Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the heroic efforts of Kingsport, Tennessee, Sullivan Central High School Resource Officer Carolyn Gudger and the efforts of all the officers and staff who acted quickly to keep all students and faculty safe from a gunman on August 30, 2010.

A gunman entered the school and immediately aimed a handgun at the school principal. Officer Gudger moved herself between the principal and the gunman and then managed to lure the gunman to a more isolated area of the school. Two deputies responding to the call shot the gunman after he refused to release his weapon.

These actions, thankfully, prevented the gunman from killing or injuring anyone. Too often we've seen situations exactly like this end in a tragic fashion. That is precisely why we should commend and honor Officer Gudger and everyone involved in responding to that incident.

Most especially, I would like to thank my good friend, Sheriff Wayne Anderson, who is in charge of these officers. All of these individuals make our community proud, and I salute them for their courage and good work that they do each and every day.

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

I rise today in support of House Resolution 1611, expressing support for the designation of the week beginning September 19, 2010, as National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week.

The act of going to college and earning a degree is more important than ever for today's youth and our society. Research shows individuals with a bachelor's degree earn more than high school graduates, and society as a whole gains from an educated citizenry. Students historically underrepresented at the postsecondary level--students of color, those from low-income backgrounds, and first-generation students--are less likely to prepare for, apply for, enroll in, and complete postsecondary education.

As of July 2009, the estimated Hispanic population of the United States was 48.1 million, making people of Hispanic origin the Nation's largest ethnic or race minority. It is estimated by 2050 Hispanics will constitute 30 percent of the Nation's population.

Currently, there are almost 270 Hispanic-Serving Institutions, HSIs, in the United States answering the call to educate underprivileged students and help them to attain their full potential through higher education. HSIs are degree-granting institutions with a full-time equivalent undergraduate enrollment of 25 percent or more Hispanic students. The HSIs serve a very diverse student body. In 2007, 46 percent enrolled in HSIs were Hispanic, and the remaining 44 percent were a diverse mix of students from various ethnicities and backgrounds.

Although most HSIs do not have access to the resources or endowment income that other institutions can draw on, they provide a quality education for the students they serve. While HSIs comprise less than 10 percent of the Nation's institutions of higher education, these institutions educate over two-thirds of Hispanic students enrolled in colleges and universities. HSIs provide some of the most disadvantaged students with the opportunity to attend college, and as a result, help to supply employers with talented, well-educated employees who can contribute in a competitive global workforce.

Today we honor Hispanic-Serving Institutions across the country for their achievements and goals. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, nearly a year and a half after the President told our country that an $800 billion-plus stimulus package was needed to keep unemployment below 8 percent, we are in the midst of our 14th straight month with unemployment above 9 percent. Many economists predict that nearly every major policy passed since that time, such as cap-and-trade, health care and so on, will result in a net loss of jobs. Now the Democrats are telling our country we need to double down on their economic policies and increase our debt and deficits to finance more spending.

How does that make any sense whatsoever?

If you don't have a job, we want you to find one. However, we know that, if Congress continues irresponsible spending, it will make economic growth and job creation less likely. That is why Republicans are insisting on finding spending cuts. It is time to tell the administration that they have maxed out America's credit card and to ask them to start working with the American people to get our fiscal house in order.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5610, the Independent Living Centers Technical Adjustment Act. Independent Living Centers are nonresidential, private, not-for-profit agencies that provide an array of services for people with disabilities to enable them to live independently. Independent Living Centers provide employment, skills training, peer counseling, and information for people with disabilities to enable them to become participating members of society. They enable people with disabilities to live independent lives and participate in society as working adults.

The Rehabilitation Act provides funding for the planning, conduct, administration, and evaluation of Independent Living Centers. Due to the way 31 States chose to distribute funds provided for the Independent Living Centers in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, FY 2010 funds may be distributed disproportionately to Independent Living Centers in those 31 States.

H.R. 5610, the Independent Living Centers Technical Adjustment Act, would enable funds to be distributed to Independent Living Centers in the appropriate manner for FY 2010. H.R. 5610 enables States that distributed ARRA funds disproportionately to the centers to have those funds disregarded in the determination of the distribution of FY 2010 funds. This bill ensures the funding for Independent Living Centers, which provide such a valuable resource for people with disabilities, is distributed to the centers proportionally and appropriately. I stand in support of this bill and ask my colleagues for support.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a very special occasion today--the 43rd wedding anniversary of John Randolph Carpenter and Nancy Anderson Carpenter.

