Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, as unemployment remains painfully high, and we see our students falling behind in math and science, Americans are asking: What can be done to make our future better?

Although today's bill won't gain big headlines, it is a critical step forward. This approach to research, education, and innovation will lead to a better prepared and better educated domestic workforce and an economy built for long-term success.

I am particularly grateful for the leadership of Chairman Bart Gordon, the driving force behind the original COMPETES bill and this reauthorization. He has accomplished much in his 26 years in Congress and has fought tirelessly to make Congress and all Americans realize that science and engineering advancements mean economic growth.

As a former college professor, an engineer, and an advocate for American manufacturing, I firmly believe that this bill will help create jobs and ensure a higher standard of living for future generations.

Much of the National Science Foundation title of this bill comes from my bill in the Research and Science Education Subcommittee. Although not as much as I would like to see, this compromise authorizes a steady, responsible increase in research and STEM education funding and properly emphasizes commercialization. The bill also includes language based on the GENIUS Act I introduced with Frank Wolf to authorize offering cash prizes for solutions to our most difficult scientific problems.

Perhaps most important are the provisions that will help reinvigorate American manufacturing, including the newly created NSF manufacturing research program, and an initiative to help smaller manufacturers reduce costs and increase quality through high-performance computing.

The bill calls for a national competitiveness strategy that includes some elements from my National Manufacturing Strategy Act that the House passed this past summer.

I urge my colleagues to join me not only in voting for this today, but also fighting to fully fund it. If we want to maintain our economic strength, we cannot shortchange critical investments made in this bill for our people or for our research infrastructure. I urge passage of this bill, and I want to especially thank Chairman Bart Gordon for all of his work in Congress and all that he has accomplished. This bill is a great testament to his leadership.

I'd like to thank the gentlelady from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum) for organizing tonight's Special Order.

I said 4 years ago, no one in the history of Congress became chairman of a committee who was better prepared than Jim Oberstar. From the time he started here working in 1963 for John Blatnik, through all these years, it was not just Jim's experience and expertise that made him such a great chairman and great Member, but also his work ethic, his willingness to reach out across the aisle, and ability to get the job done.

Jim Oberstar always had a thoughtful and thorough approach to policy- making. There is a simple reason why he was known as Mr. Transportation. It's because from aviation, to highways and transit, to maritime transportation, to water infrastructure and public buildings, and of course, to cycling, he has truly shaped the way we

think about transportation and infrastructure.

During my four years of service on the House T&I Committee, I can honestly say not a day went by in that committee room where I did not learn something from Jim Oberstar, and I would have learned more if only I knew more than a dozen French words--although I do know Tour de France, and Jim taught me a few things about cycling, both on and off the bike, and those who know Jim know he truly is a Renaissance man.

Now, at the same time we talk about everything that's happened here in Washington, Jim knew, he knows that you have to be hands on. You can't learn everything by sitting in a committee room. You have to go out, roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and that's exactly what he did.

As Chicagoland's only member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I had what I think was about my yearly visit from Jim Oberstar. I was very happy to welcome him to ride the rails and trails and, together, see firsthand the challenges facing the region in transportation. He always listened carefully, often time taking notes while providing valuable perspective and insights that come from his decades of experience.

But Jim didn't only visit Democratic districts. To quote the chairman, I've never seen a Democratic road or a Republican bridge. Working together we can build all-American roads and all-American bridges. If Washington had only listened to and followed the leadership more of Jim Oberstar, our country would be much better off today.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Oberstar, Jim, for his service, for his teaching, and for his friendship. And I know that although he's leaving Congress, his days as Mr. Transportation are far from over.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Ian Seivwright, who has contributed to the safety and welfare of Western Springs residents over the last 50 years as a member of the Western Springs Fire Department. His final day with the fire department will be October 1, 2010.

Western Springs was founded in 1886 and established its fire department eight years later in 1894. During its 115-year history, the fire department has been invaluable to the residents of Western Springs thanks to the bravery and commitment of its volunteer, full-time, and part-time firefighters.

As a member of the Western Springs Fire Department for almost half of its long history, Mr. Seivwright has touched many lives, whether through extinguishing fires, saving lives, or by leading and teaching young firefighters. Mr. Seivwright showed an early interest in firefighting and public service at age 13 when he was a junior high student in Western Springs. He would observe and follow local firefighters, waiting for the day when he would be old enough to serve. Mr. Seivwright eventually became a full-time member of the Western Springs Fire Department, and thanks to his skill, integrity, and dedication, rose to the position of Deputy Chief.

