Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I was unable to cast votes on the following legislative measures on March 5 and March 6. If I were present for rollcall votes, I would have voted ``yea'' on each of the following bills:

Roll 119, March 5, 2007: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 995--To amend Public Law 106-348 to extend the authorization for establishing a memorial in the District of Columbia to honor veterans who served in the Armed Forces;

Roll 120, March 5, 2007: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 497--The Brigadier General Francis Marion Memorial Act;

Roll 121, March 6, 2007: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to the Resolution H. Res. 98--Honoring the life and achievements of the late Dr. John Garang de Mabior and reaffirming the continued commitment of the House of Representatives to a just and lasting peace in the Republic of the Sudan;

Roll 122, March 6, 2007: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to the Resolution H. Res. 149--Supporting the goals of International Women's Day.

Madam Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 800, the Employee Free Choice Act, which is designed to level the playing field for those wishing to form and join labor unions.

Thomas Wolfe once said, ``To every man his chance, his golden opportunity to become whatever his talents, ambitions and hard work combine to make him.'' That is the premise of America. And I would imagine if he was alive today, he would just say, to every man and to every woman, their golden opportunities to become.

The ability to join like-minded people in pursuit of fairness, equity and increased opportunities should be the right of all people. This legislation affirms that right and helps to protect the greatest economy in the world, working class Americans who belong to unions.

I agree with those who say that every American has the right to organize. But those rights must be protected, promoted and made real. H.R. 800 does exactly that, I and strongly urge its passage.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the start of the Chinese New Year. Approximately 40,000 Chicagoans enjoy a Chinese heritage, and I wish to celebrate with them the turning of year 4705, the year of the Fire Boar.

The year of the Fire Boar starts Sunday, February 18. The New Year brings a time for cleansing the home to sweep away misfortune and welcoming in the New Year with hopes of prosperity and good luck. I look forward to the Chinese New Year because it reflects the end of winter and marks the beginning of spring. Indeed, the Spring Festival, as it also is known, is a time to give thanks for one's blessings, celebrate family, resolve arguments, and prepare the community to embark on a new year with hope and charity. We should all take advantage of the opportunity to explore and share in this treasured tradition with family and friends. Embracing this tradition honors the richness of our diversity as Americans. Also, it stands to reason, that as we benefit from the year of the Fire Pig, we should all make a pledge to donate some good fortune to others less fortunate than ourselves.

This year will be the 24th annual Chinese Lunar New Year celebration in Chicago's Chinatown, which I am proud to say, resides in my Congressional District. I am honored to participate in Chinese New Year celebrations, and I wish all a Gong Hay Fat Choy.

Madam Speaker, as we celebrate February as National Mentoring Month, I am reminded of the words of Martin Luther King, Jr.: ``Occasionally in life there are those moments of unutterable fulfillment which cannot be completely explained by those symbols called words. Their meanings can only be articulated by the inaudible language of the heart.''

Mentoring is one of those moments in life that cannot be truly appreciated with words. It is a valuable activity that gives all involved a sense of happiness and connection that material things cannot. By reaching into the hearts of children, mentoring opens young people's eyes to a brighter future, and every young person deserves that opportunity.

A mentor, of course, is often an adult who, along with parents, gains a sense of fulfillment when making a positive difference in the quality of life for that young person. The average mentor spends about 8 to 10 hours a month with his or her mentee on activities such as reading a good book aloud, visiting museums, or going to the playground.

I am proud of the many mentoring programs that are already in place in the Chicagoland area, such as Mercy Home's Friends First Program and Sinai Mentoring Program, which links Mount Sinai Hospital professionals with youth from North and South Lawndale High Schools.

I also want to commend the Chicago Public School system and the Board of Education for the development of a program called Cradle to the Classroom. This program involves mentors who work individually with young parents and students who are pregnant and who have children. These youth, with the help of a mentor, finish their high school education and graduate.

When a young person is matched with a caring, responsible individual, this relationship often makes for a counsel, friendship, and constructive example. For too long we have focused on providing remedies to problems that only address negative behavior, rather than looking at ways to promote the positive and healthy development of our young people. National Mentoring Month focuses on what children need in order to grow into healthy, safe, and well-educated adults.

