Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize September 30 as World Maritime Day. I urge the members of Congress to join me in saluting the hard working men and women of the Merchant Marine.

Each day, mariners perform a vital service in the global economy by ensuring that international trade proceeds without interruption. They work long hours in all kinds of weather. Whether they sail on the storm-tossed waves of the North Atlantic or the tropical heat of the South Pacific, these men and women perform their duties without recognition or fanfare.

Mariners and many others contribute to homeland security, and we must give them the support they need to effectively keep our ports safe. As we recognize Maritime Day, we cannot overlook the human element. Mariners sail for many weeks without being ashore or hearing a loved one's voice on a call home.

We thank the mariners for their continued commitment to keeping us all secure, and we focus our attention on the challenge in their industry of balancing security needs with mariners' need for shore leave. I urge members of Congress to join me in working to reach a solution that provides the utmost in security for ports and harbors around the world while allowing for the personal needs of the men and women who sail these great ships.

I come to the floor of the House of Representatives to salute and honor the men and women of the Merchant Marine on this World Maritime Day.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the constitutional amendment to protect marriage as between one man and one woman. This is a very important issue for congress to address, and I am glad to have been part of the movement to bring this legislation to the House floor.

Marriage is a core institution of societies throughout the world and throughout history. It's something that has provided permanence and stability for our very social structure. Today, statistics clearly show that couples who are married are happier and better off economically, and that children who are raised in homes with a traditional, two- person married couple are better off. The societal benefits to protecting and promoting traditional marriage are, in fact, numerous.

In my home state of Louisiana, we voted just recently on a statewide constitutional amendment to define marriage in the traditional sense as between one man and one woman. The amendment passed with 78 percent, which clearly shows that an overwhelming majority of Louisianians want to see this legislation passed today.

Some opponents of this measure claim that states should decide. I strongly believe in letting states decide issues for themselves, and Congress tried this approach in 1996 with the Defense of Marriage Act. It passed and was signed into law, but today that law, and with it the clear will of the American people, is being chiseled away by opponents.

States--and more importantly, the people--will soon have their rights to decide this issue taken from them, by judges from some other part of the country. Not one state has decided by either popular referendum or legislative action to agree to anything other than marriage as between a man and a woman.

So I encourage and implore my colleagues today to support and vote for this measure, so that our states and our citizens can decide these matters for themselves.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Rapides Habitat for Humanity on fifteen years of successful service in Rapides Parish, Louisiana.

I rise today to recognize Rapides Parish Habitat for Humanity on its fifteenth anniversary. Rapides Parish is blessed to have such a successful organization with so many dedicated workers and volunteers building a better future. I am proud to report that with the help of over 1,000 volunteers, sixty-seven houses have been built in the surrounding area with two under construction. Now, because of the work of these driven people, over 250 people have sturdy roofs over their heads.

The work of these volunteers led a little girl to exclaim with delight, ``Now I can have a slumber party!'' Families can now gather around a dining room table to celebrate the holidays, and children can sleep in warm beds rather than on the floor.

I come to the floor of the House of Representatives today to personally commend, honor and thank Rapides Parish Habitat for Humanity. I look forward to the continuous progress that will be made by these hard-working and passionate volunteers.

Mr. Chairman, today I rise in strong support of H.R. 4766, the Agriculture Appropriations Act for FY2005.

Agriculture is vital to not only the local economy in my home State of Louisiana but also to the culture and to way of life of many communities. Ag industries give Louisiana billions of dollars in economic impact and provide for hundreds of thousands of jobs. This bill funds many of the important programs and research that will help keep Louisiana's and our Nation's Ag sector profitable and vibrant.

This bill will fund a number of specific items of benefit to Louisiana. I am pleased that these important items were included by the Appropriations Committee, and, as a member of the committee, I will continue to push for these important items to be included as we go to conference with the Senate.

Some of these items include provisions to help solve specific needs in Louisiana, such as dairy waste remediation and an unexplained disease in rice crops. To help the sugar industry, there is funding to upgrade a sugar research station in southeast Louisiana.

