Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I rise in opposition to this bill.

This bill literally turns back the clock on decades of efforts to improve programs for our youngest children. Head Start has meant so much to so many of our most disadvantaged children and their families. Rather than strengthen Head Start through bipartisan consensus, this bill begins the dismantling of the most successful and popular early childhood education program in our Nation's history.

I must also express my disappointment that the majority has not sought to reach bipartisan consensus on this legislation. I have been through, Mr. Chairman, a number of Head Start reauthorizations during my 27 years here in the Congress, and they were all pleasant and productive experiences. This statute has always been reauthorized in a bipartisan manner. I strongly believe that we do our best work when we pass bipartisan legislation, especially legislation dealing with children. Not to do so is a doleful disappointment.

The Republican Head Start bill creates an unaccountable block grant that undermines the comprehensive nature of Head Start. Under this legislation, the strength of Head Start's decades of existence would be eviscerated through lower-quality State-controlled block grants.

What makes the bill's block grants even more troubling is that it departs from the efforts of this committee over the past decade to strengthen accountability and results in Federal programs, the most recent example being the No Child Left Behind. On that bill, Democrats and Republicans in both the House and the Senate, along with the President, all worked to create bipartisan legislation to strengthen accountability in our K-12 programs.

Now we are confronted by a White House and Republican bill to create unaccountable block grants in the Head Start program. This does not make sense. I urge opposition to this legislation.

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

Mr. Chairman, today's education funding bill completely ignores the reality facing the neediest of our college students today. College costs are rising dramatically over the last 10 years. College tuition is up 38 percent, and the buying power of the Pell grant is at an historical low. Due to the sour economy, State legislatures have dramatically reduced their support for a postsecondary education as they seek to balance State budgets. Charitable giving, alumni support and endowments are down.

How has all of this affected our students? Students, especially the neediest students, are literally being denied a postsecondary education because

they do not have the resources to pay for college. According to the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, nearly one-half of all college-qualified, low- and moderate-income graduates will be unable to attend a 4-year college due to rising costs. Nearly 170,000 students will be unable to attend any postsecondary institution.

As a member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the ranking member of the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness, I have heard from countless numbers of students and student associations on their need for relief, but here on this floor the Republican response to the financial difficulties of students is to freeze the maximum Pell grant.

We have passed tax cuts that have benefited the wealthiest of Americans. Those within incomes of $1 million receive an $88,000 tax cut, and student aid was frozen. This is a terrible priority. We cannot provide the $5,800 maximum authorized Pell grant to our students because we prioritize those tax cuts over the needs of students. Are we now asking the neediest students to walk across town to those who got an $88,000 tax cut and plead for help in going to college?

What is really happening to our country? We are better people than that.

The entire increase in Pell grants during the Bush administration is less than the increase made in Pell in the last year of the Clinton administration. Clearly financial access to a postsecondary education has not been a priority for this administration. Freezing Pell grants at a time when more and more individuals are seeking retraining and education due to the sour economy sets us back as we struggle to come out of this economic recession.

Rather than passing another tax cut for the wealthiest in our Nation, we should defeat this bill on the floor. Instead of passing this legislation, we should significantly increase funding for Pell grants and other critical education priorities.

When I was growing up, my dad had to pick one of his five children to go to college, one of the five. Although my brothers and sisters were qualified, he had to pick one. Are we returning to those days when those choices had to be made?

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 2211, the Ready to Teach Act of 2003, with the hope that certain amendments that were made in order will be adopted.

I want to thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey), the author of this bill, and the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon), the chairman of the subcommittee. He and I have worked together for a number of years now on higher-education matters. It was a very enjoyable task in this. I would also like to thank the chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Boehner), for his work in the committee.

Mr. Chairman, this legislation reauthorizes title II's teacher- quality programs and makes much-needed improvements to its accountability system. Teacher quality is a critical element to ensure our children succeed academically. This bill makes great strides to improve teacher-preparation programs that create our supply of highly qualified teachers.