In addition to serving his community, Ian Seivwright also served his country as an officer in the United States Navy in the late 1960s and early 1970s, where he distinguished himself in his service with the Pacific fleet.

Mr. Seivwright's commitment to residents of Western Springs and the fire department will be sorely missed as he retires. He has been a great asset to his community. His retirement is truly worthy of special recognition and commendation.

Mr. Seivwright has inspired those around him to be courageous, helpful, and professional just as he has been. I am certain his legacy will continue to motivate young public servants for years to come.

I ask you to join me in honoring Mr. Ian Seivwright for his work on behalf of the residents of Western Springs, and to wish him a well- deserved, long, and happy retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Christine M. Wiseman, who began serving as the 19th president of Saint Xavier University in Chicago on June 1, 2010. Her commitment to Catholic education and her strong credentials ensure that she will lead Saint Xavier University to new heights during her tenure.

President Wiseman has a long record of excellence in academia. Prior to her appointment at Saint Xavier, she was Provost and Professor of Law at Loyola University of Chicago. She directed the academic division at Loyola, which is the largest Catholic research institution in the United States. Before leaving for Loyola University in 2007, she served as the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Creighton University, where she led strategic planning and reaccreditation efforts. She was also Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the Marquette University Law School and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University, making her the first woman to reach senior administration at Marquette. Her experience as a high-level administrator at Creighton University, Loyola University in Chicago and Marquette University will certainly benefit her as the leader of Saint Xavier.

The basis for a good education is quality instruction, and President Wiseman has a strong record in teaching as well. In 1991, she received the Marquette University Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence. Her decades of teaching experience at Loyola, Marquette, and Creighton will help her make instruction a top priority at Saint Xavier University.

President Wiseman has also been honored multiple times for her public service. She was named the Wisconsin Civil Liberties Union Volunteer Attorney of the Year in 1989 and the Spirit of the Law School recipient in 2003 at Marquette for being a role model to the school's students. Her commitment to public service and the disadvantaged will have a strong impact on the students of Saint Xavier University.

Saint Xavier University is a Catholic university with over 5,000 students and was founded in 1846 by the Sisters of Mercy. Its main campus is located in the Mt. Greenwood neighborhood of Chicago. The school was rated as one of the top 40 comprehensive master's universities in the Midwest by U.S. News and World Report in 2009 and will only improve its academic and service standards under the guidance of their new President Christine Wiseman.

I ask you to join me in honoring President Christine Wiseman on her appointment as president of Saint Xavier University, and may she and the university enjoy many continuing years of prosperity and academic excellence.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the faculty, students, and parents of McClure Junior High School, a school of 541 students in Western Springs, Illinois. The school was awarded the prestigious Blue Ribbon Award by the U.S. Department of Education on September 9, 2010.

The Blue Ribbon Award program was founded in 1982 by the Department of Education to reward the most outstanding schools in the country. Out of the more than 132,000 eligible schools in the United States, only 304 earned the Blue Ribbon distinction in 2010.

McClure Junior High School has been identified as a ``High Performing'' school, meaning

the students scored significantly higher on standardized state assessments than their peer schools. McClure was one of only 84 middle schools in the country, and one of 19 Illinois schools to be distinguished with this award.

Thanks to the dedication of McClure Junior High School faculty, the hard work of the students, and the encouragement of their parents, the school has been identified as one of the very best in the United States.

I ask you to join me in congratulating the faculty, students, and parents of McClure Junior High School for their receipt of a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Award, one of the highest honors a middle school can earn.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2378, the Currency Reform for

Fair Trade Act. I am a proud cosponsor of this bill, and am pleased that this measure has been brought up for a vote.

American manufacturers are facing numerous challenges during this recession, but China's manipulation of its currency is undoubtedly the most insidious. These unfair practices put U.S. firms at a distinct disadvantage in their efforts to remain competitive and to export goods to a growing global market. By fixing the value of the renminbi to the American dollar, China effectively undervalues its currency by at least 25 percent and affords its manufacturers an unfair advantage, making their exports artificially cheap. As a result of this manipulation, American-made products are unable to compete in the marketplace and American manufacturers and other exporters are forced to lay off workers.

H.R. 2378 will begin to address this market exploitation by allowing the United States to assess countervailing and anti-dumping duties on products exported from any nation that benefits from the export subsidy of manipulated currency. It has been estimated that by implementing these duties as many as 500,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs will be created. And by making American manufacturers more competitive, we can begin to overcome the estimated 1.4 percent annual GDP reduction caused by China's currency manipulation.