In Chicago and across the country, it is clear that the mentoring framework is in place. Now we just need more people to volunteer their time to help change the life of a child. Research shows that young people who are mentored have a stronger attachment to school, higher graduation rates, and decreased involvement with drugs, gangs, and violence.

Mentoring is a strong investment in our children and in the future of our country. Therefore, Madam Speaker, I am indeed pleased to join with my colleagues in celebrating the essential role that mentoring plays in the lives of our young people during this National Mentoring Month.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 42) recognizing Ann Richards' extraordinary contributions to Texas and American public life.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, at the memorial service of Ann Richards, the former mayor of Dallas, Texas, Ron Kirk, the mayor's lifelong friend said, ``Ann Richards was as fierce a warrior and advocate for justice as any public servant I've ever known. She embraced every person she met, no matter their station in life, with dignity, and love, and compassion.''

The former Governor of Texas was a witty, flamboyant and outspoken homemaker who captured the hearts and minds of the people of Texas, as well as the Nation. She burst into national prominence as a keynote speaker to the 1988 Democratic National Convention when she uttered the famous line about the wealthy, then-Vice President George H.W. Bush, and she said, ``Poor George, he can't help it; he was born with a silver foot in his mouth.'' The speech set the tone for her political future as the first woman elected to treasurer, a statewide office, in Texas in 50 years.

In 1990, Ann Richards won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination against attorney general and former Congressman Jim Mattox and former Governor Mark White. Her Republican opponent was multimillionaire rancher Clayton Williams, Jr. The campaign between the two was brutal, but Richards prevailed in the election on November 6, 1990, by a margin of 49-47 percent.

As Governor, Ann Richards wanted a more inclusive Texas. She called it the ``New Texas,'' where she made nearly 3,000 appointments, 46 percent were female, 15 percent were African American, 20 percent were Hispanic and 2 percent were Asian Americans. Among Governor Richards' appointment of firsts are: the first African American to the University of Texas regent; the first crime victim to join the State criminal justice board; the first disabled person to serve on human services board; and the first teacher to lead the State board of education. During her tenure, she oversaw the fabled Texas Rangers pin stars on their first African American and female officers.

Richards implemented an economic revitalization program to address the Texas economy that was in a slump since the mid-1980s, compounded by a downturn in the U.S. economy. Her policy initiatives yielded a 2 percent growth in 1991 for the Texas economy, while the U.S. economy as a whole shrank.

Ann Richards reformed the Texas prison system by establishing a substance abuse program for inmates in prison and reduced the number of violent offenders released back into society. She was a supporter of proposals to reduce the sale of semiautomatic

firearms and cop killer bullets in the State.

She vetoed legislation that would allow people to carry concealed handguns and automatic weapons inside public establishments without the owner's permission. Some political analysts believe that this veto cost her her reelection bid for Governor in 1994. Richards lost her reelection bid to George W. Bush. After her unsuccessful bid for reelection, someone asked her, ``What would you have done differently if you knew you would be a one-term Governor?'' Richards grinned and said, ``Oh, I would probably have raised more hell.''

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas and the author of this legislation, Representative Solomon Ortiz.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas with whom I had the good fortune to spend Saturday with at Paul Quinn College where we were discussing the issues related to African American males, Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure now to yield 3 minutes to an individual who had the good fortune to be a close neighbor of Governor Richards, Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Lampson).

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time I have left.

I want to thank the gentleman from Connecticut.

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

Mr. Speaker, all of us come in contact with individuals who have a way to connect one way or another. Sometimes it is from near, and sometimes it is from afar. I shall never forget the speech that Governor Richards made at the Democratic convention in 1988. You know, speeches are things that you hear a lot of when you are involved in public activity and public office, and you don't always look for anything special when you see another one coming. I mean, sometimes, it is another speech.

