Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I too rise in support of House Resolution 925, which seeks recognition for aviators who, as a result of hostile action or other causes, were forced to escape and evade their potential captors. Every military aviator who begins a combat mission recognizes and prepares for the possibility that hostile actions or other events will compel the aviator to escape and evade capture.

Thousands of American aviators have faced that daunting task. Some overcame long odds and great hardships to return to their units to resume their service. Others tried to evade enemy forces but were captured, suffering arduous confinement, torture, and even death. Except for a few, the specific identities of those thousands have mostly faded from American memory, and many were not recognized for their determined efforts to escape and evade. That is why this resolution is important. These aviators deserve recognition. That is why I call on all Members to support this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, the service performed by aviators in the U.S. Armed Forces is indeed meritorious. They have fought bravely and risked much to take care of our country. Indeed, they deserve the recognition and care for their sacrifice that this resolution embodies. As members of the military, their health care falls under the TRICARE system, which as Representative Skelton mentioned earlier in this day, must be addressed in any health care bill before Congress.

We must make sure that any bill we pass in this area gives them the benefits that they deserve.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Posey).

I would say that it's always the proper time to talk about issues that impact our freedom, and we have momentous issues here in Congress at times that deal directly upon our freedom.

With that in mind, I would like to yield 3\1/2\ minutes to my colleague and friend who is an Army veteran from the State of Michigan (Mr. Rogers).

Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Rogers).

Madam Speaker, there are some important, vital, and principled reasons why those of us on this side of the aisle will be opposing the health care plan should it come to a vote tomorrow. And just briefly let me recap these. It raises taxes by $570 billion over 10 years. It will cost the taxpayers $1.2 trillion, not to mention the so-called doc fix of about $371 billion, a massive increase of government spending. It's also a takeover by the

government, a dramatic step away from personal, private coverage and choice to a government-run system that will end up rationing care. It's unconstitutional. There is nowhere in the Constitution that says the government has the power to require every single person to go out and buy insurance whether they want to or not. It fails to adequately address illegal immigrants through no enforceable means of citizen verification. It funds abortion. There's lack of tort reform. It forces Americans out of their current plans. It increases premiums. It will increase personal health expenditures whether people can afford it or not. It bends the curve of government spending in the future in the wrong direction. It constitutes a massive permanent government takeover of the private student loan industry. That's 30,000 jobs right there. It is chock-full of special deals, from the Bismarck bank job to the Louisiana purchase and others. It does not factor in market risks regarding defaults on student loans.

So for all those reasons, Madam Speaker, we should be opposing that bill when it comes, if it comes, to a vote tomorrow.

At this point, I would like to yield 3 minutes to my friend and colleague from the State of Ohio who is also a member of the Armed Services Committee that I serve on with him, Representative Turner.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my friend and colleague from Alabama, Representative Aderholt.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my friend and colleague from Texas, Representative Brady .

Madam Speaker, I would inquire as to the time remaining.

Madam Speaker, let me point out that there is a big flaw in the process that we have been following here recently. We have these massive groups of bills that we are supposed to absorb in a 72-hour period which finishes tomorrow, and then we culminate potentially with a vote on a massive piece of legislation reforming one-sixth of our Nation's economy.

And if you look at this bill right here, this is the reconciliation bill, H.R. 4872, the bill reported from the House Budget Committee, 2,310 pages; the two plain-language reports from the Budget Committee totaling about 1,300 pages; and, the amendment in the nature of a substitute of 150 pages. You add all that together, that is 3,800 pages that we have been given in the last 3 days. I dare say there is not a single Member of this House that has read these 3,800 pages, and that is on top of the original bill of a couple thousand pages.

So we have a process here where we are not really given enough time to absorb and go through these bills, and the American people really deserve better than that. This system has not been followed like we should be doing, and I just regret that. I think that is a flaw in this process.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise also in support of House Resolution 900, as amended, supporting the goals and ideals of a Cold War Veterans Recognition Day, and encouraging the people of the United States to participate in activities honoring the sacrifices and contributions of Cold War veterans.

