Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of Flint Odyssey House. On December 6th Flint Odyssey House will be holding an open house to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Odyssey Institute.

Dr. Judianne Densen-Gerber began her career in substance abuse treatment in 1966 working with 17 heroin addicts. She quickly realized that for successful rehabilitation, the root causes of addiction had to be addressed. She developed a model of treatment that tackled the traumatic experiences in an addict's life and its impact on a person's well-being and self-image. The treatment methodology consists of five stages: Orientation, Cocoon Phase, Incubator Phase, Self-Awareness and Reformation Phase, and Butterfly Post-Treatment. From her treatment model, the Odyssey Institute was born and now operates in communities around the world.

Started in 1979 by Ronald Sahara Brown, Flint Odyssey House was a satellite program of the Detroit Rubicon Odyssey House. When the Detroit program was forced to close its doors, Ronald Brown kept the Flint Odyssey House open. He had $300 in food stamps and the determination to make the program a success. As a former addict and a graduate of the program, Ronald knew firsthand how beneficial the Odyssey House concept of treatment could be to a recovering substance abuser. He invited clients of the closed Detroit Rubicon Odyssey House to join him in the Flint program. With a skeleton crew, he operated the program on a shoestring. His perseverance paid off, and the Michigan Department of Social Services and the Genesee County Commission on Substance Abuse started to provide financial assistance. From that first adult treatment center, the program has grown to provide a wide range of services.

Ronald Brown has expanded Flint Odyssey House to meet the needs of the community. The treatment facility was located in a drug- and crime- infested neighborhood, and Ronald took to the streets, reclaiming and renovating the crack houses in the area. Starting the Treat the Streets Program, Flint Odyssey House reclaimed the area and earned Ronald Sahara Brown the title of Chief of Odyssey Village. Flint Odyssey House has moved from being a substance abuse treatment agency to a human development agency and is a model for programs throughout the United States. It operates many programs, and treats hundreds of persons, including pregnant addicts and mothers with children. Accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, Flint Odyssey House has expanded and now operates a program in Saginaw Michigan.

In 1993, Flint Odyssey House received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award from the Michigan Department of Public Health and the Clayton R. Stroup Award. In 1996 Ronald Sahara Brown was the recipient of the Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leadership Award. Ronald used the $100,000 stipend that came with this award to purchase and operate an old-age home in the neighborhood that was about to close. This kept the residents from being evicted and provided one more service to the community.

Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with and applaud the work of Ronald Sahara Brown, the staff, volunteers and the clients of Flint Odyssey House. Their courage and determination to bring out the potential in every human being is a brilliant example of the power in each and every one of us to effect change in our world. May they continue to provide service and compassion for many, many more years.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Arletta Minore as she retires from the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce. Arletta was honored at a dinner on November 28 in Flint, Michigan.

Arletta is a lifelong resident of Flint. She graduated from Flint Northern High School and attended Flint Junior Community College. She was married to Jack Minore and had four children, Jeffery, Eric, Steffan, and Jennifer.

She began her career arranging print ads for the Yankee Store and moved on to organizing the print ads for the Fair Store. From there Arletta moved to the Flint Journal, giving her the opportunity to work with many advertisers. She then moved to the Chamber of Commerce and has worked there for the last 19 years, eventually becoming the office manager.

Between working and her family, Arletta managed to restore her Victorian home into the Avon House Bed and Breakfast. She has operated her business since 1985. Her interests range from forming a dance troupe with friends and her daughter and performing for several small groups, to participating in the Michigan 60 Mile Cancer Walk.

Not content to sit back and rest, Arletta has already made plans to spend her retirement spending more time with her family and working with community groups like the Crim Run and the Geoffrey Midwest Workshop. Arletta plunging into a new business venture is also a possibility.

Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Arletta Minore for her service to the Flint area and hope that she continues her involvement in the community for many, many years to come. I wish her the best as she embarks on this new phase of her life.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church as it commemorates its 140th anniversary. The church will hold a celebration on Sunday, December 2 in Saginaw, Michigan.

