Floor Statements

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 126, recognizing the 50th anniversary of title VI international education programs within the Department of Education.

Title VI was originally authorized as title VI of the National Defense Act in 1958 in response to the launch of Sputnik and the U.S. Government's recognition that a stronger and broader capacity in foreign language and area studies was needed to create a body of experts competent in foreign languages and cultures who could serve the government, especially our defense and intelligence agencies and the Foreign Service.

Three programs that were included in the original 1958 legislation continue today as the National Resource Centers program, the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship program, and the International Research and Studies program. These programs support language area centers for expansion of postsecondary instruction in languages that are less commonly taught, as well as foreign language fellowships, research supporting language learning methodology, and language institutes to provide advanced language and training.

Over time, additional programs have been added to title VI in order to address the Nation's growing interest in international education. Title VI programs also help to address business needs for international expertise, strengthening undergraduate education, international as well as area studies, advancement of technology use, and overall improvement of foreign language training and assessment.

Today, as intended by the program's creators, title VI programs help to provide for our national defense by ensuring a Federal investment in ensuring a supply of citizens with international expertise. Title VI programs help to support American experts in, and citizens' knowledge about, world regions, foreign languages, and international affairs, as well as those with a strong research base in these areas.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise today in support of House Resolution 1219, expressing support for the designation of September as National Child Awareness Month.

National Child Awareness Month is an opportunity to recognize the individuals and charitable organizations who work so diligently to improve the lives of children every day. Most young Americans are raised in healthy families, and they grow up to be responsible and productive citizens. However, there are children who do not have a healthy environment in which they can thrive, and whose daily realities make their dreams seem forever out of reach. Charitable children's organizations and youth organizations play a significant role in helping to make up for those daily deficits for millions of disadvantaged youth.

Charitable organizations that serve our Nation's children provide invaluable services that enrich the lives of children and their families and our Nation as a whole. The work they do every day in communities across the country, including after-school tutoring, counseling services for at-risk youth, camps and the like, should be acknowledged and praised, particularly in these tough economic times.

I am pleased to recognize the organizations that work tirelessly every day in the interests of our children. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise today in support of House Resolution 1491, congratulating the University of South Carolina Gamecocks on winning the 2010 NCAA Division I College World Series.

The University of South Carolina, located in Columbia, South Carolina, was founded as South Carolina College in 1801. The university offers more than 350 programs of study from 14 colleges and schools and has an enrollment of over 28,000 students. The USC Gamecocks have 19 varsity athletic programs and have won seven national championships including the 2010 College World Series.

Since 1970, South Carolina Gamecocks baseball has been considered an elite program in college baseball, appearing in 26 NCAA tournaments and nine college world series. The team played their first intercollegiate game in 1895. South Carolina owns a 23-17 all-time record in the College World Series and is 103-56 in NCAA tournament play. The 2010 South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team was led to national victory by head coach Ray Tanner. In 14 seasons at South Carolina, Coach Tanner has a 634-282 record with four College World Series appearances.

This year in 2010, Coach Tanner and the Gamecocks won the NCAA championship at the College World Series in Omaha, becoming the first team to win six straight games in a world series and the third team to win the College World Series after losing its first game of the series. South Carolina won the College World Series in the final game against UCLA on June 30, 2010.

I'm honored to stand before the House today to congratulate and recognize the significant achievements of the players, coaches, and students whose dedication and hard work have led to the success of the University of South Carolina baseball program as the 2010 NCAA Division I College World Series national champions.

I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson).

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

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1855, the Strengthening Employment Clusters to Organize Regional Success, or the SECTORS, Act, and I appreciate Mr. Loebsack and the bipartisan way in which this is going to move forward.

H.R. 1855 creates new grants within the Workforce Investment Act to help create or increase targeted industry capacity and partnerships within specific regions. This is an idea that is already being done in some places across the country with success. For example, Philadelphia has created a regional program to train nurses for their hospitals and health care industry needs.

I believe Federal policies should also encourage regional business development and improve worker training, retention, and advancement opportunities. That is why I strongly support not only this bill but strongly support the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act.