The Cold War was a war between the freedoms of democracy and the totalitarian ideology of communism. It was fought around the world, often in places that were on the brink of slipping into the harsh realities of communism. It was fought by millions of Americans who, as members of the Armed Forces, were at the point of the spear defending democracy whenever it was in peril. Many Americans sacrificed their lives in the long struggle against communism.

For that reason, Madam Speaker, it is right to recognize the veterans of the Cold War and thank them for their dedication and efforts toward defeating communism.

I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel) for introducing this bill. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia, Representative Goodlatte.

Madam Speaker, at this time I would like to yield 4 minutes to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder).

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 additional minute to Representative Souder from Indiana.

Let me say in response to the gentleman from New Jersey that it was a good step we took with the Ike Skelton bill today. It solved half the problem. We still have a remaining problem, and that is that it's not clear, like it should be, who has jurisdiction over defining beyond whether it's a minimum standard that TRICARE will satisfy, whether there will be additional impositions and regulations put on by the health czar. I think a health czar should have no impact, no say whatsoever on TRICARE.

In just a moment.

And we should have gone farther. We did not do that. We only went halfway. So it's still undefined who has final control over imposing all the regulations. And I have veterans in my district, a hundred thousand of them, who feel that they have earned a right to have health care, and they don't want to have to be told that they need a second policy, that somehow that's not good enough. That's what the danger is, because it hasn't been defined like it should be.

You'll have a chance shortly, I'm sure.

I now yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan).

Madam Speaker, at this time I yield 3 minutes to my friend and colleague from Kansas, Representative Tiahrt.

There will be one more speaker.

I yield the balance of my time to Representative Cassidy from Louisiana.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 1119, as amended, which asks that all people in the United States participate in a moment of silence to reflect upon the service and sacrifice of members of the Armed Forces who are currently serving both at home and abroad.

Service in the Armed Forces during peacetime is a difficult enough proposition; but during an extended period of war, like we have had since 9/11, the courage and sacrifices required of our all-volunteer military are especially challenging. These men and women are working for us all over the globe: on land; on and under the sea; and in the skies above. They are on duty around the clock, every day, 7 days a week, in every month of every year, in all seasons and climates.

This Nation owes the members of the Armed Forces and their families the respect and thanks for their willingness to serve and sacrifice. This resolution asks us to do that by taking a moment out of our own busy lives to pause and in a moment of silence honor our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who are currently serving. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the service performed by Cold War veterans is indeed honorable and meritorious. We should encourage the people of the United States to participate in activities to honor these brave men and women in uniform. We must give them the recognition and benefits they rightly deserve. As members of the military, their health care falls under the TRICARE system which Representative Skelton worked on earlier today and which must be protected in any health care bill before Congress. We must make sure that any bill gives them the health care benefits they deserve. However, what happens to them and their families tomorrow? We are going to be voting on a massive health care bill that will affect the health care of our veterans and their families and, indeed, of all Americans.

Something I would like to briefly address is that we have many doctors and physicians in the United States who are opposed to this health care plan. Yes, there is one large organization of about 245,000 members which supports the plan, the American Medical Association; but we have a number of medical plans, including the State associations of Alabama, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina, and Texas, which are opposing the health care plan. And we have many medical national societies which are opposing this plan such as the American Academy of Dermatology, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Academy of Otolaryngology, the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Surgeons, American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, American Pediatric Surgical Association, American Society of Breast Surgeons, American Society of Anesthesiologists, and it goes on and on and on. General surgeons, colon and rectal surgeons, plastic surgeons, neurological surgeons, on and on and on. Twice as many doctors in this country are formally opposed to this health care plan as have supported it through the American Medical Association. Twice as many are in opposition, and I think that speaks importantly for what we should consider the medical community's response really to be to this legislation.

At this time I would like to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran).

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that I take exception to the suggestion that this process has been conducted in an open way. We have 3,800 pages of materials right here that we have been given in the last 3 days. Who on earth is able to go through 3,800 pages? That consists of the bill itself, H.R. 4872, 2,300 pages; House Report volumes 1 and 2 from the Budget Committee report explaining the bill, that adds up to 1,300 pages; and the amendment in the nature of a substitute to the Reconciliation Act, 150 pages. That is a total of 3,800 pages that we have been given in the last 72 hours. What kind of process is this?