Chief of these improvements is a bipartisan amendment accepted at the subcommittee markup creating the Minority Centers of Excellence program. This new program will allow high-quality Historically Black Colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions and Tribal colleges to improve teacher preparation and to work with disadvantaged school districts. This program will tap the vast knowledge and skill housed in these institutions to improve teacher preparation, especially for minority teachers.

In addition, the bill's provisions to expand teacher retention and preparation of early childhood teachers are very critical improvements. With added resources for retention, school districts will be more able to keep highly qualified teachers in their districts. With new resources to ensure that we have early childhood teachers, our Nation's youngest children will receive the head start they really need to succeed.

While this legislation represents a good first step, we are missing an opportunity to address some of the most pressing issues facing education. Whether it is the No Child Left Behind Act, IDEA or Pell Grants, the Bush administration and Republican leadership have failed to meet their education funding commitments.

President Bush and the House and Senate appropriations committees have proposed funding, for example, title I at $12.35 billion. That is over $6 billion short of the $18.5 billion which the President signed into law for this year when he signed No Child Left Behind.

The Republican budget resolution promised $2.2 billion in new IDEA funding. The House and Senate appropriations committees have proposed less than half that amount.

In addition, the Pell Grants have been frozen by the House and Senate appropriation committees, despite increasing college costs.

While I really want to reiterate that I will support this legislation, the administration and the Republican Congress are missing an opportunity to meet our education funding commitments.

Basically, and Members have heard me say this before, this is an authorization bill; and it is a good authorization bill. We worked hard on it. But I have always said an authorization bill is like a get-well card, Mr. Chairman. If I have a friend who is ill, I will send my friend a get-well card, which expresses my attitude, how I value my friend, and that is very important. But what my friend really needs is a Blue Cross card to pay the bills.

I think we have to work closer together to make sure there is not such a wide disparity between the levels that are in the authorization bills, the get-well card, and what is in the appropriations bill, the Blue Cross card.

But having said that, I want to say that the authorizing committee did work well together; and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner), the chairman, was very, very fair to us, and we adopted Democratic amendments in that committee. I think the authorizers have done a good job.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price).

(Mr. PRICE of North Carolina asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Van Hollen).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind).

(Mr. KIND asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews).

(Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

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

This is a bipartisan bill, and we do our best especially in the field of education when we work in a bipartisan way, and we did that in committee. There was not only civility in committee, but a great deal of enjoyment in writing this bill. This is a good start for the authorization of the remaining titles of the Higher Education Act.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition, although I am not in opposition.

Mr. Chairman, I do not intend to oppose this amendment. This amendment makes, indeed, important technical and clarifying changes to the bill, and I urge its support.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, as the designee of the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald), I offer an amendment.

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

This amendment would expand the bill to allow clinical and mentoring programs as part of the teacher preparation. I believe this amendment is a good addition to the bill, and I would urge its passage.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, as the designee of the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca), I offer an amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, this amendment will expand the bill to allow teachers to retrain using computer software for bilingual education. I believe this amendment is a good addition to the bill and urge its passage.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 438. This legislation does provide much needed loan forgiveness for math, science and special education teachers in high need schools. It is critical that we provide school districts with the resources they need to recruit and retain the best teachers for our children, especially in these vital subject areas. In addition, legislation that we are debating today was improved over the introduced version through the adoption of an amendment by our colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt). This amendment provides for incremental loan forgiveness over the 5-year period of service as a teacher, rather than at the end of such service. This critical improvement will make loan forgiveness an attractive means to recruit and retain high-quality teachers in our most disadvantaged schools.

