Floor Statements

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

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank also the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany), my colleague and friend, for introducing this commonsense hurricane relief bill that will offer relief to his constituents and many other Americans with disabilities in the gulf region.

This bill offers additional funds to gulf region vocational rehabilitation programs and offers the flexibility needed to continue services.

Madam Speaker, Louisiana is in a difficult position of not having met their Federal share for funds already allotted. Under H.R. 3864, Louisiana can apply for a waiver of that requirement. I commend the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany) for introducing this legislation to take care of that.

In the reallotment of unused funds from the previous fiscal year, this bill will give priority to those affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Impacted States can then apply for waivers in meeting their non-Federal share of the reallotted funds as well.

Madam Speaker, impacted gulf coast States can use these funds to pay for vocational rehabilitation services that allow individuals with disabilities to contribute to the rebuilding of their local communities. I am pleased to support this bill, which not only offers relief from previous obligations but also provides additional resources necessary to continue services. Moreover, it reinforces the value of having community members participate in the revitalization of their neighborhoods.

Again, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany) for introducing this very much-needed legislation, and I encourage my colleagues to support its swift passage.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today with a heavy heart, as I ask my colleagues in the 109th Congress to join me in honoring the life and accomplishments of a remarkable woman, Dr. Mildred L. Aldridge. Dr. Aldridge passed away on Thursday, September 22. I am deeply saddened by this loss, for Mildred and the Aldridge family have been inspirations to many throughout the city of Flint, as well as the county, State and Nation.

It is difficult to imagine my hometown of Flint, MI, without Dr. Mildred Aldridge's influence. Married for 54 years to the late Reverend Dr. Avery Aldridge, she stood at her husband's side, helping found Foss Avenue Baptist Church on December 2, 1956. In addition to her many duties and responsibilities at the church, Mildred served as instructor of the Adult Ladies' Fellowship Class, which in the past 23 years grew from 5 participants to 125. Under her leadership, the class sponsors an Annual Autumn Tea and Music Recital, a drive to collect eyeglasses for needy people in the Caribbean and South Africa, and medical supplies for various missions in Africa. Mildred also operated as coordinator for the Youth and Young Adult retreats, and the New Year's Eve retreat.

Professionally, Mildred was a graduate of the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University. She received advanced training in administration and curriculum from Michigan State University and received honorary doctorates from Arkansas Baptist College and Selma University. She worked as an elementary school teacher, middle school guidance counselor, and was the principal of Doyle Rider Community School. Later she became director of Eagle's Nest Child Care & Development Center as well as administrative assistant and coordinator for Foss Avenue Baptist Church Enterprises. Mildred was a proud member of the NAACP, Urban League, C.S. Mott Community College Foundation Advisory Board, Visually Impaired Center of Flint Board, Flint Congress of School Administrators, and National Association of Elementary School Principals.

Dr. Aldridge leaves to cherish and carry on her legacy her son, Rev. Derek Aldridge, daughter Karen Aldridge-Eason, and 10 grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in offering condolences to the family of Dr. Mildred Aldridge, and in thanking them for sharing her with our community. The greatest tribute we can render to her is to emulate her love, her dedication, her humility, and her Christ-centered strength.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a tremendous sense of pride that I rise before you today to recognize the 150th anniversary of my hometown, Flint, Michigan. This milestone will be celebrated with a series of events, during Homecoming Weekend September 23-25. Activities include a commemorative parade, pedal boat rides on the Flint River, and the opening of the newly renovated Flint Institute of Arts, just to name a few.