The bill also provides for a number of research initiatives, such as ongoing work to solve the Formosan termite infestation in Louisiana and important research funding that will benefit many of the different industries--from aquaculture to forestry, and many others--across the State.

Also, this bill funds many different rural development programs and includes provisions to provide for needs in a number of communities across Louisiana that can use rural development assistance to solve waste water problems, make improvements on drinking water systems, deal with storm runoff, and other needs.

Finally, there are provisions that direct the FDA to continue efforts to benefit Louisiana's seafood industry. Particularly, funding continues for the FDA to educate Americans on oyster consumption. And, to help deal with shrimp imports that contain chemicals harmful to humans, language has been included directing the FDA to test more shrimp to catch these chemicals so that . . .

These are just a few examples of how this bill will benefit Louisiana and our Nation. I thank Chairman Bonilla for crafting such a good bill, and I urge all members to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that the Record reflect that, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall 370, on passage of H.R. 4766, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2005.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to the amendment offered by Representative Kennedy.

Our nation is a war against terrorism; our military is deployed across the globe in 139 different countries with close to 160,000 fighting in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Simultaneously, the Department of Defense is contemplating some of the most significant changes to its force and overseas posture since World War II. Now is not the time to rush to close our military bases. The responsible approach to base closing would be to delay the next round of BRAC until 2007.

By moving forward before resolving major infrastructure issues, a 2005 BRAC decision would increase a significant level of risk that DOD will close a base only to discover that it needs that same base just a few years later. Once a base is closed, it's gone forever.

The language as it stands now would not eliminate BRAC. Rather, it reflects widespread bipartisan concern that DOD should close no bases until several issues effecting base infrastructure requirements have been resolved and reviewed by Congress.

During my time in Congress I have been focused on preparing Louisiana for BRAC, and have helped secure more than $76 million for Belle Chasse in New Orleans. As a member of the Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee I vigorously worked to secure $160 million more for infrastructure improvement to protect both Fort Polk and Barksdale Air Force Base.

I cannot underscore the importance of delaying the next round of BRAC. A 2-year delay will greatly reduce the risk of making an irreversible mistake in the BRAC process.

Mr. Chairman, I strongly urge a ``no'' vote on the Kennedy Amendment to H.R. 4200.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. On May 17, 1954, Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren announced the Court's unanimous decision that ended the legal racial segregation in our Nation's public schools.

Without the courage and determination of the families that made up the 5 cases under Brown and the team of attorneys from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), our Nation's public schools would have continued to operate under the ``separate but equal'' doctrine.

All parents want to ensure their children are safe, happy and healthy. They also want to give them the opportunities that were not afforded to them. Access to safe public schools that have the necessary resources for their children to succeed later on in life is important

to every parent, regardless of race, color or creed. As a proud father of 4 children, I recognize the link between education, good paying jobs, and securing our children's future in the 21st century.

I have long been an advocate for education in my State. I know the importance of providing our public schools with the necessary technology improvements that will help children compete in the 21st century. I continue to believe that if children are given the necessary tools to succeed, they will succeed beyond their wildest dreams.

I congratulate the children, parents, and the NAACP attorneys who pursued this case for their role in ensuring all children have the right to receive a quality education. Thank you for pursuing and believing in your fundamental rights under the Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to the pursuit of happiness, liberty, and equal opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize George and Germaine Briant, of Hammond, LA. George and Germaine were married on July 20, 1921. Having spent over 80 years together, I am proud to honor George and Germaine as Louisiana's longest married couple.

George Briant is a World War I veteran. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the French Legion of Honor due to his outstanding service to this country. Following in his father's footsteps, their son George fought in World War 11. In 1945 at the age of 25, George was killed during the filming of a movie while on leave from his military duties.

On February 14, 2003, the Briants were recognized by the Louisiana Family Forum as the longest married couple in Louisiana. A dinner was also held in honor of the Briants at the Louisiana Governor's Mansion last year. George and Germaine currently reside at Live Oak Village in Hammond, where they are often seen happily spending all of their time together.