While H.R. 438 is a good start, we should be doing more. The scope of this bill is limited to math, science and special education teachers. These are critical areas in which we do have shortages of highly qualified teachers. However, we should also be extending loan forgiveness to other vital teaching areas such as Head Start teachers and all teachers who teach in our schools with extreme poverty. The gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Tierney) filed an amendment with the Committee on Rules to expand loan forgiveness to Head Start teachers. During the latest year I have data for, nearly 8,000 teachers left Head Start programs. Over half the teachers who left Head Start programs did so due to low salaries. Clearly, the need for loan forgiveness in Head Start is evident. However, the Committee on Rules blocked consideration of this amendment.

The gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) also filed an amendment with the Committee on Rules to expand loan forgiveness to all teachers in extremely poor schools. Title I schools, especially the most disadvantaged of these schools, have enormous problems recruiting and retaining teachers of all subjects. These schools are the least likely to have certified teachers or teachers who know the subject matter that they are teaching. These schools are also the most likely to have high teacher turnover rates. Unfortunately, the Committee on Rules blocked consideration of this amendment as well.

The unwillingness to even debate these amendments here on the floor comes at the same time we are tragically underfunding our Federal education programs. Whether it is the No Child Left Behind Act, IDEA or Pell grant, the administration has failed to meet their education funding commitments.

President Bush and the House and the Senate Committee on Appropriations proposed funding Title I at $12.35 billion. That is $6 billion short of the $18.5 billion promised in No Child Left Behind.

Repetition is the mother of study, so let me state again what I stated in the earlier bill, let me use this analogy again: An authorization bill, and this is a good authorization bill, is like that get well card which I will send to my friend who may be ill, and it does express my sentiments, and it expresses the value I have for my friend. But what my friend really needs is the Blue Cross card, and that is the appropriations bill. There is a real lag between authorization and appropriations. Just in Title I alone we are 30 percent below the bill that the President signed in Ohio, No Child Left Behind, and I think that we have to address that. We cannot address that here in the authorization bill. We did a good job in the authorization bill, a job that I think we enjoyed doing. But I think we as a Congress have to make sure that our appropriations come closer, if not match entirely, the authorization level.

The Republican budget resolution promised $2.2 billion for new IDEA funding. The House and Senate Committee on Appropriations have proposed less than half that amount. In addition, Pell grants have been frozen by the House and Senate Committee on Appropriations despite increasing college costs.

While I again want to reiterate that I will support this legislation, the administration and the Republican Congress are missing an opportunity to

meet our education funding commitments.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey).

Mr. Speaker, I, first of all, would like to commend the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), from Columbia, the principal author of this bill for his fine work on the bill; and I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews).

(Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt), and let me just say that it is interesting, as a Latin teacher, to stand here with a physicist on each side of me, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have spent 27 years in the Congress and 27 years on the Committee on Education and the Workforce, formerly called the Committee on Education and Labor. And in those 27 years, I always felt and discovered that we do our best work especially in the area of education, sometimes we have some differences in areas of labor, but in areas of education we do our best work when we work together in a bipartisan way.

I think the last few months have demonstrated that we are able to bring to the floor a bipartisan bill. It was an exercise of civility and, as I mentioned earlier, actually enjoyable writing this bill. I think, again, we can demonstrate that bipartisanship does work, and it has worked here again today.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to rise before you today on behalf of a group of men and women who constantly help others live the American dream. On July 2, civic and community leaders will gather with the friends and families of American Associates, Inc. Real Estate Company, to celebrate the company's 20th anniversary.

For two decades, American Associates, located at 1453 N. Elms Road in my hometown of Flint, Michigan, has helped thousands of families achieve the dream of home ownership. Founded by Randy and Carol Haney, they, along with a staff of 40 agents, have specialized in finding new, used, and luxury homes for their customers. With the help of a computerized nationwide relocation service, the company has also been able to identify multi-family, industrial, and commercial properties, and even vacant lands.