In 1867 Mr. and Mrs. Allen Ford, Mr. and Mrs. William Countee, Mrs. Martha Campbell, Mr. and Mrs. William Peterson, Mrs. Ellen Foote, Mrs. Ganns, Mr. and Mrs. Henry VanDyke, Mrs. Martha Brown, Mrs. Debora Johnson, and Mr. William Augustus organized the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. The first church services were held at the Ford home but as the congregation grew, the members looked to find a larger place to hold worship services. Over the next 10 years the congregation moved from place to place until in 1877 a building was purchased and renovated to give the church a permanent home. During the following years the congregation continued to grow, and the church relocated several times until it broke ground in October 1966 on the current sanctuary. After the church was dedicated in 1967, the congregation built a lounge, kitchen, fellowship hall, and classrooms. In 1978 construction on a conference room, mall, credit union, day care, communion room, mini chapel, and offices for the pastor and secretary was completed. The strength and influence of Bethel AME continued to grow, and a second center was opened at Crossings Apartment Complex in 1997.

Reverend P. David Saunders was assigned as pastor in June 1997. The church has active senior citizens and retirees programs, a missionary department and a youth department. The Bible study program attracts persons from throughout Saginaw County. Under Reverend Saunders's leadership the church is moving forward and looking to provide housing for the elderly and handicapped.

Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Bethel AME Church for 140 years of worship, prayer and service to the Saginaw community. The church's motto is ``Love Conquers All'' and the clergy, staff and congregation strive daily to live these words. May they continue to spread the good news of Jesus Christ for many, many more years.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of America's fallen heroes, Sergeant First Class David A. Hartman. Sergeant Hartman will be honored on December 1 by the Bay City United States Army Reserves. They will dedicate the Drill Hall at the Bay City Michigan Reserve Center in his memory.

David Hartman is remembered by his family and friends as loving, fair-minded, honest, fun-loving, family-oriented, and job-oriented. He worked hard, and was not afraid to step in and help out. He followed his father's example and signed up for the military when he graduated from high school. He was a 21-year veteran of the military. David served in the first Gulf War and came home with Gulf War Syndrome. He was eligible for a medical discharge but he decided to stay in the military to continue serving his country. Sergeant Hartman stated that he wanted to join the people going to fight and lead by example. On July 17, 2004, at the age of 41, David Hartman was asked to make the ultimate sacrifice for his country when the vehicle he was driving was struck by an improvised explosive device in Bayji Iraq. Sergeant Hartman was serving in Iraq with the Army Reserves 401st Transportation Company from Battle Creek, MI. He is survived by his wife, Robbin, son, Benjamin, and daughter, Heather.

Madam Speaker, when Sergeant Hartman volunteered to put his life on the line for his country, it was with the hope that he would never be required to make that ultimate sacrifice. But it was God's will that his life be cut short on that road in Iraq. We as a Nation need to remember SFC David Hartman and all the brave individuals who have died for our freedom. I ask the House of Representatives to join me and keep their memory in our hearts and prayers.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 813, I call up the conference report on the bill (H.R. 1429)

to reauthorize the Head Start Act, to improve program quality, to expand access, and for other purposes.

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

Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to be here today to reauthorize Head Start. And I know that everyone agrees that it has been far too long since we have authorized the Head Start Act.

Head Start has served millions of our most vulnerable children and families well for 42 years. More recently, Early Head Start has done the same for infants and toddlers.

These are our country's premiere early childhood programs, Mr. Speaker. Head Start works, and this bill will make it work even better.

Nothing is more critical to a child's success than a great teacher, and this bill will ensure that by 2013, half of Head Start teachers nationwide will have bachelor's degrees. This will improve professional development so that teachers can keep up with the best practices in early childhood education.

The bill increases funding for Early Head Start so that children will receive comprehensive services during the most critical stages of brain development.

Mr. Speaker, our predecessors 42 years ago initiated Head Start even before we realized, as we do today, that early and regular stimulation was critical to the very physical development of the brain.

Head Start requires the Secretary to update early learning standards using the best science, and puts an end to the ill-advised National Reporting System.

It authorizes significant increases in resources so that we can expand access. And I want to work with our friends on the Appropriations Committee to do just that.

It enhances the quality of Head Start boards, while maintaining a shared governance structure that empowers parents.

And it is especially important to me that the bill prioritizes significant resources for Indian and migrant and seasonal Head Start programs, both to expand existing programs and create new programs, so that these children, whose communities face such terrific challenges, can grow up to help their communities overcome those challenges.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Miller and Senator Kennedy, Senator Dodd, Ranking Members McKeon and Castle, and Senator Enzi and Senator Alexander, my staff and theirs, and all the conferees and their staffs for their hard work. I especially want to thank Lloyd Horwich, who has worked so hard with me to produce this bill.

