Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, my colleagues may be familiar with an initiative I have been working on, the NAT GAS Act, to promote the use of natural gas fueled vehicles, particularly to replace traditionally fueled heavy- and light-duty trucks. I am a strong proponent of natural gas as an alternative fuel source because it is clean, abundant, cheap and readily available, and best of all, as T. Boone Pickens says, it's ours. According to a study by the Department of Energy, it is feasible to produce biomethane from landfills, sewage and animal waste, so one could even argue that it is renewable.

As we continue efforts to drive our country towards a cleaner transportation sector, natural gas vehicles are a natural fit. There is no single silver bullet solution to our transportation energy dilemma. All available alternatives to petroleum must be used in the marketplace and in an application where they make the most sense. For many of these applications, that means natural gas.

In 2008, NGVs displaced 250 million gallons of petroleum in the United States. With adequate support, by 2020, that could grow to 10 billion gallons, but the NGV industry is made up of mostly small companies. In order for the industry to achieve that growth potential in the time frame we need, more research is needed for vehicle integration, deployment, engine development, and cost reductions.

In 1992, Congress authorized a Vehicle Technologies Program to fund a wide range of research activities on passenger vehicles and heavy-duty trucks. The program's mission is to develop leapfrog technologies that will provide Americans with greater freedom of mobility and energy security while lowering costs and reducing impacts on the environment. Though natural gas vehicle research was funded through this program until fiscal year 2005, since then, there have been no DOE activities in this area.

My amendment would add $5 million in funding to this account for natural gas vehicle research. This is a relatively small investment for something that could easily move America towards a cleaner and independent energy future. I hope my colleagues will join me in launching a new direction in transportation fuel by supporting this amendment.

I would like to yield to my friend from Arizona (Mr. Pastor).

Thank you so much. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I am going to reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank my colleague from Oklahoma (Mr. Sullivan), who has been a real leader in this effort for natural gas vehicles.

We have got one more speaker on our side, I think, so I am going to continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I firmly believe that these changes will greatly help the integration of cleaner natural gas vehicles in the marketplace. I think that we have a real opportunity today to invest in a cleaner independent energy future for America and to move away from our dependence on foreign oil.

I want to thank my colleagues on the other side, especially my friend John Sullivan from Oklahoma. I want to thank the chairman for accepting our amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I want to thank the chairwoman and ranking member of the Small Business Committee for bringing this legislation to the floor, and of course, I support the rule. The Small Business Innovation Research, SBIR, program, is an effort by Congress to increase the portion of Federal research and development dollars provided to small businesses.

Noticing that small businesses were being crowded out of government R&D grants by large corporations, Congress established the SBIR program. This program guarantees small businesses a portion of the Federal Government's large R&D budget.

Mr. Speaker, by any reasonable measure, the SBIR program has been a tremendous success, but some Members of Congress have raised concerns about how the funds are allocated. Critics have argued that certain business sectors receive too large a share of the available Federal R&D dollars and that certain demographics have little success obtaining any SBIR award money. This bill, brought to the floor by the Small Business Committee, makes a strong effort to address these issues. Found in the legislation are attempts to reach out to minority-owned businesses, businesses owned by women, and most importantly, veteran-owned businesses.

It is with the same spirit that I ask the Small Business Committee to consider my language, which directs agencies with an SBIR program to make a concerted effort to reach out to Native American and tribally owned businesses. My State of Oklahoma is home to 38 federally recognized tribes, 17 of which reside in my district. It is my hope that my language, found in the manager's amendment, will make it easier for Native American-owned businesses to obtain these valuable SBIR awards.

Again, I want to thank the chairwoman and ranking member of the Small Business Committee for accepting my proposal. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation and the rule.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I am here today to seek the chairman's assistance with an important matter involving the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, a matter with which he has been most helpful and understanding. I am also proud my friend Mr. Cole from Oklahoma, who is a Chickasaw, a great friend of the Choctaw people, is here and helping me as well.

The issue is the effect of the moratorium on school participation in the BIA academic funding system and its effect of preventing the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma from carrying out its plan to operate a first through sixth grade school program. The original moratorium was to be temporary to afford the BIA a chance to control its construction policy; yet it, in fact, precluded the Choctaws from reconstituting their program, which was unilaterally cut by the termination policy of the 1950s, in spite of the fact that the tribe built a new school and, thus, saved the government considerable expense.

I appreciate your pledge to work with me and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma to address this problem. And I deeply appreciate the committee including language in your report accompanying H.R. 2996, now under consideration, directing the Bureau of Indian Affairs ``to study and report to the committee within 180 days after the enactment of this Act on the impacts of allowing reinstatement of termination-era academic programs or schools that were removed from the Bureau School System between 1951 and 1972.'' This includes the reestablishment of Jones Academy of Oklahoma as part of the Bureau School System.

