry, which provides 2 million jobs in the United States. Golf courses are generally small business owner-owned golf courses. And I know the challenges small businesses face today. The estimated economic impact of the golf industry is over $200 billion. Golf course superintendents are excellent environmental stewards of the land, and among the best in the world at knowing how to care for the Earth.

Being outdoors always improves one's quality of life. Walking just a nine-hole course can give you a 2.5-mile workout, or in my case 7 miles. It is a sport that can be played by all ages, and we should take time today to recognize National Golf Day.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 229, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of one of Missouri's finest leaders and my personal friend, John Twitty.

John is an icon in the 7th District. He's provided Springfield, Missouri with affordable electricity, inexpensive natural gas, and clean drinking water for almost a decade as the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of City Utilities. You would be hard-pressed to find a better leader with more integrity, which is evidenced by the high regard in which he is held throughout the city of Springfield, the State of Missouri, and across the country.

Whether he is dealing with employees, the general public, or community leaders, John maintains his professionalism and character. He sincerely cares for each one of the employees at City Utilities and for the entire Springfield community.

I am just one of many in the community that recognizes John as an outstanding leader. For his national leadership, he received the American Public Power Association's Alex Radin Distinguished Service Award--its top honor. He has also served as their Chairman. For his statewide leadership, he received the Missouri Association of Municipal Utilities Distinguished Service Award. For his contribution to Missouri and the nation, he received the Missourian Award and the Outstanding Missourian Award from the Missouri House of Representatives and the Missouri Senate.

John has also been very active in the Springfield community. Although he would be the last to say so himself, John has given much to Springfield through his outreach and involvement in community organizations. He has worked with the United Way of the Ozarks, the Springfield Business and Development Corporation, the Partnership Industrial Center West Administrative Council, St. John's Health System, Empire Bank, the Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast, the Boys & Girls Town of Missouri, and other local organizations.

John will retire this June. No doubt, he will enjoy spending more time playing golf and with his family. John's family includes his wife, Jean, a retired Greene Country Assessor and current member of the Springfield Public Schools Board of Education, and his daughter, Dr. Anne S. Twitty, an Assistant Professor of History at the University of Mississippi.

Although John is about to embark on a much-deserved leave of absence, his legacy will live on whenever a family cooks dinner using low-cost electricity or when children drink clean water from a school water fountain. He has faithfully performed the duty shared by all public servants; he left the institutions in his care stronger and better for the next generation. Let us all draw humility and purpose from his example.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Neosho High School Wrestling Team for winning the Missouri Class 3 State Championship.

One might not think of a team when you think of wrestling, but wrestling is a team sport. These young champions, River Buttram, Tanner Schaack, Nate Rodriguez, Trevor Hughes, Paxon Fowler, Rimo Elwise, Carter Boatright, Ethan Pogue, Payne Hatter, Chase Espinosa, Blake Stauffer, Dallas Smith, Matt Millard, and Riley Plew are a team. They trained as one, they competed as one, and together though their hard work and dedication they won the Missouri Class 3 State Championship.

Of course, the wrestlers aren't the only champions; they had an outstanding team of talented coaches supporting them and guiding them along the way. I commend Head Coach Jeremy Phillips and assistant coaches Cody

Crocker, Josh Sonis, Dane Espinosa, and Trey Jackson on an amazing accomplishment and a job well done.

The Neosho wrestling team had an unfair advantage against their opponents: their friends, family, and fans attended the tournaments, cheered them on throughout the wrestling season, and followed them to Columbia for the state championships. The Neosho community is justifiably proud of their team, and the team is fortunate to have such strong support from their community.

As if winning a state championship isn't enough of an accomplishment, the Neosho High School Wrestling Team has the distinct honor of winning it two years in a row. This shows that our athletes and coaches in Neosho are among the best in America and can stand proud in their accomplishments.

But even more important than that, the Neosho wrestling team will have memories to last a lifetime. They've had that extraordinarily opportunity to live the dream of anyone who has ever dreamed of competing with the best and achieving victory.

I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Neosho High School Wrestling Team, the Missouri Class 3 State Champions.