We do our best work in this Congress when we work in a bipartisan way, and we do our best work, especially in education, when we work in a bipartisan way. It's been my pleasure through the years to have the advantage of working with Mr. McKeon from California. We've grown to really commit ourselves to education and we trust one another and like one another, which is very important.

I was privileged, Mr. Speaker, to introduce this bill in March with Chairman Miller, Governor Castle, Mr. McKeon and many others, and look forward to its becoming law very soon.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop).

Mr. Speaker, I yield now 3 minutes to the gentlelady from California, a member of the committee and a very active worker on this bill, Ms. Woolsey.

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I appreciate the very kind words of the Republican leader and my former Chair on this committee. His work through the years on this bill has been very, very helpful.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, again, I thank Mr. McKeon, Mr. Castle, and all those on the other side of the aisle who have worked so hard on this bill to produce a very good bill. I also want to thank Ruth Friedman, with Chairman Miller, for her tireless work on this bill over the last 5 years.

Mr. Speaker, America can watch this Congress at work today on this bill, Head Start, and feel good about its Congress, and that's very important. This process in working on Head Start has shown Congress at its best, and I think we owe that to the American people. And we can feel a certain pride in having demonstrated to the American people what Congress can do. This is one of our better days, one of our better bills, and it's been a process that we've enjoyed. We've had differences. We resolved those differences. We produced a very good bill.

And people do make a difference. People in this Congress make a difference. And I want to especially, again, commend my friend, my colleague, Mr. McKeon from California, who has worked tirelessly on this bill. This bill is better because of his input.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 258) and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, all trade agreements suffer from the same fundamental flaw: They are not self-enforcing. Trade agreements depend upon vigorous enforcement, which requires official complaints be made when violations occur.

None of the six Presidents with whom I have served here in the Congress have shown any eagerness to file complaints when agreements are violated. I certainly have no faith in President Bush to show any enthusiasm to enforce this agreement.

Congress should not hand this administration yet another trade agreement because past agreements have been more efficient at exporting jobs than goods and services.

My city of Flint, Michigan, has dropped in population from 190,000 to 118,000. Much of this loss is due to trade agreements. If you want to put the human face on trade, come and look at the sad faces in Flint, Michigan.

Mr. Speaker, shortly after NAFTA was passed, workers at Delphi in Flint were ordered to package up manufacturing machinery for transport to Mexico. They were actually exporting their jobs to another country in packing crates.

And to add insult to injury, the following year, the U.S. Department of Commerce was reporting the increase of exports to Mexico, and they included that machinery from Flint, Michigan. They included that exportation of jobs as progress. This was the United States Department of Commerce. This was not the Mexican Department of Commerce bragging how jobs had been exported to Mexico.

I appeal to all Members of Congress to vote ``no'' on this. But I appeal especially to my fellow Democrats not to turn their backs on those American workers who suffer from the export of their jobs. They want a paycheck in Flint, Michigan, not a TAA unemployment check. And the chance of TAA becoming law is far from certain.

I urge you, particularly on this side of the aisle, to stop the exportation of American jobs and vote ``no'' on this free trade agreement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Velma Allen as she retires from Mott Children's Health Center. Dr. Allen is the President and Chief Executive Officer and will retire on December 31. A dinner in her honor will be held on November 8 in Flint, MI.

Dr. Allen began her career as an English teacher in Mississippi. She moved to Michigan and became the Supervisor of Secondary Special Education with the Grand Rapids School System. She served as the Director of Special Education with the Lansing Schools from 1977 through 1981. She moved to Flint and was program officer for the C.S. Mott Foundation from 1981 to 1984. After serving as the Superintendent of the Michigan School of the Blind, Velma started to work at the Mott Children's Health Center. She has spent the last 17 years working to improve the care for the children of Genesee County who have special health or developmental problems.

Under her leadership, the C.S. Mott Children's Health Center has expanded its role in Genesee County. Working with the Genesee Intermediate School District, the Center has implemented four school- based health centers offering multiple services to elementary, middle school, and high school students and offer dental health screening and prevention in elementary schools. The Center works with the Cedar Street Children's Center and the Child Welfare Society of Flint to offer mental health prevention services. She has added a fifth pediatric dental resident and partnered with the University of Michigan Dental School to offer an Advanced Education in General Residency resident. The Center also has implemented a child obesity prevention program and offers a 2-week summer camp.

