Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 609, the College Access and Opportunity Act. H.R. 609 reauthorizes the Higher Education Act (HEA), including all discretionary programs under the HEA, such as Federal student financial aid programs, teacher training programs, and programs that provide aid to institutions of higher education serving minority populations. Reauthorizing the HEA provided the House with an excellent opportunity to invest in our Nation's future by making college more accessible and affordable. Unfortunately, H.R. 609 does not provide the investment in higher education

necessary to make college more affordable and to ensure our Nation's future economic competitiveness and prosperity.

HEA reauthorization bills typically include all mandatory and discretionary programs in the HEA, and H.R. 609, as reported by the House Education and Workforce Committee, included both mandatory and discretionary programs. The recently enacted Deficit Reduction Act (P.L. 109-171) reauthorized the mandatory Federal student loan programs, but cut Federal student aid programs by $12.7 billion--the largest cut ever in the Federal student loan program.

Specifically, P.L. 109-171 doubles the origination fee for students getting Direct Loans from an effective 1.5 percent to 3 percent in 2006. Additionally, P.L. 109-171 requires lenders to collect a 1 percent fee on Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) that may come directly from students' pockets or the lenders' own operating expenses. P.L. 109-171 also increases the fixed rate on parent loans to 8.5 percent (Under current law, beginning in July 2006 parent loans would have a fixed rate of 7.9 percent). Finally, P.L. 109-171 eliminates all mandatory spending for administration of all higher education programs, which shows a savings of $2.2 billion; however, the only way these savings can occur is if Congress chooses not to appropriate this money--which could jeopardize not only student loan programs, but also programs like Pell Grants, TRIO, and Work Study programs.

H.R. 609 presented the House with an opportunity to correct these misguided increases in fees and rates on students and their families. Unfortunately, the House approved a rule for consideration of H.R. 609, which prohibited amendments from being offered addressing the fee and rate increases for students and their families.

Additionally, while H.R. 609 authorizes a maximum Pell Grant scholarship award of $6,000, the bill does not include any mandatory spending increases for Pell Grant funding, which will ensure that the amount actually appropriated remains frozen. For instance, the Bush Administration's FY 2007 budget proposes to freeze maximum Pell Grant scholarship award at $4,050, where it has been held since 2003. This is troubling because, during this same period, the average tuition and fees at a four-year public college have risen by $1,393. Further, when adjusted for inflation, the maximum Pell Grant award is actually worth $900 less than the maximum scholarship 30 years ago.

I instead supported the Miller-Kildee-Scott-Davis-Grijalva substitute amendment that boosts college opportunities and makes college more affordable. Specifically, this legislation would offer the 3.4 percent fixed interest rate to students who take out subsidized loans between July 1, 2006, and June 30, 2007, which would lower the cost of college by $2.4 billion for students and their families. This amendment would have also repealed the single holder rule, which requires student borrowers to consolidate their loans with their existing lender. Under the substitute amendment, the borrower could choose which lender he or she wished to use to consolidate loans. Additionally, this substitute amendment would have provided loan forgiveness for nurses, highly qualified teachers in bilingual and low-income communities, librarians, first responders, and other public servants.

With our Nation is facing increasing competition from rising economic powers, such as China and India, it is more important that ever that Congress work to improve the accessibility and affordability of a college education. Funding for higher education is an investment, not a cost, which will produce an educated, talented workforce to ensure our nation's future economic competitiveness and prosperity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the late Dave Peterson, of Overland Park, Kansas, who died on March 20th. Dave was born March 31, 1951, to Harold and Josephine (Lewis) Peterson. He was a lifelong resident of the Kansas City area and married Cindy Peterson, with whom he had two daughters: Erica and Andrea Peterson, all of Overland Park. He is also survived by his sister Pat Higgins and brothers Harold Peterson, Jr., and John Peterson.

Dave Peterson was a member of United Auto Workers Local 31 since he began working at General Motors in 1976. He became the President of the local in 2002, a position he held until the time of his death. He was also the President of the Kansas State CAP Council, the AFL-CIO Tri- County Labor Council, was a past member of the executive board of the Wyandotte County United Way and was involved in numerous charity organizations throughout the community. He formerly served as an executive board member of the Kansas AFL-CIO. Dave worked at the GM- Fairfax facility in Kansas City, Kansas, for 30 years, starting on the production line and then going

through an apprenticeship program to become a skilled tradesman.

Mr. Speaker, the details of his life do not paint the full picture of the personality and influence that Dave Peterson brought to bear in the Kansas City metropolitan area. As Kevin O'Neill, the publisher of the Labor Beacon said in his paper's obituary concerning Dave: ``Whenever I thought of Dave Peterson, I thought of passion. The man was full of passion. That is what made him a great leader. That is what made him a great man.'' As Garry Kemp, Business Manager for the Greater Kansas City Building Trades said, in the same article, ``All who knew him will acknowledge that he wasn't bashful whenever he spoke, publicly or privately, regarding the working people and their equal rights to obtain an economically fair and just livelihood from the services rendered.'' Dave Peterson was a friend, neighbor and advisor of mine. His enthusiasm, integrity and dedication to the public interest will be sorely missed by all of us in public service in the Kansas City metro area. I echo the sentiments expressed on the Kansas Democratic Party's Web site concerning the passing of Dave Peterson: ``Dave was a well- reasoned and common sense advisor to government and business leaders across the state. He was an active, passionate and vocal Democrat who never hesitated to tell anyone how he felt, and that he was proud to be a Democrat. Dave's leadership and dedication will be missed.''

While Dave and I did not agree on every policy issue that came before Congress, I respected his counsel and welcomed his advice. Our community is richer for his having been among us and we are poorer today because we have lost him. Mr. Speaker, I include with this statement the obituary regarding Dave Peterson that was published in the Kansas City Star:

Dave Peterson, President of UAW Local, Dies at 54

[From the Kansas City Star, Mar. 23, 2006]

(By Randolph Heaster)

Dave Peterson, a prominent local union leader, died Monday.

He was 54.

Peterson became president of United Auto Workers Local 31

in 2002 and served as its recording secretary before that. He

was also president of the AFL-CIO Tri-County Labor Council of

Eastern Kansas.

Peterson's activism on behalf of causes supported by

organized labor was well known among community and civic

leaders. He and Local 31, which represents workers at the

General Motors Fairfax assembly plant, also were active in

United Way fundraising in Wyandotte County.

He put Local 31 on the map in the political arena and in

the labor movement in general, said Jeff Manning, Local 31

vice president. He touched a lot of people, and he was always

involved in charitable causes.

Peterson was one of the principal organizers of last year's

Labor Day parade, the first in Kansas City in 13 years. He

thought such a tradition was sorely needed to reinvigorate a

labor movement that was still recovering from the setbacks of

the 2004 elections.

We're looking for something to rally around, he said at the

time. If we don't come together and show some solidarity,

we're all going to wind up losing.

Peterson regularly attended a monthly breakfast meeting

between union officials and local media members. That was

where Gordon Clark said he got to know Peterson better and

began working with him on various issues.