Although incorporated in 1855, Flint was first founded in 1819 by fur trader Jacob Smith. The fledgling community, located on the banks of the Flint River, prospered under the trading, trapping, and lumber industries, which in turn brought more settlers to the area. In the 1840's, Flint became famous for its carriage production. One such group, the Durant-Dort Carriage Company, purchased a tract of land in Flint and used the site to create a network of factories with the intention of maintaining all aspects of carriage production in close proximity. Under the leadership of William C. Durant, and with the help of Robert J. Whaley and Flint's own Citizens National Bank, this company grew to become what we know today as General Motors. Since then, Flint's history has been perpetually linked with the auto industry. The 1937 Sitdowners Strike served as a defining moment in the creation of the United Auto Workers. The Buick factory, where my father worked, and the other General Motors facilities in the Flint area served as one of the nation's greatest contributors during both World Wars, producing engines, parts, tanks, and other materials used by Allied forces in defense of the Free World.

Over the years, Flint grew to become Michigan's fourth largest city, with a population of approximately 125,000 people. It is also home to a cultural center spanning 30 acres, institutions of higher learning such as Kettering University, C.S. Mott Community College, and the University of Michigan-Flint, outstanding medical centers, thriving commercial areas, and internationally renowned events such as the Crim Festival of Races.

New projects and developments help guide its progress toward the future, while at the same time honoring and preserving its rich past. Centuries-old homes and buildings stand side by side with modern works of architecture, chronicling a new chapter in the city's history. Residents and visitors are welcomed to the downtown area by majestic arches, just as they were 85 years ago. And then there is perhaps Flint's greatest treasure, its residents. From those who have lived here for a generation to those calling it home for the first time, it is the people of Flint--my friends and neighbors--that shall always serve as its true nucleus. As a lifelong resident of Flint, my memories of the city shall always remain with me. From growing up with my family, to serving as the Member of Congress for the city, I will always look upon the city fondly; it is my home.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of Mayor Don Williamson, the Flint City Council, the Sesquicentennial Committee, and all event sponsors for their vision in recognizing the need to acknowledge this occasion. Again, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to please join me in congratulating Flint, Michigan on its 150th anniversary.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time.

I would also like to thank the committee leadership on both sides of the aisle for ensuring that all interested parties had a seat at the table during our second try at reauthorizing the Head Start program.

We also owe our thanks to the staff who have worked tirelessly to help get us to where we are today.

I want to specifically thank Ruth Friedman for her years of work on behalf of the Head Start children.

While this bill is not perfect, it is a remarkable improvement from last Congress and is a good example for the progress that can be made through bipartisan cooperation.

All of us know Head Start is a critically important program that provides much-needed services to some of our most disadvantaged children and their families.

I would like to thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers), and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) for their advocacy for migrants and Native Americans.

Currently, Indian Head Start is funded at approximately 2.9 percent of the Head Start budget. H.R. 2123 would establish a 3.5 set-aside for Indian Head Start, allowing programs to benefit from approximately $45 million in additional resources, and I want to thank

particularly the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner) for putting that in his chairman's mark.

This bill is a significant departure from our efforts last Congress to reauthorize Head Start. All committee members should be proud of the bipartisan work on this legislation. I strongly support the bill as it was passed out of the committee.

However, I would be remiss, Mr. Chairman, if I did not express my concern over the amendment allowing religious discrimination that will be considered today.

This bill represents a genuine bipartisan compromise. Again, I would like to thank all parties that worked together in crafting this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to rise before you today to recognize the accomplishments of a man who, for many years, has been a tireless advocate for our community, including our youth. On Thursday, September 22, in my hometown of Flint, Michigan, civic leaders, family and friends will join Youth Projects to honor Donald Lada for his dedicated service to the community.

After graduating from Traverse City High School, Don Lada attended Northwestern Michigan College, and later continued his education at Worsham Mortuary College. Don has been a licensed funeral director for 42 years, and spent 33 of those years at Brown Funeral Home, which he also owned, and remained active with after it was sold. The Memorial Tree and Plant-A-Tree programs at Brown are highlights of Don's tenure, as is a Veterans' Memorial and the designation of the Home as an official Korean War Commemorative Community.