Mr. Chairman, the Choctaw Nation has paid all construction and maintenance costs, and Jones Academy has received extensive positive recognition from multiple sources, yet the tribe is prohibited from operating Jones as a Federal grant school or for reestablishing their preexisting program. I would like to submit for the Record a prescription of the current Jones Academy program.

It is to meet this concern that I ask for a clarification, Mr. Chairman. Is it the chairman's understanding that the study and report should be done in consultation with the tribes involved, as required by Public Law 95-561, and that the costs to be provided are to be those associated with the current tribal programs and practices and the current state of the school programs involved as opposed to the rural farm-based boarding programs of the 1950s?

If I may ask one more question, is it the committee's intention at this time, absent a timely report by BIA directly responsive to the committee report language, to work to include Jones Academy as part of the Bureau School System?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Jones Academy

Introduction

Jones Academy is a Native American residential learning

center for elementary and secondary school age children. The

boarding school is located in southeast Oklahoma and houses

co-ed students grades 1 through 12. Established in 1891, the

facility is under the auspices of the Choctaw Nation of

Oklahoma. The campus sits on 540 acres five miles east of

Hartshorne, OK on Highway 270.

Student Population

150 to 190 students attend Jones Academy--50 to 60

elementary students (1st-6th)--100 to 130 junior high & high

school students (7th-12th)

25 to 30 tribes are represented at Jones Academy

10 to 15 states are represented at Jones Academy

Academics

August 2005, grades lst-6th began being taught at Jones

Academy--School years 2005-06 & 2006-07: Jones Academy

achieved a perfect API (Academic Performance Index) on state

achievement tests

August 2008, Choctaw Nation opened $10.2 million elementary

school at Jones Academy

Jones Academy has an alternative school for students (7th-

12th), that are behind in their credits (self-paced

curriculum)

Approximately 120 students (7th-12th) attend the Hartshorne

Public school System

Tutoring is offered five nights a week for all students

Several academic software programs are utilized to enhance

student academic achievement

Rewards for academic achievement provided by Jones Academy

and the Choctaw Nation STAR program plus the Jones Academy

Scholarship for former students enrolled in postsecondary

institutions of higher learning and/or training

Vocational Training through the Kiamichi Technology Center

Choctaw Language is offered

Medical

Health Screenings--including physicals and dental services

for all students--provided by the Choctaw Nation Health

Services and follow-up appointments as needed

All students receive eye checks with follow-up and glasses

purchased as needed

Nutritional Classes/Activities including a school health

fair sponsored by the Choctaw Nation

Students are provided with a school nurse in the evenings--

offered through CNHS, as well as access to the health clinic

in McAlester and Talihina Hospital

Counseling

Counseling Services--two licensed professional counselors,

four part-time mental health professionals with masters

degrees, one certified drug and alcohol, an academic/guidance

counselor and a school-based social worker

ACT prep courses for college bound students as well as

visits to post-secondary institutions of higher learning and/

or training

Oaks peer/group intervention provided at the alternative

school

Prevention and dorm meetings are held weekly

Recreation/Activities

Students participate in athletics at Jones Academy and at

the Hartshorne Public School (baseball, softball, football,

volleyball, basketball, cheerleading, weightlifting, etc.)

Horseback riding, archery, ROPES course, paint ball, over-

night camping, social and cultural dances, movies, swimming

and fishing

Outings to museums, area lakes, parks and zoo, sporting and

cultural events

Six Flags Over Texas and Frontier City trips

Raising & showing swine projects

Summer youth work program

Enrichment Program

Journalism class which produces a newsletter for parent/

guardians/supporters

Guitar & piano lessons

Horseback riding

Archery activities

Ceramics, arts & crafts, pottery and art lessons

Social skills training

Community service projects

Other Services

Student senior high school graduation expenses paid for by

Jones Academy (sr. pictures, announcements, sr. jacket, class

ring)

Family day at Jones Academy

Purchase hygiene products as well as clothing for students

as needed

Provide three meals and snacks each day

Provide safe secure environment for students and staff

Provide transportation home to and from Jones Academy

Provide adult supervision for students 24/7

Assist student in getting driver's license

Motivational speakers (including Miss OK/Miss America)

Location and History

Jones Academy is a Native American residential learning

center for elementary and secondary school age children. The

facility is located in southeast Oklahoma and houses about

190 co-ed students grades 1 through 12. Established in 1891

by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the campus sits on 540

acres of rolling pasture 5 miles east of Hartshorne, OK on

Highway 270. Named after Wilson N. Jones, Principal Chief of

the Choctaws from 1890 to 1894, the school has served

generations of Native American children while under the

oversight of the Choctaw Nation or the Bureau of Indian

Affairs.

Student Body

Initially, the facility was an all boys school. In 1955,

Wheelock, a non-reservation school for Indian girls, was

closed; approximately 55 female students then were

transferred to Jones Academy. In April of 1985, the Choctaw

Nation contracted the boarding school operation from the

Bureau of Indian Affairs. In 1988, Jones Academy became a

tribally controlled school.