Dave was one of the best labor leaders that I've known, and

I've looked up to him the last few years for guidance and

leadership, said Clark, president of Transport Workers Union

Local 530, which represents American Airlines workers. I was

proud to know him. Clark said Peterson was quick to volunteer

his time for training or teaching forums on matters

affecting organized labor.

He always made the Local 31 union hall available for

whoever needed a bigger space, Clark said.

Peterson worked at the Fairfax plant for 30 years. He

survived a 21-month layoff when GM eliminated a second shift

in the early 1980s. Peterson was president when GM decided to

invest $500 million in the Fairfax plant to build the new

Chevrolet Malibu. With a new Saturn passenger car also

expected to come on line this year, the Fairfax plant

survived GM's decision last fall to close several plants in

an effort to become profitable.

After years of suffering through temporary shutdowns from

slow sales in the 1980s and 1990s, the Fairfax plant's 3,000

employees have had steady work and overtime since the

Malibu's introduction three years ago. But Peterson continued

to warn the public about the trend among U.S. corporations to

eliminate high-paying domestic jobs and opening plants in

countries with cheap labor.

He was definitely a working man's friend, Manning said. If

you worked hard, he believed you should be rewarded for that.

He will be greatly missed.

Mr. Schiff, the distinguished gentleman from California, I want to thank you for your leadership in putting together this little seminar and this presentation this evening on national security and how important it is for our country.

I want to talk for just a few minutes about the importance of national security in the context of energy independence for our Nation. Some of our viewers this night, Mr. Schiff, will be old enough to remember back in the late 1970s there was a gentleman by the name of Jimmy Carter who was President of United States. And one night President Carter was sitting addressing the people of America on national television. He had on a cardigan sweater. He was sitting in front of the fireplace and talking about the long lines at the gas pumps. And he was talking about the need for our country to develop energy independence and a comprehensive energy policy to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

I think President Carter was right then, and I faulted every Republican and Democrat since President Carter for not doing what he said we needed to do back then. And especially, since September 11 of 2001, and 5 years into this administration we still are very dependent, heavily dependent on foreign oil, and we need to find for America energy independence.

And I think this is no longer just a concern about long lines at the gas pumps or the high cost per gallon of gasoline. This now has become a national security issue, and it is an issue that we, as a Nation, must deal with.

This issue, Mr. Schiff, should not be about Republicans and Democrats. This should be about us taking care of our people and our country. And we all must come together to do this, and I think it is highly important, again, that we reduce our dependence on foreign oil and find an independent way to do this.

President Bush mentioned in his State of the Union this year, for the first time, I believe, trying to develop some way to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and enter energy independence. But he didn't make any proposals, and I think what we need are some solid proposals to do that.

We need, for example, conservation. We need to develop hybrid automobiles, hydrogen fuel cells. We need to look and develop solar energy, wind energy, ethanol biodiesel. We need to reduce our dependence on Middle East oil and increase our dependence on Midwest farmers who can provide the crops necessary to produce some of the fuels I am talking about, alternatives and renewable sources of energy here.

Energy independence, in fact, again has become a national security issue. We must reduce our dependence on foreign oil. We cannot and must not be held hostage by foreign nations who control our supply of oil. We must do this as Americans, again not as Republicans and Democrats, but as Americans because our country needs this and demands this.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to note an important event in the Third Congressional District of Kansas. On April 24, 2006, the Volunteer Center of Johnson County in Overland Park, KS, will honor outstanding youth volunteers. One hundred and eleven young people have been nominated by school personnel and nonprofit organizations for their dedication and service to the community. Eight of these youth are being recognized for their efforts toward receipt of the Congressional Award. Youth volunteerism continues to grow and be a strong force in Johnson County. These 111 youth exemplify the true meaning of volunteerism and giving back to their community. It is my honor to recognize each student volunteer and their schools by listing them in the Congressional Record.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name School Age Grade CA medal City ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Katie Agnew................... Bishop Miege High 18 12 ................. Roeland Park

School. Dana Alanis................... Indian Trail Jr. 15 9 ................. Olathe.

High. Molly Allison-Gallimore....... Home School...... 16 10 Silver Medal..... Spring Hill. Clare Amey.................... Bishop Miege High 17 11 ................. Prairie Village.

School. Avery Arjo.................... Oregon Trail 13 8 ................. Olathe.

Junior High. Simmi Arora................... Olathe Northwest 17 12 ................. Lenexa.

High School. Sydney Ayers.................. Barstow High 15 9 Gold Medal....... Leawood.

School. M. Celeste Banks.............. Trailridge Middle 14 8 ................. Shawnee Mission.

School. Annie Beile................... California Trail 14 9 ................. Overland Park.

Jr. High. Anne Bellis................... Pembroke Hill.... 16 10 ................. Fairway Carlene Bolton................ Mill Valley High 17 12 ................. Shawnee

School. Steven Burnett................ Olathe North High 18 12 ................. Olathe.

School. Rebecca Byron................. Biship Miege High 18 12 ................. Shawnee

School. Caitlin Carter................ Westridge Middle 14 8 ................. Shawnee Mission.

School. Jenna Christensen............. Shawnee Mission 17 11 Silver Medal..... Overland Park.

North High

School. Jill Christensen.............. Shawnee Mission 15 10 Silver Medal..... Overland.

North High

School. Lee Clemon.................... Olathe South High 18 12 ................. Olathe.

School. Sara ``Kat'' Conoley.......... Shawnee Mission 18 12 ................. Shawnee Mission.

West High School. Benjamin Eggers............... Olathe Northwest 17 12 ................. Olathe.

High School. Caitlin Ellison............... Mill Valley High 17 12 ................. Shawnee.

School. Christopher Fairchild......... Midland Adventist 14 8 ................. Shawnee.

Academy. Rindy Fairchild............... Midland Adventist 16 10 ................. Shawnee.

Academy. Ashlan Fisher................. Shawnee Mission 17 11 ................. Leawood.

East High School. Jennifer Garren............... Westridge Middle 14 8 ................. Overland Park.

School. Kate Garrett.................. Shawnee Mission 17 ........... ................. Lenexa.

West High School. Kevin Garrett................. Shawnee Mission 14 ........... ................. Lenexa.

West High School. Michael Garrett............... Westridge Middle 13 7 ................. Shawnee Mission.

School. Will Gates.................... Shawnee Mission 18 12 ................. Fairway.

East High School. Rachel Gittinger.............. Bishop Miege..... 17 12 ................. Overland Park. M. Caroline Goehausen......... Shawnee Mission 18 12 ................. Leawood.

East High School. Orriah Graves................. Bishop Miege..... 16 11 ................. Overland Park. Chanel Griffin................ Westridge Middle 13 8 ................. Lenexa.

Schood. Kristen Nicole Harper......... Mill Valley High 17 12 ................. Shawnee.

School.

Kelsey Hayden................. Olathe East High 16 11 ................. Overland Park.

School. Alyssa Haynes................. Olathe Northwest 16 11 ................. Lenexa.

High School. Emily Holmes.................. Bishop Miege..... 16 11 ................. Overland Park. Holly Hrabik.................. Olathe North High 16 10 ................. Olathe.