Don's community involvement is tremendous; over the years, he has been a part of, or helped lead, nearly 30 different civic organizations, including the Eastside Business Association, which he also founded, Genesee County Emergency Management Team, Mott Children's Health Center, Avalon Hospice, Flint Chamber of Commerce, Masons, Elks, and the Flint Rotary Club, among many others. He has been recognized on numerous occasions by groups such as the Salvation Army and the Consortium on Child Abuse and Neglect, and has received keys to the cities of Burton and Flint. In 2004, Don became the first recipient of the Flint Journal's Community Advocacy Award.

Among Don's many blessings is his wonderful family: Dee, his wife of 45 years, their children Douglas and Debra, and their eight grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I have known Don Lada for many years, and have witnessed first-hand his selfless determination toward making the Flint area a safer place for our children to enjoy, and a better place in which to live. I am honored to call him my friend as well as my constituent. I ask my colleagues to please join me in congratulating Don on being acknowledged by his peers, and wishing him the very best in all his endeavors. Our community is clearly a better place because of his dedication.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 3784, a temporary 3-month extension of the Higher Education Act. This, in essence, extends temporarily the 1998 reauthorization which was fashioned in a very bipartisan manner by the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon) and myself.

I am pleased that in the face of a national tragedy a simple extension has been offered. I hope the Republican leadership can use this time, however, to reevaluate H.R. 609, their plan to balance the massive deficit on the backs of students already struggling to pay for college. H.R. 609 is part of the reconciliation package.

Madam Speaker, from my days in the seminary, I always believed that reconciliation was a loving thing. H.R. 609, however, is certainly not an act of love. While I am cosponsor of this extension bill, I cannot ignore the impending cuts the Higher Education Act bill will ultimately suffer if the Republican reauthorization bill, H.R. 609, becomes law.

H.R. 609 represents the largest cut in the history of Federal student financial aid. The largest cut in history. That is something that should give all of us pause and concern, and I am sure it does.

The Committee on Education and the Workforce reported H.R. 609 in July by a straight party-line vote. H.R. 609 generates nearly $9 billion by eliminating some of the excessive lender subsidies, raising interest rate caps and rates on consolidation loans, charging student borrowers higher fees, and cutting critical student aid delivery funds; yet the $2 million in savings gained by eliminating the excessive lender subsidies alone will not be directed to helping students in any way.

When the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Van Hollen) and I pushed to do away with this outrageous subsidy to

lenders, it was our hope that the money would be used to aid students and not to finance tax cuts for the wealthiest.

Instead, the Republican-passed budget and higher education reauthorization intends to balance the massive deficit on the backs of students already struggling to pay for college. This raid on student aid misses a golden opportunity to redirect millions to student borrowers and additional grant aid for students.

The gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) and I offered an amendment in committee to recycle millions of dollars in savings to guarantee a $500 increase in the maximum Pell grant, lower the interest rate caps on student loans, and give students a choice between a low fixed or variable rate on consolidation loans without raising costs to students or taxpayers. The Republicans rejected our amendment.

Under H.R. 609, the typical student borrower with $17,500 in debt will be forced to pay an additional $5,800 for his or her current student loans compared to current law. However, I would like to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Boehner) for offering H.R. 3784, the temporary 3-month extension of the Higher Education Act. While I am pleased to offer my support, I hope this extension will allow the Republican leadership time to reconsider their plan to raid student aid. I offer my services to work with them to achieve just that.

In the context of both reconciliation and the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, we must move forward in a way that helps, not harms, our students. I look forward to working with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner) and the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon) to achieve that.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

We all know there is a direct relationship between revenue and expenses. We try to keep that balance fiscally correct and morally correct.

I happen to have voted against the tax cuts proposed by President George W. Bush. I voted against them because I could see what was going to happen. Most of those tax cuts, as most people will concede, went to the wealthier people in this country, including Members of Congress. Had we just deducted from those $2 trillion of tax cuts, when you take the whole cost, the cost of the debt, if we just deducted $9 billion from those $2 trillion, we would have money here and we would not have to balance this on the backs of the students. We could have saved it for any other program also, obviously. I am consistent that I voted against those tax cuts. I got a little criticism back home from some people; not many, but some. I saw this coming. I could see for sure that education was going to suffer. Those programs for the neediest in the country were going to suffer. The tax cuts were entirely too large, and those tax cuts have forced us to where we are in the bill put out by the committee, H.R. 609.