Our students represent a cross-section much like most other

areas of the country. Jones Academy's maximum enrollment is

190. In the past, the school has enrolled students from 29

different tribes. Students come from parts of Oklahoma,

Texas, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, South Dakota, and

several other states. Each student is a member of a federally

recognized Indian tribe.

Facilities/Physical Resources

The physical layout of the campus includes two dormitory

buildings, each divided into elementary and secondary wings.

There is a cafeteria, an after-school tutorial building, and

a counseling center. A gym houses two classrooms for 20

alternative school students, a basketball court, and a weight

room. The campus grounds also include a museum, an

administration building, and a library/learning center with

an underground storm shelter. The boys' dorm and the

cafeteria were completely renovated in 2000. The girls' dorm

was built in 1994 and is a modern, bright, home away from

home. All four dorms have communal living rooms with areas

for entertainment.

Academic Program

The long-range goals of our academic program are to develop

capable students who can read and write proficiently and

perform math functions necessary in life. We believe that

building a strong foundation for our children will lead to

success.

Our students attend the Hartshorne Public Schools. They are

fully supported in their academic endeavors as well as extra-

curricular activities. Grades are monitored weekly to insure

that the student is performing to the best of his/her ability

and receiving proper instruction. Tutorial services are

offered to students in all grades. Students receive

incentives for academic achievements. High school students

are provided career counseling for postsecondary education

such as college or vocational training.

Jones Academy houses an alternative school for students

whose needs have not been met in the traditional classroom or

who are behind in grade level. The limited class size and

self-paced curriculum allow the teachers to give the students

individualized academic attention.

The Choctaw Nation has begun the process of operating its

own school at Jones Academy. Grades first through sixth are

presently held on our campus. Construction of the new

elementary school began in 2006.

Cultural/Recreational Activities

A goal of Jones Academy is to involve all students in

cultural, educational and recreational activities. Our

facility offers a wide variety of services to the student.

Students are encouraged to participate in our cultural and

traditional programs. These activities include the Indian

Club, traditional dance, drum and singing groups, pow-wows,

visits to ancient burial mounds and tribal festivals/museums.

Recreational activities include intramural sports, camping,

swimming, fishing, social dances, bowling, skating, movies,

picnics, horseback riding, and many other services. Jones

Academy offers a strong well-rounded program of activities to

meet the individual needs of our youth.

Medical Services

With the support of Choctaw Nation Health Services, Jones

Academy is able to provide health care for our students. Our

youth receive complete physical exams soon after school

begins. Throughout the year, a registered nurse and

physician's assistant are on site four days of the week.

Other medical services are referred to the Choctaw Nation

Indian Health Clinic at McAlester and the Choctaw Nation

Indian Hospital at Talihina.

Student Activities

Indian Club

Drum, Dance, Singing Groups

Jones Academy Rangers

Girl Scouts

Choctaw Language Classes

Student Council

Ropes Course

Weight-Lifting

Livestock Shows

Dances and Prom

Overnight Camping

Paint Ball, Go-Cart Racing

Horseback Riding, Skating

Movies, Swimming, Fishing,

Arts & Crafts, Flute Making

Outings to Area Lakes/Parks, Zoos, Museums, Sporting and

Cultural Events, Shopping Trips

Six Flags, Frontier City Trips

Residential Program

Jones Academy provides the following services to our

students:

Tutorial Assistance for All Grades

Rewards for Academic Achievement

Work Program for Clothing

Summer JTPA Work Program

Drug and Alcohol Education

Library Learning Center with Computers and Internet/E-mail

Access

Career Counseling

College and ACT Tests Preparation

Senior Graduation Expenses Paid

Jones Academy Scholarship Program

Vocational Training through the Kiamichi Technological

Center

Alternative School Program

Agriculture Program

Driver's License

Jones Academy Yearbook

Family Day

Nutritional Education

Complete Physical Exams

Medical Services Provided

Mental Health Services

Health Fair

Walking Program & Aerobics Class

Project Fit America

Life Skills Curriculum

Social Services Staff

Campus Security

Madam Speaker, President Obama made some very important points in his address last week in Cairo, Egypt. It is important that he spoke directly to the Muslim and Arab worlds and stated as fact that 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust. The President should be applauded for making clear that threatening Israel is wrong and that anti-Semitism, which remains prevalent in the Arab media, is ignorant, hateful and wrong.

Unfortunately, the President's speech left an impression that Israel was founded in response to anti-Semitism and the Holocaust. While these reasons were necessary for the creation of an Israeli state, a Jewish bond to the land of Israel is deeply rooted in history.

Many in the Muslim and Arab worlds deny that a Jewish connection to the land of Israel and Jerusalem exists. For example, at the Camp David meetings conducted by President Clinton, Yasser Arafat denied that the Jewish Temple was located in Jerusalem. However, a Jewish connection to Jerusalem and to the land of Israel reaches far back into ancient history and precedes the Holocaust. This bond is not 60 years old; it is more than 3,000 years old, pre-dating Islam and even Christianity.