John Randolph Carpenter was born on April, 11, 1945 in Shelby, North Carolina. His wife, Nancy Anderson Carpenter was born on December 27, 1946 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The couple began dating when they attended Meyers Park High School and were eventually married on June 24, 1967 at Meyers Park Methodist Church in Charlotte.

As native North Carolinians, they have lived in Rutherfordton, Greenville, Washington, eventually settling in the Tar Heel state capitol of Raleigh. Together they have raised two daughters, Ragan Kathryn of Los Angeles, California & Mary Randolph of Washington, DC.

Rann enjoyed a successful career with Texasgulf, PCS Phosphate, and the North Carolina Pork Council. Nancy, a loving mother & homemaker actively enjoys working with charitable church & volunteer organizations in Raleigh.

I salute this lovely couple on the 43rd year of their life together and join their family in honoring them on this special occasion. It is a true pleasure to recognize their commitment to one another, their children, and ultimately, our Nation.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Why was this so hard? House Republicans have been saying for months that we'd be happy to support legislation ensuring seniors have access to doctors. They were warned to cut spending to stop the deficits from going any higher. Doctors and patients both are benefiting under this legislation, but today's headline should be this: bipartisan solutions are possible when the majority tries to meet the minority halfway.

When we cut spending, we can address many of the critical problems facing our country. Hopefully, today's bill isn't the end of bipartisan cooperation. Our economy is still in dire straits, and Republicans can help Democrats get people back to work only if the majority lets us. Otherwise, the job loss and exploding deficits we've seen for the past 18 months will only continue, and no one benefits from that.

I can tell you as a physician three things will happen with these cuts: one, patients lose access to doctors; two, the quality of their care goes down; and, three, their costs will go up.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1409, designating June 20, 2010, as ``American Eagle Day'' and celebrating the recovery and restoration of our Nation's symbol, the bald eagle.

The Founding Fathers at the Second Continental Congress designated the bald eagle as our national emblem June 20, 1782, and its image has played a significant role in the culture of the United States ever since.

However, the bird's survival was in question with only approximately 417 nesting pairs remaining in the continental U.S. in 1963. The Department of the Interior had them listed as an endangered species.

Concentrated efforts to save our symbol of freedom have been successful. The latest numbers estimate 10,000 nesting pairs in the lower 48 States and 50,000 to 70,000 bald eagles nesting in Alaska. The bird has been removed from the threatened species list and is thriving.

As we celebrate the eagle's recovery, I want to take time to recognize the efforts of the American Eagle Foundation in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. This group brings national attention to the cause of the protection and care of the bald eagle. The foundation has raised nearly $8 million for protection efforts through the sale of commemorative coins issued by the U.S. Treasury and should be commended for their continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I remember as a young boy and as a youngster growing up in Tennessee, I never saw a bald eagle. And today, throughout the entire State you can go and people can visit and see bald eagles and it is really exhilarating to be on a lake or be out hiking in the woods and see these magnificent animals. I recall a trip I took some years ago fishing in Alaska, I looked up and I counted 12 bald eagles--and they were much better at fishing than I was. It is terrific what these folks have done in Tennessee to help maintain this wonderful animal. I thank the Congress for considering this resolution, and the gentleman from Texas for his kind words.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5502 is a commonsense change to the CARD Act, which passed last year. This bill would provide a short extension for certain disclosure requirements associated with gift certificates, store gift cards, and general-use prepaid cards produced prior to April 1, 2010. It is important to note that nothing in this bill rolls back or changes any of the underlying CARD Act protections.

The thrust behind H.R. 5502 is to avoid unnecessary waste, both in terms of time and the environment, which would occur if the implementation date for certain disclosure requirements is not shifted from August 2010 until January 2011. Without this sensible change, issuers would have to recall hundreds of millions of cards that they have already produced.

It is a virtually incomprehensible amount of waste. But to try to understand the amount of waste that would result without this change, picture eight football fields that are 12 feet deep full of unused and unusable cards. There is no reason to allow such a result. Insisting on such an unreasonable implementation date is just inappropriate, especially when there is something we can do about it.