School. Lisa Imgrund.................. Trailridge Middle 14 8 ................. Shawnee Mission.

School. Betsy Jensen.................. Shawnee Mission 17 11 ................. Leawood.

East High School. Mark Johnson.................. Olathe Northwest 17 12 ................. Olathe.

High School. Christie Jones................ Olathe East High 18 12 ................. Overland Park.

School. Molly Jones................... Olathe North High 18 12 ................. Olathe.

School. Atena Kamali.................. Olathe North High 18 12 ................. Olathe.

School. Kalie Karnes.................. Olathe East High 17 12 ................. Overland Park.

School. Jadhken Kerr.................. Olathe South High 16 10 Gold Medal....... Olathe.

School. Jadhon Kerr................... Olathe South High 17 11 Gold Medal....... Olathe.

School. Sarah Kidder.................. Bishop Miege..... 18 12 ................. Shawnee. Hunter Kiely.................. Blue Valley West 17 11 ................. Overland Park.

High School. Paul Kirk..................... Bishop Miege..... 18 11 ................. Overland Park. Kathryn Kisthardt............. Bishop Miege..... 18 12 ................. Shawnee. Katie Lindner................. Olathe Northwest 18 12 ................. Lenexa.

High School. Adam Love..................... Shawnee Mission 17 12 ................. Merriam.

Northwest High

School. Sarah Martin.................. Westridge Middle 13 8 ................. Overland Park.

School. Stephanie Mathews............. Bishop Miege..... 17 11 ................. Overland Park. Magdalena May................. Olathe North High 16 11 ................. Olathe.

School. Emerald McAdams............... Santa Fe Trail 12 7 ................. Olathe.

Junior High. Mimi Mebarek.................. Shawnee Mission 18 12 ................. Shawnee Mission.

West High School. Eric Min...................... Blue Valley High 17 12 ................. Overland Park.

School. Jovana Mirabile............... St. Thomas 16 11 ................. Leawood.

Aquinas. Amanda Monica................. Olathe Northwest 15 9 ................. Olathe.

High School. Peri Montgomery............... Westridge Middle 13 8 ................. Overland Park.

School. Tim Mourlam................... Bishop Miege..... 17 11 ................. Shawnee Mission. Kate Murphy................... Prairie Trail Jr. 13 8 ................. Olathe.

High. Marcus Myer................... Spring Hill...... 18 12 ................. Spring Hill. Emily Nixon................... Olathe South High 18 12 ................. Olathe.

School. Ashley Nur.................... Barstow.......... 15 ........... ................. Leawood. Cailan O'Grady................ Shawnee Mission 18 12 ................. Prairie Village.

East High School. Annie Oliver.................. Bishop Miege..... 17 11 ................. Prairie Village. Anish Patel................... Olathe Northwest 16 11 ................. Olathe.

High School. Melissa Peck.................. Bishop Miege..... 18 12 ................. Olathe. Matthew Pennington............ Rockhurst........ 15 9 ................. Shawnee. Andrew Peterson............... Shawnee Mission 18 12 ................. Prairie Village.

East High School. Meagan Pick................... Blue Valley North 18 12 ................. Overland Park.

High School. Ellen Poulose................. Bishop Miege..... 16 12 ................. Shawnee. Caitlin Powell................ Olathe North High 18 12 ................. Olathe.

School. Catherine Queen............... Pembroke Hill.... 17 11 ................. Prairie Village. Katie Rabovsky................ Blue Valley 12 8 Gold Medal....... Overland Park.

Northwest High

School. Matthew Ramirez............... Prairie Trail Jr. 13 8 ................. Olathe.

High. Cassie Rhodes................. Spring Hill High 15 9 ................. Spring Hill.

School. Chris Rhodes.................. Spring Hill High 18 12 ................. Spring Hill.

School. Katie Richardson.............. Bishop Miege..... 16 11 ................. Overland Park. Amber Roan.................... Shawnee Mission 18 12 ................. Shawnee.

North High

School. Cindy Rupp.................... Mill Valley High 18 12 ................. Shawnee.

School. Courtney Russel............... Olathe South High 18 12 ................. Olathe.

School. Kathryn Sanders............... Olathe Northwest 17 12 ................. Lenexa.

High School. Matthew Schulte............... Shawnee Mission 18 12 ................. Prairie Village.

East High School. Michael Simpson............... Blue Valley High 17 11 ................. Stillwell.

School. Scott Simpson................. Blue Valley High 17 11 ................. Stillwell.

School. Colin Smalley................. Olathe Northwest 17 12 ................. Olathe.

High School. Elaina Smith.................. Prairie Trail Jr. 14 8 ................. Olathe.

High. Victoria Solorzano............ Blue Valley North 18 12 ................. Overland Park.

High School. Jennifer Sommerfeld........... Trailridge Middle 13 8 ................. Shawnee Mission.

School. Sara Sorensen................. Bishop Miege..... 16 11 ................. Overland Park. Jessica Stack................. Olathe Northwest 16 12 ................. Lenexa.

High School. Jonathan Stahl................ Home School...... 17 11 ................. Overland Park. Stephen Stahl................. Home School...... 17 11 ................. Overland Park. John Steinmetz................ Pleasant Ridge 13 8 ................. Overland Park.

Middle School. Kayte Steinmetz............... Blue Valley West 16 11 ................. Overland Park.

High School. Amy Stephens.................. Olathe South High 18 12 ................. Olathe.

School. Jason Steuber................. California Trail 14 9 ................. Overland Park.

Jr. High. Melissa Stone................. Shawnee Mission 18 12 ................. Shawnee.

Northwest High

School. Alyssa Strange................ Oxford Middle 12 6 ................. Overland Park.

School. Alex Szczygiel................ St. Ann.......... 14 8 ................. Prairie Village. Paige Taylor.................. Prairie Trail Jr. 14 8 ................. Olathe.

High. Ben Terwilliger............... Olathe South High 17 12 ................. Olathe.

School. Laura Thomas.................. Bishop Miege..... 17 12 ................. Prairie Village. Hannah Wallace................ Bishop Miege..... 17 12 ................. Leawood. Nate Warner................... Olathe North High 16 11 ................. Olathe.

School. Nate White.................... Home School...... 16 11 Gold Medal....... Leawood. Jessica Yeung................. Shawnee Mission 16 11 ................. Overland Park.

South High

School. Daniel Zeligman............... Olathe Northwest 17 12 ................. Overland Park.

High School. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mr. Chairman, while I am a cosponsor of H.R. 4167, the National Uniformity for Food Act, I am concerned about the process in which the bill was brought to the floor for consideration, without a committee hearing or markup. I believe that any major legislation should be subject to a committee hearing, where members can provide input and offer amendments. I support uniform, national food safety label standards, because I believe it will enhance consumer protection. I am, however, opposed to the process in which the House will consider this legislation today, which is why I am voting against H. Res. 710, the rule for consideration of H.R. 4167.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Oxley and Ranking Member Frank for supporting H.R. 3505 and ensuring its consideration on the House floor today. I would also like to thank Congressman Hensarling for working with me to introduce the Financial Services Regulatory Relief Act. The Financial Services Committee has a strong record of bipartisanship, and I am glad that has extended to this bill. Regulatory relief should not be about Republicans or Democrats; it should be about doing the right thing for the lenders in our communities who play such an important part in expanding home ownership and creating opportunities for businesses and for consumers.

