Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I regret that a death in my family delayed my return to Washington this week. I was, therefore, unable to cast a vote on a number of rollcall votes on Tuesday, October 20, and Wednesday, October 21, 2009.

Had I been present on Tuesday, October 20, I would have voted ``yes'' on H. Res. 558, supporting the increased understanding of, and interest in, computer science and computing careers among the public and in schools, and to ensure an ample and diverse future technology workforce through the designation of National Computer Science Education Week; ``yes'' on H.R. 3319, designating the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 440 South Gulling Street in Portola, California, as the ``Army Specialist Jeremiah Paul McCleery Post Office Building''; and ``yes'' on H.R. 3763, amending the Fair Credit Reporting Act to provide for an exclusion from Red Flag Guidelines for certain businesses.

Had I been present on Wednesday, October 21, I would have voted ``yes'' on H. Res. 811, expressing support for designation of October 2009 as ``National Principals Month.'' No school can be great without a great principal, and my district is fortunate to have an outstanding group of principals. High-quality school leadership is critical to supporting America's next generation of leaders and innovators.

I also would have also voted ``yes'' on S. 1793, the Ryan White HIV/ AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009; ``yes'' on H. Res. 837, recognizing Kentucky Wesleyan College for its service as an institution of higher education for over 150 years; ``yes'' on H. Res. 660, recognizing the distinguished history of the Laurinburg Normal Industrial Institute; and ``yes'' on S. Con. Res. 43, authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for the presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to former Senator Edward Brooke.

Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of Staff Sergeant Zachary J. Rhyner's distinguished service in the United States Air Force, and to congratulate him on being named USO Airman of the Year. Staff Sergeant Rhyner's extraordinary heroism in Shok Valley, Afghanistan on April 6, 2008 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom is a testament to his training, character, and personal strength.

While conducting an air assault infiltration as Special Tactics Combat Controller, Sergeant Rhyner and his team were caught in an ambush. Intense sniper, machine gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire rained down on the team from a well-trained insurgent force. Sergeant Rhyner was shot once in his left leg and struck twice in his chest. Although wounded, Sergeant Rhyner stayed calm and called in more than 50 air strikes and strafing gun runs. He placed himself between enemy forces and his men several times in order to return fire and to allow his teammates to retrieve the critically wounded and the deceased. He has been recognized for his heroism several times. In addition to being named USO Airman of the Year today, he received the Air Force Cross, the service's second highest medal for valor, on March 10, 2009. He also received a Purple Heart and the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs Grateful Nation Award.

Staff Sergeant Rhyner is based at Pope Air Force Base, in North Carolina's Second District and lives in Harnett County, my home county. I am proud to have him as a fellow North Carolinian, and I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating him on this honor and saluting his service.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Donna P. Jernigan of Carolina Case Management and president of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN) and a resident of Sanford, North Carolina in my district. Ms. Jernigan will soon complete her year as the 2008- 2009 national president of the ARN, a professional organization representing professional nurses who work to enhance the quality of life for those who are affected by physical disabilities or chronic illnesses. During her tenure as president at ARN, Ms. Jernigan has been a strong leader and advocate for rehabilitation nurses, as well as the patients ARN serves every day.

Since 1974, ARN has been the leading source for the latest rehabilitation information, resources, and professional development and career opportunities for rehabilitation nursing professionals. ARN members are nurses, with a broad range of clinical experience, dedicated to helping individuals affected by chronic illness or a physical disability adapt to their disabilities, achieve their greatest potential, and work toward productive, independent lives. Presently, ARN comprises a nationwide network of more than 5,500 rehabilitation nurses who practice in many settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, home health agencies, sub-acute and long- term care facilities, and private companies.

Ms. Jernigan earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the California State University and her Master of Science degree in Management, with a concentration in Healthcare Planning, from Troy University. In addition to Ms. Jernigan's academic achievements, she is the author of ``Bureaucrats at the Gate,'' and article published in ARN Network in 2003. She has also given presentations numerous times on topics relating to electronic medical records, surviving the nursing shortage, uniform data systems, and using algorithms in rehabilitation.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the outgoing president of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, Donna P. Jernigan, for her dedication and exemplary work in the field of rehabilitation nursing.