I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder).

Mr. Speaker, let me highlight several sweetheart deals in the health care legislation that I think are a real problem to me, many of my colleagues, and many Americans. We have the Rocky Top Vote Swap. Tennessee is quite familiar with the runaway costs associated with government-run health care as seen with TennCare. Payoffs from Washington, though, have a way of smoothing thing things over. So the bill includes tens of millions of extra Medicaid dollars for the State of Tennessee.

The Big Sky Buy-Off. A special provision was inserted in the Senate bill recently that provided taxpayer-funded health care to only certain Montana residents.

U Conn. As part of the original health care bill, a mysterious provision was inserted providing a whopping $100 million in a cryptically worded provision for a new medical facility. After some investigation, it was discovered that Connecticut was the lucky recipient of this taxpayer dollar giveaway.

The Bismarck Bank Job. A helpful provision was inserted in the reconciliation package. While most American banks will be cut off from subsidies for private student loans when the government takes over the student loan industry, which is part of the bill we will vote on tomorrow, banks in North Dakota will still see the cash rolling into their banks.

PhRMA'ing for Favors. As has been reported, Democratic staffers were huddled behind closed doors over the last few weeks with PhRMA lobbyists as they crafted the final bill. Coincidentally, PhRMA has now decided it will run expensive TV ads in the districts of 38 wavering Democrats.

Cowboy Cash. North Dakota and Montana, along with Wyoming and South Dakota stand to get extra Federal cash for their States' Medicare rolls.

And the Louisiana Purchase that we have all heard about. Three hundred million dollars extra for Medicaid payments to one State is still in the bill. That is just yet one more reason we should reject the health care bill tomorrow.

At this time I will yield 3 minutes to my colleague and friend from the State of Georgia (Mr. Kingston).

I will yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia.

Republicans believe that we can have health reform, and we should, without a government takeover of one-sixth of our Nation's economy.

Republicans introduced over 70 bills that offer free market solutions to health care reform, and one of those is H.R. 3400. H.R. 3400, a bill I have cosponsored, is the Empowering Patients First Act. It does three things.

It gives access to coverage for all Americans. It does this in large part by extending the tax deduction, which right now unfairly only goes to corporate employees, and says every American can have this tax deduction. That lets you have your insurance and not be dependent on your job to provide it for you. That way you can take it with you. It becomes portable. You have less to fear from preexisting conditions.

Coverage will be truly owned by the patient under H.R. 3400. The individual market is expanded. Things like pooling mechanisms, where national associations can form together, use national economies of scale to form membership plans and accounts to pool across State lines. Right now that is not allowed under law. And reining in out-of-control costs. We can do this for instance, through reforming the medical liability system.

The bills in front of us that we may vote on tomorrow do nothing about medical tort reform. That's a huge driver of defensive medicine and needless costs in our health care system. But if we, for instance, establish administrative health care tribunals, known as health courts, in each State, added affirmative defense through provider-established best practice measures, or encourage the speedy resolution of claims, we would do things to cut down on the cost of defensive medicine.

So Republicans have solutions that, unfortunately, have not been allowed to come to this floor for a vote. We also have about a hundred amendments being heard, as we speak, over in the Rules Committee, and I doubt that a single one of those rules will be labeled in order for voting on the floor tomorrow.

Let me conclude by reading some lines out of today's Wall Street Journal. They have summed it up better than anyone can. This is the lead editorial in today's Wall Street Journal:

``A self-governing democracy,'' it concludes, ``can of course decide that it wants to become this kind of superwelfare State. But if the yearlong debate over ObamaCare has proven anything, it is that Americans want no such thing. There is no polling majority or any bipartisan support, much less a rough national consensus for this expansion of government power. The election of Scott Brown in Massachusetts for Ted Kennedy's seat, of all things, was as direct a referendum as you could have.

