Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Campbellsville University Baseball Team on their outstanding performance this season. They demonstrated extraordinary athletic and academic achievement that brought national attention to Campbellsville University, the Campbellsville and Taylor County communities, and all of Kentucky's Second District.

Under the leadership of head coach Beauford Sanders and his staff, the Campbellsville University Baseball Team reached the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) World Series for the first time in school history. The Tigers reached the NAIA World Series following a tremendous performance by senior pitcher Bryan Fuller. Mr. Fuller pitched 21 scoreless innings in 26 hours to give the team three straight victories that propelled them to the highest level of competition in their league.

The team finished the season with a remarkable 39-12 record. Coach Sanders reached a noteworthy milestone this season as well by reaching 835 career wins for his tenure. Coach Sanders and his staff should be commended for providing leadership, direction, and encouragement to these student athletes.

The Campbellsville University Baseball Team's performance is a testament to their exceptional talent and commitment to excellence. Theirs is an example for all of Kentucky to follow. I commend the coaching staff and student athletes for the recognition they have brought to Campbellsville University, the Campbellsville and Taylor County communities, and the Second District.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 448 congratulating

the University of California, Davis, for reaching the century mark as a premier public research university and one of our Nation's finest institutions of higher education. The University of California, Davis, was authorized by Governor George Pardee in 1905 as an agriculture research campus and opened its doors to students in 1908. In 1959 UC at Davis became a full University of California campus.

Since then, UC Davis has expanded its student body to more than 30,000 students, and its academic offerings to more than 100 undergraduate majors, 87 graduate programs, and six professional schools, including education, law, management, medicine, nursing, and veterinary medicine.

Embracing a philosophy of learning, discovery, and engagement, UC Davis provides students with a rewarding undergraduate experience while preparing them for success after graduation. Students benefit from a wide range of academic and extracurricular programs, an interdisciplinary research community involved in local and global issues, and an abundance of opportunities to lead and make an impact on society. With a student body drawn from every State and more than 75 countries, UC Davis reflects and is enriched by cultural traditions from around the world.

The campus' breadth of academic programs, commitment to providing an attentive and research-enriched education, and a determination to address society's needs is truly distinctive. UC Davis is the only UC campus with schools of law, medicine, education, management, and veterinary medicine.

In 2007-08, UC Davis received $586 million in research awards, an increase of 10 percent over the previous year. The campus ranks first in the UC system and fifth in the Nation in non-Federal research expenditures, reflecting the real world applicability of its research. Additionally, UC Davis leads the Nation in graduate and undergraduate education in biological sciences. Year after year, UC Davis tops the charts in the numbers of doctoral and bachelor degrees conferred in biological sciences.

It is truly a privilege to stand before the House today to congratulate the University of California at Davis, on the occasion of their 100th anniversary. I extend my congratulations to the University of California at Davis Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef, the faculty and staff, the students and alumni. I wish all involved continued success, and I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers, and I yield back.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia, the sponsor of this resolution, Mr. Broun.

(Mr. BROUN of Georgia asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Mr. Speaker, in the interest of time, I will submit my full remarks for the Record, but I do want to extend my congratulations to the University of Georgia President Michael Adams, Athletic Director Damon Evans, Head Coach Suzanne Yoculan, and her staff, the hardworking gymnasts, and the fans. I wish all involved continued success, and I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 386 commending the University of Georgia Gymnastics Team for winning the 2009 NCAA National Championship.

There are many words which could be used to describe the Gym Dogs at the University of Georgia, but without question the one constant is success.

UGA's gymnastics program has won 10 National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships, and the 2009 title represents the team's 5th consecutive honor. In addition, the program has won 16 Southeastern Conference Championships. Sixty-eight gymnasts have earned 267 All- American awards, 33 gymnasts have won NCAA individual titles, and, for 12 of the past 17 years, there has been at least one Gym Dog atop the awards stand as an NCAA individual title winner.

Chartered by the Georgia General Assembly in 1785, the University of Georgia is America's first state chartered university and the birthplace of the American system of public higher education. With its statewide mission and core characteristics, UGA endeavors to prepare the university community for full participation in the global society of the twenty-first century. Through its programs and practices, UGA seeks to foster the understanding of and respect for cultural differences necessary for an enlightened and educated citizenry. UGA provides for cultural, ethnic, gender and racial diversity in the faculty, staff and student body.

Whether it is success on the field of play, or commitment to academic excellence, the University of Georgia is a shining example of our nation's system of higher education.