President Obama is to be congratulated for reaching out to the Muslim and Arab worlds. As we do so, it is imperative that we stand with Israel. Only then will we achieve peace and stability in this troubled region of the world.

Today, Madam Speaker, I rise to share a kind word and to send my congratulations to one of Oklahoma's great women, Kim Henry, Oklahoma's first lady and the wife of our outstanding Governor.

Born in Norman and raised in Shawnee, Mrs. Henry would mature into a confident and independent woman who would eventually find her calling as a public schoolteacher. Throughout her tenure as Oklahoma's first lady, she has been a devoted mother to three beautiful daughters, and has been an active member of numerous charities.

One of those prominent Oklahoma organizations is the influential Sarkeys Foundation. Formed in 1962 by S.J. Sarkeys, the Sarkeys Foundation has contributed over $55 million to various Oklahoma cultural and economic initiatives. Last week, the Sarkeys Foundation asked Mrs. Henry to be its executive director. This is a significant moment in her life and also for the State of Oklahoma.

Congratulations to Oklahoma's first lady, Kim Henry. Your hard work and dedication to the State of Oklahoma doesn't go unnoticed.

Mr. Speaker, something very important occurred yesterday at the Prince George's County Trap and Ski Club. The Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus along with the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation came together, Democrats and Republicans, to have our annual shoot-out, and the results are as follows:

The top Republican shooter was Adam Putnam with a score of 53; the top Democrat, Mike Thompson, with a score of 59. The top gun member was Colin Peterson with 65. The top skeet shooter was me at 19. The top trap was Representative Carney at 21. Top sporting clays was Paul Ryan at 19.

But the most important, ladies and gentlemen, Democrats, 354; Republicans, 325. We have regained the trophy again this year.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a milestone for a prestigious institution of higher learning in Oklahoma. Rogers State University, with campuses located in Claremore, Bartlesville, and Pryor is turning 100 years old this month.

Founded in 1909, Rogers State University has been a center of excellence and learning for thousands of Oklahomans.

In 1998, the Oklahoma Legislature solidified the role of Rogers State University as a world class regional university by granting them full accreditation. RSU is one of only two universities in the state of Oklahoma to offer both associate of arts and bachelors degrees in various disciplines.

Rogers State University is one of the fastest-growing universities in Oklahoma. Over the last eight years Rogers State University's enrollment has jumped 70 percent. At one time RSU's enrollment registered just over 400, but in recent years it has swelled to boast a diverse student body of 4,000.

RSU is a national leader and pioneer in online learning. They are the first public university in the state of Oklahoma to offer associate and bachelor degrees completely online.

In athletics, the future looks just as promising for Rogers State. A few years ago, the RSU Hillcats gained acceptance into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, NAIA. RSU currently fields a multitude of athletic teams and competes in the Sooner Athletic Conference.

During their university's Centennial this year, the Hillcats won the Sooner Athletic Conference championship in men's basketball, and represented their school this month as the No. 1 seed in the NAIA Championship Tournament. In 2008, just their first year of Sooner Athletic Conference play, the RSU women's soccer team earned a conference championship.

RSU is the only university in Oklahoma to operate a full-power public television station. It also operates a radio station, and boasts a 120- acre nature conservatory located on the main campus in Claremore.

The university has also added significantly to their university infrastructure and facilities. Recently, the school opened a $13 million Student Services Center at its main campus and a $1.3 million expansion that will double the size of the campus at the Pryor location.

In these times of limited educational dollars, it is important for the United States Congress to remember the local and regional universities that educate so many of our citizens and allow them to benefit both the future of their family and our entire society. Rogers State University is an enormous asset to eastern Oklahoma and I come to the floor today to honor all they do.

Happy Birthday Rogers State University!

Mr. Speaker, I don't come to the House floor very often to speak. In fact, last year I addressed this body only a handful of times. I think that I am much more effective in representing my constituents by developing relationships in a personal setting rather than arguing my viewpoint on the House floor. But today marks a special time of year.

Mr. Speaker, the month of March is colon cancer awareness month. I think that it's only fitting that the month of March, a month where Congress has the most legislative work days, is devoted to an illness that is often relegated to the back burner of cancer awareness. Obviously, colon cancer is not an issue that garners a lot of headlines, but colon cancer has had a dramatic effect on my life, as it has millions of Americans.

I bring a picture of my mom up. Eleven years ago, my mom died of colon cancer. She was a vibrant woman. She was filled with joy. She was filled with optimism. This horrendous disease took her from Earth far too early. Because of colon cancer, she never had the opportunity to hold her granddaughter. She never had the opportunity to attend my wedding and see me marry my beautiful wife, Andrea. It's a tragedy that has forever left a void in my life.

You know, she was like so many mothers. She was always so proud of her son. She was always pushing me. She always cared about my grades. She always cared about how I did in school. And I was probably not the best student but she kept after me. She kept telling me how smart I was, and she kept pushing me.