But the amount of wit and charm that Ann Richards had and her ability to convey it in such a way that she could make a humorous point that was not always so humorous, but you still got the humor out of it, and whoever it was directed to and at didn't necessarily view it as being offensive, she had the ability to do that.

We have heard speaker after speaker talk about the fact that she appointed this large number of individuals to boards and commissions and made regents out of people and gave them positions that people just didn't sort of expect, because it had not been done before.

Then she took on a real tough question that some people feel caused her to lose an election, but she probably knew the risk that she was taking, because it had to do with the right of individuals to keep and bear arms, dealing with semiautomatic weapons that the normal average person wouldn't necessarily carry.

I mean, you wouldn't walk around, even if you wanted to go hunting, with a semiautomatic weapon to shoot rabbits or deer or whatever it is that you would shoot, although I have never believed in shooting that many things any way, unless they were shooting back. Therefore, I was never much of a hunter, because the animals didn't have anything to shoot back with. That was about the only way that I would see myself shooting at them.

But she knew the great political risk that she was taking, and not withstanding that risk, held to her guns, held to her position, did not waver, did not back up. That is what real leaders are made of. They don't take positions just to get elected or just to be in office. But they take them based upon principles upon which they believe, ideas and ideology that govern their lives.

That was the kind of woman that Ann Richards was, and that is why I think she was able to mean so much to so many people, not only in Texas; but she was a great advancement for the women's movement, for enticing more women to run for public office, and, of course, to be elected to public office, and to reach another level of equity, another level of having arrived at a point in history where a woman, a little girl growing up, can believe that she has the possibility of moving not only to Governor of the State of Texas, but to Speaker of the House of the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as she might consume to our distinguished Speaker, Nancy Pelosi.

I want to thank the distinguished Speaker for her remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Shays for his accommodation and would urge passage of H. Res. 42.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 126) commending the University of Southern California Trojan football team for its victory in the 2007 Rose Bowl.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that each Member would have 5 days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

I want to congratulate the University of Southern California for their victory in the 2007 Rose Bowl.

On New Year's Day, college football fans, student athletes and the Nation were treated to an exceptional college bowl game. And no matter what team you support, it is always a thrill to watch the Rose Bowl.

The University of Southern California made history by appearing in its fifth consecutive Bowl Championship Series game and defeated the Michigan Wolverines by a score of 32-18.

I would like to extend my congratulations to the coaching staff, administration, and most of all to the student athletes and fans for winning the Rose Bowl.

I also want to extend my congratulations to the Michigan Wolverines and their student athletes for a great season. Winning the Rose Bowl has brought national acclaim to a university that already has a rich history as the oldest private research university in the West. USC also lays claim as the birthplace of important Internet technologies and has the only marching band in the United States of America that has earned a platinum record.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I congratulate the University of Southern California for their success in winning the Rose Bowl, and also for their great educational tradition. I urge passage of this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as she might consume to the gentlelady from California, Representative Diane Watson.

Mr. Speaker, I agree with the ranking member. It does sound like Ms. Watson is quite proud of the University of Southern California. As a matter of fact, I want to take this opportunity also to thank her and the University of Southern California for hosting one of our State of the African American Male conferences that I had the opportunity to attend with her.

It is indeed a great institution, not only in terms of its athletic prowess but also in terms of its scholarship and academic tradition. I urge support for this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 103) congratulating the Mount Union College Purple Raiders for winning the 2006 NCAA Division III Football National Championship.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that each Member would have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate another college for their accomplishments. Mount Union College, located in Alliance, Ohio, is not only known as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the Midwest but also more recently for winning the NCAA Division III Football National Championship.

On December 16 of last year, the Mount Union College Purple Raiders captured their ninth NCAA Division III Football National Championship by defeating the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks.

We know that such accomplishments are achieved through a group effort. I applaud the Purple Raiders coaching staff; the administration; student athletes; and, of course, the fans for a championship season.

I also want to extend my congratulations to the Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks for a well-played game and a successful season.

The Purple Raiders, whose purple parrot mascot is well known in northeastern Ohio, have achieved some notable athletic accomplishments, including nine national championships in the past 14 years, along with two of the longest winning streaks in college football.