I think all of us have to be very cautious when we vote for revenue or revenue cuts. We have to be very cautious when we vote for expenditures. But there is a direct relationship, so I can stand here with a certain purity and say I did not vote to give away the $2 trillion, I voted to retain these funds so we could help students.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

No one questions, and I can never question either the sincerity nor the fairness of the chairman. I have been here 29 years, and I cannot recall a chairman being more fair during all of our deliberations in committee. And we are friends. We disagree on certain, maybe some fundamental things. But the gentleman asked what would have happened had we not enacted those tax cuts. One thing, we would not be seeing deficits as far out as the eye can see. That is not healthy for the economy, so we can debate that. Maybe we should have had some of those tax cuts, maybe not all. But again, because we are friends, we will continue to work together. Because the chairman is fair, he will always give us a chance in committee to offer our ideas and he will listen to them patiently. We respect the chairman for that on this side of the aisle.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to rise before you today, and to ask my colleagues in the 109th Congress to please join me in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Frankenmuth, Michigan Beautification Committee. On Wednesday, September 14, civic and community leaders will join Frankenmuth residents to commemorate this momentous occasion.

The Frankenmuth Beautification Committee was created in 1955 by Village Superintendent Herbert L. Keinath, his wife Edna, Village President Otto Trinklein, former Village President Carl Satow, and Councilman M.F. ``Hick'' Leslie. These individuals envisioned a group working as one to promote, cultivate, and enhance the city's natural beauty. The original Committee consisted of 11 dedicated pioneers who laid a foundation and structure for the organization: Ed Daenzer, Ellen Felgner, Lena Stromer, Edna Keinath, Liz Zeilinger, Police Chief Henry Zinck, Reverend August Kehrberg, Oscar Rau, Carl Rupprecht, Howard Mueller, and Wally Bronner. Since its inception, nearly 100 Frankenmuth residents have served as part of the Committee.

As the organization has grown over the years, so have its projects. Originally, the Committee's tasks included planting petunias and placing Christmas decorations on Main Street. Today they, with the cooperation of area businesses and organizations such as the Zehnder family, Greater Frankenmuth Area Community Foundation, Wallace & Irene Bronner and Family Foundation, Frankenmuth Women's Club, and many others, are responsible for thousands of floral arrangements, banners and flags, flower baskets that have become one of the city's signature products, and an awe-inspiring display of holidays lights and displays that have become one of the state's largest tourist attractions. In addition, the Committee, under the leadership of Mayor James Wickson, commemorates Arbor Day each year with the donation and planting of more than 100 trees, every year since 1963.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to acknowledge perhaps Frankenmuth's greatest natural resource, its people. It is the generosity of business owners who donate money and resources, the spirit of community exhibited by its caring residents, and the pride in ownership they all possess, that make Frankenmuth such a warm and welcoming environment, and a wonderful place in which to live. I am grateful to have men and women such as these in my district. Once again, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating the Frankenmuth Beautification Committee on its 50th Anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to pay tribute to an outstanding individual, Ms. Margaret Davies. On September 11, 2005, family and friends will gather to honor Margaret, as she celebrates her 90th birthday.

Margaret Rowe was born on September 13, 1915 in Little Rock, Arkansas, where she attended Little Rock Public Schools. She later moved to my hometown of Flint, MI, where she married Jay B. Davies in 1946. Margaret and her husband Jay had two children, Jimmy Davies, currently of Durham, NC, and Kim Smith of Indianapolis, IN. Mr. and Mrs. Davies were also blessed with three grandchildren and one great- grandchild. The two enjoyed a marriage of 33 years, until Jay's passing in 1979.

Margaret has been a longtime resident of Genesee County. She worked for many years at the YMCA until retiring in 1983, and was an active member of Holbrook Avenue Church of God. Today she can often be found reading her Bible or sending e-mails to her loved ones.