I extend my congratulations to University of Georgia President, Michael Adams; Athletic Director, Damon Evans; Head Coach, Suzanne Yoculan and her staff, the hard working gymnasts, and the fans. I wish all involved continued success and ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 300, congratulating Camp Dudley YMCA of Westport, New York, on the occasion of its 125th anniversary.

Founded by Sumner F. Dudley in 1885, Camp Dudley is a place that celebrates timeless traditional values by inspiring boys and men alike to seek something higher than their own self-interests. Their motto, ``The other fellow first,'' is at the heart of camp life. For more than 125 years, Camp Dudley has been able to maintain tremendous momentum by remaining true to its original mission to develop boys' moral, personal and physical skills in the spirit of fellowship and fun.

Camp Dudley is committed to providing a balanced program for campers that includes team sports, individual sports, the arts, outdoor offerings, and spiritual traditions. Their leadership development program is a dynamic part of camp experience and is integrated into all parts of the camp.

Recognizing the benefits that summer camp can provide for girls, Camp Dudley at Kiniya opened for its first summer season in 2006. Girls from all over the country can enjoy camp that celebrates leadership, friendship and kindness. Camp Dudley at Kiniya is a camping experience that allows for individual and community growth where each person feels safe to try new things and has the time and opportunity to develop meaningful relationships and passions.

One of Camp Dudley's great legacies is its history of cabin leadership. From the earliest days, the summer experience has been driven by a group of caring leaders, whose devotion to their campers has been the cornerstone for successful summers. At Camp Dudley, the counselors are called ``leaders'' because that is what is expected of them. The majority of camp employees have attended Camp Dudley before its campers. Of the 48 cabin leaders hired last summer, all were former campers. This commitment to consistency carries over to each level of the summer staff, and ensures that the campers will find success in a safe and supportive environment.

Institutions such as Camp Dudley provide a foundation of leadership and citizenry that enriches our Nation. I

am honored to stand before the House today to congratulate Camp Dudley on the occasion of its 125th anniversary. I encourage the camp to continue to enhance the lives of our children, and I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 297, recognizing May 25, 2009, as National Missing Children's Day. In our country, every year, hundreds of thousands of children are abducted or go missing. Today, more missing children come home safely than ever before, but there is still work to be done.

First proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1983, National Missing Children's Day honors the work being conducted on a daily basis throughout the U.S. to locate and to recover missing children by prompting parents, guardians and other trusted adult role models to make child safety an utmost priority.

In 1979, 6-year-old Etan Patz disappeared. Etan's photo appeared in the media across the Nation and around the world. His image came to represent the distress of thousands of families searching for their missing children. This tragedy served as the motivation for the establishment of National Missing Children's Day.

In the United States, more than 2,000 children are reported missing every day. Nearly 800,000 children are reported missing each year, and more than 58,000 children are abducted by non-family members. Too many children do not make it home, and many more continue to be victimized by acts of violence. Children are the most victimized segment of our society, and crimes committed against children of all ages are the most underreported of any victim category.

Every day, local, State and Federal law enforcement are working diligently in an effort to find children and to reunite them with their families. In June 2008, President Bush signed the Protecting Our Children Comes First Act into law. The law reauthorized the Missing and Exploited Children's Program under the Missing Children's Assistance Act. Our reauthorization efforts provided resources, training and technical assistance in order to assist in increasing the capabilities of State and local law enforcement to locate missing children.

The recognition of May 25, 2009, as National Missing Children's Day serves to remind us that we still have work to do to reunite families and to ensure that parents, families, neighbors, and law enforcement work together to locate all missing children. For this reason, I stand in support of this resolution. I thank the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) for introducing House Resolution 297. I ask for my colleagues' support.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 347, congratulating Averett University in Danville, Virginia, for 150 years of service and leadership to the United States.

Founded in 1859, Averett University has a long history of preparing women and men to be leaders in their careers and in their communities. Averett began as a school for young women at a time when educating women was not a popular idea. That spirit of innovation continues today as they are among the first in Virginia to create an accelerated program for working adults and are among the select few in the Nation to offer bachelor's degrees in both aeronautics and equestrian studies.

Averett University's educational philosophy is simple: Prepare our students for a lifetime of success. At Averett, students receive the skills and knowledge to get that first job or enter graduate school, and they develop the habits of the mind that will allow them to adapt to a constantly changing, globally connected world. The university combines the liberal arts with professional education, and many experts agree that regardless of one's job, a person must be able to analyze information, think critically, communicate effectively, work in teams, and adapt to new conditions--the very skills provided by a liberal arts education. Averett provides a powerful experience that will energize an individual for a lifetime career and for productive citizenship.

