Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, the budget bill attacks students and low- income and middle class families. It targets low and moderate income Americans with $70 billion in new tax cuts that will be included in the budget, and those tax cuts favor the super rich.

The tax cuts for the rich are placed on the backs of students and their families. Under this bill, student borrowers, already saddled with $17,500 in debt, could be forced to pay up to an additional $1,500 for his or her college loans. The bill raises student loan interest rate caps, raises borrower interest rates and fees for consolidation loans, and raises student loan taxes, and puts billions of dollars in student aid at risk by cutting all the critical funds used to carry out and administer student aid programs.

So we have more and more young Americans who will not be getting a college education, but they will be getting a political education. If you do not vote, the politicians in Washington will ignore you, shove you aside, cut your education funds. It is a call to young Americans to get involved, register, vote, and reclaim this country.

Mr. Speaker, the vast education cuts brought before us today in this conference agreement and additionally in the budget reconciliation package that we may see today, are telling signs of the priorities of this Congress. These cuts demonstrate, far better than words ever could, that education is not a priority for this House.

This conference agreement provides a mere $11 million increase for Head Start, a pivotal program for preschool-aged children in low-income families across the Nation. At current funding levels, Head Start serves approximately half of the children eligible for its services, a wholly inadequate proportion. This program, which has repeatedly been found to dramatically improve the academic performance of students deserves much more than an $11 million increase.

The conference agreement cuts school improvement funding by 6 percent and flat funds teacher quality grants. These grants, which are used to recruit qualified teachers and support teacher development, are critically important to efforts to improve student achievement.

Rather than strengthening the Pell Grant Program and increasing access to higher education for low-income students, the conference agreement maintains the current maximum Pell Grant of $4,050. At this level, the maximum Pell Grant only covers 39 percent of tuition at the average four-year public college, making a mockery of its status as the foundation of student aid for the poorest students.

What are our priorities? The votes members cast today on this conference agreement and the budget reconciliation later today, will show their priorities. Do we place more value on tax cuts for the wealthy or the education of our students? I urge my colleagues to join me in prioritizing students' well-being and vote no on this conference report and on the budget reconciliation package.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of the united effort of United Way and Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless' (NEOCH) Bridging the Gap as they celebrate the newly available HousingCleveland.Org website. This is a vital source of information for individuals and families on the road to personal restoration as they search for safe, affordable housing in Cuyahoga County.

This comprehensive Web site is free to both prospective tenants and property owners. The site currently lists more than 1,500 housing units in more than 20 local cities and villages. The site, available at no cost to property owners, includes a rental checklist, a rent calculator, information on tenant rights and responsibilities and information that includes details about each unit. Tenants can use the site to search by location, rent, number of bedrooms and special needs requirements.

For individuals who do not have access to the internet, the information can also be obtained by calling 2-1-1/First Call for Help line. All information contained in the site is available in Spanish. First Call for Help maintains the site and daily updates are provided by Socialserve.com, a non-profit agency. SCK, a graphic design firm located in the Tremont neighborhood, donated a portion of their time and talents in creating the HousingCleveland. Org site.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of the leaders and members of United Way's 2-1-1 First Call For Help, NEOCH's Bridging the Gap, Cleveland Tenant's Organization, Cuyahoga County Office of Homeless Services, Cleveland Department of Community Development, Cleveland State University Center for Neighborhood Development, Cuyahoga County Department of Development, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, EDEN, Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry, Maximum Independent Living and the May Dugan Center.

Let us stand in honor and recognition of the courageous spirit and heart of the children and adults in our community who, despite their struggle and hardship, strive to raise their lives into the realm of hope and possibility and ultimately, through the collaborative work and spirit of our entire community, are able to find their way home.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Mayor Paul L. Ruggles--devoted husband, father, grandfather, community leader, entrepreneur, veteran of the United States Air Force Honor Guard and admired friend and mentor.

A life-long resident of the Village Newburgh Heights, Mayor Ruggles served as ``honorary Mayor'' for years before being elected as mayor in 2003. At his cozy restaurant/bar, the Ruggles Inn, Village residents sought out his opinion and advice on issues ranging from speeding cars to the future of economic growth and development for the Village. The friendly, welcoming atmosphere of the Ruggles Inn mirrored the character of its owner. Regular patrons enjoyed Mayor Ruggles' homemade pork chops, city chicken and good conversation. His easy-going demeanor, integrity and kind nature easily drew others to him. In just a short time in office, Mayor Ruggles forged strong bonds with local, county and State leaders, and began the process of renewed economic development--all focused on improving the lives of the people of the Village.