Randy and Carol have also sought to place a strong influence on America as well. For the last 16 years, they, along with 250 volunteers from area youth, civic, school, and church groups, have distributed American flags throughout neighborhoods in Genesee County during the July 4th weekend. This year, American Associates plan to pass out 40,000 flags, and to date have distributed approximately 350,000. This selfless and patriotic gesture of goodwill serves to remind us all to celebrate the freedom we have as Americans, and to strengthen our pride in the ideals on which our flag stands for.

Also this year, in memory of local resident Private First Class Jason Meyer, who heroically gave his life in service to his country in Iraq, American Associates has supplied a tree to be planted in a local park as a special tribute to the fallen soldier.

Mr. Speaker, as a Member of Congress, I consider it my duty and my privilege to protect and defend human dignity and the quality of life for our citizens. I am extremely grateful that people like Randy and Carol Haney, and the staff of American Associates, make my task easier. I ask my colleagues in the 108th Congress to please join me in commending them for going above and beyond to promote our great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today on behalf of the wonderful men and women of the Michigan State Police. Day after day, these brave people work to maintain safe streets for our children to live and play. On June 20, the Michigan State Police will recognize one of their own, as they gather to celebrate the retirement of Sergeant Dale D. Stevenson after 25 years of dedicated service. Dale Stevenson was born October 5, 1955 in Caro, MI, and graduated from Caro High School in 1973. In 1977, he graduated from Delta College with an Associated Degree in Law Enforcement and Police Administration, and a year later began his career with the Michigan State Police, with an assignment to the Ypsilanti, MI, Post. In 1983, he returned home to work at the Caro Post, and after stints in Bay City and Sandusky, was again stationed in Caro, where he remained, serving as Acting Lieutenant/Post Commander.

During his 25-year tenure with the State Police, Sgt. Stevenson was the well-deserving recipient of numerous honors and citations, and his actions have benefited law enforcement officials from all over the state. A member of the State Police Underwater Recovery Unit since 1981, Dale has played a vital part in many investigations throughout the Great Lakes. From saving drowning victims in Saginaw Bay to joining recovery units for the Mackinac Bridge, he constantly put his own safety at risk to help keep others from harm. His underwater work has given him the opportunity to act as team leader in an international effort to recover a sunken vessel from the Detroit River, and take part in a submerged vehicle study featured on the Discovery Channel.

In addition to becoming an upstanding member of his hometown community, Dale has always found time to be a devoted husband to Linda, his wife of 25 years, and father to their sons Ty and Christopher, and daughter Jocelyn. Dale is also a member of the First Baptist Church of Caro, and is District Chairman of Ducks Unlimited.

Mr. Speaker, as a Member of Congress, I consider it my duty and my privilege to protect and defend human dignity and the quality of life for our citizens. I am extremely grateful to have a person like Sgt. Dale Stevenson who shares these beliefs, and has made it his life's work to see this task achieved. I ask my colleagues in the 108th Congress to please join me in congratulating Dale, and wishing him the very best in his retirement.

Madam Speaker, today we are considering a bill that will nullify coverage requirements and patient protections that states across the nation have determined are appropriate and necessary for the health and well-being of their citizens.

Association health plans will be exempt from state laws that protect patients, including requirements for external independent review of denied claims and laws requiring coverage for, mammography screening, prostate screening, maternity benefits and coverage of diabetes supplies and education.

The American Diabetes Association states that, ``if allowed to pass as written, this legislation will undermine state laws that ensure coverage of essential diabetes medication, equipment, supplies, and education by state-regulated health insurance policies. Over 475 organizations have voiced their opposition to AHP's, including state governors, insurance commissioners, attorneys general, state legislators, providers and physician groups, consumer and advocacy organizations, chambers of commerce, unions, farm bureaus, and small business associations.

H.R. 660 will not lead to health insurance cost decrease. According to the CBO, more than 800,000 workers in my state of Michigan will pay higher premiums under H.R. 660.