The last memory I have of my mother is in a hospital room dying from this disease. She didn't get to see me become a Congressman. And like all Americans who have felt the pain and fear that comes with losing a loved one to cancer, I wouldn't wish that grief on anyone.

The reality, Mr. Speaker, is that I am not alone. This disease kills tens of thousands of Americans every year. It is the third most diagnosed cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer death in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that 150,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009, and out of that 150,000 citizens, over 50,000 of them will die from it.

What is so shocking about these deaths is the vast majority of them could have easily been prevented with a simple routine screening called a colonoscopy. That is 50,000 moms and dads and sons and daughters that could still be enjoying the great gift of life if they would have just taken the time to get a routine colonoscopy by their 50th birthday.

Mr. Speaker, a colonoscopy takes under 1 hour to complete, and the results you receive will literally save your life. The American Cancer Society estimates that if detected early, 90 percent of all colon cancer deaths could be prevented.

Now, just, if you will, take a look at this board here. Look at the stages. Now, the stage where my mom was diagnosed is stage IV. There's about an 11 percent survivability rate and at stage I, 90 percent, and despite the effectiveness of this colonoscopy that can figure this out, only 50 percent of Americans use this procedure.

I think that's a very shocking statistic. Compare that prevention rate with breast cancer, where over 80 percent of women get a routine mammogram, and you can see why I work so hard to spread the word on preventing this disease.

But there is some outstanding news. The outstanding news is that there is hope ahead in fighting this killer. The Centers for Disease Control, along with groups like the American Cancer Society and the Colorectal Cancer Coalition, have taken it upon themselves to raise awareness about this disease.

Specifically, the American Cancer Society has launched a campaign to push the number of Americans who get screened for colon cancer from 50 percent to 75 percent by the year 2015. It's a lofty goal, but it's a goal that's worthwhile. In fact, a few of my colleagues have introduced important legislation aimed at reaching this mile marker.

One particular piece of legislation that I hope will receive strong consideration in the House Energy and Commerce Committee is my legislation, H.R. 1330, the Colon Cancer Screening and Detection Act of 2009. My legislation is pretty simple. Just like a mammogram, my bill would require every health insurance plan in America, both group and individual, to cover a preventive colonoscopy before the deductible. This legislation is very badly needed.

One of the top reasons many Americans do not get screened is the cost. The average cost of a typical colonoscopy is over $1,000. That wouldn't be a concern to many citizens who are currently covered under a private health insurance plan, but most health insurance plans have deductibles exceeding $1,000, or worse, they have a restrictive cap on preventive care, sometimes as low as $250, and that's the issue.

We have thousands of Americans who are covered by insurance plans that pay little to none of the costs associated with a colonoscopy, so they never get one. It's a shame. We live in the

greatest country on Earth, and many of our citizens choose not to get a highly successful, life-saving, preventive test because their health plan doesn't cover it.

I'm aware that the health insurance industry is totally opposed to my legislation. They will argue that my bill will dramatically increase the cost of insurance, but there is little evidence to support their claim. They said the same thing when Members of Congress pushed hard to require insurance plans to cover mammograms in an effort to increase the rate of early diagnosis of breast cancer; yet almost every single State in America requires insurance companies to cover a mammogram, not subject to the deductible.

Furthermore, it has been well-documented that once colon cancer has progressed into the latter stage, the health care costs for treatment skyrocket and the survival rate plummets.

Now, let's look at the board again that I brought up earlier. Look at this stage I through IV, and I'll make my point here. With such a high success rate if detected early, it makes financial sense but it also makes moral sense to find and treat colon cancer as early and as soon as possible.

I believe that an industry, which is one of the most profitable in America, should lend its services toward preventing illness, not hampering our citizens' ability to discover it. Requiring health insurance plans to cover a colonoscopy is a commonsense approach to fighting colon cancer.

In fact, many in Congress have voted in the past to extend Medicare beneficiaries this very benefit. In July of 2008, Congress passed the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act. That, among other things, addressed the glaring deficiency in colon cancer prevention found in the Medicare program, and the language that was inserted into that bill to address colonoscopy access is very similar to the bill that I have introduced. That Medicare legislation, which passed the House of Representatives overwhelmingly, is a great piece of legislation that I think will save thousands of lives.

And in closing, before I turn it over to one of my colleagues, I want to encourage all Americans that are 50 and over who have not had a colonoscopy screening to get one, and if you have a family history like myself, I think you need to start earlier.

With increased awareness and some policy changes here in Congress, I believe that we can save tens of thousands of lives.

You know, colon cancer is a silent killer, and Mr. Speaker, with the help of colleagues like Congresswoman Kay Granger and Representative Patrick Kennedy I know who's an advocate on this issue, it is my hope that we can make a dramatic impact on this terrible and painful disease.

And I would like to call my colleague, Representative Granger, up and maybe she wants to share some of her thoughts about Colon Cancer Awareness Month, and I know representing Texas and Fort Worth of course, being an alum of TCU, I'm very proud of her leadership on these health issues. We've also worked together on tribal issues. I want to thank her and would like to yield to Congresswoman Kay Granger.