I urge my colleagues to support the adoption of H.R. 5502, and thank the gentleman from Texas for bringing this to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 353 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend Dr. Nathan Ford, the 2010 recipient of the prestigious ``Celebrate our Successes'' award for his life achievements as Alumnae of the Cocke County School System.

As a member of the Education and Labor Committee, as well as a former Mayor, I welcome the opportunity to applaud those who have gone above the call to serve their community. Dr. Ford has selflessly devoted his life providing health care through his practice of Optometry, education for all ages, and his Public Service across the State of Tennessee.

Dr. Ford began his public service at age 27 being elected to Cocke County Board of Education, and has since served as Cocke County Economic Development Commission Chairman, Newport/Cocke County Chamber of Commerce Director, Chairman of the Cocke County Baptist Hospital Board; not to mention the four terms he spent serving as a Tennessee State Representative.

As a public figure myself, I understand the responsibilities and challenges that are presented when serving in such a position; I commend him for meeting them all with dignity and wisdom.

Dr. Ford's love of serving others, medicine and community involvement continues to this day; it is a great example to those not only in East Tennessee, but to our Country. I encourage my colleagues to join me in commending Dr. Nathan Ford for his outstanding life contributions, and his earning this honorable award.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, it is a great honor to be here today, as I am a huge college basketball fan, to rise in support of House Resolution 1427, honoring Coach John Robert Wooden.

Today, we honor Coach Wooden's accomplishments and leadership. Coach

Wooden was born in Hall, Indiana, and he attended Purdue University, where he played on the university's basketball team and where he was the first player to be named a three-time All-American. Coach Wooden also played professionally for the team that later became the Indianapolis Jets. In 1961, he was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a player.

Coach Wooden began his teaching career at Dayton High School in Kentucky. After his service in World War II, Coach Wooden began coaching at Indiana Teachers College, now Indiana State University. In 1984, Wooden was inducted into the Indiana State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1948, Coach Wooden began his coaching career at UCLA. In 1 year, Coach Wooden turned the 12-13 losing team to a 22-7 winning team. John Wooden retired from UCLA and from coaching in 1975, but he left a legacy in his wake.

Coach Wooden's list of accomplishments is long and impressive. He led the UCLA men's basketball team to 10 NCAA Men's Basketball Championships, seven in consecutive years. He made the most appearances in the Final Four, the most consecutive appearances and the most victories in the Final Four. He set the record for the most consecutive wins at 88 games--amazing--and won 38 straight victories in the NCAA tournament play. He also led UCLA to eight perfect Pac-8--now Pac-10-- conference season championships.

Coach John Wooden's accomplishments on the court are innumerable. Today, we honor him for his accomplishments, and it is a great privilege to be here to honor this great man. Coach Wooden was much more than a coach, for his accomplishments were much greater as a person. Coach Wooden will be much missed by his friends, by his family, by the universities in which he served, also by the numerous players, assistant coaches, ball boys, trainers, and others. Coach Wooden's life was about others and not about himself, and I think, when the good Lord sees Coach Wooden, he is going to ask him how in the world he pulled off those 88 straight wins.

I know one of the things I would like to do with my life is to leave it a little bit better than I found it, and I certainly know that Coach John Wooden left it much better than he found it. I, too, as a fan, will miss Coach--a job well done.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the honorable gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer).

I yield the gentleman an additional minute.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier).

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the honorable gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis).

(Mr. LEWIS of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Madam Speaker, I will close by saying that this country has been much better for the presence of John Wooden here and the role model that he's applied for so many young people. And I would suggest that you go out and read his book, or books.

And one of the quotes, and I'm paraphrasing this, that struck me that he has said--I think his players would say Woodenisms--but it is: ``It's much more important what kind of individual you are than what kind of athlete you were.'' And I think we all need to keep that in mind as we go forward in our day.

And I appreciate the opportunity to be able to honor Coach Wooden today, one of my heroes.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Dr. Nathan Ford, the 2010 recipient of the prestigious Celebrate Our Successes award, for his life achievements as an alumni of the Cocke County School System in Newport, Tennessee. Dr. Ford has selflessly devoted his life to providing health care through his practice of optometry, education for children of all ages, and public service to Tennessee.

Dr. Ford began serving at age 27, when he was elected to the Cocke County Board of Education. He has since served as the Economic Development Commission chair, director of the chamber of commerce, chairman of the Cocke County Baptist Hospital Board, and has served four terms as a Tennessee State representative. I commend him for meeting all these roles with dignity and wisdom.