Working with community allies she has advocated on behalf of children at both the state and national level. Recognizing that the life of the larger community has an affect on children, Dr. Allen works with various organizations to improve the quality of life. She is a Commissioner with the Michigan Commission for the Blind, a Board Member for the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health, a Member of the Genesee County Community Collaborative, a Board Member of the ``Ready, Set, Grow!'' Passport Program, a Board Member of Priority Children, the Vice Chair of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, a member of the Flint Journal Community Advisory Committee, a Board Member of United Way of Genesee County, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Dr. Velma Allen for her work on behalf of the children in Genesee County. I wish her the best as she retires from the C.S. Mott Children's Health Center.

Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in honoring Dr. Hesham Gayar, the outgoing President of the Genesee County Medical Society. Dr. Gayar is to be honored at the annual President's Ball this Saturday, November 3rd.

Dr. Gayar studied medicine at the Alexandria Medical School. He completed residency at St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center in New York, and M.D. Anderson in Houston, where he was chief resident from 1985 to 1986. He completed a Fellowship in Clinical Oncology and Pediatric Oncology at Ohio State University Hospital. Relocating to Michigan, Dr. Gayar currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at McLaren Regional Medical Center and the Medical Director of Radiation Oncology at Owosso Memorial Cancer Center.

Over the years Dr. Gayar has served as a delegate to the Michigan State Medical Society from the Genesee County Medical Society, and as the Chair of the Board of the Community Wide Hospital Oncology program. He is the principal investigator for the Radiation Therapy Oncology group, works with the Southwest Oncology group, and the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel project. He is also the former President of the Islamic Medical Association.

Dr. Gayar is committed to improving the quality of life in the larger community. Governor Granholm appointed him to the Board of the Commission of Arab Chaldean American Affairs. He serves on the Board of the American Arab Heritage Council of Flint, the Flint Islamic Center, and the Grand Blanc Islamic Center, he is the former Chair of the Genesee Academy Board of Directors, and is a former board member of the Islamic American University. In 2006 the American Arab Heritage Council named him ``Physician of the Year.'' Dr. Gayar is married to Randa and they have four children, Omar, Adam, Lena and Kareem.

Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in applauding Dr. Hesham Gayar for his leadership to the Genesee County Medical Society. Both physicians and patients have benefited from his compassion and steadfastness. He brings empathy, dignity, and responsibility to every role he assumes. I wish him the best as he continues his service to the Flint community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the wonderful work achieved by the Child Advocacy Center of Genesee County. The Child Advocacy Center will honor its volunteers and supporters at a dinner on November 2nd in Grand Blanc Michigan.

During the 1980s the Child Advocacy Center idea was developed to provide a safe haven for the victims of child sexual abuse. After the State of Michigan published a ``Model Child Abuse Protocol-Coordinated Investigative Team Approach'' in the 1990s as a guide to local communities, the idea of the Genesee County Child Advocacy Center was born. A concept paper was submitted to the Ruth Mott Foundation in 2001. The concept became a proposal and in 2005 the Center was fully functional. Using forensic interviewing techniques specifically designed for children, the Center coordinates representatives from child protection, law enforcement, prosecution, mental health and family court. The coordination puts the needs of the victim first and endeavors to enhance the safety and well-being of the children.

On Friday, November 2nd the Genesee County Child Advocacy Center will honor the persons in our community that have gone the extra mile to help the victims of child sexual and physical abuse. These individuals will come from the segments of the law enforcement and social services agencies that are the front lines in the fight against abuse. The winners of the ``Our Stars'' awards will be announced that evening.

Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me and applaud the work of the Child Advocacy Center and their partners. I am grateful for their service to our community. In a perfect world we would not need their services, but we do not live in a perfect world and we are fortunate to have these individuals step forward and strive to help and heal our most precious resource, our children.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

First of all, no one questions your sincerity on this. I do think that we could really create a legal situation here without knowing the consequences of the amendment.

Now, Congress, back in 1968, recognizing that in certain areas, the 14th amendment, by the way, says ``States'' shall not do certain things. So they wrote the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968. That was written very, very carefully by both Houses. The great constitutional attorney Senator Sam Irwin played a major role in that, and they carved out how the basic rights contained within the fifth and the 14th amendment would apply on Indian tribes.

It's a well-done bill. And had we had the chance to discuss this in committee, perhaps we could have reached some agreement; I'm not sure. But I'm very concerned about adopting anything without knowing the consequences when it took them months, in 1968, to craft the Indian Civil Rights Act. It's a two-page bill, and it really enumerates pretty well the fifth amendment and the 14th amendment.