I thank Mr. Blumenauer for yielding. Let me thank Mr. Rangel and the ranking member for their work on the committee, and all the members who have worked on it. I'm a proud cosponsor of H.R. 3590.

My congressional district includes Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base and is home to thousands of our brave military men and women, many of whom have been subject to multiple deployments, as well as the 30th Heavy Brigade National Guard Units, who are currently serving their second tour in Iraq.

This bill makes sure that servicemembers are able to take full advantages of the benefits available to all Americans, and I commend all of my colleagues who have worked on this and made a difference.

Under H.R. 3590, personnel overseas would have an extra year to take advantage of the first-time homebuyer tax credit. As an Army veteran myself, I understand that military members are subject to orders that may require them to uproot their homes and their

families, move to another base, or even be shipped overseas with just a short notice. This bill would allow folks to keep the tax credit even if they have to sell their homes due to military relocations within 3 years of their home's purchase.

The first-time homebuyers tax credit has helped more, as you have already heard today, more than a million and a half homeowners. While the sluggish housing industry has been in a very difficult time, it's helped stimulate it. So let's help extend this successful provision to those Americans who are sacrificing so much for all of us.

Mr. Speaker, we've already heard today that this bill is paid for. It is bipartisan. It deserves not only our total support, but our trust that the Senate will move quickly and send it to the President of the United States for his signature.

Madam Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act. As the first member of my family to graduate from college, I know that the opportunity to go to college was the key to any success that I have had in life. I understand firsthand that pursuing education after high school can be a challenging financial decision. Working families struggle to enable their children to go to college, and individuals who wish to pursue a second degree must weigh the costs carefully. This bill takes significant steps to make college more affordable and to ease the burden of debt for those who take out loans to pay for higher education.

H.R. 3221 continues our work to increase Pell Grants to keep up with increasing educational costs, raising the maximum grant to $6,900 over the next ten years. It invests $3 billion in efforts that improve access to college and support students throughout their education, like the successful initiatives of the College Foundation of North Carolina and the North Carolina Educational Assistance Authority in my state. The legislation also strengthens Perkins Loans by making more students eligible and keeping interest rates low.

H.R. 3221 makes critical investments in our historically black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions, and strengthens community colleges and training programs to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed in school and gain the skills they need for success in our 21st century technological economy. It also invests in quality early education opportunities that plant the seeds of success for the next generation of college graduates. Finally, it makes all of these investments in a fiscally-responsible manner, even devoting $10 billion in savings to pay down the deficit.

I am pleased that Chairman Miller worked with me to ensure that non- profits and state agencies, like the North Carolina College Foundation and the North Carolina Educational Assistance Authority, continue to have a role in providing services to college-bound students. Millions of North Carolina families turn to these institutions for help with college counseling, loan support, and default prevention. It would be a tragedy to lose the local knowledge and expertise they provide. Student loan reform must preserve a role for these valuable loan guarantors and affiliated non-profits, and I am pleased that an amendment I offered which explicitly authorizes support for their services was included in the final bill.

As the former superintendent of North Carolina's schools, I know firsthand the needs of our school districts for modernization and renovation funding. I am pleased H.R. 3221 contains $2 billion in each of the next two years

to help schools maintain high-quality facilities that help students learn. I appreciate Chairman Miller's commitment to work with me to ensure that we use some of this funding in support of our federal responsibility for federally-connected children. In my district, the schools in Harnett County and Cumberland County, as well as those in the rest of the state, are proud to be able to educate the sons and daughters of those who serve and protect our nation. However, the growth at Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, threatens to overwhelm the school districts' already strained budgets as they work to make room for these students. We have a responsibility to help these schools, and I look forward to working with the chairman to support our military families.

Madam Chair, H.R. 3221 represents a significant investment in the future of our nation, and a historic commitment to our students and working families. I urge my colleagues in joining me in support of this legislation.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

I yield myself 2 minutes.

I want to thank Chairman Miller for his support on this amendment and for his work to expand educational opportunities for all of America's students.

Madam Chair, as we work to make our student loan system work better for taxpayers, we must also make sure that the system still works for students and for families who seek to improve their futures through education.