Mr. Speaker, as the Member of Congress representing Genesee County, I ask my colleagues in the 109th Congress to please join me in not only recognizing Margaret Davies for her outstanding life, but to wish her a very happy 90th birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to rise before you today to recognize the accomplishments of an American hero, Master Sergeant Troy A. Stewart of Essexville, MI, which is in my district. On September 10, the United States Marine Corps will join family and friends to pay tribute to Master Sergeant Stewart, as he retires from active service after 20 dedicated years.

Troy Stewart was born August 29, 1966, in my hometown of Flint, MI. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 27, 1985, and was assigned to 29 Palms CA for Communications Center School, where he graduated as the Academic Honor Graduate. By August 1986, Private First Class Stewart was promoted to Lance Corporal, and reported to Marine Wing Communications Squadron-28, Marine Air Control Group-28, 2nd Marine Air Wing in Cherry Point, NC, where he worked as a Field Message Center Operator. Two years later, Corporal Stewart reported for duty as the Divisions Enlisted Assignments Non-Commissioned Officer at Headquarters and Service Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, in Okinawa, Japan.

In 1989, Corporal Stewart returned to the United States, stationed first at Camp Lejeune, NC, and later back at Cherry Point, where he also attended Non-Commissioned Officers School. Corporal Stewart graduated a few days before the rest of his class, due to his deployment as a Top Secret Courier with the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade in support of Operation Ahaus Tara in Honduras. Corporal Stewart returned again after that mission, and served as SORTS Non- Commissioned Officer, Platoon Sergeant, and the Squadron's Training Non-Commissioned Officer.

From 1990 through 1993, Sergeant Stewart attended Communications Systems Chief School as well as Drill Instructors School. In July 1995, he received a Meritorious Promotion to Staff Sergeant. Following his Drill Instructor duty, he reported to Quantico, VA, where he completed Air Crew School and operated as a Marine One Communicator. In January 2002, Master Sergeant Stewart assumed the duties as the Staff Non- Commissioned Officer in charge of the Recruiting Sub-Station in Saginaw, MI, the position he holds to this day.

I would also like to acknowledge Master Sergeant Stewart's wonderful family: his wife, Corporal Kimberly Stewart, and their daughters, Desiree and Tory.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to acknowledge the life and career of Master Sergeant Troy Stewart. He has served his country with dignity and honor, and has been recognized

many times with personnel awards including Navy and Marine Corps Commendations Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, the Presidential Service Badge, and six Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals. For 20 years, he has helped make our country a safer place in which to live. I ask my colleagues in the 109th Congress to join me in congratulating him, and wishing him well in his retirement as well as all his future endeavors.

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

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I supported the Keller bill to offer relief to Pell grant recipients affected by natural disasters. I rise today to support the Jindal bill to offer relief to those benefiting from other Title IV grant programs like TRIO, LEAP and HEP/CAMP.

It is vital that grant recipients affected by this tragedy be spared the further hardship of repaying a grant they were never able to benefit from. This bill represents a good first step and I am pleased to be a cosponsor.

There is no question that we need to reassess what students and families can actually pay for college after the disaster, since many have lost jobs, homes, resources and valuables. In addition, we must also address the needs of student borrowers stuck paying loans despite job loss, lost income, and other financial hardship.

The 100,000 low- and middle-income students who depend on loans will feel the financial crunch of Katrina. Furthermore, we must address the needs of students with parents in the affected area, but who are attending schools in other parts of the country. Thousands of affected students and graduates will be unable to make payments on their Stafford or Perkins loans.

Currently, Mr. Speaker, students in repayment who are suffering from economic hardship can seek deferment, but we must cut the red tape by allowing any student impacted by a natural disaster to receive an automatic deferment of both the accumulation of interest and the payments.

The Miller/Kildee Katrina College Relief Act does just that. This change would save the average borrower much over the life of their loan.