So, at this time, I think that we would be treading on rather dangerous territory to have the courts have to look at, first of all, the Constitution, the treaties, the 14th amendment and the Flake amendment and decide where they conflict, which one to apply.

So, despite your sincerity, I wish we had discussed this in committee, perhaps we could have arrived at some remedy there. But here I think we're going to create a lawyer's delight.

Will the gentleman yield?

I would take that as a very helpful and constructive suggestion.

First of all, Mr. Flake, you and I are friends, and you are a friend of Mr. Abercrombie, also. And I think what he suggests would be a good thing. Perhaps, I'm just saying, I'm not sure, perhaps the 1968 law somehow could be worked into this, but we aren't prepared to do that now without knowing exactly what we're doing. And I think it would be helpful. I would take Mr. Abercrombie's willingness to sit with you. I will be glad to sit with you. We all believe in civil rights, we all believe in the principles of the fifth and the 14th amendment, and I think we could very well work this out in conference.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Temple Beth El as it celebrates its 80th anniversary. A celebration will

be held on October 19 in my hometown of Flint, Michigan.

Members of the community committed to principles of Reform Judaism founded Temple Beth El in 1927. The first services were held in the Paterson Building in downtown Flint. Rabbi Leo M. Franklin of Temple Beth El Detroit presided over the signing of the Articles of Association. Maurice Rosenbaum, Moses Rosenthal, Arthur Dubois, and Harry Winegarden were the first officers. The Temple Reform Sisterhood, under the direction of Mrs. James Rapport, started on June 8, 1927 and officially changed its name to Temple Beth Sisterhood when Temple Beth El was formally founded later in the same year.

In January 1935 the first permanent home for the Temple was purchased. Located at the corner of Liberty and East Second Street, it provided a place for services and religious school. The mortgage was burned on October 19, 1941 and the following year the Temple joined the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. It remains affiliated with this organization until today.

Under the direction of Rabbi Morton M. Applebaum the congregation expanded and soon needed a larger space. The Temple moved to the building on Ballenger Highway and the first services held there took place on April 14, 1950. The Jewish community worldwide was in mourning over the murder of six million Jews during the Holocaust. The role of the synagogue as the center of Jewish life took on new meaning and the opening of the new Temple was heralded as an example of the vibrancy of the Flint Reform Jewish Community.

To meet the needs of the community Temple Beth El moved to its present location. This move has provided opportunities to interact with its sister congregation, Beth Israel. The sanctuary and building were designed to enhance the congregation's ability to face the future and meet the challenges of tomorrow. Under the direction of Rabbi Karen Companez, the Temple's first female Rabbi, Temple Beth El has augmented its reputation as the friendly ``Temple Family.''

Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representative to rise with me today and applaud Temple Beth El as it celebrates 80 years of spiritual vitality and dedicated community involvement. I congratulate them for their achievement and echo Dr. Max S. Hart when he prayed, ``May God let his countenance shine upon all of us, and cause this Congregation to flourish and prosper for the next fifty years.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Howard Knobloch of Bay City, Michigan. The Bay Medical Foundation will honor Dr. Knobloch for over 60 years of work as a pediatrician in the Bay City community at a dinner to be held on October 24th.

Dr. Knobloch graduated from Maryland University Medical School in 1936. After completing his internship and pediatric residency, Dr. Knobloch joined the practice of Dr. Fernald Foster in 1940. From 1942 to 1946 he served as an Army captain. Once his military service was completed, Dr. Knobloch returned to Bay City and resumed his illustrious career as a pediatrician.

His motto is, ``If this were my child, what would I do for him?'' and Dr. Knobloch has lived this philosophy daily. In the beginning, he charged $2 for an office visit and $3 for a home visit. He was still making home visits at the age of 77. He never turned away a patient and held office hours 6 days a week. He also served on the staff of Bay Regional Medical Center for 60 years, holding various positions during that time. He was Chief of the Medical Staff for two terms, Medical Staff Secretary/Treasurer for two terms, Vice-President for eight terms and Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics for 35 years.