I urge my colleagues to vote for the substitute and oppose H.R. 660, a bill that hurt, not help, the small business community.

Mr. Chairman, as a strong opponent of Internet gaming, I rise in support of the Sensenbrenner-Conyers-Cannon amendment. The Traditional Values Coalition supports this amendment, which removes the exemption that would allow state-licensed or authorized businesses to conduct Internet gambling. The bill does not provide equivalent treatment for tribal governments. If this bill becomes law, the outcome will result in the unequal treatment of Indian tribes because the current Federal law, the Wire Communications Act that prohibits Internet gambling will apply only then to Indian tribes. Only state- licensed businesses will be permitted to conduct Internet gambling.

Mr. Chairman, this bill will actually make it possible to expand Internet gambling rather than prohibit it. This amendment eliminates the special interest exemption for various gambling groups that support the bill. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much. Mr. Speaker, this has been a great year. It has been a great 20 years. Indeed, Mr. Speaker, I have served now 20 years on the Page Board, having been appointed by Speaker Tip O'Neill. I would like to express my personal gratitude to all the pages who have served so diligently in this House during the 108th Congress. It is the 14th Congress that I have served in, and I love every day of it.

We Members of Congress, we all recognize the important role that you pages have in making this House really work, work efficiently, and work with some inspiration from you because we all get inspired by those who are younger than us, have those ideals and remind us of those ideals. I have had some meals with some of you, enjoyed that very much, and had a chance to talk to you on the floor. This has been a very, very good group.

This group of young people, you come from all across our Nation, and you represent what is so good in our country. You give us so much hope for our future. Indeed, I think all of us can say, those of us especially who are so close to the page program, that we are better people for having had contact with you because you give us such inspiration and so much hope.

To become a page you have proven yourself first of all to be academically qualified. It is not easy to become a page. You have ventured away from the security of your homes and families to spend time in, for most all of you, a very, very unfamiliar city. And through this experience as a page you have witnessed a new culture, made new friends; and some of you will, I will guarantee, I have been here 27 years in the Congress, 20 years on the Page Board, some of you, 27 and more years from now, will still be friends and you will be staying in contact. Because I know some of those pages I first met when I became a member of the Page Board still remain in contact.

We all know that this body has experienced so many things and you have witnessed history like no other group. There is a great group in this country called Close Up, which is a very good group; but no one, no one has seen the Congress as close up as you. No one. You have seen this body address the awesome question of war itself. You have become really part of history.

Your job is not an easy one. First of all, you have to possess the maturity to balance the very competing demands for your time and your energy. I always say there are three different arenas down here: you have the floor and the buildings around the Capitol, where you have assignments; you have the school and the demands in the school; and you have the dorm. There are three different arenas. And let me tell you, you have done a very, very good job in every one of those arenas, and I am personally very, very proud of you.

And you have to work long hours, really long hours, and interact with people at every level. We have some people who are humble in this body and some maybe not as humble, but you interact with all of them and you do it well. You face a challenge in the school itself. It is a very tough school. Former Congressman William Whitehurst, Republican, who went on the Page Board with me, he and I worked together to get that school accredited. And, Bill, if you are listening, thanks a lot. He lives in Virginia, and he was just a great Member; and we were determined to get the school accredited. And it is a tough school.

You are away, and you have to go back for your senior year to another school. That alone presents a challenge to you. But you will meet that challenge because you are special people. I am sure that you will consider the time spent here in Washington, D.C. to be one of the most valuable experiences of your life and that will lead you on to very successful and productive lives.

My two sons were pages in this body, and they went on to serve their country as captains in the Army. One is leaving, my youngest one, leaving for Pakistan very shortly. He has been in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan. But there are so many ways of serving one's country; and you have grown in your love for this country, you have grown in respect for this country, and you have seen the Congress at its best and sometimes at its worst. We are human beings, but this is the best system in the world.