Graduates already struggling to dig themselves out of their student loan debt must not be penalized because of this tragedy. Enrolled students who are currently receiving Federal aid had their financial aid package calculated based on their expected family contributions, the so-called EFC, which includes parent contributions and contributions of working students. With hundreds of thousands unemployed, including the one in five undergraduates

who were working more than 30 hours a week to support themselves, the calculated expected family contribution may no longer be realistic.

The Miller/Kildee Katrina College Relief Act allows these students to have their EFC student aid packages readjusted to reflect the financial changes the family may have suffered. Affected families have limited resources to aid their recovery.

The little that they do have needs to go toward rebuilding their homes and lives, Mr. Speaker, but this should not mean that their children should have to put their education on the back burner.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the majority leadership has decided to take up the issue of college students impacted by this tragedy. Yet, comprehensive relief is necessary for all students with the financial hardship.

While I support these efforts and commend the majority for doing this, I hope Congress will soon consider a more comprehensive package like the Miller/Kildee Katrina College Relief Act. An extraordinary catastrophe, and this indeed is extraordinary, demands an extraordinary solution. With over 100,000 students from many institutions displaced, Congress must do more.

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

Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jindal) for his bill and I look forward to working with him on even broader relief.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

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

First of all, I appreciate very much the very expeditious way in which the majority has approached this problem and look forward to working with them to seek an even more comprehensive way.

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 rise today to urge this body to offer real relief to college students impacted by the disastrous Hurricane Katrina. Well over 10,000 students at over 30 major institutions and others have been directly impacted by this terrible tragedy, with countless more feeling the aftershocks of the disaster.

I support the bill offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller) to offer relief to Pell grant recipients affected by natural disasters and thank him for this introduction. But this bill is not enough; as we all realize, not only Pell grant recipients were affected by this tragedy.

Thousands of affected students and graduates will be unable to make payments on their Stafford or Perkins loans. Currently, students in repayment who are suffering from economic hardship can go through a lengthy process to defer the accumulation of interest and repayment on their loans. Also they can apply and receive a temporary forbearance on their loans, allowing them to defer payments, but continue the accumulation of interest. We need to cut the red tape by allowing any student impacted by a natural disaster to receive an automatic deferment of both the accumulation of interest and the payments. Graduates already struggling to dig themselves out of the student loan debt, an average of $17,500, must not be penalized because of this terrible tragedy.

Enrolled students who are currently receiving Federal aid had their financial aid packages calculated based on the Expected Family Contributions, the so-called EFC, which includes parent contributions and contributions of working students. With millions unemployed, including the one in five undergraduates who were working more than 30 hours a week to support themselves, the calculated Expected Family Contribution is no longer realistic.

The Miller-Kildee bill allows those students to have their EFC student aid packages readjusted to reflect the financial changes that family may have suffered. Affected families have limited resources to aid their recovery. The little they have needs to go toward rebuilding their homes and lives. But this should not mean that their children should have to drop out of school. We really need an adjustment in the Expected Family Contributions.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations request before us today to provide $10.5 billion in immediate aid to our fellow Americans who have been devastated by Hurricane Katrina. This $10.5 billion in emergency funding will allow the Department of Defense and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to continue the Federal Government's efforts to help the people of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and other States impacted by the effects of Hurricane Katrina.

I am sure that the President will be requesting additional funds in the near future, and I am equally sure that the Congress will respond as quickly to approve the additional funds as they are needed. Anyone watching their televisions over the last week realizes that the effects of Katrina have been of biblical proportions. State and local officials have estimated the number of deaths from Katrina to be in the thousands, and property damage is estimated to be in yet unknown billions of dollars.

This is a national, natural disaster, and as such it deserves a swift and effective national response. We as a nation must come together to help our neighbors who have suffered such devastating losses.

It is the proper role of the Federal Government to provide that national response to such a national emergency. That is why I am pleased that the Congress has acted so swiftly to provide this immediate emergency funding of $10.5 billion. And we as a nation, stand ready to provide additional aid to the people affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Once again, Mr. Speaker, I add my support to the swift passage of this down payment of $10.5 billion for recovery efforts from Hurricane Katrina.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to CAFTA.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the CAFTA.