Mr. Speaker, once again I commend and congratulate Mount Union College

for their dedication and success, not only for their athletic prowess but also for their academic achievement and academic reputation.

I urge support for this resolution.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Mr. Regula for having such an outstanding institution in his district to represent. When you consider all of the football games that they have won, as well as the graduation rate and the kind of academics that they display, he has to indeed be proud. I am proud for him.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 990, as amended.

Madam Speaker, first of all, I want to thank Speaker Pelosi for providing what we never had in the last session, and that is ample opportunity to fully discuss Iraq, where we are and what we ought to be doing about it.

I have always been told that when you start with a faulty premise, you will inevitably reach a faulty conclusion. And the rationale given for entering the war was faulty. There were no weapons of mass destruction, no connection to 9/11. Therefore, we never should have invaded Iraq in the first place.

But then after the invasion, the occupation of Iraq has been tragically mismanaged. Civilian military leadership ignored the advice of senior commanders on requirements for preventing chaos in the aftermath of the invasion. As a result, our extended presence in Iraq continues to worsen the situation, not only in Iraq, but in the entire region.

Terrorist incidents continue to flare up around the world, from England to Spain, from Indonesia to Jordan. Chaos and intolerance in the form of civil war now has secured a deadly grip on Iraq. The policy of escalation has failed, and failed again, to loosen that horrendous grip. The Iraqi people want us to leave, and so do the American people, especially those in my congressional district, and especially those that I encounter at churches, schools, synagogues, town hall meetings and on the street.

Madam Speaker, democracy and self-government cannot be imposed on Iraq by any foreign power, including us, the United States of America. Our troops have done everything we have asked of them, even when we have failed to equip and protect them. The problem does not lie with our troops, but with the distorted world view of this administration and the military and diplomatic doctrine of preemptive war as a solution to global political problems.

We must do everything possible to protect our troops and we must do everything in our power to take care of them when they return home.

It is impossible, Madam Speaker, to build a coalition against terrorism by attempting to unilaterally impose these doctrines on the international community. We cannot undo the many mistakes which have been made in Iraq. And when our national interests have been so distorted, when we have so lost our direction, it is the historical, moral, and constitutional responsibility of this Congress to set us back on course and on the right track.

It is time to recognize that we are enmeshed in an unending, vicious circle of escalating violence, rather than a force for peace, and that is why I am a cosponsor of H.R. 508, which would bring the force of law to end this war.

Today we have before us a nonbinding resolution, most likely insufficient to end the occupation. But it can help to move us in the right direction and set us on the right path. Therefore, I support this resolution, because it reflects the will and interests of the American people, and I trust that this administration will abandon demagogic calls for constantly changing notions of success and victory and awaken to the world of reality.

Madam Speaker, it is time, it is past time, to bring our troops home. I am told that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and over again and expecting different results. This resolution sets us on the right course, gives us the right direction. I urge its passage.

Madam Speaker, the theme of the 33rd annual Catholic Schools Week is ``Good News in Education,'' and there is much good news to share. There are over 7500 Catholic schools nationwide educating over 2 million students. Catholic high schools have an impressive graduation rate, with 97 percent of students going to college. Chicago boasts the second largest Catholic school system in the country, with 102,000 students and 5,400 teachers in 258 schools. In Chicago, as in other urban areas, Catholic schools play an important role in providing quality academic training to children and youth.

Yet, Catholic schools do more than educate, they emphasize discipline and service--two critical elements to raising responsible youth. In a society where many individuals place primacy on their personal needs, Catholic schools focus on preparing students to contribute to society by considering the needs of others. The close involvement of parents, a cornerstone of Catholic education, makes clear that education is not something that occurs only within the school house.

From Chicago to across this nation, Catholic schools have provided education and service to those who have been traditionally left behind in our society. They have taken in poor and neglected children and released to the nation leaders and champions. For this I want to commend the Catholic school system in America. It is a beacon of hope to neighborhoods and communities throughout the nation.