Our committee passed this legislation November by a vote of 67-0, and with this being the last year of his chairmanship, I wish to thank particularly Chairman Mike Oxley for working across party lines and forging the kind of consensus that led to a unanimous vote in our committee. This is really the model for how Congress should operate and demonstrates that bipartisan efforts on behalf of our constituents can yield positive results. During the 108th Congress, the House passed a very similar reg-relief bill by a vote of 392-25. I hope the House will pass this bill by a similarly wide margin.

Mr. Speaker, small lenders in our communities particularly feel the burden of duplicative and unnecessary regulations. Whenever Congress or the regulatory agencies impose a new burden on industry, small institutions must devote a large percentage of their staffs' time to review the new law or regulation to determine if it can and how it will affect them. Compliance with new laws and regulations, while necessary, nearly always takes a large amount of time that businesses can't devote to serving their customers and our constituents.

Strong regulation of our country's financial system is absolutely essential, but Congress and the financial regulators have a responsibility to strike the right balance in this area, and I believe H.R. 3505 is an important step in the right direction. Since coming to Congress, I have heard from many depository institutions in my district and throughout Kansas. I have tried to address in H.R. 3505 some of the concerns that I have heard about.

According to the Office of the State Bank Commissioner in Kansas, assets for four State-chartered banks, thrifts and mortgage lenders have reached an all-time high of approximately $29 billion. As these businesses have prospered, so too have they faced increasing requirements to comply with both old and new regulatory burdens, including some created by the Bank Secrecy Act.

H.R. 3505, Mr. Speaker, seeks to provide relief from some of these new burdens to our financial institutions in a way that preserves our ability to effectively track terrorist financing and build upon our successes in freezing the funds of terrorists. Representative Hensarling and I, together with the bill's 39 bipartisan cosponsors and 67 supporters on the Financial Services Committee, agree that waging a strong war on terror and providing some reg relief to our financial institutions are not incompatible goals.

Additionally, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3505 provides two new sections of reg relief for our credit unions that were not included in the previous version of this measure, H.R. 1375.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney).

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

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

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

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

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

I want to thank Mr. Hensarling, who was not here when I thanked Members, and I thank the gentleman for the opportunity to work with him.

I also would like to thank the subcommittee chairman, Mr. Bachus, and thank the chairman of the full committee, Chairman Oxley.

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

Madam Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 4167, the National Uniformity for Food Act.

Food safety labeling standards currently vary from state to state, which has created a patchwork of different and inconsistent requirements. H.R. 4167 would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to provide for national, uniform food safety standards and warning requirements. I am cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation because it will enhance consumer protection through coordinating and harmonizing federal, state, and local food safety requirements. Consumers deserve the same high level of protection against unsafe food regardless of where they may live.

While H.R. 4167 would provide for national, uniform food safety standards and warning requirements, the legislation, however, does not affect state authority in several areas that are traditional local food enforcement matters, including: freshness dating, open date labeling, grade labeling, state inspection stamp, religious dietary labeling, organic or natural designation, returnable bottle labeling, unit pricing, and statement of geographic origin. Further, states would be exempted from national food safety standards to respond during times when substantial concerns are raised about the safety of food. I support H.R. 4167 because it provides these important exceptions to national standards, which will ensure authority of states in traditional local food enforcement matters and allow states to act if presented with an imminent food safety crisis.

Food safety labeling standards are an important public health issue, and I support H.R. 4167 because it will provide uniform, national standards to ensure greater consumer protection.

Mr. Speaker, I was sorely disappointed recently to learn that the Baseball Hall of Fame failed to vote to induct John Jordan ``Buck'' O'Neill into its ranks.

Born the grandson of slaves, Buck joined the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro League in 1938. He remained in Kansas City with the Monarchs for 17 spectacular years, 10 as a player and 7 as manager. During this time he was named an all-star three times as a player, served 2 years with the United States Navy, and led the Monarchs to four league titles as a manager, all the while facing the harshness of separation and discrimination in a country that was still segregated. In 1962, Buck broke an important barrier, by being named the first African-American coach in the Major Leagues by the Chicago Cubs. After 33 years with the Cubs, Buck returned home in 1988 to scout for the Kansas City Royals. He currently serves as chairman of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, a continuing demonstration of his love for the game of baseball and for his commitment to the essential role that the Negro Leagues played in the integration of both American sport and American society.

During his time in Kansas City, Buck has taught the citizens of the Kansas City metropolitan region about the importance of determination and resolve in the face of hostility, in

addition to showing us the importance of family, friendship, happiness and history. Buck taught us about baseball. But more importantly, Buck taught us about life. He is a wonderful role model, and I thank him for his contributions to the Kansas City metropolitan region and to our United States of America. As Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Kay Barnes was quoted as saying in this morning's Kansas City Star, ``I'm terribly disappointed. I think it was a mistake that he has not been chosen. However, we all love him in Kansas City, and I believe that all around the country people recognize the contribution he has made to baseball in general and to the Negro Baseball League history.''

Buck O'Neill, you will always be a charter member of the Kansas City Hall of Fame.

Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed this week that Buck O'Neil of Kansas City was not inducted into the Hall of Fame of baseball.

Buck O'Neil was in the Negro Baseball League as a player and a manager for more than 17 years. Buck taught the people of the Kansas City metropolitan region about the importance of determination and resolve, sometimes in the face of hostility. Buck taught us about baseball; but more importantly, Buck taught us about life.

He is a wonderful role model, and I thank him for his contributions to baseball, to the Kansas City metropolitan region, and to the United States of America.

Buck O'Neil, you are a great American and a gentle man. You will always be a charter member of the Kansas City Hall of Fame.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a pioneer in the air traffic control field, Daniel ``Ed'' Barrow, who will celebrate his 90th birthday later this year.

Born in Boone, IA, and raised in Unionville, IN, Ed Barrow attended Indiana Central College in Indianapolis, IN. After teaching school in Elwood, IN, Barrow began working for the Indiana State Employment Office, where he saw a job posting for an air controller trainee. As the holder of a student pilot's license, he met the primary qualification. As his daughter, Marilyn Smith, related to me, ``He decided to try for the position. A trucker stopped at his Marathon station. The driver was going to Pittsburgh, so Dad hitched a ride with him. When he got to Pittsburgh, he took the bus to New York City. While in New York, Dad stayed in the YMCA. The training was very hard, so he asked Mother to keep checking with the Employment Office to see if he could come back if he `washed out'.''

This led to a lengthy career for Ed Barrow with the Civil Aeronautics Administration, the predecessor agency of the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA. As a result, the Barrow family was posted at various locations around the United States, including Roeland Park and Overland Park, KS, both of which are located in the Third Congressional District.