While both Presidents Bush and Obama have sought to address China's currency manipulation diplomatically through both bilateral and multilateral channels, China has provided only empty pledges to allow its currency to float freely with the market--pledges that have never truly been realized. When one looks at the value of the Chinese renminbi against the U.S. dollar, it is remarkable how unnaturally flat the rate has remained for the last 2 years. Though the renminbi has appreciated by a tiny amount in recent months, this is an obvious attempt by the Chinese to leave the impression that it is acting responsibly with respect to its currency, when in fact we all know that is not the case. This legislation is crucial to overcoming China's failed promises to operate in the global economy under fair rules and standards.

This is not some esoteric exercise. China's currency manipulation has a direct effect on a wide range of U.S. manufacturers, from steel to paper, machinery to textiles. It has driven firms out of business and cost us millions of jobs, especially in the Midwest. It serves to decrease exports and widen our trade deficit with China at a time when we need to be expanding our exports and growing our economy. As my constituent Zach Mottl, of Atlas Tool and Die and the Tool and Manufacturing Association, said, ``a few percentage point difference [in currency value] can make that difference in terms of whether a company buys here or buys overseas.''

It is the government's duty to defend the American people. American workers and families have been under assault for years from China's unfair currency policy which steals American jobs. While we've been playing by the rules, China has enriched itself by deliberately ignoring them. Our policy has been all carrot and no stick, with unfortunate but predictable consequences. We cannot continue to allow American businesses and workers to be put out of work by China's currency manipulation. I am pleased to support this much needed, bipartisan legislation, and I urge the Senate to quickly act on this important measure in order to bring fairness and balance to international trade.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1630, expressing support for National POW/MIA Recognition Day, which occurred on September 17.

With every war America wages, our Nation owes a greater debt to the courageous and selfless members of the United States Armed Forces who have fought to secure our freedom and liberty. During the course of these conflicts, more than 138,000 brave American service men and women have been detained or interned as prisoners of war. Many suffered through torture, forced labor, and unspeakable hardships. Some POWs return home; others did not. They all deserve our recognition and our gratitude.

Also deserving special recognition are those Americans who never return from war--who are missing in action. Indeed, there remain today over 84,000 missing in action soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who are unaccounted for on the battlefields of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the cold war, and the gulf war.

One particular group of American heroes I want to mention today are the more than 500 U.S. marines and sailors from World War II who remain unaccounted for on the small Pacific atoll of Tarawa. I worked with Armed Forces Committee Chairman Ike Skelton to include language in the 2010 defense reauthorization urging the Defense Department to review new research on the location of the remains of U.S. servicemen on Tarawa and to do everything feasible to see that they are recovered.

The Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, JPAC, has just returned from Tarawa with word that they have recovered the remains of what they believe to be two U.S. servicemen. I, along with the families of those missing servicemembers, look forward to receiving the full report on this mission.

It is our obligation to honor the extraordinary service of all American POWs and MIAs. Congress first passed a resolution commemorating National POW/MIA Recognition Day in 1979. Since then, the third Friday of every September has been set aside to give remembrance to our Nation's prisoners of war, unaccounted for military personnel, and their families and friends.

So long as members of our Armed Forces remain unaccounted for, we must expend every effort to bring them home to the country in whose defense they fought and sacrificed. It is vital that today's troops and their families know the U.S. will pursue all possible measures to fulfill the promise of recovery.

I want to highlight the unwavering commitment of the military commands devoted to recovering remains and providing solace and closure to the families of Americans who remain missing in action from previous conflicts. The Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command has successfully undertaken countless missions throughout the world to bring home the remains of fallen servicemembers, and the efforts of the Defense Department's POW/Missing Personnel Office, the Armed Forces Identification Laboratory, the Life Sciences Equipment Laboratory, and numerous veterans and POW/MIA organizations are more than deserving of recognition as well.

And, unfortunately, we cannot forget the two U.S. servicemen who are currently listed as held captive in Iraq and Afghanistan. We will continue to pray for a swift and auspicious end to their ordeal.

I want to thank my colleagues who joined me in cosponsoring this resolution, as well as House Armed Services Committee Chairman Skelton for his help in moving that resolution.

I want to thank Mr. Critz for his work on this issue and other issues in serving our veterans, and also Mr. Jones for all his work for our veterans.