I extend my congratulations to Averett University president, Dr. Tiffany McKillip Franks, the faculty and staff, the students, and alumni. I wish all involved continued success and ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

I yield back my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 442, recognizing the importance of The Child and Adult Food Care Program and its positive effect on the lives of low-income children and families.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's food and nutrition service administers the Child and Adult Care Food Program through grants to States.

The Child and Adult Care Food Program serves nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children and adults who are enrolled for care at participating child care centers, day care homes, and adult day care centers. Every day, 2.9 million children receive nutritious meals and snacks with the Child and Adult Food Program. The program provides meals and snacks to 86,000 adults who receive care in those residential adult day care centers.

The program also provides meals to children residing in emergency shelters

and snacks and suppers to youth participating in eligible after-school care programs.

Studies have shown that young children pay attention, behave, and stay healthy when they are well nourished. The Department of Agriculture's evaluation of the Child and Adult Care Food Program found that children in the program receive meals that were nutritionally superior to those meals served in child care settings outside of the program.

The program plays an important role in improving the quality of day care and making it more affordable for many low-income families. I stand in support of this resolution and ask for my colleagues to support it as well.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 374, recognizing the roles and contributions of America's teachers in building and enhancing our Nation's civic, cultural, and economic well- being, and supporting National Teacher Appreciation Week.

Teachers make a lasting impression on America's young people and are key to the development of students in the classroom. I bet that almost every Member of this Chamber could name at least one teacher that had a profound impact on their lives and helped shape the person they are today.

This resolution is important because it provides public recognition to those individuals who have dedicated their lives to helping educate our youth. National Teacher Appreciation Week, which took place May 3- 10, is an act of gratitude that reminds us how important teachers are and the integral role they play in our lives. It is important that we recognize teachers for the critical work they do in improving our Nation civically, culturally, and economically.

Well-trained, dedicated, and skilled teachers are vitally important to the fabric of our country. This Chamber often discusses the importance of ensuring that our high school and college graduates are able to compete in the global marketplace. Having top-notch graduates who are able to think both creatively and analytically is vital as our country competes with other countries like China and India, who are also stepping up their efforts to produce high-quality graduates. We only get these types of graduates when we have in place a dedicated and skilled teacher workforce. Congress has placed an emphasis on these attributes which has led to an increased demand for high-quality, experienced teachers. In this vein, I am pleased to see the President's support of the Teacher Incentive Fund, which rewards principals and teachers for the hard work they do.

Teachers today devote an extraordinary amount of time to teaching young people and also spend a lot of time on professional development, their own education, and on class preparation outside the classroom, oftentimes for salaries that average about $37,000 a year. The future of our Nation's children is dependent on the individuals that make these time, energy, and monetary commitments, and they deserve recognition for such.

I stand in support of this resolution, recognizing the roles and contributions of America's teachers and recognizing National Teacher Appreciation Week, and I thank my colleague, Mr. Graves from Missouri, for introducing this resolution.

I ask for my colleagues' support.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I do have one other speaker.

Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe).

Madam Speaker, I yield back our time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 438, expressing support for designation of September as National Child Awareness Month.

Last year, the House unanimously passed House Resolution 1296 to support the designation of September as National Child Awareness Month. In 2008, that resolution was sponsored by my colleague, Representative Ken Calvert, the lead Republican sponsor of the resolution we are here to support today.

In preparation for each new school year, parents, families, teachers, school administrators, and communities focus even more fully on children and youth during the month of September. Designating September as National Child Awareness Month helps to

promote our attentiveness to children's charities and youth-serving organizations across the United States.

Private corporations and businesses have joined with hundreds of national and local charitable organizations throughout the Nation in support of a month-long focus on children and youth.

Children and youth-serving organizations provide access to health care, social services, education, the arts, sports, and other services that assist in the development of character and the future success of our Nation's youth.

Children's charities and youth-serving organizations provide invaluable services to enrich the lives of the Nation's children on a daily basis. Through this resolution, Congress is able to recognize the efforts of these organizations on behalf of children and youth as a positive investment for the future of our Nation.