Mayor Ruggles was appointed to serve on council in 2000, and was elected to serve as Mayor in 2003. He was also an active member of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party. Humble yet confident, Mayor Ruggles restored a certain grace and dignity to the Village Hall. His efforts on behalf of the Village ran the spectrum from major economic growth initiatives focused on bringing new industry into the Village, to hiring a new police chief, to restoring Village roads, to settling disputes between neighbors. Regardless of the issue, every concern that the Villagers brought before him consistently had his full attention, concern and commitment.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor, gratitude and remembrance of Mayor Paul L. Ruggles. I offer my deepest condolences to his wife Judy; to his daughter, Laura; to his son, Paul; to his son-in- law, Brad; to his daughter-in-law, Jennifer; to his granddaughters, Alyssa and Samantha; and to his extended family members and many friends. Mayor Ruggles' integrity, generous heart and love for his family, friends and for the people of Newburgh Heights will be forever remembered along East 49th Street, Harvard Avenue, Washington Park Boulevard and miles beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I sent the attached letter, along with my colleagues, in support of compulsory licensing for Tamiflu on November 9, 2005. I submit a copy for the Record.

Congress of the United States,

Washington, DC, November 9, 2005.

Mike Leavitt,

Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, 200

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC.

Dear Mike: Thank you for participating in the House

Government Reform Committee hearing ``The National Pandemic

Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan: Is the U.S. Ready

for Avian Flu?'' on November 4, 2005. We are writing to

contest your stated justifications for refusing to issue a

compulsory license for Tamiflu and to request, again, that

you reconsider your stance.

You mentioned that issuing a compulsory license would not

hasten the manufacture of Tamiflu because it is a complex

manufacturing process that incorporates a step requiring an

explosion hazard. There is considerable evidence showing that

the manufacturing process is not prohibitively complex or

dangerous.

Roche's own advertisement in several periodicals has said

that they have ``received more than 100 requests from

different parties interested in helping us meet production

challenges.'' Indian generics manufacturer, Cipla has

announced that they plan to start selling enough generic

Tamiflu to treat 100,000 to 200,000 people by March of 2006.

News reports indicate that Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, and

Vietnam plan to initiate production, some as soon as February

2006. Taiwan appears to have made ``the drug in just 18 days,

not including weekends and a bank holiday, using information

from publicly available documents.'' They also report that

Roche has admitted that it exaggerated the complexity of the

manufacturing process. Ernie Prisbe, Vice President of

Tamiflu inventor, Gilead Sciences, said of the Tamiflu

manufacturing process, ``There's nothing that overwhelming in

this kind of synthesis, or that formidable, that someone

couldn't do it.''

Clearly, it is feasible to ramp up production swiftly to

provide for the U.S. and the entire world.

You also indicated that you did not wish to issue a

compulsory license for Tamiflu because it would discourage

pharmaceutical companies from investing in research into

future anti-virals or other drugs. Please be reminded that

whenever a government representative issues a compulsory

license, the licenser gets a royalty in order to insure

profits are not taken. Roche will undoubtedly continue to

make healthy profits if a compulsory license is issued.

You further indicated that an emphasis on Tamiflu is undue

since it is not our strongest defense, nor is it guaranteed

to be relevant to the virus strain behind a pandemic. I agree

that Tamiflu is not a silver bullet. However, to our

knowledge, it is the best pharmaceutical defense we have now.

Our public health infrastructure is not ready and it will

take years to make it so. Until there is a better

alternative, and unless we have reason to believe the drug

would do more harm than good, and until our state of

readiness for a pandemic is stronger, we have an obligation

to do all we can to shore up our weak defenses now. Bear in

mind that the shelf life of Tamiflu is five years, which

means stockpiles are unlikely to go to waste.

If you are content to wait until 2007 to fill our stockpile

needs, a deadline you claimed Roche would be able meet in

your testimony, you are gambling with public health with the

proceeds going to Roche. If the pandemic does not happen

before 2007, Roche keeps their monopoly intact and the public

is unharmed. If the pandemic strikes before Roche meets its

promised deadline, and nothing has been done to ramp up

production--like issuing a compulsory license--our stockpile

will be inadequate. History will not be kind to those who

could have saved lives but instead deferred to intellectual

property rights.