Madam Speaker, the Workforce Investment Act is 8 years overdue in its reauthorization, and I am disappointed that we are not engaging in a larger discussion of Workforce Investment Act reauthorization.

The American people are facing a tremendous economic challenge and there has never been a more critical time to make sure our workforce has the opportunity to find new jobs or receive additional training. We need better systems of training and skills development to help move into new industries.

I come from a small business manufacturing background, and I have seen firsthand that unemployed workers who receive additional training for new skills can obtain a higher-paying job which can radically transform their way of life. We cannot afford to approach the workforce and job needs of our country in a piecemeal way. The American people deserve a real, comprehensive job training bill.

I, along with eight of my colleagues, introduced H.R. 4271, the Workforce Investment Improvement Act of 2009, to begin the process of reauthorization of WIA. But, unfortunately, my bill has not been taken up by the Education and Labor Committee.

I do support this bill before us today, but I do believe it's a disservice to the American people not to have an updated, comprehensive workforce development bill, and I urge this Congress to take action on full authorization of WIA as soon as possible. I do urge my colleagues to support the bill before us, however.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Bel Brands USA and its Leitchfield plant located in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This month, Bel Brands USA, which specializes in the creation and production of quality cheeses, is celebrating its 40th Anniversary.

In 1970 the company established a plant in Leitchfield, Ky., and has been manufacturing quality cheese products ever since. Bel Brands USA's Leitchfield facility is a prominent employer in Grayson County and is expected to produce 33,800,000 pounds of cheese this year.

The plant has grown exponentially since its establishment 40 years ago. Currently, the plant employs 370 individuals between two production departments and covers an area of almost 190,000 square feet.

Bel Brands USA and its Leitchfield facility have remained committed to hard work and creativity. With 25 production sites worldwide, Bel Brands USA promotes their core values in the workplace and throughout the community. Ethics, innovation, competence, cohesion and enthusiasm have contributed to the company's many accomplishments.

The entire Grayson County community is grateful for Bel Brands USA's continued presence, support and generosity.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the employees of Bel Brands USA. I am proud to represent them here in Washington and look forward to their continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Michael X. Garrett, who has virtuously served the United States and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Brigadier General Garrett has served as the Deputy Commanding General for U.S. Army Recruiting Command in Elizabethtown, KY, since June of last year. During his tenure, Brigadier General Garrett managed, trained, and resourced an organization of approximately 11,500 military and civilian employees located in the United States, Germany, Japan, Guam, and Korea.

His guidance and leadership proved to be monumental in the accomplishment of the annual recruiting mission for the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserve, far surpassing all recruiting goals and objectives.

Throughout his career he has been an inspiration and example to both soldiers and civilians alike. He has represented his country proudly as a man of honor and a true patriot. Brigadier General Garrett is an officer of tremendous depth, intellect and vision.

Known as a `Soldier's Soldier,' he leads from the front, establishes and maintains the highest standards, and relentlessly accomplishes the most complex and difficult missions with ease.

I honor him today because of his dignified and steadfast commitment to the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, his soldiers, the citizens of this country and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor CSM Stephen Frennier, who has righteously served the United States and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Command Sergeant Major Frennier has served as the Senior Enlisted Advisor for U.S. Army Recruiting Command in Fort Knox, KY, since June of 2008. During his tenure, Command Sergeant Major Frennier dedicated his time to visiting all the soldiers that were a part of his command throughout the 50 states, four U.S. possessions, and three additional countries that housed these men and women.

His strong leadership skills helped propel over 50 of his soldiers to be inducted into the prestigious Sergeant Audie Murphy Club. Command Sergeant Major Frennier utilized these members by having them conduct volunteer mission within their local communities, fostering a relationship between the U.S. Army and civilians.

Throughout his career, Command Sergeant Major Frennier has not only been a remarkable example for the young men and women he has led, but a true warrior for his country. He always made sure to accomplish the task at hand, while taking care of the soldiers around him. Command Sergeant Major Frennier is an officer of tremendous nobility, honor and intellect.