During the outset of his career as an air traffic controller, Ed Barrow and his colleagues received their information on the telephone and then plotted the information on paper maps. In the mid-1950s, Ed was the chief of the Washington National Airport control tower; he later went to work in the Washington, DC, headquarters of the Civil Aeronautics Administration. Among other projects, he worked on Operation Northern Tier, which resulted in the long range radar system's installation nationwide in the FAA's Air Route Traffic Control Centers.

In the mid-20th century, air traffic control was revolutionized by the introduction of radar, a system the British initially developed for air defense prior to World War II. After the war, the Civil Aeronautics Administration began applying this technology to the problem of keeping civilian flights safely separated. In 1946, the agency used a system developed for the

Navy to open a radar-equipped airport tower for demonstration purposes. By 1950, the first Airport Surveillance Radar systems were deployed in the United States.

Ed Barrow's participation was key to the development of our modem ``positive air traffic control system,'' which requires all aircraft at or above 18,000 feet to be under positive air traffic control in order to ensure that they were provided separation from all other aircraft operating at the same altitudes. As chief of the FAA's Air Traffic Control Procedures Division, he was responsible for all of the procedures and phraseology used by American civilian and military air traffic controllers and ultimately oversaw the complete rewriting of the Air Traffic Control Procedures Manual. He established a set of Military Operations Areas, MOAs, in which military training and tactics would be contained and FAA controllers would then take the fighters to and from these MOAs and the military would then operate within these designated areas. Barrow also established that an FAA controller would be assigned to the NORAD facility to ensure the competency of the NORAD controllers. This all superseded an earlier agreement with the North American Air Defense, NORAD, Command of the U.S. Air Force which allowed NORAD to control fighter/inceptors independently of the FAA air traffic control system, which had become increasingly hazardous to the safety of both civilian and military aircraft.

Later, Ed Barrow was assigned to Kansas City, MO, to the headquarters of the director of the FAA's Central Region, where he was responsible for aviation safety in an 11 State area, including the operational activities of the Air Traffic Division, the Flight Standards Safety Division and the Airways Facilities Division.

As his friend and coworker, Glen Tigner, recently told his daughter, Marilyn: ``Your Dad often gave that country boy approach to critical matters, but believe me he was sharp as a tack. He was a real leader among men, instilling in them the attitude that they would follow him anywhere, anytime, anyhow . . . a man one would proudly serve. He will be remembered as the best of the best.''

Ed Barrow's service to his country was recognized by the Department of the Air Force, which presented him with a Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service. It reads: ``In recognition of his exceptional performance as Airways Operations Specialist, Directorate of Operations, Headquarters USAF, from 15 October 1954 to 15 May 1956. The constant, increasing demands on the United States Air Force and other users of the airspace since the advent of jet operations presented almost insurmountable problems in the air traffic field. Through his superior knowledge, extreme conscientiousness, and outstanding application, Mr. Barrow developed completely new concepts to meet the requirements so that the Air Force now leads in air traffic control, so vital to the emergency war plans.''

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to take this opportunity to share with the House this tribute to the distinguished public service career of Daniel ``Ed'' Barrow, as he approaches his 90th birthday, and to wish him many happy returns in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to lend my support and appreciation to the Johnson County, Kansas, chapter of the NAACP, whose Youth Council, along with the Johnson County Library, will be holding a program at the Mount Olive Baptist Church in Merriam, Kansas, on Saturday, February 18th, to honor and reflect upon Johnson County's African-American ``trailblazers.'' Specifically, this program will honor the following six individuals, families and organizations:

Julius McFarlin

Julius McFarlin, born in Conway, Arkansas, was instrumental in organizing the chartering of the Branch of the NAACP in Johnson County. While waiting for the Branch to be officially chartered, McFarlin served as its President from 1972-1977. In September 1977 the Branch, named the Merriam, Kansas, NAACP, was chartered and Mr. McFarlin continue serving as its President until 1998. McFarlin is still active with the Branch and is a Life-Time Member.

Not only is Mr. McFarlin a ``Trailblazer'' with his work with the NAACP, in 1973, McFarlin realized a need to become involved in the community and was elected to the Merriam City Council, Precinct One, Ward One--thus becoming the first African-American elected to a political office in Johnson County, Kansas. McFarlin served until 2000.

Believing in giving back to the community in which he so faithfully served, McFarlin's community involvement includes managing baseball teams for youths; prior service on the Board of South Park Neighborhood Council; a current member of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church, in which he serves as the Chairman of the Trustee Board; and prior service on the Johnson County Mental Health Board; Public Works Board and City Finance Committee.

Married to his bride of 60 years, the lovely Marzella (Wilson) McFarlin, Julius McFarlin is truly a Johnson County ``Trailblazer''.

Dr. Norge W. Jerome

Dr. Norge W. Jerome, a Nutritional Anthropologist, International Health and Nutrition Scientist, and Women in Development Specialist, is currently Professor Emeritus of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Dr. Jerome has served as Senior Research Fellow at the Center for University Cooperation in Development, Bureau of Science and Technology, U.S. Agency for International Development (A.I.D.), Department of State, in Washington, D.C., and as Director of the Office of Nutrition at A.I.D. Dr. Jerome also served as Interim Associate Dean for Minority Affairs, at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, as well as having published widely, with 2 books and over 100 articles to her credit.

Dr. Jerome was born and raised on the southern Caribbean island of Grenada and came to the United States to

study at Howard University. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1973 and went on to earn a B.S. degree (Magna Cum Laude) from Howard University; her M.S. and PhD. degrees are from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Dr. Jerome led a pioneering role in launching nutritional anthropology as a discipline within anthropology. Dr. Jerome has received numerous honors, tributes and awards and served on many national and international committees and panels concerned with women's health and development issues.

For her many contributions, not only to this community, but worldwide, Dr. Jerome is being recognized as a Johnson County ``Trailblazer''.

Mayor Carl Wilkes

Carl Wilkes and his wife of 42 years, Wanda, have been residents of Merriam, Kansas, for 40 years. Carl has a 31-year career in public service for local and federal governments and currently serves as a Field Supervisor for the Housing Services Division of Johnson County's Human Services and Aging Department.

Carl Wilkes was instrumental in the development and receipt of funds for the first transportation program for the elderly in Johnson County, ``Dial-A-Ride''. Carl also established--in conjunction with United Community Services--the Multi-Service Center, served as its Executive Director and developed and secured funding for the City of Kansas City, Kansas, Section 8 Housing Program and served as its Director.

Carl Wilkes has received numerous awards and recognition for his service, such as Certificates of Commendation; the Meritorious Public Service Award and the Distinguished Service Award, to name a few. Nevertheless, Carl Wilkes will always be remembered in Johnson County as the first African-American to be elected as Mayor of a local community. On April 23, 2001, Carl Wilkes was sworn in as the 10th Mayor of Merriam, Kansas. On recount, his election was determined by two votes. Carl Wilkes is currently serving his second term as Mayor of the City of Merriam, Kansas.

Carl Wilkes is truly a ``Trailblazer'' and deserving of such recognition.

mt. olive baptist church--merriam, kansas

In 1922, the members of Shiloh Baptist and First Baptist in Merriam, Kansas, combined their two churches to form Mount Olive Baptist Church.