Thank you. I think you're hearing the same thing over and over again--my colleague, Kay Granger, talking about early detection, talking about how important it is to go and get that test.

We lost my mother. But if you look back in our family history, my grandfather had colon cancer, my grandmother had colon cancer. They did catch it early. So if you're someone out there who's watching this afternoon and you haven't gotten it done and you're thinking maybe you should do it--even if you're not at that 50 marker, if you have someone in your family who has been diagnosed in the past--

think about going and getting that test.

You know, Mr. Speaker, Katie Couric, the anchor of the CBS Evening News is a strong advocate for colon cancer awareness. She lost her husband to this disease and since then has led a personal campaign to bring awareness to this issue.

A few years back, she told a compelling story at her old job on the Today Show about a family that lost a loved one to this disease. I think it's a compelling story that I would like to share on the House floor today.

Mr. Speaker, Michael and Erin Stennis learned the hard facts about colon cancer in the worst possibly way. This is their story.

Michael Stennis, an ex-football player, was the picture of health-- 43, fit, a businessman who owned a chain of successful restaurants. He and his wife Erin had been married for 14 years and had two gorgeous children.

His wife discusses her husband's persona this way, ``He had a lot of strength of character. He was amazing. He wasn't afraid of voicing his opinions. He loved his friends, and his children were his life. He was the consummate family man.''

Mr. Speaker, you can tell that Michael was an all-American guy. Yet, it's hard to believe such a vibrant man would have such a difficult fight ahead of him.

Three years earlier, when he was just 40, Michael started experiencing irregular bowel habits and rectal bleeding. Like many Americans, he thought it was nothing serious. His wife began describing what happened, and said this, ``He had blood in his stool. He went to the doctor. Unbeknownst to me, the doctor suggested that he have a colonoscopy.

``My husband, being the very macho man that he is, did not want anything invasive. He just could not imagine that type of procedure taking place. So, like thousands of other Americans, he came home and said, `It's been taken care of.' And that was it.''

A few years later, Erin realized that something was very wrong with her husband. She said, ``It had gotten to the point where he was having such severe pain. Because he was an athlete, he sucked it up. He would say to himself, `If I feel something, oh, you know, I can work it out.' But it got to the point where the pain became so severe that he had trouble moving.

``Finally, in November of that year,'' she said, ``I walked into our bedroom and I saw him hunched over in the closet. Something was very wrong.''

So she finally got Michael to go in for the colonoscopy. And then they got the results. It was the evening of their daughter's Thanksgiving pageant. They got a call from their family doctor and friend, Peter Waldstein.

She described the scene this way: ``My husband was on one side of the room and I was on the other side. His cell phone went off and I could see him on the phone and I could see the change in his face. It was our dear friend Peter calling to tell us both the news. We knew from that moment on that our lives had changed forever,'' she explains.

He was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. The cancer had spread from Michael's colon and had metastasized to his liver. It was a devastating prognosis.

After a long 20-plus month fight with this horrendous disease, Michael Stennis died. He was 45 years old.

Mr. Speaker, this is a story that is told countless times across America. It is a story of a young and vibrant individual who has seen his or her life end far too early because of this horrendous disease. It's a sad case--a case that is very similar to the one that took my mom's life. It's a story similar to the one that took former White House Press Secretary Tony Snow's life. I think it's Congress's duty to do something about this.

My colleagues and I have introduced multiple pieces of legislation aimed at addressing this terrible cancer. But we need Congress to begin the process of examining it.

Every year, this disease takes thousands of lives. It is my hope that, with the support of groups like the American Cancer Society, the Colorectal Cancer Coalition, and my colleagues, we can make an impact.

I can't tell you how much I have personally lost from this--how many times I want to pick up the phone and I want to call my mom.

This is a real human face. These are real people that are dying. They don't have to be dying. All it takes is a simple test. My mom waited too long. She got the test too late.

I don't want this to happen to some other family in America. So I need your help, all those in Congress, all of my colleagues, but I also need the American people to write your Member of Congress.

I introduced this legislation in the last Congress, the 110th Congress. I got four cosponsors. People were scared about the insurance companies. But, let me tell you what. When given the choice between my mom and the insurance companies, the choice is very easy. We need to help these families. This is why I came to Congress.

I didn't come to Congress just because it is fun. I came to Congress to do something. This is what it is all about. Someone once said public service is about helping people. Let's help these families.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a significant milestone for a prestigious institution of higher learning in my state of Oklahoma. Northeastern State University, located in Tahlequah, is turning 100 years old this month.

Founded in 1909, Northeastern State University has been a center of learning and excellence for thousands of Oklahomans.

One hundred years ago this month, Governor Charles Haskell signed the document creating Northeastern State Normal School on the site of the former Cherokee National Female Seminary. Since that day, NSU has become a highly regarded academic institution and the fourth largest university in the state of Oklahoma.