My amendment makes sure that the benefits that help students and that expands access to college, including loan counseling, outreach and education default prevention services, continue to be available. It clarifies that these services, targeted to local needs by State educational authorities and nonprofit agencies, are eligible for funding under H.R. 3221.

Guarantee agencies, such as the North Carolina Education Assistance Authority in my State, have developed customized services to help students learn to manage their debt and to avoid default. As an example, in 2007, they helped students with more than $52 billion in debt recovery from delinquent loans, saving both students and taxpayers their money.

Guarantors and affiliated nonprofits, like the College Foundation of North Carolina, help families plan for college and help them navigate these financial aid and loan options. Every day, nearly 10,000 students and families turn to the CFNC to get help and information.

We need to make sure that these services continue to be available, and my amendment ensures that they are. Higher education is still a key to the American Dream, and this will help make it even more so.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

I would be happy to yield.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to my colleague from Vermont, a cosponsor of this amendment, Mr. Welch.

Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to my colleague and cosponsor, and someone who has been working on this issue for a long time, the gentleman from North Carolina, Congressman Price.

Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to my friend and colleague from North Dakota (Mr. Pomeroy) who is a cosponsor also.

Madam Chair, I thank the chairman and ranking member for their work on this bill to help members of the committee, and I encourage my colleagues to vote for the amendment and the underlying bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Chair, I rise to engage in a colloquy with the gentleman from California, the distinguished chairman of the Education and Labor Committee.

Yesterday we voted to accept an amendment to ensure that local educational agencies that contain a military installation selected for closure under the BRAC process would qualify for access to reserved funds for distressed areas.

Mr. Chairman, not only do base closures under the BRAC process significantly affect local communities but also do rapid expansions due to realignment. The significant influx of military families, while welcomed in our communities, results in immediate and significant enrollment increases in our local schools and community colleges. These rapid population shifts put a strain on local budgets already distressed by the economic downturn.

Mr. Chairman, I am hopeful that as we move to conference, we can contemplate how we might assist these communities as well.

I yield to the chairman.

I thank the gentleman from California for his work on this issue and for this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, Representative Kissell, for organizing this Special Order this evening for a good friend and, as all of you already heard, a 12-term Member of this body.

Bill Hefner, who passed away on Wednesday, September 2 of this year, provided a selfless service to our State of North Carolina and to this Nation, as you heard from a number of my colleagues already. But in his passing, we've lost a good friend; North Carolina has lost an outstanding citizen and a man who was instrumental not only in this body, but in his community, in his State, in everything he did; Nancy has lost a devoted husband; and Stacy and Shelly have lost a loving father. He was a grandfather, also, who loved children. You've heard he was a native of Tennessee.

The first time I remember meeting Bill Hefner was more years ago than either one of us want to admit. I was running for State superintendent, and if you run in North Carolina, it's an elected office. So you run, and anybody who has a good size group, you wanted to be there. And I went to the Eighth District, they were having an Eighth District rally. And it was the largest group I went to I think all year, other than one where all the educators get together, and Bill Hefner was doing his own singing at his own rally. And I note that's the most unusual political rally I had ever been to.

I heard of Bill, but I hadn't met him. I learned very quickly he knew how to politic in a unique way. Those people who left that gospel sing that he was singing at, it made no difference to them whether he was Democrat, Republican, liberal, or conservative; they loved Bill Hefner. He was their man. And there were people at that rally I didn't see at any other rally I went to all year. It was because he had a message. They believed in him, and he made a difference in their lives.

Yes, he was president and owner of a radio station, and he made a difference. And he was a bright person, much smarter than he wanted to admit. And yes, he had more resources than he would ever acknowledge. You would think he was the poorest guy in the room if you were around him, but he did okay.

He was the leader of the Harvesters Quartet, yes, but the last time I remember hearing Bill sing--I enjoyed the meeting as Congressman Price talked about--he came to my district, held a gospel sing, and he called me ahead of time to let me know he was going to be there. He said, Now if you can be available, you might want to show up. He said, I might say a good word for you. Well, I recognized if Bill came to your district, you better show up--he filled up the Civic Center. And Bill enjoyed that as much as he loved his family, as he loved being in this body. And he was a businessman at heart because as soon as he finished on that stage he was selling those cassettes. He had a delightful time and the people loved him. But that was Bill Hefner. Bill Hefner enjoyed what he was doing, whether he was legislating or whether he was singing or telling a good story.