Catholic schools, however, like all other components of education, Madam Speaker, are facing difficult times. I would hope that as the year goes on and as we discuss and debate education, we commit to putting as many resources into education as we possibly can, ensuring the vitality of the institution, knowing that the investment secures the success of the future generations.

So I graciously thank our teachers, counselors, nuns, and priests in our Catholic schools for their years of dedicated service. I offer heartfelt appreciation for their enormous dedication to our nation's children, and I urge them to continue to strive for excellence as they prepare our young people's hearts and minds to lead the nation.

Again, I salute the Catholic schools for their outstanding contributions, and I would like to recite for the record those in my district, which are as follows:

Chicago Jesuit Academy, Divine Infant Jesus School, Divine Providence School, St. Bernardine School, St. Edmund School, St. Jerome School, St. Stanislaus Kostka, St. Elizabeth School, St. Helen School, Children of Peace School, Santa Lucia School, St. Pius V School, St. Therese School, Visitation School, St. Domitilla School, Ascension School, St. Giles School, St. Luke School.

St. Vincent Ferrer School, Old St. Mary's, St. Angela School, St. Malachy School, St. Nicholas Cathedral, San Miguel-Comer Campus, Frances Xavier Warde, Our Lady of the Westside, St. Catherine/St. Lucy, Immaculate Conception School, Archbishop Quigley Preparatory, Fenwick High School, Holy Trinity High School, St. Ignatius College Prep., St. Joseph High School, Trinity High School.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from California for yielding. I rise in strong support of H. Res. 120, recognizing the African American spiritual as a national treasure.

Growing up in the rural South in the 1950s, we grew up on what was then called the Negro spiritual, and many of these songs, of course, had great meaning, especially the lyrics. I remember, ``Follow the Old Man'' that is ``Coming to Carry Me to Freedom'' if you ``Follow the Drinking Gourd.'' Well, gourds supposedly grew northward, and if you followed the direction of the gourd, you would get out of the slave South back during slavery and the abolitionist period, and you would be headed north. And so not only did these songs sound good, not only were they spiritually uplifting as one that I heard on this past Sunday at the Second Baptist Church in Maywood, Illinois, but they also were didactic; they were teaching and inspirational.

So I commend the gentlewoman from Connecticut for her introduction of this great resolution and urge its support.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 69) recognizing and honoring Benny Parsons and expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives to his family on his death.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, today we honor and remember the life of Benny Parsons and his contribution to the racing community. Mr. Parsons was a legendary NASCAR driver and TV analyst. His thoughtful insights as an announcer earned him the nickname The Professor, and his achievements as a driver include a Winston Cup NASCAR championship.

Born in Wilkes County, North Carolina, he developed a penchant for cars and racing with his father. At the age of 18, he moved to Detroit where he drove taxis and worked at a service station. Soon thereafter he started his NASCAR career. In 1971, he won his first race, and in 1973 won the NASCAR championship. Mr. Parsons battled with drivers like Richard Petty and Carl Yarborough throughout his racing career that stretched over 20 years.

After Parsons retired from racing in 1988, he became a commentator and a recognized voice for NASCAR. His work helped NASCAR become one of the most widely watched sports in America and taught many newcomers to understand and enjoy racing. Earlier this year Mr. Parsons succumbed to complications from lung cancer.

So I urge my colleagues to rise in support of H. Res. 69.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers and would ask if the gentleman would want to yield back his time.

I thank the gentleman from Indiana. This seems to be the day for Indiana and Indianapolis.

I would urge support for this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from North Carolina. We have no further speakers.

As I indicated earlier, NASCAR racing is one of the most watched sports in America, and I am amazed at the number of people who participate. I would urge passage of this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 130) congratulating the National Football League champion Indianapolis Colts for winning Super Bowl XLI and for bringing the City of Indianapolis and the State of Indiana their first Lombardi Trophy.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I will defer my opening remarks, and first shall be first. And I am going to yield such time as she might consume to the first lady of Indiana, Representative Julia Carson, who is the sponsor of this resolution.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, this is obviously a bitter pill to swallow, especially given the fact that I represent the Chicago Bears, who happen to be in my district, the stadium that they use. We were anticipating great thrills and great delights, and for a brief moment we did, in fact, have that. But then someone said to me that we came in like lions and went out like lambs.