With a student body of more then 9,000, NSU brings a broad swath of diversity to the learning environment. 29% of the students who attend Northeastern State are self-identified Native Americans.

NSU offers degree programs in four academic colleges and is home to Oklahoma's only College of Optometry.

On the athletic field, things look just as promising for Northeastern. NSU is a member of the NCAA Division II Lonestar Conference and fields teams in basketball, baseball, football, golf, soccer, softball and tennis.

In these times of limited educational dollars, it is important for the United States Congress to remember the local and regional universities that educate so many of our citizens. Northeastern State University is an enormous asset to eastern Oklahoma and I come to the floor today to honor all they do.

Happy Birthday Northeastern State University!

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sam Bradford and the entire OU Football team on their success, both individually and as a team, in the '08-'09 season.

Sam would be the first person to remind you that one doesn't win an award like the Heisman Trophy without the hard work, determination, and success of your fellow teammates, coaches, and staff.

He has said as much on many occasions. But in this instance, Sam Bradford also deserves special recognition for his poised leadership and his dedication to excellence on and off the field.

His exceptional play is matched only by the outstanding example that he sets for young student-athletes in Oklahoma and across the nation.

Congratulations, Sam, on winning the 2008-2009 Heisman Trophy.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in hope of raising the awareness of the House as to the significant health disparities facing medically underserved areas, particularly rural areas and those with large minority populations. Many parts of the country face shortages in health care providers and services. In the rural areas of my district in Eastern Oklahoma, we have a deep understanding of the significant health disparities facing populations in medically underserved areas.

As Congress moves forward with this initiative to stimulate our nation's prosperity, I urge your consideration of the great need in underserved areas for coherent health care delivery systems, systems that integrate primary care, preventive care, specialty care, and acute care, and that are connected through a health care technology infrastructure. I would like to work with you, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member, as this legislation proceeds to focus funding toward projects that take a comprehensive systemic approach in underserved communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act.

I would like to thank the gentlelady for yielding time to me on this important issue and give special thanks to Chairman Frank, Representative Kildee and Representative Watt in the Financial Services Committee for their hard work and dedication on this legislation.

Native American housing is an issue that is very important to me. It's very important to the State of Oklahoma. My congressional district is home to 17 of the 39 federally recognized tribes in Oklahoma and over 200,000 Native Americans.

In many places across Oklahoma, as well as the United States, the lack of quality affordable housing has reached crisis proportions in Native American communities.

Mr. Speaker, poor housing conditions are clear signs of poverty and economic distress. In fact, the poverty rate for Native Americans is nearly three times that of other Americans, which contributes to Native people living in some of the worst housing conditions in our Nation. These substandard housing conditions are worsened by overcrowding that is three times more prevalent throughout tribal areas.

The legislation currently before the House has significant provisions to assist in the restoration of older developments and the construction of new housing for the benefit of low-income Native Americans. It's my hope with these Federal dollars that we can begin to lift up and improve the housing problems on our tribal lands. I am also pleased that this legislation will give tribes the sovereign authority to make many of their own business decisions with this funding.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank, again, my good friends, Congressmen Mel Watt, Kildee and Frank and all other parties who have worked closely with the issue regarding Freedmen membership and the Cherokee Nation. We can all agree that this has been a very contentious issue at times. However it has always been my belief that we in Congress should let the courts finish their work on this matter before interfering.

I am pleased that all involved could come together in this effort and move this important legislation forward in a bipartisan manner.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with the support of 300 of my colleagues to honor a forgotten group of American war heroes. As many of you know, the State of Oklahoma has a long and rich Native American heritage. My congressional district is home to 17 of the 37 federally recognized tribes headquartered in Oklahoma.

Millions of these Native Americans count themselves among the proud veterans who defended this Nation during a time of war. But today, Mr. Speaker, I ask my fellow colleagues to join me in honoring the brave service of a small group of veterans. It is estimated that 12,000 Native Americans served in our Armed Forces during World War I and over 45,000 bravely fought during World War II. Among those was a small band of Choctaw Indians that were the beginning of what would become the Native American Code Talkers. They

would eventually play a critical but very unique role in the Allies' victory over evil and tyranny.

During World War I, feeling a sense of duty to the cause of freedom, a number of Choctaws answered the call to serve. They began their service assigned to the 142nd Infantry of the 36th Division of the Texas-Oklahoma National Guard. Their first action was as a unit in France. At that time, communication by telephone and by radio on the battlefield was still developing. But both types of transmissions were under constant surveillance by the German enemy.

Army movements and supply shipments were being ambushed by the Germans on a constant basis costing thousands of lives. At one point Colonel A.W. Bloor, the commanding officer of the 142nd Infantry, believed that the Germans were cracking every message his division sent by radio or by phone. Frustrated with the division's inability to communicate safely, an officer recalled that the division included a company of Native Americans. After hearing these men speak to one another on a regular basis, it occurred to him that their language could hold the key to encoding the Allies' transmissions. After all, a few of these men spoke 20 dialects, many of which had never even been written.