I come to the floor of the House of Representatives today to personally commend and honor the marriage of George and Germaine Briant. They serve as living examples of life-long commitment, love, courage, and faith. Again, congratulations to George and Germaine on 80 years of marriage. I wish you a very Happy Anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dorothy Noriea, of Mandeville, Louisiana. Dorothy has been named the Louisiana Breast Cancer Task Force's Board Member of the Year.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer in the summer of 1998, Dorothy underwent a lumpectomy, mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation and completed treatment in 1999. Dorothy has since served as a member Louisiana Breast Cancer Task Force, an organization which puts forth an immeasurable amount of effort in working towards a cure for breast cancer.

In addition to her work with the Louisiana Breast Cancer Task Force, Dorothy also serves on the Board of the Mandeville PTA, the Greater Covington Junior League, the Beau Chene Garden Club, and the Presbyterian Women's Club. Her invaluable service to the community shows her to be selfless and full of strength and courage.

I come to the floor of the House of Representatives today to personally commend and honor Dorothy Noriea on being named the Louisiana's Breast Cancer Task Force's Board Member of the Year. I am honored that we as members of the U.S. Congress are able to recognize a woman who has been through so much in her own personal life yet still manages to give so much to the community. She deserves tremendous acknowledgement and appreciation for all that she has contributed to the citizens of Louisiana.

Again, I would like to thank Dorothy Noriea for so honorably representing the state of Louisiana.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sister Imelda Moriarty, Principal of St. Catherine of Siena School in Metairie, Louisiana. Sister Imelda is retiring after thirty-five years of teaching at St. Catherine. She is a pillar of the Louisiana educational community and will be sorely missed.

Sister Imelda began teaching at St. Catherine of Siena School in 1969 with a class of forty-one students. She became principal in 1974, and she will retire as principal in May of 2004. Since the arrival of Sister Imelda, St. Catherine has become the largest nonpublic school in Louisiana.

Generation after generation of children from the New Orleans area have attended and will attend St. Catherine. Under the guidance of Sister Imelda, thousands of students have received excellent educations and have become positive contributors to their communities. More importantly, these students have developed a moral, ethical and spiritual foundation to help guide them through life. It is through Sister Imelda's faith that she has become such a positive and powerful source in the lives of so many children.

My wife and I are both personally affected by the retirement of Sister Imelda. Three of our four children attend St. Catherine, and Sister Imelda's departure will be a very emotional event for students and parents alike. Younger students will miss her open arms and candy

jar (both always full). Older students will miss her quiet Irish brogue and countless forays onto the stage during plays and talent shows. Parents will miss her most unassuming air that always commands immediate respect from both parents and students. And, most of all, we will all miss her absolutely unwavering faith in God and dedication to our children.

I come to the floor of the House of Representatives today to personally commend, honor and thank Sister Imelda on the occasion of her retirement from St. Catherine of Siena School. Sister, may the road always rise to meet you and the wind always be at your back.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, this is an amendment to officially represent a vitally important corridor, I-49, and specifically recognize it as qualifying under the new National Corridor Infrastructure Improvement program. I think everyone will agree that this is exactly the sort of crucial corridor for economic purposes, military uses, the movement of agricultural products, all sorts of key uses, that this program is about. So the purpose of the amendment would be to formally recognize in the bill, to make sure that it qualifies. There is no specific amount of money associated with I-49 through this amendment, just to ensure that it fully qualifies under that improvement program.

Again, I-49 is such a corridor of national significance because of the movement of ag products from the heartland of the country to our ports in the south and across the globe; because of defense and security issues, I-49 links so many of our military bases; because of trade, again, agriculture is perhaps the biggest example of that, but it is an enormous trade corridor into the heartland of the country; because of energy, moving energy from Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico into the country; and because of safety concerns.