Designating September as National Child Awareness Month acknowledges the inherent public interest that a long-term commitment to children and youth promotes. I stand in support of this resolution. I ask for my colleagues' support in designating September as National Child Awareness Month.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Christa Altman for her service to the students at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Academy in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. She was recognized with the Catholic Education Foundation's Teacher Award.

Ms. Altman is devoted to making sure the students that pass through her classroom receive the best education possible. Her first-grade class consistently performs near the top on the school's annual test that measures student achievement.

Ms. Altman's positive influence on her students is also evident outside of the classroom. She regularly volunteers for school activities and important causes, such as raising funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. By showing this spirit of volunteerism, Ms. Altman is inspiring future generations to make a difference in their communities.

Ms. Altman's passion for making a difference in the lives of her students is an example for all Kentuckians to follow. I thank Ms. Altman for her commitment to the students in Shepherdsville.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Patty Nevitt for her service to the students at Bethlehem High School in Bardstown, Kentucky. She was recognized with the Catholic Education Foundation's Teacher Award.

Ms. Nevitt primarily works with special needs students in the Marlona Ice Learning Center. She pushes her students to reach their maximum academic potential while providing the assistance the students need to be successful in the classroom.

In addition to her full case load of students, Ms. Nevitt also works with teachers to develop instructional practices to ensure the success of all students. Her leadership and willingness to serve in whatever capacity she is most needed to make her a valuable asset to Bethlehem High School.

Ms. Nevitt's passion for making a difference in the lives of her students and teachers is an example for all Kentuckians to follow. I thank Ms. Nevitt for her commitment to the students and teachers in Bardstown.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Superintendent Patrick Reed, the superintendent of Mammoth Cave National Park, for winning the Superintendent of the Year for Natural Resource Stewardship award from the National Park Service.

Mr. Reed established a collaborative framework for science-informed decisionmaking. This includes disseminating scientific research to park staff, other areas overseen by the National Park Service, local citizens, academic and government partners, and people around the world.

Mr. Reed's effort to develop local, national, and international partners exemplifies how creating a consortium can be a productive method to share information, techniques, and research to aid cave and karst areas around the world. His efforts have initiated sister-park relationships with cave and karst areas in China, Slovenia, and Spain.

Mr. Reed's passion for Mammoth Cave National Park and commitment to better managing the park's world-class natural resources is an example for all to follow. I thank Mr. Reed for his commitment to the people of the Second District and one of our nation's greatest treasures.

Mr. Speaker, as the author of House Resolution 214, I am proud that we're here today to recognize the efforts of countless volunteers who helped the Commonwealth of Kentucky recover from the ice storm of January 2009.

Today I rise to recognize what went well following this terrible storm, and that is the volunteers who made a distinct difference in the lives of many Kentuckians.

I traveled across the district in the days following the January 26 storm, and I was quickly reminded of how the people of Kentucky joined together in this time of need to serve each other and not themselves. This may have been the worst natural disaster in Kentucky's history, but it brought about the best of our people.

The spirit of volunteerism was seen in county after county and town after town as we all united around a common purpose--to help the countless citizens affected by this devastating storm cope with the aftermath and begin with the recovery process.

Kentucky State and local officials should be praised for their efforts to enlist the help of volunteer agencies, faith-based groups and community organizations that quickly realized the needs that resulted from the ice storm would far exceed what the government could provide. So they asked churches, nonprofit organizations, school groups and many others to help, and help they did.

In the days following the storms, I watched with pride as volunteers provided shelter, meals and other valuable services to lend a hand to many of the people in my district and around Kentucky. I watched the members of the Kentucky National Guard, who were activated to help, and volunteer the use of their personal vehicles to rescue stranded victims. Many public service officers, police officers, first responders, firefighters, and many utility people were out 24 hours a day. And I watched 4-H and Homemakers Clubs plan to serve meals to 75 people but to find the extra resources to serve nearly 200 instead.

While there are many efforts that should be praised today, I am reminded of the effort coordinated in Ohio County by Ms. Charlotte Whittaker who volunteered to organize her county's shelter. Within 48 hours of the storm, Ms. Whittaker opened the doors to a shelter at Southern Elementary School where nearly 400 people from 21 months old to 98 years old found relief in shelters in the days that followed. Nearly 450 volunteers, many young people in high school and college, operated the shelter for 12 days by serving meals, cleaning dirty laundry, sweeping floors, organizing donated clothing and doing whatever needed to be done to help.