I guess that is exactly what happened. This past Sunday, Tony Dungy and the Indianapolis Colts beat Lovie Smith and his Chicago Bears 29-17 in a wet Super Bowl XLI.

The slippery conditions made for several muffs and miscues throughout the game, including a Romo-like botched hold during the extra point after the Colts' first touchdown.

The Bears got off to a quick start with Devin Hester returning the opening kickoff for a TD, and Rex Grossman hitting Muhsin Muhammad with a 4-yard pass in the first quarter for another seven points.

After this the Bears' offense sort of fizzled, and the Colts took advantage with Peyton Manning leading several drives that ended in Adam Vinatieri's field goals and a TD pass to Reggie Wayne. Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes also both contributed some hard runs with a combined rushing total of 190 yards and a touchdown. On the other side of the ball, the Colts were the better defense, causing five turnovers.

As noted last week, this game made history with two African American coaches facing each other for the title, and Tony Dungy being the first black coach to win a Super Bowl.

Of course, I want to congratulate Coach Dungy on a job well done, and adding to the celebration of Black History Month. I also want to commend Peyton Manning for his leadership of the team. I want to thank Representative Carson's staff for their hard work, especially Kathleen Taylor, who did such a quick job of putting all of this together so that we did not have to delay.

And so with serious regret on the part of the Chicago Bears, I commend and congratulate the Indianapolis Colts and urge support for this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, of course maybe the NFL could learn from the House and realize that there should be no trading of seats for votes, and that would make the disposition a bit different.

I yield 3 minutes to Representative Brad Ellsworth from Indiana.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Donnelly).

Mr. Speaker, now it is my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Indiana ( Mr. Hill).

No, I don't believe we do.

Mr. Speaker, to close, I will just simply say that, of course, Eli's has the best cheesecake in the world, and Representative Burton, you shall be able to partake of that.

But also, let me say that we will congratulate all of the players, all of the owners, all of those who made these two great teams. I have never seen two men who have given more to a sport than Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith. Not only are they masters of the game, not only are they great coaches and leaders, but they exemplify the best of human beings, the best that you could possibly be, and that is what they have done for the game of football. That is what they have done for America. And I am sure that Americans all over the Nation will be cheering them on for years and years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to Representative Julia Carson for the last word.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 131) recognizing and honoring the lifetime contributions of Rafael Jose Diaz-Balart on the dedication of the Rafael Diaz-Balart Hall at the Florida International University College of Law.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may insert material relevant to H. Res. 131 into the Record.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to yield the time to Representative Meek from Florida for the purpose of managing the Democratic side of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend your work on the Continuing Resolution. Republicans set up a colossal budget failure and created the worst budget mess since the government shut down in 1996. I know you had no choice but to attempt to make lemonade out of the lemons that were left for us.

With this behind us, we will be able to work together to really meet America's needs. While I am happy that this legislation included increases in the maximum Pell grant, veterans' health care, funding for Community Health Centers, and the NIH, there are some areas that remain in critical need of additional funding. Much has been neglected over the last few years by the Republicans and will require further attention this Congress. In fact, I could stand here all night discussing the specifics. Don't worry, Mr. Speaker, instead I will focus on one area in particular, teacher incentive grants.

Chicago Public Schools, in collaboration with the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET), were awarded a 5-year grant under the Teacher Incentive Fund in FY 2006. Chicago Public Schools were one of 16 grantees awarded funding under the new TIF program to develop a program for performance-based teacher pay, specifically targeting high- need schools. This particular grant award totals $27,336,693 over 5 years.

The first year of funding for the Chicago award totals $131,273. The second year continuation grant is proposed at $4,055,600. This funding is scheduled to be awarded in the fall of 2007 and I would like to make certain that Chicago's schools receive this funding. I am sure that we will be able to work together in the coming months to ensure that this is the case.