That is the reason, that is the purpose behind that amendment. I intend to withdraw the amendment in a few moments after engaging in a short colloquy with the chairman.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. John).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), to have a conversation in the form of a colloquy.

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

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman very much for that pledge of support, and I look forward to working with the gentleman proactively as the process moves along.

Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to today to congratulate the Louisiana State University Fighting Tigers football team for winning the 2003 National Championship and the Southern University Jaguars for being named the 2003 SBN Black College Football championship. Both of these schools brought great excitement to the people of Louisiana, including myself, and undoubtedly deserving champions.

As I watched the game in the Superdome I knew I was watching something special, a part of history that folks in Louisiana would be proud of for a long time. LSU defensively dominated Oklahoma on its way to a 21-14 victory over the heavily favored Sooners to bring the national title back to Baton Rouge for first time since the ``Chinese Bandits'' secured it in 1958. Led by coach of the year Nick Saban, the Tigers won a school record 12 games this year and their 9th Southeastern Conference Championship beating arch rivals Ole Miss, Auburn, Alabama, and Arkansas by a combined score of 130-48.

The Tigers got outstanding performances from several players during the season. True Freshman Justin Vincent was named the most valuable player of the Southeastern Conference Championship game against Georgia, where he rushed for 201 yards and the Sugar Bowl where he ran for 117 yards with 1 touchdown.

LSU's defense led by first team all-American Chad Lavlais ranked number 1 in the Nation this season in scoring defense allowing only an average of 11 points per game and only yielding more that 20 points in 1 game. The defense was the difference in the National Championship game as Defensive End Marcus Spears intercepted a Jason White pass and ran it back for what turned out to be the go ahead touchdown.

But this is not the only title that now resides in Louisiana. The Southern University Jaguars defeated Alabama State University 20-9 to win their 19th Southwestern Athletic Conference title and become the SBN Black College Football National Champions.

Under the guidance of Pete Richardson, this year's Southwestern Conference coach of the year, the Jaguars earned their 5th conference title in Coach Richarson's 11 year tenure and defeated Grambling State University in a 44-41 shootout to win the annual Bayou Classic held in the New Orleans Superdome.

Southern Quarterback Quincy Richard was named the Offensive Player of the year and was named to the SBN Black College All American Team, along with offensive lineman Arnold Sims, Miniya Smith, and defensive back Lenny Williams.

It is an honor to congratulate both these teams on a memorable and historic season that will forever bring great pride to each University and the people to Louisiana.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 3-year-old twins, Courtney and Chloe Smith, of Alexandria, Louisiana. Courtney and Chloe have been selected to serve as ambassadors for the millions of kids treated this year at children's hospitals across the United States.

Born in March 2000, Courtney and Chloe are the smallest twins at birth ever to survive in the U.S. For over 3 months, they fought for their lives in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at CHRISTUS St. Francis Cabrini Hospital. Due to their miraculous show of strength, they will serve as representatives for Foresters Champions Across America, a national Children's Miracle Network program.

As representatives of Louisiana, Courtney and Chloe will visit Capitol Hill and the White House to meet with some of our Nation's leaders. They will also travel to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida to participate in the taping of the Children's Miracle Network celebration.

As the father of twin girls, I am able to comprehend the magnitude of such a situation. Children are a gift, and any parent is twice as happy when two special children are brought into the world at one time.

I come to the floor of the House of Representatives today to personally commend, honor and thank Courtney and Chloe Smith for taking on the responsibility of representing Louisiana during such an important and meaningful event. It is rare that we as Members of the U.S. Congress are able to recognize people that are so young and yet so fierce in their fight for life. Courtney and Chloe can truly attest to the life-saving abilities and importance of the Children's Miracle Network. This nation-wide system of hospitals deserves tremendous acknowledgement and appreciation for all the assistance they bring to families such as the Smiths.

Again, thank you to Courtney and Chloe Smith for so honorably representing the state of Louisiana.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the hard working employees at Northrop Grumman's Lake Charles Manufacturing Center located in Southwest Louisiana. Recently the Louisiana Quality Foundation named the Lake Charles Manufacturing Center as the winner of its 2003 Louisiana Performance Excellence Award, the foundation's highest quality honor.