Please reconsider your willingness to issue a compulsory

license for Tamiflu.

Sincerely,

Dennis J. Kucinich,

Member of Congress,

Bernard Sanders,

Member of Congress,

Marion Berry,

Member of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I sent the attached statement of support for the Gwich'in tribe on November 4, 2005.

Congress of the United States,

Washington, DC.

statement of support for

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of the Lesbian/Gay Service Center of Greater Cleveland, as they celebrate thirty years of support, outreach, education and advocacy on behalf of lesbian and gay individuals within our community.

In 1975, founding members Ethan Ericsen, Michael Madigan and Arthur MacDonald embraced a collective vision of human rights for everyone; a vision they transformed into a haven of support and services, named the Gay Education and Awareness Resource Foundation (GEAR). GEAR began the work of community outreach programs, legal advocacy efforts and support programs focused on issues affecting lesbian and gay youth. The Center continues to build bridges with educational and social service organizations throughout the Cuyahoga County, with a strong focus on the youth of our community.

The project, Safe Schools Are For Everyone, exists to provide safe social opportunities, support and leadership training for students, teachers and school administrators. Over the past thirty years, the Center's name has changed and the scope of services has expanded, yet the core mission has remained the same: To craft a kinship of all citizens, gay and straight, who stand united on a solid foundation of tolerance, acceptance and protection of the rights and freedoms of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of all leaders and members, past and present, of the Lesbian/Gay Service Center of Cleveland. Their collective effort, work, volunteerism and compassion serves to bolster the spirit of those still struggling against a tide of oppression. The Center's vital work offers the promise that one day, the shroud of societal ignorance and intolerance will dissolve into the light of freedom and justice for all.

Mr. Speaker, I sent the attached letter, along with my colleagues, in opposition to the proposed privatization of Environmental Health Perspectives on November 10, 2005.

Congress of the United States,

Washington, DC, November 10, 2005.

Dr. Elias Zerhouni,

Director, National Institutes of Health,

Bethesda, Maryland.

Dear Dr. Zerhouni: We write to express our strong

opposition to the proposed privatization of Environmental

Health Perspectives (EHP). Doing so places at risk the

integrity and quality of one of the world's best independent

journals covering the area of science that deals with the

environment and health. We urge you to reject EHP

privatization.

EHP is one of the premier academic peer reviewed journals

in the world. It ranks second among 132 environmental science

journals, and fifth among ninety public environmental and

occupational health journals. If it were considered among the

general medical journals like the New England Journal of

Medicine and JAMA, it would rank tenth. Early signs indicate

that this year, all those rankings are likely to increase.

Its value and uniqueness stem, in large part, from its

status as a publicly managed journal. For example, EHP's

independence directly enhances the quality of the work it

publishes. Their conflict of interest policy is among the

strictest of peer-reviewed journals. Such a policy might be

compromised if the journal was privately published.

In addition, its public funding source allows it to be an

open access journal, which means anyone with Internet access

can get any EHP article 24 hours after it is accepted for

publication. That is essential because the vast majority of

published research is available only through increasingly

costly journal subscriptions, institutional license fees, or

per-article purchases. This closed system leaves the American

public--including physicians, public health professionals,

patients and patient groups, students, teachers, librarians

and scientists at academic institutions, hospitals, research

laboratories, and corporate research centers--under-informed

about important, timely research results they helped finance.

Because EHP is publicly funded, important public health

functions are performed that the private sector would be

unlikely to support. The National Institute of Environmental

Health Sciences (NIEHS), which runs EHP, provides free

monthly copies to those in the developing world, where

environmental health problems are, in many cases, the most

severe. NIEHS also provides EHP classroom materials for

universities and high schools. These non-revenue-generating

programs have high public health value and would be at risk

if EHP were privatized. The breadth of appeal and academic

discipline that uniquely characterizes EHP would also be

at risk of sustaining a narrowing of scope more in line

with privately run journals.

Finally, NIEHS does a highly efficient job of running EHP.

In the last year, the EHP budget was $3.3 million, which is

less than one half of one per cent of the NIEHS budget. In

the last four years, they have reduced their budget by

fifteen percent while they have become an open access

journal, expanded their reach to other countries, expanded

their educational programs, and dramatically increased the

quality of the articles. Despite having this record that any

private sector establishment would envy, NIEHS is considering

still more cost cutting measures to further streamline. The

impact of EHP on public health far surpasses its costs.