My statement can be summed up in two words: job loss.

We are voting today on an outsourcing agreement, not a trade agreement.

If anyone here thinks that CAFTA will help our economy, they need to look at the report prepared by the international trade commission.

The ITC says that CAFTA would actually increase our trade deficit with Central America while benefiting our economy by less than one- hundredth of one percent.

This same report says that sugar, textiles, apparel, electronics, transport, coal, oil and gas industries will see job losses if CAFTA is approved.

And in the case of sugar farmers and workers--like the 5,000 in Michigan--the report says job loss will be 38 times that of other industries.

The sugar industry is a major economic driver in my district and state, adding $525 million to the economy every year.

It's unbelievable that we are even here talking about destroying the lives of so many Michigan families, just so we can increase our trade deficit with Central America.

as a Nation, we need to get our priorities straight.

CAFTA's big brother, NAFTA, cost this country one million jobs.

And since NAFTA, our trade deficit with Canada and Mexico has increased by $100 billion.

Why then, did U.S. trade negotiators use the NAFTA model to construct

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise before you today to ask my colleagues in the 109th Congress to join me in celebrating a milestone happening in my hometown of Flint, Michigan. On Thursday, July 21, civic and community leaders will join General Motors and the United Auto Workers to commemorate the 100th anniversary of GM's Powertrain Flint North plant.

Originally a tract of farmland owned by the Durant-Dort Carriage Company, William Crapo Durant and J. Dallas Dort used the site to create a network of factories with the intention of maintaining all aspects of carriage production in close proximity. This network was the basis on which General Motors was formed. On September 4, 1905, a construction contract was signed for the creation of Buick Factory 1, and the company broke ground on November 1 that same year. Other factories followed, including the Weston-Mott Axle Factory and the Imperial Wheel Building, among many others that added to the history of General Motors, and the City of Flint.

The Buick site, where my father worked, became one of America's greatest contributors during both World Wars, producing many engines and parts used by the United States and the Allied Forces. Following World War II, the site experienced a period of growth and prosperity, with the development of new onsite foundries and factories, as well as several administrative and support buildings. The site was also home to Buick City, a multi-million dollar manufacturing project that garnered international attention. Today, under the name of GM Powertrain Flint North, the site remains home to four factories, five support buildings, a Cultural and Diversity Center, and the dedicated men and women of UAW Local 599, which has represented its members for 66 years.

Mr. Speaker, Flint, Michigan is still known to many as ``Buick City.'' This name signifies the level of pride GM employees, UAW members, and Flint residents have in the Buick name, their product, and the community in which they have invested much of their lives. I have a personal reason to be proud of Powertrain Flint North's centennial; my father was a founding member of Local 599, joining the UAW in the 1930's. From my own family's experience, I know the impact the site's presence has made in the quality of life for many Flint households. As the Member of Congress representing the City of Flint, home of Powertrain Flint North and as the proud owner of a Buick LeSabre, I again ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating General Motors and the UAW.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to address the amendment offered by the gentlemen from North Carolina that relates to the Federal Contraband Cigarette Trafficking Act. There is evidence that profits from the illegal sales of tobacco products have been funneled to groups whose interests are inimical to the safety of our country and its people and the Congress should do all we can to ensure that source of revenue is cut off.

However, Indian tribal governments that are legally involved in the retailing of tobacco products are clearly not the types of entities we are targeting with this provision.

As initially drafted, the Coble Amendment would have had the unintended effect of targeting tribal governments who are legitimately involved in the retailing of tobacco products.

With the great help of the gentlemen from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) I understand an amendment has been incorporated that will go a long way to protecting tribal governments and tribal sovereignty.

I also understand, however, that we have not had much time to refine the entirety of the Coble Amendment and that further refinements need to be made. It is my understanding that the gentlemen from North Carolina has agreed to take up these outstanding issues in conference.