Mt. Olive members were, and still are, active in church, community and political affairs. During the 1940s Mt. Olive played an important role in helping the parents who were involved in the seminal 1949 decision involving school desegregation--Webb vs. Merriam Board of Education. Mt. Olive, during this litigation, which lasted for approximately two years, opened up its doors for school to be set up and receive instruction. The support of Mt. Olive members helped them to achieve this wonderful victory.

It was also during the late 1940s and early 1950s that the Mt. Olive Baptist Church, allowed the NAACP to utilize its basement for its meetings and continue to be a voice in the community for civil rights and equality advocating. To this day, the Mt. Olive Baptist Church is still committed to the spiritual grown of all and concerned about matters that impact the community.

For its contributions to the development of Johnson County, Kansas, the Mt. Olive Baptist Church is truly a ``Trailblazer''.

alfonso and marv webb

In 1947, parents of 39 school children attempted but failed to enroll their children in the new South Park Grade School, which was less than a mile from their homes. The parents did not want to send their children to the Madame C.J. Walker School, which did not have running water, electricity or up-to-date textbooks. Instead, the parents elected, with the permission of the pastor of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church, to set up school at the church and in homes. Two of these parents were Alfonso and Mary Webb.

Preceding the Brown vs. The Topeka Board of Education decision, Mr. and Mrs. Alfonso Webb, on behalf of their minor children, Harvey and Eugene Webb, the plaintiffs, filed suit in the 1948 desegregation case, Webb vs. School District #90. Included in this litigation were Shirley Ann Turner and Herbert Turner, minor children of Thelma and Earnest Turner, and Delores Gay and Patricia Black, minor children of Thomas Black.

The Kansas Supreme Court ruled that the black students would attend the previously all white South Park Elementary School. In September 1949 the black students were admitted without incident.

Alfonso and Mary Webb were truly ``Trailblazers.''

the McCallop Family

Robert L. McCallop was born in Wilder, Kansas, in 1894. Robert reflected the success of African-Americans all across the country. He took something that many of us take for granted and turned it into an achievement based upon business and education.

In 1934 Robert turned the back of a truck into a bus to provide transportation for African-American children so that they could attend school in Wyandotte County, Kansas. The McCallop Company was the first black-owned bus company in Johnson County.

Thanks to the McCallop family, black children in Johnson County in the 1930s through the 1950s were able to get an education. Because of segregated times, African-American Johnson County children were unable to attend secondary school within the county. Instead, they were forced to cross over to Wyandotte County to attend Sumner High School.

Oscar Johnson, former educator and President of the Johnson County Branch of the NAACP, states: ``the McCallops were a family so intact, so committed to stay the course in a community that wasn't always welcoming. Yet, they thrived and flourished despite the odds they faced''.

William, sibling of Robert McCallop, and his wife Ruth, will appear at Saturday's event to accept this award for the contributions the McCallops has given to this county and the McCallops are truly ``Trailblazers''.

Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to pay tribute to these distinguished Johnson Countians and to Mt. Olive Baptist Church, and I know that all members of the United States House of Representatives join with me in saluting these ``trailblazers.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Max Falkenstien, the ``Voice of the Kansas Jayhawks'', who will be retiring at the conclusion of the 2005-2006 men's basketball season at the University of Kansas.

The conclusion of the current season will mark Max Falkenstien's 60th season of broadcasting Kansas University sporting events. At age 81, he has been inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame, the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, and the KU Athletic Hall of Fame. He was the first inductee of the Lawrence High School Hall of Honor. Additionally, he has been awarded an honorary ``K'' by the Kansas Lettermen's Club. The Sporting News in 2001 named Falkenstien ``the best college radio personality in the country'' and ESPN's Dick Vitale included KU's Bob Davis and Falkenstien in his ``Sweet 16'' of the best announcer teams in the United States.

A true legend, Max Falkenstien has been synonymous with KU athletics for six decades. As KU basketball coach Bill Self recently said in the Lawrence Journal-World, ``Max has performed at the highest level over an extended period of time like very few in his profession.'' Falkenstien broadcast his first basketball game--an NCAA tournament game in Kansas City between KU and Oklahoma A&M--on March 18, 1946. His next broadcast was KU versus TCU in football on September 21, 1946. He was play-by-play voice of the Jayhawks for 39 years and then switched to a commentator's role in September 1984 when Bob Davis assumed play- by-play duties. Falkenstien provided play-by-play for the Big Eight Conference basketball game of the week between 1968 and 1971, and for more than three decades hosted football and basketball coaches' TV programs, including those for Don Fambrough, Pepper Rogers, Mike Gottfried, Ted Owens, Larry Brown and Roy Williams.

Mr. Speaker, I include with this statement a recent article from the Lawrence Journal-World summarizing Max Falkenstien's outstanding career and I join with all KU fans in wishing him well in his long overdue, richly deserved retirement as ``Voice of the Kansas Jayhawks.''

[From the Lawrence Journal-World, Jan. 7, 2006]

To the Max

(By Dave Ranney)

A few seconds after he'd worked his way past security and

into the Jayhawks' dressing room, veteran broadcaster Max

Falkenstien fielded a warm, friendly--but unexpected--

greeting. ``Hey, Max, how're you doing?'' It was Michael Lee,

a popular reserve guard from last year's basketball team who

had recently signed with the Harlem Globetrotters.

Falkenstien smiled as they shook hands. There wasn't time to

chat. A crowd of well-wishers had gathered around Lee and

Kansas University had just trounced the Yale Bulldogs, 87-46,

so Falkenstien needed to get ready for his postgame interview

with coach Bill Self.

Quickly, Lee explained he was in town for a checkup for an

irregular heartbeat. He wanted Falkenstien to know because

the ``Voice of the Jayhawks'' cares. Despite their

generational differences, Falkenstien, 81, and Lee, 22, are

friends. ``Max is cool,'' Lee said afterward. ``As soon as

you get here people start telling you, `That's Max

Falkenstien. He's been here forever.' So even before you meet

him, you respect him. And then when you meet him, he's always

nice. He always says hello. It's like you can't go wrong with

him.''

Lee isn't alone. Falkenstien, it seems, has more friends

than Kansas has sunflowers. Some, like Wilt Chamberlain or

coach Phog Allen, have been famous. Most are not. ``I was

with Max at the (KU vs.) K-State football game this

year,'' said Jim Marchiony, KU associate athletics

director. ``It took us 20 minutes to get from the parking

lot to the press box because so many people stopped to

talk to him--and these were K-State fans! ``Whenever

you're on the road with Max, it's like you're with the

mayor of whatever city you're in,'' he said. ``It's

amazing.''

Late last summer, Falkenstien announced he would retire

after the 2005-06 men's basketball season. Sixty years behind

a microphone, he said, was enough. ``I'll miss it terribly,''

Falkenstien told the Journal-World. ``But I think this is a

good place to stop. I don't want to overstay my welcome.''

Though he underwent emergency intestinal surgery Sept. 7,

Falkenstien said he was in good health.