Privatizing EHP is unnecessary and unwise. It would yield

miniscule cost savings

while exacting a large cost to public health. We urge you to

reject privatizing EHP.

Sincerely,

Dennis J. Kucinich, Hilda L. Solis, Bart Gordon, Mark

Udall, Raul M. Grijalva, Jim McDermott, Brad Miller,

Bernard Sanders, Robert Wexler, Barbara Lee, James P.

McGovern, James P. Moran, Martin O. Sabo.

Mr. Speaker, I sent the attached letter, along with my colleagues, in support of Gulf War Veterans Illnesses Research funding in the Conference Report of the Defense Appropriations Bill on November 10, 2005.

Congress of the United States,

Washington, DC, November 10, 2005.

The Hon. C.W. Bill Young,

Chairman, Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, H-309 U.S.

Capitol, Washington, DC.

The Hon. John P. Murtha,

Ranking Member, Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, 1016

Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Young and Ranking Member Murtha: As the

conferees begin to work on the fiscal year 2006

Appropriations bill for the Subcommittee on Defense, we

respectfully seek your support for retaining the House

funding level of $10 million for Gulf War Veterans Illnesses

research.

The Congressionally chartered Veterans' Administration

Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses

found in September 2004 that fourteen years after the 1990-

1991 Gulf War, between 26 and 32 percent of those who served

in that war continue to suffer from serious and persistent

health problems--typically multiple symptoms that include

severe headaches, memory problems, muscle and joint pain,

severe gastrointestinal problems, respiratory problems, skin

disorders and other problems. They also determined that the

existence of these serious and often debilitating problems

could not be scientifically explained by stress or

psychiatric illness.

We are only now starting to see the long-term effects. For

example, ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, occurs in Persian Gulf

veterans with twice the frequency of peer veterans that were

not deployed. Yet a federal research program to better

understand these issues that was once $45 million strong has

been virtually eliminated. The FY 06 budget dedicates no

funding to either the Department of Defense or the Department

of Health and Human Services for Gulf War Illnesses research.

The funding we are requesting is consistent with the VA

Research Committee recommendations.

The amendment to the FY 06 House Defense appropriations

bill that added the research funding was well supported. It

passed by voice vote, had bipartisan support and was backed

by the American Legion, Paralyzed Veterans of America, the

National Gulf War Resource Center, Vietnam Veterans of

America, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Finally, research guidance was developed in consultation

with top members of the VA Research Committee. We therefore

request that the guidance, which is the same as that inserted

into the congressional record during bill debate, be included

in the conference report. The guidance text is attached for

your reference. We expect this research to supplement the

other promising research performed at Army Research,

Development, Test and Evaluation within the Department of

Defense.

Thank you for consideration of our requests.

Sincerely,

Dennis J. Kucinich, Bernard Sanders, Frank Pallone, Jr.,

Jim McDermott, Lane Evans, Tammy Baldwin, Christopher

Shays, Rob Simmons, Rush D. Holt, Barbara Lee, Albert

R. Wynn, Carolyn B. Maloney, Lloyd Doggett, Joseph

Crowley, Raul Grijalva, John Conyers, Jr., Jay Inslee,

Dennis Moore, Collin C. Peterson, Betty McCollum, Ed

Case, Members of Congress.

Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Research Guidance for the FY06 Defense

Department Appropriations Conference Report

It is intended that the appropriation for research on

chronic illnesses affecting veterans of the 1991 Gulf War be

used for a coherent research program focusing on (1)

identification of mechanisms underlying Gulf War illnesses,

(2) chronic effects of neurotoxic substances to which

veterans were exposed during deployment; (3) studies that

expand on earlier research identifying neurological and

immunological abnomalities in ill Gulf War veterans; and (4)

identification of promising treatments. The primary objective

of the research program will be to elucidate

pathophysiological mechanisms underlying Gulf War illnesses,

which may subsequently be targeted to developing treatments

for these conditions. A further objective will be to identify

and evaluate treatments which currently exist and which hold

promise for treating these illnesses.