As I came to know Bill over the years--and I only served with him here two--I understood that his political service really was an extension of his gospel singing, which really was what he loved to do. He cared about people. He cared about what he did. But he cared about his religion. And both of those were powerful ways for him to serve his fellow man.

Many of the members of the North Carolina delegation, as you already heard from Congressman Price, learned the ropes of effectively advocating for our constituents here in Washington from Bill. When I first came--any Member who is a freshman here, you get a lot better services now than you did when I came 14 years ago, even though people tried to help you--Bill was the first one to offer. He said, If you need a place to meet with folks, you can use my office.

Well, you know, somebody who is coming up here, hadn't been to Washington much even though I served at the State level, that meant a lot. He opened the doors of his office; I used it to meet constituents and other people. But that's what Bill Hefner was about; he was about making you feel at home. He led by example, both as a public official and later as a private citizen.

He was known for his passionate support of our military veterans, as you've already heard this evening. He only represented Fort Bragg in the last few years it was in his district of his years here in Congress, but he represented them every day as a Member of this body. And that's why you have a school on that base named for him and you have military hospitals named for him, because they knew that Bill Hefner was a friend of veterans, he was a friend of the small business owners, and as you've heard this evening, he really was a friend of the working poor as well as the working class.

His life of service will continue to inspire all that knew him. And his love for North Carolina can be seen through his work on our highways, in our schools, in our veterans hospitals, and yes, in the laws that he helped pass in this body.

He retired from Congress almost a decade ago, but his work and influence will not be forgotten. He was a respected legislator, a dedicated public servant, and a great North Carolinian. It is fitting that we honor Bill Hefner and his family this evening.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague Representative Kissell for organizing this Special Order in honor of a good friend and twelve-term Member of this House of Representatives. Former Eighth District Congressman Bill Hefner, who passed away on Wednesday, September 2, 2009, provided selfless service to our State of North Carolina and to this Nation. In his passing, I lost a friend and North Carolina lost an outstanding citizen; a man who was instrumental in his community, county, State, and country.

A native of Elora, Tennessee, Bill moved to North Carolina after graduating from the University of Alabama and became the president and owner of radio station WRKB in Kannapolis from 1954 to 1967.

I met Bill Hefner at a political rally in North Carolina decades ago while he was with the radio station. He was the lead singer in the `Harvesters Quartet', a gospel music group, and he led that political rally with his voice because he just loved to sing. As I came to know him through the years, I understood that his political service was an extension of his gospel singing. Both were powerful ways for him to be of service to his fellow man.

Many members of the North Carolina congressional delegation learned the ropes of effectively advocating for our constituents while in Washington, DC, from Bill Hefner. Bill lead by example, both as a public official and later as a private citizen. Congressman Hefner was known for his passionate support for military veterans. In fact, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salisbury, North Carolina, was named in his honor in 1999. He was a friend to veterans, small business owners, the working poor, and the middle class. His life of service will continue to inspire all who knew him. His love for North Carolina can be seen through his work on our highways, our schools, our veterans' hospitals, and in our laws.

Bill Hefner retired from Congress almost a decade ago, but his work and influence will never be forgotten. He was a respected legislator, a dedicated public servant, and a great North Carolinian. It is fitting that we honor him and his family today.

Madam Speaker, I join his family and our State in mourning a great legislator and a tremendous human being. I yield back.

Madam Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 3326 the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations Act. This bill makes important investments to keep the American people safe, strengthen our military, and support our troops.

This bill contains $636.3 billion for the Department of Defense next year to provide funding for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, enhance recruitment, address critical equipment needs at home, and, perhaps most importantly, support our troops and their families who give so much in defense of our nation. As a Member of the House Budget Committee, I am pleased that H.R. 3326 is fiscally responsible, for the first time including funding for ongoing needs for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan in the regular budgeting process. The decision to hide funding for our engagement abroad in ``emergency'' spending led to financial mismanagement, and it ends this year. The bill also calls for additional contracting reform and other efficiencies, while ensuring sufficient support for our men and women in uniform.