His peers have recognized Dr. Knobloch on numerous occasions. The Michigan Academy of Pediatrics has awarded him the Franklin D. Roosevelt Service Award, the Harry S. Truman Service Award, and in 1996 named him Doctor of the Year. The American Academy of Pediatrics presented him with the Pediatric Review and Education Program Award. In 1990 the Michigan State Medical Society recognized him as the oldest practicing physician in their membership and in 2002 Bay Regional Medical Center presented the first Excellence in Teaching Award. This award was created in honor of Dr. Knobloch for his dedication, commitment and compassion for the health care of the community. Recently at the age of 96, Dr. Knobloch published an autobiographical book entitled, ``An American Pediatrician's Odyssey.''

Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in applauding the life and career of Dr. Howard Knobloch. He is an inspiration to all health care providers, and anyone desiring to improve and deliver quality healthcare to our children.

Madam Speaker, I rise to day to honor the Most Reverend Gregory John Mansour on the 25th anniversary of his ordination. Bishop Mansour will be honored at Divine Liturgy and festivities on Sunday, October 7th in my hometown of Flint, Michigan.

After graduating from Western Michigan University in 1977, Gregory Mansour entered Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Seminary in Washington, D.C. and attended Catholic University of America. Graduating with a degree in Theological Studies in 1981, he was ordained a priest on September 18, 1982 by Bishop John Chedid at St. Michael Church in Flint. He celebrated his first Divine Liturgy at Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Church and then traveled to Rome to continue his studies earning his License in Spiritual Theology from the Gregorian Pontifical Institute.

Returning from a trip to Lebanon in 1983, Father Mansour began his work as a parish priest. He worked as an administrator at St. Maron Parish in Philadelphia and served 11 years as pastor to St. George Maronite Catholic Church in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Bishop John Chedid tapped him to serve as the Eparchy's Protosyncellus, Vicar General, and Chancellor for the newly formed Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon in Los Angeles in 1994. He also served as Advocate/Procurator for the Eparchial Marriage Tribunal.

His Beatitude Patriarch Nasrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir nominated him to Chorbishop and he was ordained on January 21, 1996. When Bishop Chedid retired his replacement, Bishop Robert J. Shaheen, with the concurrence of the Holy See, moved the See of the Diocese from Los Angeles to St. Louis, Missouri. Chorbishop Mansour relocated and assumed the additional duties as rector of St. Raymond Cathedral and began teaching Spiritual Theology at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary.

When Bishop Stephen Hector Douelhi retired, His Holiness Pope John Paul II named Bishop Mansour to succeed him as the head of the Eparchy of Saint Maron in Brooklyn. Ordained a bishop in Lebanon on March 2, 2004, he was enthroned in Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Cathedral in Brooklyn on April 27, 2004.

Madam Speaker, throughout his life Bishop Mansour has followed the words of St. Augustine, ``With you I am a Christian, for you I am (a priest, and now) a Bishop.'' Bishop Mansour has kept the promise he made 25 years ago to serve Our Lord Jesus Christ with humility, joy, and compassion. I ask the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating him as he celebrates this momentous occasion and wish him the best for the future.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to be the sponsor of H.R. 2276. H.R. 2276 will designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 203 North Main Street in Vassar, Michigan, as the ``Corporal Christopher E. Esckelson Post Office Building.''

Corporal Esckelson of Vassar, Michigan, heroically gave his life fighting for our country in Fallujah, Iraq, on December 28, 2006, 2 days shy of his 23rd birthday. Corporal Esckelson, the squad leader of 12 men, suffered a direct hit while inspecting a truck in war-torn Fallujah, Iraq.

Corporal Esckelson's leadership qualities came to fruition long before he began to serve our country. An outstanding athlete at Vassar High School, Christopher Esckelson played the game of football like he did life, with great passion. That same passion is what drove the aspiring doctor to join the Marines shortly after the September 11 attacks.

He once told his mother, Michelle Hill, that whatever life might bring, he still would have been a marine.

His early time in the Marine Corps Reserve allowed him to earn money to pay for classes at Delta College, where he studied premedicine. Other activities Corporal Esckelson enjoyed were hunting with his father, David, and brother, Craig, as well as spending time with his girlfriend, Samantha Reasner, who last saw him when she drove him to the airport when he left for basic training.

His last contact with his family came 2 days before Christmas 2006 when he left on a 5-day mission which would ultimately be his last.

For his heroism, Corporal Christopher E. Esckelson deserves our recognition and thanks. Designating this postal facility in Vassar, Michigan, where his mother works will allow all who enter the post office the unique opportunity to be mindful of the sacrifices brave young soldiers like Christopher have made and continue to make today.

I would like to thank the entire Michigan delegation for their support on this legislation, and urge all of my colleagues to join me in passing this legislation.