I honor him today because of his dignified and dedicated commitment to the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, his soldiers, the citizens of this country and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Mr. Speaker, I stand before the House today to talk about when I was making the decision whether or not to run for office, my wife and I talked about it. We had young children and were concerned about what a campaign and being in Washington back and forth would do to our children.

We talked about the $400 billion budget deficit in 2007 and 2008 and not what it would do to our children if I ran for office, but what we could do for our children, and our children's children, and their friends, and their future.

And, now, the $400 billion budget deficit is the point, the decimal point on the current budget deficit, $1.4 trillion. The budget that has been presented says it is going to go up double in 5 years and triple in 10.

So I am here to work for my children and their future, and we need to ask ourselves every time a spending bill comes forward, is this worth borrowing from our children and our grandchildren's future to spend this money?

Mr. Speaker, about 1 month ago was Tax Day, the day that hardworking Americans sent their money to Washington. And sadly, the President and the Democrat majority in Congress continue to advocate for policies that increase taxes and add more government spending, both of which are already out of control. President Obama has refused to renounce the idea of forcing a value-added tax on the American people, and his economic team has already run the numbers. The value-added tax is essentially just a national sales tax that hits everyone who buys any goods, which will cost American families thousands of dollars. This European-style tax wouldn't replace income taxes in this country--it would be on top of them. It's time for Congress to put the American people first and simplify a complicated and overreaching tax code. The American people know that we can't spend and tax our way back to a growing economy.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dart Container Corporation and its Horse Cave plant located in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This past April, Dart Container Corporation, headquartered in Mason, Michigan, celebrated its 50th Anniversary.

The company established a plant in Horse Cave, Ky., in 1980, and has been delivering quality goods ever since. Dart Container Corporation's Horse Cave facility is currently the largest employer in Hart County and continues to expand.

The plant started 30 years ago with 25 employees and had a 230,000 square foot facility. Today, it has grown to employ 1,090 individuals and now covers almost 3 million square feet.

The Dart Container Corporation and its Horse Cave facility have a long history of community involvement, including participating in Hart County's Relay for Life and the Horse Cave Heritage Festival. Over the years the

company has sponsored local sports and school activities, 4-H programs, Clothes for Kids, the YMCA, American Heart Association, Big Brothers/ Big Sisters, the Hart County Public Library, the Kentucky Repertory Theatre, the American Cave Museum and Hidden River Cave.

The entire Hart County community is grateful for Dart's continued presence, support, and generosity.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the employees of Dart Container Corporation. I am proud to represent them here in Washington and look forward to their continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Donna Wise, an outstanding coach, mentor and leader in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Donna, who is Campbellsville University's all-time winningest coach and a NAIA Hall of Famer, was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame last month during a ceremony in Louisville.

With a record of 661 wins, nearly 71% of her games, Donna has been dedicated to the Campbellsville community and to her student-athletes for over 30 years. She has coached 23 NAIA All-Americans and helped lead her teams to 16 national tournaments and 17 regular season conference titles.

She has been named NAIA Coach of the Year three times and conference Coach of the Year seven times and continues to contribute so much to the university as the head of the Department of Human Performance.

Donna has been an inspiration and guide for generations of Campbellsville Lady Tigers. She truly deserves this recognition.

I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Donna on a successful and rewarding career and wish her nothing but the best in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I have always liked to describe the process I have seen in the last few weeks of trying to put a bill together like putting a puzzle together, but forcing pieces together and trying to make them fit. And in the end, the puzzle doesn't have a complete picture. And one of the pieces they are trying to make fit to keep this under $1 trillion, is what the score is; but what we are not mentioning is the incredible unfunded mandate that we were placing on our States.

Just a couple of years ago I was a State senator. And tonight, State senators in Kentucky, my former colleagues, are meeting together to try to close a billion-dollar budget gap. And what does this bill do? This bill puts a $30 billion unfunded mandate by CBO estimates onto our States.

To the south of Kentucky, Phil Bredesen, a very respected Democratic Governor of Tennessee, says this is the mother of all unfunded mandates. And just to the north of me in Indiana, Governor Mitch Daniels said a half a million more Hoosiers will be on Medicaid, costing the State taxpayers billions of dollars.