As a veteran of the U.S. Army, and the representative of Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base, I am proud of our troops who serve our country so bravely. Whether in the Army, Air Force or Navy, the Coast Guard, or the Marines; whether in the National Guard or in the Reserves; each soldier deserves our full support and respect. This bill provides our troops with a 3.4 percent pay raise and recognizes the hardship of stop-loss deployment by providing an additional $500 per month for involuntary extensions of active duty. It provides significant funding for readiness training and medical care, often overlooked aspects of our military support. Knowing that the mission at home for military families is often critical to the soldier's mission abroad, I am pleased that H.R. 3326 fully funds Family Support and Yellow Ribbon programs, as well as providing $472 million for family advocacy initiatives.

Madam Chair, there is no more important function for Congress than to protect the American people. This bill ensures our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have the funding and equipment they need, provides support for our troops at home, and improves the health of our entire military. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 3326.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 3293, the Fiscal Year 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill. This legislation provides a total of $730.5 billion, including $163.4 billion in discretionary funds, for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. In the current economic crisis, this bill makes vital investments to improve job training, shore up our Nation's health and social safety nets, and provide the educational opportunities that are critical to the nation's longer-term prosperity.

With health care reform looming in Congress, H.R. 3293 is a step in the right direction to provide a health care safety net to nearly 50 million people with no insurance and another 16 million who are underinsured. This bill includes $603.5 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services, including funding for Medicare and Medicaid. H.R. 3293 provides $73.7 billion in discretionary funds, including $2.2 billion for community health centers, $2.3 billion for AIDS initiatives, $6.7 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and $31.3 billion for critical research at the National Institutes of Health.

During this economic downturn, H.R. 3293 makes important investments to help Americans get back to work. This bill provides almost $16 billion for the Department of Labor, including $100 million for low- income youth education and job training, $1.4 billion for Dislocated Worker Employment and Training Activities, and $265 million in veterans' job training. In addition, the bill provides $135 million for the Career Pathways Innovation Fund to provide new competitive grants for community colleges and local adult education providers for initiatives that prepare workers for careers in high demand and emerging industries.

I am particularly pleased that this bill makes significant investments in the Department of Education. As the only former state schools chief serving in Congress, I understand the devastating impact education cuts have had on our Nation's school systems. This bill includes $14.5 billion in Title I grants to local districts, $1.4 billion in Innovation and Improvement, $12.6 billion for special education, and $19.7 billion for student financial assistance including Pell Grants.

As the representative of Fort Bragg, however, I am concerned that this bill again underfunds Federal Impact Aid, which helps support the education needs of federally-connected students. The bill provides $1.3 billion, which is less than two-thirds of the full funding needs for Impact Aid. As Fort Bragg expands through the BRAC process, military children represent a significant burden to communities in Cumberland, Harnett, Lee, and Sampson Counties, and current funding is insufficient. Impact Aid allows school districts to use funds for either operating expenses or capital expenditures, yet by the Department of Education's own admission these funds are barely enough to support current expenditures for educating federally connected students. I hope that this flaw in an otherwise excellent bill will be improved in conference.

Mr. Chair, H.R. 3293 is fiscally responsible and represents the priorities of the American people. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of C. P. Thompson, Jr., who passed away on Sunday, July 12, 2009. In his passing, North Carolina lost one of its most outstanding citizens; a man who was instrumental in his community, county, and state.

A native of Four Oaks, North Carolina and a life-time resident of Johnston County, Mr. Thompson was born on August 24, 1941 to Cooper Person and Ella Mae Lee Thompson. Known for his passionate support of Johnston County, he dedicated his life to public service and his community. When he died, he was serving as Johnston County's chief building inspector and the Johnston County Democratic Party's First Vice Chair. His civic involvement eventually led him to run for county commissioner in 2006 and C. P. quickly made himself into one of the party's most reliable and committed leaders. He was truly willing to go the extra mile, as evidenced by the fact that he continued his work even after being diagnosed with lung cancer last summer. Fittingly, one of the last tasks he accomplished was this year's American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. His smile still continued to come easy in spite of the disease that had attacked his body. It is safe to say it never touched his spirit.