Until they are home, our thoughts and prayers will forever remain with the families, friends and loved ones of those Americans who have suffered through tremendous hardship for their country.

I ask all my colleagues to join in support of National POW/MIA Recognition Day and to take a moment to reflect upon the immeasurable sacrifices made by America's service men and women to ensure our freedom.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the residents of Countryside, Illinois, a city in my district that is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The first settlers came to Countryside in the early 19th century. Joseph Vial and his family are credited with being some of the first to reach the area in 1833. The rich land provided for a rural farming community that remained quietly productive for decades. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 resulted in the first population boom in Countryside, as city dwellers began to move outside of Chicago to less congested areas.

Despite the influx of new residents, Countryside maintained a quiet and peaceful community through the end of World War II, when the second population boom hit the city. Affordable land enticed urbanites to build new homes in many suburbs like Countryside. The area provided a tranquil community where families could raise and educate their children.

In 1960, the City of Countryside was officially incorporated with a population of about 2,000. The city has since grown to almost 6,000 residents, yet still maintains its charm and remains a close-knit community perfect for raising families.

On Saturday, September 25th, I will be joining Mayor Robert Conrad and hundreds of families in Countryside for the city's 50th Anniversary Party in the Park. Today, I ask you to join me in honoring the residents of Countryside, Illinois on their 50th anniversary as a city. May they continue to thrive and be a welcoming community for families and visitors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the clergy, faculty, staff, students, and parishioners of St. John of the Cross Parish, a Catholic community in Western Springs, Illinois. This Saturday, September 18th, the parish is beginning a year-long celebration of 50 years as a faith community. My wife, Judy, and I will be participating in the first anniversary event which is a Mass celebrated by Francis Cardinal George followed by a parish family dinner reception.

Responding to a growing Catholic population in Western Springs in the 1950s, the Archbishop of Chicago, Albert Cardinal Meyer, authorized the founding of St. John of the Cross Parish in 1960. The original parish included 650 families. The church flourished under its first pastor, Reverend William J. Bennett, and opened a K-8 school of 595 students one year later.

Over the last 50 years, St. John of the Cross has been a pillar of the community in Western Springs. Its primary mission is feeding the spiritual needs of its 13,000 Catholic parishioners in 3,875 families. It is also one of the most generous faith communities in Chicagoland, including providing financial help and cultivating personal relationships with five churches around the U.S. and one in Uganda, along with helping to serve the basic needs of countless people in the area and around the world. St. John of the Cross Parish also supports a school that currently enrolls 700 students and is one of the top schools in Chicagoland.

As a parishioner of St. John of the Cross Parish, I have been able to witness first-hand the dedication and hard work of current pastor, Reverend David P. Dowdle, and the previous pastor, Reverend Richard Hines. All of the priests and staff members of St. John of the Cross cultivate a culture of charity and community among the parish.

I ask you to join me in honoring the clergy, faculty, staff, students, and parishioners of St. John of the Cross on the parish's 50th anniversary. May they enjoy this year-long celebration and may they provide many more years of commitment and service to the community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Lance Corporal Anthony Robertson of the United States Marine Corps.

Lance Corporal Robertson grew up in Justice, Illinois and currently lives in neighboring Willow Springs. After joining the Marines, he was deployed to Afghanistan. While there, he was severely injured by a roadside bomb. It was an honor to personally congratulate and thank Lance Corporal Robertson, and his wife, Sheri Robertson for his brave service when we met on July 26th at a welcome home celebration conducted by the Village of Justice. His sacrifice will rightfully be honored with a Purple Heart--our Nation's oldest actively used military medal.

It is a privilege to welcome home to his family and community someone who has given so much. As Lance Corporal Robertson prepares to enter the ranks of almost 600,000 living veterans who have received the Purple Heart Medal, I ask you to join me in honoring his service, and the work of all men and women in uniform who have shed blood in the service of our country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Children's Museum in Oak Lawn, as its staff and volunteers celebrate the first- year anniversary of the Museum's expansion to a new building.

Since it was first established in 2003, the Museum has become a well- known and much-loved institution in my District. Drawing 10,000 visitors when it first opened its doors, the Museum attracted over 85,000 visitors from over 36 states in the first year at its new location. The Museum gives children and their families an important place for fun and relaxation, while also actively immersing children in the joyful world of learning. The Museum's staff has taken care to align the exhibits with the Illinois Learning Standards required of schools. As a result, over 150 schools have reached out to the Museum to enrich their curricula and take their students on field trips. At a time when evidence increasingly demonstrates that learning environments and enrichment activities in early childhood profoundly affect later life outcomes, the importance of the Museum's work becomes increasingly clear.