In October of 1918, the Choctaw Code Talkers' ability to secretly communicate over radio resulted in a surprise momentum-shifting attack on the German enemy in northern France's Argonne forest. What began as 6 to 10 Choctaw transmitting a handful of coded messages quickly grew into a much larger group of soldiers spread across the European battle front. As the tide of World War I began to turn in favor of the Allies, military commanders came to rely on these Native American Code Talkers to communicate their most sensitive information.

Many believe to this day that not a single Code Talker transmission was ever cracked by the enemy. Army leaders began to notice immediately that troop movements were no longer mirrored and supply convoys were not ambushed. After realizing the effectiveness of the Choctaw Code Talkers, U.S. military leadership sought out and recruited leaders of such tribes as the Comanche, Choctaw, Seminole, Hopis, Cherokee, Sioux, Navaho, as well as many others.

During World War II, the Native American Code Talkers would once again prove their effectiveness, this time on two fronts, in the Pacific and in Europe. Many high-ranking military officials contend that the United States would have never won the Battle of Iwo Jima without the unbreakable communications of the Native American Code Talkers.

So, Mr. Speaker, with this historical contribution to liberty and freedom in mind, it is our duty to honor these brave men, their families and their tribes. Let us never forget the valiant and noble service of the Native American Code Talkers. They are truly some of America's greatest war heroes.

In closing, I would like to take a moment to thank the many people who have worked tirelessly to commemorate these brave men. There are far too many to name in a brief time, but I would like to mention a few. I would like to commend the National Congress of American Indians for supporting this legislation and for their unwavering dedication to Native Americans everywhere. I would also like to acknowledge Chairman Frank and his staff for working with me on bringing this legislation to the floor. I would also pay tribute to Dale Kildee, and most especially my colleague from Oklahoma, Tom Cole, for his tireless effort in getting so many of the cosponsors on this legislation.

Finally, I would like to thank Chief Gregory Pyle of the Choctaw Nation. His dedication and leadership to his people, to all Native Americans, to the State of Oklahoma and to this great Nation is the mark of a true statesman. I am proud to call him both a mentor and a friend.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge support for the Native American Code Talkers Act.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We're proud that you were born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in support of the Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act. That's a long name. This legislation represents an investment in America's future that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, develop our domestic energy resources, and lower energy costs for American families.

There are several reasons to support this bill. However, the most important one is that it expands the use of natural gas as a reliable energy resource for the future.

Natural gas is clean, it is efficient, it is less expensive, and as recent studies have shown, available in abundant supplies. The natural gas provisions in this bill greatly expand our Nation's domestic gas infrastructure by providing tax incentives for consumers to install natural gas refueling stations in their homes and creating more natural gas pumps at gas stations across the United States.

In my home State of Oklahoma, we have a long and proud legacy of leadership in providing our Nation with reliable energy. The energy industry in Oklahoma is one of the largest private employers in my State, providing economic opportunity to Oklahomans and a sense of purpose in helping our Nation meet its energy needs.

In my congressional district, we have seen counties where unemployment rates stood between 10 and 15 percent year after year, now are reporting rates below 2 percent because of the energy industry. That is the type of economic prosperity that the natural gas provisions in this bill could bring to many other places across the United States.

It's been said that natural gas is the bridge that will allow us--and you see this in the Boone Pickens ads--that will allow us to reach domestic energy independence and a future of renewable energy. Mr. Speaker, the natural gas provisions in this legislation will build that bridge.

It's been an honor to work closely with my friend and colleague Representative Rahm Emanuel to make sure that the provisions of our natural gas vehicle bill were included in this legislation.

In addition to natural gas, I'm also supportive of the expansion of coastal drilling. It is another critical step toward reducing our dependence on foreign oil and ultimately lowering gas prices.

I have long supported expanded offshore drilling, as well as drilling in ANWR and everywhere else domestic energy can be found. It is my hope that as we move forward we can work together to increase domestic drilling opportunities in future legislation.

While I support this bill before us today, I do have concerns about several provisions, including the repeal of important energy tax incentives, the increase of royalty fees, as well as the so-called use- it-or-lose-it requirement.

I also feel that the renewable electricity standard included in this bill could very well be an unrealistic mandate as it is written currently.

I look forward to working with my fellow colleagues to address these concerns in the future, but at the end of the day, I support this legislation because it represents a critical turning point in our Nation's energy future. Today is the day we begin to open our domestic drilling opportunities. It is a day when we created a new market for the benefits of natural gas and a day when we began to take action towards securing our energy independence.

Rather than viewing oil and gas companies as enemies as a lot of people on my side of the aisle do, I think they are for American progress. We must instead view them as partners in the effort to provide innovative solutions that we need.

The contents of this bill were written in the spirit of compromise, and I commend my fellow colleagues on both sides of the aisle that have dedicated their efforts to increase energy supplies in this country.

For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support the final passage of this legislation.