Dr. Ford's love of serving others, medicine, and community involvement continues to this day. It is a great example to those not only in east Tennessee, but to our country. I encourage my colleagues to join with me in commending Dr. Nathan Ford for his outstanding life contributions and his earning this honorable award.

Mr. Speaker, media reports indicate that House Democrats will not only not pass a budget, but they won't even try. It's no surprise that they're unwilling to put their blueprint on the House floor, because it would be the clearest sign yet that their reckless spending has put our country's solvency in doubt and endangered our future's generations. But I am only judging them by their own words.

In 2006 then-House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer said that passing a budget was the most basic function of government, and I agree. That same year, then-House Budget Committee Ranking Member John Spratt said, if you can't pass a budget, you can't govern. And Speaker Pelosi said in 2002 that failing to pass a budget hurts children.

This means, by their own standard, the standard in which they judge Republicans, Democrats aren't able to govern. House Republicans have said for months that Democrats are unfit to govern based on current policies. Now their own judgements agree with us.

Mr. Speaker, it's time for hope and change and a budget.

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

To the previous speakers who were here with regard to House Resolution 1385, I want to associate myself with the remarks of Chairman Skelton, Mr. McKeon, and Mr. Wilson. As a veteran, I, too, on Memorial Day, would like to honor all those who paid the ultimate price.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 1353, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Student Financial Aid Awareness Month to raise awareness of student financial aid. In many low-income households, a college education is the ticket to a more prosperous way of life. Many students rely on numerous Federal financial aid programs to accomplish that goal.

For example, the Pell Grant, originally created in 1972 and known then as the Basic Opportunity Grant Program, is used as the cornerstone for a low-income student financial aid package. Through this grant and the other Federal financial aid programs, like the Federal Work-Study, the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, the Perkins Loan Program, and the Stafford Loan Program, millions of students have been able to pursue their dreams of postsecondary educations.

While it is important to recognize the role that Federal financial aid plays in college access, it is also critical to discuss the importance of the partnership that must exist between the Federal Government, States, institutions of higher education, and students and their families. Without each part of this partnership, it will be impossible to continue to help students attend some form of college.

In recent years, the Federal Government has increased the amount of aid provided exponentially, only to have institutions continue to raise their costs at rates outpacing inflation. If college costs continue to rise at rates of 4, 5 or 6 percent per year, students will quickly find themselves unable to afford a college education. All participants in the partnership must do their part if we want college to remain an option for all students.

While Federal financial aid is important, it is not the only thing that should be mentioned during the conversation around Student Financial Aid Awareness Month. There are thousands or organizations around the country whose mission it is to help low-income students navigate the student aid and college application process. Whether the organization helps students fill out the Free Application For Federal Student Aid, the FAFSA, provides financial literacy, assists students with filling out their college applications, or provides extra tutoring services to ensure that students are prepared for the rigors of college, these entities are critical in ensuring that college remains an option for every student who wants to attend.

For these reasons, I support the goals and ideals of Student Financial Aid Awareness Month, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

I have also served on two foundation boards at universities, and I can tell you as a foundation board member and president of a college foundation board that these organizations are absolutely essential to help educate students.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1169, honoring the 125th anniversary of Rollins College.

Rollins College, located in Winter Park, Florida, is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the State of Florida. Founded in 1885 by New England Congregationalists, Rollins College is a small liberal arts college that offers a personalized education. Rollins College educates students for global citizenship and responsible leadership, empowering graduates to pursue meaningful lives and productive careers. The college is guided by excellence, innovation, and community.

Today, Rollins College serves almost 3,300 students and employs 700 faculty members and staff. The college awards over 800 degrees annually and has three divisions. Notable alumni include Nobel Prize winners and producers of award-winning Hollywood films.

Rollins College has a national reputation for excellence in education. The college was ranked the number one Southern master's level university by U.S. News & World Report in 2010 and was named a ``best value'' private college by the Princeton Review. The college's students have received a number of awards for high levels of community service and their willingness to give back to the surrounding communities.

Rollins College has made a lasting mark on the lives of its students and on the community throughout the past 125 years. I stand today to congratulate Rollins College, the students, alumni, faculty, and staff on the occasion of the college's 125th anniversary, and I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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