The volunteers came from many different States. I talked with a nurse from Alabama and a member of the Red Cross from Indiana and electrical crews from across the Southeast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic. I appreciate all of them traveling to give their valuable time and talents. When I visited this shelter, I quickly realized that lives were saved because of Ms. Whittaker's efforts and the many others who volunteered to help in Ohio County.

This is just one example of the many endeavors that took place across Kentucky. No matter the size of the volunteer efforts, they all made a difference in saving lives and helping the Commonwealth of Kentucky get back on its feet after this terrible storm. The volunteers played a key role and should be praised for giving up their valuable time and resources to offer support. They are a true testament to the American spirit.

I want to thank my colleagues from Kentucky for being extremely supportive of this effort in recognizing the volunteers. I want to thank my colleague from our great City of Louisville for being here on the floor today. And I want to thank everybody who helped our Commonwealth recover from this terrible disaster we endured this year.

I ask for my colleagues' support.

Mr. Speaker, while recent weeks have brought about serious challenges here at home, we must not allow them to distract our thoughts and prayers from the brave men and women fighting the war on terrorism around the world. These men and women are proudly serving our country, and are facing challenges far greater than most of us could ever imagine.

I rise today to pay tribute to Sergeant Scott B. Stream, 39. Sergeant Stream was killed on February 24, 2009, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

I had the honor of attending the funeral for Sergeant Stream. As I walked in, they handed me a program of events for the funeral. Inside was an insert of an e-mail that Sergeant Stream had sent home to his family on December 31, 2008.

As I sat there, waiting for the funeral to begin, I read it over and over, and I decided that I needed to share this with our grateful Nation because it says a lot about Sergeant Stream. Also, I think it says a lot about the men and women we have serving us overseas. I would like to read this e-mail and enter it into the Record.

This is Sergeant Stream's e-mail:

``When I think about what surrounds me--the institutional corruption, the random violence, the fear and desperation--I feel the reasons why I'm here more and more sharply.

``As we grow in our soldier skills, surviving by finding the hidden dangers, seeing the secret motives in the shifting politics, we grow a set of skills that is unique and powerful in this situation.

``We also see what you cannot see in the States. You are surrounded by the love of Christ and faith in freedom and humanity. Like a fish, you think water is a `puff of air' because it is always there. You do not notice it. We who are out of water look back and see the world we love surrounded by enemies, poison and envy, that wants to fall on you like a storm of ruin. We who joined with vague notions of protecting our country see how desperate the peril, how hungry the enemy and how frail the security we have for you.

``The more I love and long for home the more right I feel here on the front lines standing between you and the seething madness that wants to suck the life and love out of our land. Does that mean I cannot go home? I hope not, because I want this just to be the postponement of the joy of life, not the sacrifice of mine. If it costs me my life to protect our land and people then that is a small thing. I just hope that fate lets me return to the promised land and remind people just how great our land is.

``War is a young man's game, and I am getting an old man's head. It's a strange thing. I just hope that I am not changed so that I cannot take joy in the land inside the wire when I make it home. I want to be with you all again and let my gun sit in the rack and float on my back in a tube down a lazy river.''

Sergeant Stream didn't make it home, but he left behind a family. And I would like to read their names and let him know that we're all praying for him: His wife Rasa, his daughters Megan and Laura, his parents Sherman and Gayle Stream, his siblings and their mates, Shawn and Michelle Stream, and Shannon and Michael Pape and his grandmother Vera.

When I read that e-mail, it so reminded me of the dedication and the love that these young men and women had for this country. Their willingness to fight, their willingness to sacrifice. And what struck me the most he says, ``If this cost me my life, that is a small gift.'' That is someone of maturity. That is someone of patriotism. And that is a hero.

Mr. Speaker, last year when I began deciding whether or not I wanted to serve in Congress or run for Congress, my wife and I were talking quite a bit about it, and our big concern was our children. I have a 15, 13, and 11-year-old girl/boy/girl, and our biggest concern was, what would campaigning and being in Washington and commuting do to our children? And as my wife and I began discussing that even further, it wasn't even what this was going to do to our children but what could our service or my service do here in Washington for our children and our children's generation.

And that has been the concern as we go into this week, and we are beginning to look at the budget that's being proposed, the debt that we're going to put on our children. That's what drove me to run for office. And I was really concerned about the debt that was going to be moving forward, the debt that we had and here we are increasing and increasing the debt and the burden on our children. And that is a concern that I have.

I have a great love for my children and their generation. I believe that we need to be very careful about any debt that we put on our children or their generation.