We are going to miss all of you very, very much; and may God bestow his richest blessings upon you. Thank you very much.

Mr. Speaker, as a former teacher, I am happy to rise before you today to recognize Mr. John Rhymes, who is retiring as Principal of Gundry Elementary School, in my hometown of Flint, Michigan.

Armed with a desire to teach, John Rhymes, a native of Hazlehurst, Mississippi, started his college career at Mississippi Valley State University, where he received his Bachelor's Degree in 1970. He later arrived in Michigan, where he earned a Master's Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Eastern Michigan University, and also studied Educational Leadership at Wayne State University in Detroit.

Moving to Flint 32 years ago with his new wife Lessie Odom Rhymes, John began his tenure with the Flint educational community as a teacher, Social Service field worker, Assistant Principal, and ultimately Principal. In addition to serving as Principal of Gundry Elementary, John is also Executive Director of the Sylvester Broome, Jr. Training Technology Center. At the Broome Center, he oversees the Amistad Academy After-School School, which offers young people classes in computers, public speaking, performing arts, and character development, among other things. To date, there have been 308 graduates of the Academy, with a long waiting list of students eager to be placed into the program.

John's commitment to education is matched only by his tremendous commitment to improving the community. He has been recognized many times for his work by such groups as the Flint Human Rights Commission, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, and the City of Flint Youth Council, to name a few. As mentor and advisor for the Gamma Delta Kudos of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., John helps young men enhance leadership skills as well as self-esteem, and for many, serves as a strong, positive role model.

John's professional affiliations include the Congress of Flint Administrators, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Province Guide Right, and the National Guide Right Board. He is also a member of Metropolitan Baptist Church, where he has served as Youth Fellowship Director, Vacation Bible School Director, Sunday School Superintendent, and the church's Day Care Center's Board of Directors. Presently he is President of the Inspirational Voices Choir, Sunday School teacher and instructor, and Assistant Director of Christian Education.

Mr. Speaker, many of John Rhymes' students, as well as the various faculty members under his leadership, both past and present, have greatly benefited from his insight, as has the entire Flint community. He has always been a staunch fighter for education, for he believes that a strong educational background is the basis toward improving the quality of life. I ask my colleagues to please join me in congratulating him on his retirement, and wishing him and his family, the best in their future endeavors.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the Kline amendment, but I believe we need to point out the realities of this legislation.

Mr. Chairman, this amendment provides the Secretary of Education with the authority to waive certain statutory or regulatory provisions relating to student aid for higher education to benefit our Armed Forces personnel.

The Committee on Education and the Workforce passed the first version of this legislation last Congress after the attacks of September 11. I applaud the gentleman from Minnesota for seeking to help our troops, but I believe this amendment will still not respond to their needs.

Unfortunately, the Secretary of Education has done little to actually help our troops with the authority he has been granted. The Secretary recently granted two waivers under the existing HEROS authority, but these waivers are going to have very little impact on the vast majority of Armed Forces personnel with student loans. The response of the Secretary in this area has been inadequate.

This amendment and existing law provide the Secretary with the authority to ensure that those called up for active duty in the military are not financially disadvantaged, but the student loans of servicemen and women are still accruing interest while they are in armed combat overseas. The minimum that can be done for these individuals is to ensure that interest on their student loans do not accrue while they are defending their country. Unfortunately, the Secretary has not chosen to act in this area. I encourage him to do so.

This amendment is a good first start, but it does not directly or forcefully address the real needs of our servicemen and women who have student loans. I would like to work with the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kline) to make sure the Secretary uses the authority we grant him.

I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 870. This legislation allows us to extend the current fruit and vegetable pilot program enacted under the farm bill for an additional year. Because of the short time frame after enactment of the farm bill, many of the schools were not able to begin their participation in the program as quickly as we had hoped. As a result, many schools will have funds remaining at the end of the school year.