From the Museum's beginnings in a small space of 900 square feet, it has grown into an institution that stands as a pillar of Oak Lawn, Illinois' 3rd District, and beyond. I look forward to continuing to work with the Museum's staff, volunteers, and supporters to strengthen the Museum for many years to come. I ask you to join me in congratulating the Children's Museum in Oak Lawn on its work and the first-year anniversary of its new facilities, as well as to wish it many more years of success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Sergeant Glenn Latronico of Oak Lawn, Illinois, who is returning home after a fifth tour of duty in the Middle East as an Army Ranger.

U.S. military forces currently rely on the sacrifice and dedication of volunteer soldiers. The freedom every one of us enjoys today depends on the choice made by hundreds of thousands of men and women to risk their own lives for the sake of others through military service.

But even among our dedicated soldiers, the service of certain individuals can rise far above and beyond the call of duty. Sergeant Latronico began his service six years ago with basic training at the age of 18, and proceeded to undergo additional rigorous requirements to become an Army Ranger. After basic training, Army Rangers must take part in Advanced Individual Training and obtain a Military Occupational Specialty; complete Airborne Training; and attend the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program. Not every soldier chooses or is able to fulfill these additional requirements. Sergeant Latronico's completion of this training alone places him among the elite in our military forces.

With his training completed, Sergeant Latronico took part in five tours of duty--two in Iraq and three in Afghanistan. His steadfast service in the face of difficult conditions on the ground in these two countries exemplifies dedication, discipline, and unwavering resolve. I am proud to welcome such a committed soldier back home to my district. I ask you to join me in honoring his sacrifice, a reminder of the very best that our young servicemen and women can offer our great country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4692, the National Manufacturing Strategy Act.

Over the past decade, almost one-third of American manufacturing jobs have disappeared. After 110 years as the world's top manufacturing country, the United States is about to lose that perch to China. We all know how hard it is when we go anywhere to buy toys, tools--whatever it is, we know how hard it is to find ``made in the USA'' on a label, but American manufacturing job loss is not inevitable, and I do not accept the notion that there is nothing that we can do. Clearly, another decade like the last one would dramatically undermine the American middle class and our national security.

That is why I introduced the National Manufacturing Strategy Act. I worked with business, labor, and trade organizations to make this a bipartisan bill with broad support, and I submit for the Record letters of this support from some of these organizations.

The Strategy Act requires the President to appoint a board composed of government and private-sector personnel to conduct an in-depth analysis of American manufacturing. Then they must produce a strategy that includes short-term and long-term goals for creating jobs, improving domestic production, investment, international competitiveness, and for assuring an adequate defense industrial base.

Finally, the President and the board must deliver specific recommendations for accomplishing these goals. Like America's Quadrennial Defense Review, the manufacturing strategy will be updated every 4 years, enabling us to build upon successful initiatives

while correcting course as necessary. The Government Accountability Office will have to produce an analysis of progress on the implementation of the strategy. All of this is designed to make sure that the board is producing something and that we are following through on it.

Mr. Speaker, the passage of the National Manufacturing Strategy Act will ensure that American manufacturing remains on the national agenda. Numerous other countries already have manufacturing strategies, including not only China and India, but the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil, Japan, and Germany. It is about time that America does the same before it is too late for middle class Americans and for our national security.

Some may say that the time for American manufacturing has passed. I don't believe this. I know that American manufacturers can compete with anyone in the world if we have a level playing field and if we are planning ahead. In my district, from Atlas Tool & Die, to Corey Steel, to Archer Wire, to West Bend, to ODM, they are just a few of the manufacturers who are making it and are having a difficult time, but they can do it. All American manufacturers can do it because America has the greatest manufacturers in the world.

I would like to thank Majority Leader Hoyer and Caucus Chairman Larson for bringing this bill to the floor. I would like to thank Congressman Braley for his work on this, along with Chairman Bobby Rush and Ranking Member Whitfield for the work that they did in improving this bill. Thank you for your comments.

I wanted to make sure that we made this a strong bipartisan bill that we could agree upon. There are a lot of issues that are out there, and I believe we must continue to promote policies to help create jobs immediately. We are not going to agree on all of those, but I think this is something that we can agree upon. The National Manufacturing Strategy Act establishes a process for strengthening American manufacturing over the long term, and it is something that we must do.