``My surgery was completely unexpected and had no

relationship to my decision to retire,'' he said. ``As far as

I know, I'm in good

shape. Of course, something could happen tomorrow. You never

know.'' Falkenstien's exit will mark the end of an era.

``I can remember my father listening to Max on a battery-

powered radio out on the farm,'' said Dr. Earl Merkel, a 73-

year-old KU Medical School alumnus from Russell. ``In Kansas,

everybody identifies with him,'' Merkel said. ``They may not

have met him, but they know his voice. They feel like they

know him.'' ``Max is an institution,'' said John Clarke, a

1979 KU graduate who lives in Hays. ``He is synonymous with

the Jayhawks. When you hear him, you think of KU.''

Falkenstien and his play-by-play partner, Bob Davis, have a

one-of-a-kind relationship. ``I don't think we've ever argued

or had a disagreement,'' Falkenstien said. ``We've had a lot

of laughs in 22 years,'' Davis said. Both are native

Kansans. Falkenstien grew up in Lawrence, Davis in Hays.

Neither is young. Davis is 61.

``When you stand the test of time like they have for 22

years, you must be doing something right,'' said Tom Hedrick,

a veteran broadcaster who competed with Falkenstien from the

late 1940s into the early 1960s. ``It'll be difficult for

anyone else to do what Bob and Max have done because people

move around so much now,'' said Hedrick, who's semiretired

and lives in Lawrence. Falkenstien and Davis have stayed put.

Both have other jobs. Davis is play-by-play announcer for the

Kansas City Royals. Falkenstien was senior vice president of

marketing for Douglas County Bank for 25 years. He remains an

occasional consultant. ``I've led a charmed life, I know,''

Falkenstien said.

While a senior at Liberty Memorial High School (now Central

Junior High School, 1400 Mass.) Falkenstien heard that local

radio station WREN had a job opening. He'd been told he had a

good voice for radio, so he applied. ``Arden Booth, who a lot

of people will remember, had been called into the service,''

Falkenstien said. ``I got the job, but it had nothing to do

with sportscasting. I was just a staff announcer.''

Falkenstien graduated from LMHS in 1942, six months after

the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. After a semester at KU, he

enlisted in the Army Air Corps in hopes of becoming a

meteorologist. ``I put in 35 months, but I never went

overseas,'' he said. Falkenstien returned to Lawrence. He'd

been in town about a week when his former boss at WREN asked

him to broadcast a basketball game in Kansas City that pitted

KU against Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) in

the NCAA district finals.

The fact he'd never done play-by-play didn't matter.

``Back then, it wasn't like it is now. People didn't expect

to hear a game on the radio. They'd read about it in the

newspaper,'' he said. ``What we were doing was new.''

Falkenstien stayed at WREN until 1967, when he had a falling

out with the station's owner, former Kansas Gov. Alf Landon.

The Big Eight Conference wanted him to be the play-by-play

announcer for its televised ``Game of the Week.'' ``Back

then,'' Falkenstien said, ``there was only one game a week

that was televised. So this was a big deal for me.''

But Landon refused to let his station manager, Falkenstien,

appear on television. ``I kept saying it would make me more

sellable--that would be good for business,'' Falkenstien

said. ``But he just didn't get the concept.'' Falkenstien

jumped to WIBW-TV, where he continued to broadcast KU

football and basketball games.

In 1984, KU decided to put the broadcast rights to its

basketball and football games up for bid. Before then,

Falkenstien and Hedrick broadcast the games for different

stations. Learfield Communications, a company based in

Jefferson City, Mo., won the bid in 1985. It brought in

Davis, who had been broadcasting Fort Hays State University

games for 16 years. Falkenstien was offered the sidekick

role. ``I had a lot of misgivings at first,'' Falkenstien

said. But Davis welcomed the chance to work with Falkenstien.

``I know this sounds a little corny, but when I was growing

up my heroes were sportscasters, and Max was one of the first

ones out there,'' Davis said. ``He was a pioneer.''

Together, Davis and Falkenstien have mastered a low-key,

fishing-buddy delivery that's unpretentious, never

overbearing.

``Bob and I try to keep things in perspective,''

Falkenstien said. ``Games are supposed to be fun. They're not

the end of the world.'' He added: ``It's like Dr. (Phog)

Allen used to tell his players. He'd say, `Remember, guys,

there are 300 million Chinese out there who don't even know

who we are.' '' Falkenstien said he and Davis keep the game

simple, their delivery conversational. ``Too many color

commentators are too analytical,'' Falkenstien said. ``They

lose the average fan.''

Neither Davis nor Falkenstien pretend to be experts. ``I

remember one time, I had to ask Roy Williams what a

`secondary break' was, so I'd look smart,'' Falkenstien said,

laughing. In the game programs, Falkenstien used to be listed

as color analyst. ``I had them drop the `analyst,' '' he

said. ``I'm just `color.' ''

The broadcasts are not as laid-back as they appear. Davis

scrambles to keep track of fouls and points while Falkenstien

plucks statistics from a nearby monitor, lifts tidbits from

the day's sports pages and pulls trivia from packets provided

by the teams' athletic departments--all while the game is

going on, all without missing a beat.

Contrary to popular opinion, their press-row seats across

from the KU bench are not the best in Allen Fieldhouse. They

cannot see the scoreboard without leaning back and looking

straight up. They are so cramped they cannot stand or cross

their legs. Many times, a referee blocks their view. During

the Yale game, Davis barked ``there's a turnover'' without

mentioning who had stolen the ball from whom. That's because

he couldn't see the play; referee Steve Welmer was standing

in front of him, less than an arm's length away.

After the game, Falkenstien is the first--and only--member

of the media allowed to meet with Self in the coaches'

dressing room.

When they finish, Self leaves for a meeting with the press

corps at-large. He uses a back door. Falkenstien leaves

through the front door, where hopeful fans wait for

autographs. He is an easy target. ``Max! Max! Over here!''

said Genie Gnagi, standing behind her 6-year-old daughter,

Michaela, with a miniature plastic basketball. ``May we have

your autograph, please?''

Without hesitation, a smiling Falkenstien complies. ``He is

a true KU legend,'' Gnagi said. ``He will be missed.''

Mr. Speaker, joined today by my Kansas colleagues Todd Tiahrt, Jim Ryun and Jerry Moran, I am introducing legislation that would designate the United States post office located at 110 North Chestnut Street in Olathe as the ``Governor John Anderson, Jr. Post Office Building.''

Governor Anderson was born near Olathe in 1917 and educated at Kansas State University and the University of Kansas, where he received a law degree in 1944. After serving on the staff of U.S. District Court Judge Walter Huxman for two years, John Anderson won election as Johnson County Attorney in 1947, where he served for six years. He was a member of the Kansas State Senate from 1953-1956, and was appointed Kansas Attorney General, serving from 1956-1961. Elected Governor of Kansas in 1960 and 1962, he defeated incumbent Governor George Docking, served as Governor during Kansas' centennial celebration, and appointed James B. Pearson to the United States Senate upon the death of Senator Andrew Schoeppel.