Madam Speaker, C. P. Thompson, Jr. had a commitment to excellence in everything he did. He was a father, grandfather and husband who dedicated his life to public service. He was a great North Carolinian and it is fitting that we honor him and his family today.

Thank, you Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Chairman Spratt, for introducing this critical bill. As a Member of the House Budget Committee, I rise in support of H.R. 2920, the Statutory Pay-As- You-Go Act of 2009. This vote is one of the most important actions Congress can take towards ensuring fiscal discipline and restoring a balanced federal budget.

Our nation faces great challenges in our efforts to get our economy back on track. As we take steps in Congress to address short-term economic problems, we need to do so with an eye on the long-term impact of our decisions. As a former business owner, I know the importance of keeping your books balanced and your budget in order. You can't run a successful business by spending more money than you have and running up huge deficits. Careful budgeting often means making tough choices. But oftentimes the tough choices are the necessary ones. I remember the 1990s, when we turned large deficits into budget surpluses through a disciplined commitment to balancing the budget.

H.R. 2920 requires Congress to pay for any new policy that reduces revenues or expands spending. Under this bill, if the net effect of all new tax and entitlement legislation enacted during a session of Congress resulted in an increase to the deficit, there would have to be a corresponding cut in Federal spending. However, this balanced proposal protects our most vulnerable citizens by preventing cuts in certain designated initiatives like Social Security, Medicaid, and school nutrition funding. H.R. 2920 also represents a realistic approach that would make an exception for emergency spending and several current policies including Medicare physician payments, the Alternative Minimum Tax, middle class tax cuts, and the current estate tax exemption.

While we have heard a lot of rhetoric from our colleagues on the other side of the aisle about fiscal responsibility, all that they offer is ``more of the same.'' In 2002, the Republican-controlled Congress allowed PAYGO rules to expire, which took us from a projected surplus of $5.6 trillion to projected deficits of more than $11 trillion. Their substitute amendment would have replaced PAYGO with discretionary spending limits and deficit targets. Targets are not enough, and have failed us in the past. We need statutory and automatic requirements to comply with PAYGO. The Republican proposal also exempted tax cuts from complying with PAYGO, which is part of how we ended up in the current economic crisis. More of the same will not solve our economic problems.

I cosponsored the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act because it is a crucial step towards returning to fiscal discipline, just as I have worked on the budget committee to pass responsible, disciplined spending plans. This commitment goes back to my first term in Congress, when I crossed party lines to support the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. We need discipline now in order to make sure we can afford our most important priorities for future generations down the road. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to commit to budget discipline and vote in favor of H.R. 2920.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a true hometown hero. On Tuesday, July 14, 2009, while on patrol, Officer W. Thomas Lee of the Smithfield Police Department in Smithfield, North Carolina, saved a couple and their three children from an early morning house fire.

Officer Lee was on patrol just after 2:00 a.m. when he saw a car burning at 1411 W. Market Street in Smithfield, where Javier Ramirez, Maria Mejia and their children, ages 12 to 18, were sleeping. Lee banged loudly on the front door and on several windows before managing to wake the family. The family was able to exit the structure through a bedroom window to avoid moving about the burning home. Fortunately, no one was injured. The fire had spread to the attic and roof of the house by the time firefighters arrived just before 2:20 a.m., Smithfield Fire Marshal Paul Whitehurst said. The blaze began when the engine of the family's 2003 Ford Mustang caught fire. In a statement the family said, ``if it hadn't been for the police officer that saw [the fire], it would have been a very different situation.'' Madame Speaker, this is an understatement.

It is first-class citizens like Officer Lee who highlight the sense of community and duty shared by all our first responders. These emergency personnel work tirelessly on behalf of our communities and I would like to take this time to recognize their achievements. Officer Lee is truly a hometown hero and I ask my colleagues to join in congratulating his bravery and integrity.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 3288, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010.

This bill makes investments to improve transportation, housing, and critical national infrastructure, and, at least as critically, it is a jobs bill. H.R. 3288 builds on the work of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to create jobs and bolster our flagging economy. Unemployment rates across the country are reaching record highs, with my state of North Carolina at an average of 11.1 percent. New construction and renovation in transportation infrastructure and housing initiatives can provide thousands of desperately needed jobs. Every $1 billion of federal investments in highways creates an estimated 34,800 jobs.