The U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command shall,

in consultation with experienced research scientists in

relevant fields, establish a list of research questions to

address the above topics, and design a program of specific

research studies that together constitute a coherent plan to

answer these questions, each identified study to be conducted

by the most qualified researcher, which may include consulted

scientists. As part of this process, there shall be a public

solicitation of research proposals (which may include concept

exploration and pilot projects) on these questions and at

least twenty-five percent of the program (measured by amount

funded) shall be made up of proposals selected from this

solicitation, as modified if necessary to increase the value

of the proposed research to the overall program. At least

twenty percent of the program (measured by amount funded)

shall address the objective of identifying and evaluating

promising existing treatments, such as observation and pilot

studies. The program shall be submitted for determination of

scientific merit through independent peer review.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, for their commitment to feeding Greater Cleveland's most vulnerable families during this Thanksgiving season.

Since 1995, the Hunger Network has committed itself to the elimination of hunger in the Greater Cleveland area. Through public partnerships, volunteer mobilization and their own facilities, the Network feeds over 50,000 Greater Clevelanders every month, in the form of emergency food distribution and hot meal programs. Under the auspices of its Care for Others program, Thrivent Financial provides resources to community programs and local development throughout the Nation.

On Friday, November 11th the Hunger Network, through the generosity of Thrivent Financial, will receive 6,200 chickens for Cleveland families. With the help of volunteers from Turkeys4America and Lutheran High School West, the Hunger Network will distribute full Thanksgiving dinners to hungry children and families in Cleveland and throughout Cuyahoga County.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, as well as efforts of members of Turkeys4America, Lutheran High School West, and so many other volunteers who are giving their time and resources to help the hungry of Greater Cleveland. Through their dedication and vision, they will provide a bountiful Thanksgiving for thousands of families who would otherwise go hungry. Their commitment to the elimination of hunger and the proper nutrition of Cleveland's most vulnerable families is inspiration for all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the teachers, staff, administrators and students of SS. Cyril & Methodius Catholic School, in celebration of their newly appointed status from the U.S. Department of Education as a No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.

This significant tribute, awarded to less than 300 schools nationwide, represents the highest levels of academic excellence, achievement and improvement. The Blue Ribbon School of Excellence recognition also honors schools in which at least 40 percent of students come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Reverend Jerome Duke, Pastor of SS. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church, turned down an offer to merge his school with three other local Catholic Schools. His decision mirrors his dedication to the east side neighborhoods of Lakewood and his true commitment and service to the families and children of SS. Cyril & Methodius Catholic School. Reverend Duke knew that if the school had merged, most families would have been unable to afford the tuition at the new school.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of Reverend Jerome Duke, Principal Carol Shakarian and every student, teacher, pastor, staff member, volunteer and donor of SS. Cyril & Methodius Catholic School, as they celebrate their newly appointed status as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Their collective work and dedication focused on uplifting the lives of our youth with a strong foundation of education and personal achievement, serves to shine a light of hope and promise on a bright future for the children of the SS. Cyril & Methodius Catholic School. Moreover, the tenacity and heart reflected from these students who face daily struggles, inspires us all and offers our entire community the promise for a better tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin our day here by quoting from the book of Deuteronomy, the 15th chapter, the seventh verse:

``If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God hath giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother.''

Remember this today when in the name of deficit reduction, you would vote to cut health care for poor children. Thou shalt not harden thine heart.

Those who would today cut food stamps, school breakfast and school lunch benefits for the poor, thou shalt not harden thine heart.

Those who would cut rental housing benefits for hurricane victims, there is a moral imperative about us being in this House. And we cannot just look at this as business as usual when we choose to just cut benefits for the poor and then turn around and give tax cuts for the rich.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Barney Kilian, affectionately known as the ``Mayor of Old Brooklyn,'' and beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, community activist, expert gardener and friend to countless people in Cleveland's Old Brooklyn neighborhood and far beyond.

Mr. Kilian lived life with great joy and energy and was always willing to offer assistance to anyone in need. His unwavering focus on the welfare of the Old Brooklyn neighborhood extended beyond the lines of ward borders. His life-long interest in local politics never subsided; Mr. Kilian was an active member of the Democratic Party and was elected to serve as Precinct Committeeman in Ward 15.