John Anderson's tenure as Kansas Governor was marked by numerous achievements, including:

Revision of the state's pardon and parole systems;

Creation of a combined state medical and psychiatric hospital;

Restructuring of the state's public school system into unified districts;

Increasing of the state's per-pupil expenditure allowance;

Addition of the University of Wichita to the state board of regents system;

Sanctioning of fair employment practices standards;

Approval of an advanced public employee retirement system;

Advancements in highway construction;

Expansion of vocational-technical schools;

Authorization of a state library consultant;

Improvements in the public welfare system; and

Reorganization of state agencies, commissions and boards.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation honoring an important Kansas leader is long overdue, and I know that my delegation colleagues look forward with me to its speedy enactment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Max Falkenstien, the ``Voice of the Kansas Jayhawks'', who will be retiring at the conclusion of the 2005--2006 men's basketball season at the University of Kansas.

The conclusion of the current season will mark Max Falkenstien's 60th season of broadcasting Kansas University sporting events. At age 81, he has been inducted into the Naisimith Basketball Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame, the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, and the KU Athletic Hall of Fame. He was the first inductee of the Lawrence High School Hall of Honor. Additionally, he has been awarded an honorary ``K'' by the Kansas Lettermen's Club. The Sporting News in 2001 named Falkenstien ``the best college radio personality in the country'' and ESPN's Dick Vitale included KU's Bob Davis and Falkenstien in his ``Sweet 16'' of the best announcer teams in the United States.

A true legend, Max Falkenstien has been synonymous with KU athletics for 6 decades. As KU basketball coach Bill Self recently said in the Lawrence Journal-World, ``Max has performed at the highest level over an extended period of time like very few in his profession.'' Falkenstien broadcast his first basketball game--an NCAA tournament game in Kansas City between KU and Oklahoma A&M--on March 18, 1946. His next broadcast was KU versus TCU in football on September 21, 1946. He was play-by-play voice of the Jayhawks for 39 years and then switched to a commentator's role in September 1984 when Bob Davis assumed play- by-play duties. Falkenstien provided play-by-play for the Big Eight Conference basketball game of the week between 1968 and 1971, and for more than 3 decades hosted football and basketball coaches' TV programs, including those for Don Fambrough, Pepper Rogers, Mike Gottfried, Ted Owens, Larry Brown and Roy Williams.

Mr. Speaker, I include with this statement a recent article from the Lawrence Journal-World summarizing Max Falkenstien's outstanding career and I join with all KU fans in wishing him well in his long overdue, richly deserved retirement as ``Voice of the Kansas Jayhawks.''

Mr. Speaker, as a founding member of the House Center Aisle Caucus, which seeks to bring greater civility and moderation to the actions of the United States House of Representatives and to the interactions between its Members, I commend to all of my colleagues the recent Providence Journal column authored by Eugene G. Bernardo, II, which I have included in today's Congressional Record. Mr. Bernardo's commentary regarding the increasing breakdown of civility in political campaigns is equally applicable to the legislative process at the federal level. As he concludes: ``By encouraging us to see as equals even those with whom we disagree vehemently, civility lets us hold the respectful dialogues without which democratic decision-making is impossible.''

Mr. Speaker, truer words have never been written. I hope that our colleagues will take them to heart as we face the legislative challenges of the weeks and months to come.

[From the Providence Journal, Nov. 11, 2005]

Incivility breeds threats to democracy

(By Eugene G. Bernardo II)

In 1982, noted criminologists James Q. Wilson and George

Kelling developed the ``broken windows'' theory of crime. The

premise was that when a broken window in a building is left

unrepaired, the rest of the windows are soon broken by

vandals.

According to Wilson and Kelling, the broken window invites

further vandalism by sending a signal that no one is in

charge, and that breaking more windows has no undesirable

consequences.

The broken window is their metaphor for numerous ways in

which behavioral norms can break down in a community. If one

person scrawls graffiti on a wall, others will soon be using

their spray paint. If one person begins dumping garbage in a

vacant lot, other dumpers will follow.

In short, once people begin disregarding the norms that

maintain community order, both community and order unravel--

sometimes with alarming alacrity.

The broken-windows theory is applicable to the modern-day

political campaign.

The campaign for public office should be waged within the

marketplace of ideas.

It should entail a wide range of debates about public

policy, with the candidates each aiming to persuade the

citizenry to accept their viewpoints.

However, what we are seeing within the marketplace of ideas

today is a disturbing

growth of incivility that confirms the broken-windows theory.

This breakdown of civil norms is not the exclusive failing of

either the political left or the right. It spreads across the

political spectrum. It is typically carried out, not by the

candidates, but by auxiliary groups and other campaigners,

who attempt to help their cause by demonizing their

opponents.

For example, New Jersey's just-completed race for governor

was marred by cross allegations of marital infidelity.

Such examples--unfortunately, there are many more--come

from so-called leaders in the marketplace of ideas, all of

whom are highly educated and must stand behind their public

statements. The Internet, with its easy access and worldwide

reach, is a breeding ground for even more degrading

incivilities.

This illustrates the first aspect of the broken-windows

theory: Once the incivility starts, people will take it as an

invitation to join in, and pretty soon there's little limit

to the incivility.

A second aspect of the broken-windows theory, however, is

also happening.

Wilson and Kelling describe this response when the visible

signs of order deteriorate in a neighborhood: ``Many

residents will think that crime, especially violent crime, is

on the rise, and they will modify their behavior accordingly.

They will use the streets less often, and when on the streets

will stay apart from their fellows, moving with averted eyes,

silent lips, and hurried steps. Don't get involved.''

We see this in the political arena. Many are opting out as

civility breaks down in the marketplace of ideas. In the last

two presidential elections, fewer than half of eligible

voters even bothered to vote; voter participation in national

elections is on a 40-year decline. As the atmosphere turns

hostile to anything approaching a civil exchange or a real

dialogue, citizens depart from the political process and shun

their civic responsibility.

This is the real danger of incivility. Our free-breathing,

self-governing society requires the oxygen of an open

exchange of ideas. It requires a certain level of civility

rooted in mutual respect for each other's opinions. However,

what we see today is an accelerating competition between the

left and the right to see which side can inflict more damage

to the other. Increasingly, participants in public debates

appear to be exchanging ideas when in fact they are spewing

invective.

When behavioral norms break down in a community, the police

can restore order.

But when civility breaks down in the marketplace of ideas,

the law is generally powerless. Our right to speak freely--

indeed, to speak with incivility--is guaranteed by the First

Amendment.

If we are to prevail as a free, self-governing people, we

must restore civility to public discourse. We have to be

responsible. We must govern our tongues and our pens. Whether

the incivility occurs on a talk show, in a newspaper column,

in political campaign ads, at the office water cooler, or in

an Internet chat room, it must be met with active

disapproval.

This is not to say that democracy requires consensus; it

requires debate, which . presupposes that we have

disagreements. But civility demands of us that we not let

those disagreements--even during these times of great

division between the left and the right--push us into words

or acts of sharp offense or violence.

By encouraging us to see as equals even those with whom we

disagree vehemently, civility lets us hold the respectful

dialogues without which democratic decision-making is

impossible.