It's going to cost my State, according to the Heritage Foundation, $303 million from 2014 to 2019. So that's what our next budget session- mates will be budgeting for 2014. So the State legislators tonight who are hoping the economy will turn around, maybe there will be a light at the end of the tunnel, are now having to deal with the $303 million freight train that's the light at the end of that tunnel.

But on top of that, this proposed bill also takes student loan money to finance this bill. The government has taken over the student loan business; they have lower interest rates. Instead of lowering the rate our students are going to be paying back on our interest, we are going to take part of that money and fund this bill on the backs of our students.

Mr. Speaker, it's unfair to put these burdens on our States and on our students.

Madam Speaker, everyone wants to make health care more affordable and more accessible, but for the past year, the majority has been working on pieces of a puzzle they call health care reform. And now that their puzzle is complete, the picture doesn't make any sense.

Their final image includes billions of dollars in new taxes, over $1 trillion in new government, increases the premiums of the 85 percent of those who have health insurance, and cuts Medicare by half a trillion dollars. And I continue to hear from Kentuckians from home who remain concerned over the possible passage of this bill and who are frustrated with this process.

We need to start over. We need to piece together better solutions in an open and honest system. Now is the time to work on incremental reforms that will lower the cost of health care without spending trillions and bankrupting future generations.

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

I appreciate my friend from Illinois bringing this resolution forward, and I rise today in support of this House Resolution 1089, recognizing the 150th anniversary of Augustana College.

Augustana College was founded by Swedish Lutheran settlers in Chicago, Illinois, and moved to Rock Island, Illinois, in 1875. Augustana College has grown from a small school educating Swedish immigrants to a highly selective college of liberal arts and sciences. Today, Augustana College serves 2,500 students from various geographic, social, ethnic, and religious backgrounds.

Students at Augustana receive a personalized liberal arts and science education with a 11-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio. Most of Augustana's students are actively involved in a large variety of groups and activities, including performing arts, debate, publications, social and service organizations.

Augustana has been recognized nationwide for its excellent academics. The Carnegie Foundation has classified the college as an Arts and Science plus Professions institution. Students accepted to Augustana are typically from the top quarter of their high school class and have notable academic histories.

The Augustana Vikings compete in the NCAA Division III athletics in 20 intercollegiate sports and also participate in numerous club and intramural sports. The Vikings have won four team NCAA national championships and 21 individual NCAA national championships.

Augustana College students have excelled in academics, athletics, and all areas of collegiate life. I congratulate Augustana College and the students, faculty, staff, and alumni for 150 years of excellence in education.

I congratulate my colleague on this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 1089.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of House Resolution 1167, expressing support for the goals and ideals of Professional Social Work Month and World Social Work Day. Social workers are an important part of communities throughout the Nation and they inspire community action to improve lives. Social workers know the full range of challenges facing families of every description, and they help people reach their full potential.

Social workers make a wide range of social contributions throughout their careers. Many social workers work to resolve systemic issues that negatively affect a community. Some work in education or research, and others serve as heads of nonprofit organizations to create positive sustainable changes in communities. Most social workers serve individuals and families. Working through private practice, agencies, and organizations, they provide resources and guidance that support social functioning. Many people who become social workers believe there are no limits to human potential, and use their talents to help others.

Social work is a profession of hope, grounded in practical problem- solving expertise. Social workers are employed in schools, courtrooms, drug treatment clinics, hospitals, senior centers, shelters, nursing homes, the military, disaster relief, prisons, and corporations. They are on the front lines, developing social programs that are responsive to such needs as homelessness, poverty, mental illness, physical and mental disability, substance abuse, domestic violence, and many other issues.

This year's Social Work Month theme, ``Social Workers Inspire Community Action,'' showcases the expertise of these dedicated professionals and the impact they have on the improvement of community life. Today, we recognize the contributions of millions of caring individuals who have chosen to serve their communities through social work.

I ask that my colleagues support this resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.