In the Spring of 1980, at the age of 72, Mr. Kilian led a volunteer effort to clean up and restore the historic Benjamin Franklin Community Gardens. Neglected for decades, the Gardens had become overgrown with weeds, rocks and refuse. Though a daunting task, Mr. Kilian welcomed the challenge of renewing the site, which is the largest community garden in Cuyahoga County. Armed with a generous heart and quick wit, Mr. Kilian, with support from the Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation, led neighborhood volunteers in transforming the seven-acre site into 220 plots of thriving, flourishing gardens. He restored the teaching garden utilized by adjacent Benjamin Franklin Elementary School and set aside several plots where produce was specifically grown to help feed Cleveland's hungry. For 21 consecutive growing seasons, Mr. Kilian kept a watchful eye on the Gardens. Making several trips a week, he loaded up his old car and delivered the produce to area hunger centers, including the Brookside Center, St. Herman's, St. Mary's and St. Augustine's.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor, remembrance and gratitude to Mr. Barney Kilian, whose life was framed by kindness, humor and devotion to his community. I offer my condolences to his daughters, June, Diane and Donald; to the memory of his late wife, Janet and late son, Raymond; to his son-in-law, Charles; to his grandchildren, Charlene, Christine, Cheryl, Lisa and Raymond Jr.; to his four great-grandchildren; and to his many friends. Although Barney Kilian will be deeply missed, his love for the people of Old Brooklyn and their love for him will rise every Spring with the first sign of radiant color rising from Benjamin Franklin Gardens along Spring Road, and far beyond.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

I want to begin by saying that I think that our ranking member, David Obey, has stated well the concerns that many of us have with respect to some provisions of the bill that would, in this case, cut legal services to the poor; and the stripping of the Sanders amendment was certainly a problem because that amendment would have prevented the search of library reading records by PATRIOT Act law enforcement. So I understand the concerns that have been expressed.

On balance, though, I rise in support of the bill, and I am going to tell the Members why: because I think that there is an element in this bill that is so important for this country because it affirms the notion that the first ``A'' in NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, ``aeronautics,'' is critical to the agency's success. And in that connection I want to thank Chairman Wolf and I want to thank Ranking Member Mollohan for their hard work and their support to that end.

We have been working for the better part of this year to make certain that aeronautics was recognized as being critical; and without the help of the entire Ohio delegation on both sides of the aisle, without the help of Chairman Wolf, without the help of Ranking Member Mollohan, we would not be here at this exact moment pointing out that this bill represents a victory for aeronautics.

Aeronautics research and development has drastically improved our national security, our air safety, our economy, and our environment. NASA's field centers, such as the Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, are where the actual basic research is done. There we will find unique research facilities, some of the best scientists and engineers of our time, and a track record of discovery for the public good that is the envy of the world.

One of the secrets to NASA's success has been its dual emphasis on both space and aeronautics. A successful space program is heavily dependent on a strong aeronautics program. Indeed, we cannot get to space without first navigating the atmosphere, and yet the budget for fiscal year 2006 attempted to drastically cut funding for aeronautics research. Recovery from that devastating loss would have taken decades and billions of dollars.

That is why I am so grateful to the chairman and to the ranking member and all of my colleagues for the work that they have put into the bill and showing that the members of the subcommittee share the deep affinity that I have and that others have in appreciation for a healthy, balanced National Aeronautics and Space Administration. This recognizes that a healthy NASA requires strong field research centers like NASA Glenn. Strong field centers, in turn, are dependent on their physical facilities and, more importantly, their talented workforce.

The bill protects the jobs and facilities from cuts that are driven by what accountants want instead of scientific need and instead of engineering know-how. This bill stands in defense of aeronautics, and it is a nod to the crucial role that aeronautics plays in so many facets of our daily life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in tribute and recognition of the Ukrainian American Youth Association (UAYA), as they celebrate their 80th Anniversary as a world wide youth organization. In northeast Ohio, the UAYA is celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the establishment of the UAYA Campgrounds in Huntington, Ohio.

For more than a century, Americans of Ukrainian heritage have infused the richness of Ukrainian heritage throughout our Greater Cleveland community. Their significant contributions within all facets of our society, along with their collective focus on preserving and promoting the history of the Ukraine, is enhanced with every new generation of Americans of Ukrainian heritage.

The leaders and members of the UAYA provide vital opportunities for American youth of Ukrainian descent to attain a true understanding of the history, faith, culture of the Ukraine. The UAYA also provides vital cultural opportunities for young people to become active and lasting members of their local Ukrainian community--a community centered around family, faith and tradition.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor of the Ukrainian American Youth Association, as leaders and members celebrate the vital and ongoing legacy of teaching, preserving and sharing memories, customs and culture of their beloved Ukraine. Through the efforts of the UAYA, the heart of the Ukraine transcends borders, oceans and time, and lives on within each new generation of children of Ukrainian heritage--in Cleveland, Ohio, and around the world.