The issue of fruit and vegetable consumption by our children is critically important. Studies continually show that increased consumption of fruits and vegetables at a young age leads to healthier diets in adulthood. Coupled with the alarming rates of childhood obesity, we should be doing all we can to expand fruit and vegetable consumption among our children. Educating our children now about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables will lead to a healthier Nation in the future.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation marks an important step as we begin our discussion to reauthorize our Federal child nutrition programs. As part of reauthorization, it is my hope that we can expand the benefits of this pilot to all our Nation's children. I urge all Members to support this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today on behalf of the Baden Powell District of the Tall Pine Council, Boy Scouts of America. On May 13, friends and family will join the Davison, Michigan Area Good Scout Committee to honor 67th District Court Judge John L. Conover, the 2003 recipient of the Davison Good Scout Award.

John Conover was born in Danville, Illinois, and later moved to Davison with his wife Karen, where they have been upstanding members of the area for over 30 years. As 67th District Court Judge for more than ten years, Judge Conover has presided over many felony matters, criminal and traffic cases, and civil and small claims issues. His courts have resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in delinquent fines and costs collected, and his courtroom has been a favorite field trip and first-hand civics lesson for many teachers and students.

Judge Conover's success on the bench is matched and complemented by his unparalleled commitment to community service. An active supporter of the DARE program, John is frequently called on to address elementary and middle school DARE graduations throughout the county, and sponsors the DARE homecoming float in area parades. He also speaks to many students on the dangers and consequences of alcohol and drug abuse. In addition, he has founded and directs a program for youth offenders needing guidance in correcting their behavior. His dedication to helping the next generation goes so far that he will often place young people on probation to himself so he may personally mentor them and steer them on the right track.

John has sponsored and sometimes coaches area sports teams, from T- ball to bowling leagues. He not only teaches the fundamentals of the sport, he stresses sportsmanship, and provides lessons his teams are able to use in their everyday life. Each day he serves as a positive role model and shining example of the best our society has to offer.

Mr. Speaker, Judge John Conover is being recognized for his dedication, unselfishness, and commitment to the Davison community, and for truly exemplifying the traditions of scouting. He is a symbol of excellence not only to Scouts, but to everyone he comes into contact with, and I am honored to call him my colleague and my friend. I ask my colleagues in the 108th Congress to please join me in congratulating Judge John L. Conover.

Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to recognize the accomplishments of a man who has made it his life's work to protect and defend human dignity, and to ensure the safety of our streets for our citizens and our children. On May 16, friends and family will join the Police Memorial Association-Michigan to honor the career of Trooper Gregory Campbell, who is retiring after 25 years in law enforcement.

Gregory Campbell was born March 27, 1954 in Philadelphia. He later moved to Michigan, where he graduated in 1975 from the University of Detroit. Three years later, he graduated from the Academy as a member of the 93rd Recruit School, and began his career with the Michigan State Police. Originally assigned to the Post in my hometown of Flint, MI, he remained there for three years. He later worked in Detroit and Bridgeport, and returned to Flint in 1992, where he remained. During that time, Trooper Campbell served as a Post Representative in Detroit and Flint, and in 1999 served as 3rd District Representative, a position he held until his retirement.

Through the years, Trooper Campbell has constantly put his own safety at risk in order to keep others from harm, however he has always found time to be a devoted husband and father of two sons, and a faithful community volunteer. He has been recognized many times for his civic work, such as being named the 1993 City of Flint's Man of the Year, Flint Kiwanis Exchange Club Officer of the Year in 1994, and most recently, the Police Memorial Association's Community Service Award in 2002 and their Princess Program Award for Community Service with the Youth this year.

Mr. Speaker, many people in the Flint area, myself included, have benefited greatly from Gregory Campbell's experience and dedication. He has truly made Genesee County a safer place in which to live. I ask my colleagues in the 108th Congress to join me in congratulating him for his unwavering commitment to justice, and wishing him the best in his retirement.