I ask my colleagues today to support this important legislation. Pass this bill.

American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial

Organizations,

Washington, DC, July 15, 2010.

Hon. Daniel Lipinski,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Representative Lipinksi: On behalf of the ten million

working men and women of the AFL-CIO, I write in support of

the National Manufacturing Strategy Act of 2010 (NMSA), H.R.

4692.

The quickest road to economic recovery and reversing high

unemployment is boosting domestic production and creating

good paying jobs right here at home. The best way to pursue

this is by developing a comprehensive strategy to pursue

these goals.

The NMSA provides a road map to do just that by requiring

the President to conduct a thorough analysis of the U.S.

manufacturing sector and prepare a quadrennial report to

Congress. This report must include short and long-term

recommendations as well as plans for improving domestic

production, investment and competitiveness.

This important work would be conducted by a governmental

Manufacturing Strategy Task Force comprised of federal

officials and governors and convened by the President. The

task force would be assigned with soliciting public views;

holding public meetings, assessing manufacturing policy; and

supporting the President's overall manufacturing strategy.

Over the past decade too many investors and domestic

businesses focused on short-term profits and outsourcing of

jobs. It is time to refocus and recommit the United States to

a long-term strategy of domestic prosperity and

sustainability. The NMSA is a key component to starting that

process.

The National Manufacturing Strategy Act has bipartisan

sponsorship and is supported by the AFL-CIO.

Sincerely,

William Samuel,

Director,

Government Affairs Department.

Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) was just down here. I wanted to thank him again for really putting forward this make it in America, sell it to the world. That is what we need to do. You ask any American. They know that is what we need to do to keep this recovery going and really get us out of this recession.

I also want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo) for all of the work that he has done. We've worked closely together since I have been in Congress on manufacturing. And I think the chart he had up here was one of the best reasons why we need this strategy.

The government is doing a lot on manufacturing; it's just disjointed. It's oftentimes ad hoc. We need to bring that together. So I thank Mr. Manzullo for his work on that, and that's just a great example.

And those who say maybe the government shouldn't be doing anything on manufacturing, we are already doing a lot. Let's get it together and let's do it right.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Dennis Trybus, a constituent in my district who has nurtured children and adults with developmental disabilities to their full potential for the past 12 years while serving as the Executive Director at the Helping Hand Rehabilitation Center.

Helping Hand has been a fixture in my district for over five decades. Established in 1955 at a time when little support existed for children with disabilities and their families, it has now grown into a successful, respected institution serving 500 individuals per year and offering varied services from education to therapy and from vocational support to residential placement in independent group homes.

For the last 12 years, Helping Hand has flourished under the steady hand of the Executive Director Dr. Trybus. Dr. Trybus spearheaded key expansion projects for Helping Hand, with the construction of three new group homes and the establishment of a specialized school for children with autism--a state of the art model facility. Through his long tenure at Helping Hand, he has built many warm relationships with the Center's clients, their families, and the Center's staff, encouraging a culture of commitment and caring at this institution.

Dr. Trybus' commitment to Helping Hand and to its clients will be sorely missed as he retires from this position--an occasion truly worthy of special recognition and commendation. But his achievements will enable Helping Hand to carry on its work long into the future; and I am happy to announce that Helping Hand will celebrate his legacy by naming its newly constructed Wellness Center in his honor.

I ask you to join me in honoring Dr. Dennis Trybus and his work on behalf of people with developmental disabilities, and to wish him a well-deserved long and happy retirement.

I would like to commend Chairman Skelton and Ranking Member McKeon for all of their work on this bill and for our troops.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of three Buy American amendments that I've offered, I along with Ms. Donna Edwards and Mr. Chris Murphy. These amendments would bolster national security, and they would create American jobs--two critical goals for America.

In this recession, the loss of our manufacturing base to countries such as China has only sped up. This is bad enough when it involves consumer goods, but depending on foreign companies to supply America's military weakens our national security.

When the Buy American Act was first passed in 1933, it exempted goods used abroad because of shipping time and expense, but that has changed, and it is time American manufacturers competed for these contracts. In 2008, the DOD spent over $8 billion on products used abroad. My amendment would give U.S. companies a chance to compete by requiring the DOD to solicit bids from American suppliers.

This and the other Buy American amendments will strengthen our national security and will create American jobs. I urge my colleagues to support these amendments, the en bloc amendments.

Go, Hawks.