This bill provides a substantial increase in funding to repair and expand our Nation's aging infrastructure. Our transportation infrastructure provides the means to move goods and products; making it essential to the health of our larger economy as well as to the safety of every American traveler. H.R. 3288 provides $41.1 billion to improve and repair our nation's highways, increases funding for the next generation of high speed rail, and includes $3.5 billion for airport modernization and safety grants and $2.9 billion to modernize the Federal Aviation Administration's air traffic control system.

H.R. 3288 also provides critical funding in the housing sector and invests in local communities, including those in rural America. Under this bill, there are more housing resources available for low income families, veterans, the elderly, and disabled individuals, including capital, operating funds, and counseling services. This bill also increases funding for Community Development Block Grants, HOPE VI grants, and brownfields redevelopment.

This appropriations bill fully funds our most important transportation and housing priorities. I support H.R. 3288, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for its passage.

Madam Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 3082, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010. This legislation continues our commitment to the men and women who sacrifice so much to keep our nation safe, supporting members of our military on base, in theater, and when they return home.

As the representative of Fort Bragg, Pope Air Force Base, and many members of our National Guard and Reserves, I am pleased that this bill invests in the infrastructure needed to prepare our troops for battle and improve military equipment. Fort Bragg is becoming one of the largest military facilities in the country through the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, and this bill will provide more than $200 million for a variety of projects on the base in support of Army activity, special operations forces, and the National Guard. Nationwide, H.R. 3082 contains significant funding for new facilities including $450 million to modernize troop housing, $2 billion to improve military family housing, and $7.5 billion for BRAC. In recognition of the historic contributions of National Guard and Reserve personnel to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as their support of emergency assistance and homeland security, this bill provides $200 million for National Guard and Reserve construction. H.R. 3082 also includes $1.4 billion for needs related to operations and troop increases in Afghanistan. Overall, this bill ensures that our military infrastructure keeps up with the needs of our modern fighting forces and operations overseas.

As an Army veteran, I am also pleased that H.R. 3082 continues to build on our promise to take care of all those who have served our country with honor. It provides nearly $109 billion for veteran's services, including medical care and facilities. Together with increases of the last two years, enactment of this bill will have increased veteran's funding by nearly 50 percent, in recognition of the service of our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill provides $34.7 billion to improve access to medical services for all veterans and $4.6 billion for mental health care, and will add 1,200 new claims processors to reduce the claims backlog and ensure veterans receive care and payment in a timely manner. It also makes significant investments in medical research and information technology. As the representative of a predominantly rural district, I am aware that more than 40 percent of veterans live in rural areas. This bill invests $440 million to improve access to care for these veterans, who often have to travel long distances to receive care.

Madam Chair, this bill takes care of those who are keeping America safe. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 3082, to fulfill our continued obligations to our nation's military.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 3081, 2010 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill. This legislation provides $48.843 billion for the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and related agencies to help the U.S. meet its foreign policy goals of economic stability and poverty reduction, advance the global fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic and other health crises.

This bill helps protect our national security through effective diplomacy and international development projects. It provides needed assistance to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq and it promotes security, economic development, health, and education around the world. The bill also provides vital resources to rebuild the capacity of the State Department and USAID. It reverses a decade of reliance on supplemental appropriations and provides an honest accounting of the true cost of critical national security initiatives.

To rebuild our diplomatic and development capacity, the bill provides funding for approximately 1,000 new positions at the Department of State and approximately 300 new employees at USAID as part of the Development Leadership Initiative, creating jobs that hardworking Americans can fill. This bill also provides a total of $7.684 billion for global health programs, including $5.7 billion in total funding for global HIV/AIDS prevention and health initiatives. Diseases like HIV/ AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria continue to threaten the lives of millions of people as well as stability in the developing world, and this bill will advance our security interests while also fulfilling our moral obligation to fight this scourge.

Mr. Chair, H.R. 3081 enhances our ability to keep our Nation secure and our citizens safe. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.