The Louisiana Performance Excellence Award is an annual recognition of Louisiana organizations that achieve high levels of performance excellence and excel in the application of outstanding quality principles. Organizations that serve as role models for quality, customers satisfaction and performance excellence are considered for this award.

This facility is a business unit of Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector. This sector is a premier aerospace defense system integration enterprise. Integrated Systems designs, develops, produces, and supports network-enabled integration systems for government and civil customers worldwide. Most importantly, Integrated Systems helps fight the War on Terrorism by delivering the best value solutions, products and services that support our military missions in the areas of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, space access, battle management command and control, and integrated strike warfare.

I come to the floor of the House of Representatives today to personally commend and recognize the men and women of Lake Charles Manufacturing Center for this well-deserved award that acknowledges their level of talent and commitment to performance excellence. Louisiana has a talented workforce, and some of the most productive employees in the Nation. This Center truly exemplifies the solid work ethic for which Louisiana is known.

Again, congratulations to the employees of Northrop Grumman's Lake Charles Manufacturing Center for receiving this much deserved award.

Mr. Speaker, thanks for the opportunity to recognize today the contributions of Catholic schools. It is particularly significant for me and my constituents since Catholic education began in America in my home State of Louisiana in 1725. My wife Wendy and I are both Catholic school graduates. We send our kids to the Catholic school right in our neighborhood. We know first-hand those contributions as so many speakers before me have noted.

Catholic schools prepare every student to meet the challenges of their future by developing their mind, yes, but also their body and their soul and spirit. They instill students with self-confidence and motivation and the will to succeed, and they provide a true education of value in every sense of the term.

This year is the 30th anniversary of Catholic schools week. The week was established to recognize the vital contributions of America's thousands of Catholic elementary and secondary schools.

The schools produce students strongly dedicated to their faith, values, families, and communities. And those students are very well rounded and they come from truly diverse backgrounds. Nationally non- Catholic enrollment in Catholic schools is 13 percent and minority enrollment is 26 percent. So the institutions are rich both in tradition and diversity.

I rise, Mr. Speaker, to honor the faculty who dedicate their lives to shaping the future of their students, and certainly that includes the religious who are at the core of Catholic education. I salute the parents who sacrifice their personal funds to send their children to Catholic schools. I applaud the students of those schools for the role they play in promoting and ensuring a brighter, stronger future for this Nation.

And I join with so many of my colleagues in saluting this vital part of American education.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bert S. Turner, a distinguished alumnus of Louisiana State University. He has been selected by the LSU Alumni Association Hall of

Distinction to receive the Alumnus of The Year Award. Every year, this award is bestowed to an individual not only for his or her distinguished accomplishments, but also for commitment and generosity to the university and the LSU Alumni Association.

Mr. Turner began his engineering and military career at LSU in 1939, where he became President of the College of Engineering Student Council, the LSU Post of American Society of Military Engineers, and a member of Tau Beta Pi. Following military duty, he then went to the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration and graduated in 1949. For eleven years, from 1946 to 1957, Mr. Turner was recognized for his personal and civic accomplishments. Most notably, he was given the Distinguished Service Award for Baton Rouge in 1954, which recognized him as a loyal member of the community. After working in various engineer and management positions, he eventually became President and Chairman of the Board of Nichols Construction Corporation, a position he held for twenty years.

He has also served on the boards of the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce, the Louisiana State Museum Board, the Louisiana Labor Management Commission, the Salvation Army, the State of Louisiana Board of Regents for Higher Education, and the YMCA. He was previously inducted into the LSU College of Engineering Hall of Distinction in 1993 and the LSU Alumni Association Hall of Distinction in 1996. Presently, he is the Chairman Emeritus of the Board for Turner Industries, Ltd.

I extend my best wishes to Mr. Turner, the most recent recipient of this prestigious award, and to LSU for its support.