``So if the health bill passes in the House, it will only do so the way it did in the Senate, with a narrow partisan majority, abetted by political bribery and intimidation, budget gimmicks and procedural deceptions.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of my constituents who tell me time and time again that they do not want a government-run health care plan. In spite of all this protest, Democrats are seeking to jam the bill down the taxpayers' throats through a convoluted legislative rule known as the Slaughter solution. This scheme allows a vote on a rule that would deem the Senate version of the health care bill to be passed without bringing the actual bill up for a vote.

Constituents send their Members of Congress to Washington to represent their interests through votes. The Slaughter House rule would violate our constitutional pledge to protect and defend the Constitution.

To pass a bill of this magnitude through a procedural gimmick like the Slaughter House rule would be a cowardly cover-up. What exactly is the majority afraid of? Why are they trying to hide their vote?

The American people deserve an open and honest vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of a noble and humble man lost in the devastating earthquake in Haiti. David Hames of Colorado Springs, Colorado, left an enduring legacy of selflessness and faith.

David lived a life completely devoted to his family and to his Savior, Jesus Christ. He and his beloved wife of 13 years, Renee, have been blessed with two beautiful adopted sons, Aidan and Zander, who will remember their father's unending love.

He blessed the world with his talent for filmmaking. This was embodied in his award-winning and innovative children's educational video series, ``Cranium's Ark.''

On January 11, David arrived in Haiti for Compassion International to tell the story of orphans and widows as he had throughout the world. After a day of shooting footage, he was in the

Hotel Montana when the earthquake hit. God took David home at the age of 40. His life was an amazing journey filled with passion and faithfulness, and his legacy will endure.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate the City of Colorado Springs, Colorado, as the new official site of the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Service and the National EMS Memorial.

To recognize the selfless contributions of emergency medical service (EMS) personnel nationwide, the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads, Inc., and the Julian Stanley Wise Foundation, in conjunction with To The Rescue, in 1993 organized the first annual National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Service at Greene Memorial United Methodist Church in Roanoke, Virginia, to honor EMS personnel from across the country who have died in the line of duty. This Memorial is inclusive of all EMS providers, ground and air: first responders, search and rescue, EMTs, paramedics, nurses and pilots.

The National EMS Memorial Service Board recently selected the City of Colorado Springs, Colorado to be the new city to host the annual National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Service and the National EMS Memorial beginning in June 2010.

I consider it a great privilege to represent the district that will serve as the host site for honoring the uniquely skilled and dedicated efforts of EMS personnel who work bravely and tirelessly to preserve America's greatest resource--her people.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards, I am submitting the following information regarding member requests I received as part of H.R. 3326--Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010:

Requesting Member: Representative Doug Lamborn, CO-05

Bill Number: H.R. 3326

Account: RDTE Air Force, Line 75, PE 0604706F Life Support Systems

Legal Name of the Requesting Entity: Goodrich Corporation

Legal Address of the Requesting Entity: 1275 N. Newport Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80916

Description of the Request: $1.92 million is included in this bill to continue development and testing of the Advanced Common Ejection Seat (ACES 5) modular ejection-seat for the Air Force variant F-35 LRIP as well as its application to the F-22, F-15, F-16, F-117, A-10, B-1 and

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express disappointment with Obamacare 2.0. Apparently President Obama did not get the message Americans don't want a big government takeover of health care. This $1 trillion health care bill is just more of the same: more spending, more taxes, and more government mandates. The American people want us to start over on health care, wipe the slate clean, and consider commonsense reforms that won't bankrupt our country.

But what Americans want the most of all are jobs. Where are the jobs? Government doesn't create jobs, but we can do things to allow the private sector to create jobs. We could do these three things: across the board tax cuts, increase domestic energy production, and stop the overregulation of business. Those three simple things would create jobs. If the President really wants to, this is where he should start.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 95th anniversary of the signing of the Rocky Mountain National Park Act and I commend the gentle lady from the Fourth District of Colorado for introducing this resolution. President Woodrow Wilson established Rocky Mountain National Park on January 26th, 1915, and preserved the acreage to be enjoyed by millions of visitors each year.

The Rocky Mountain National Park displays the majesty of Colorado, and some of the Nation's most striking scenery. As the country's highest National Park in elevation--with over 60 peaks reaching over 12,000 feet--the Rocky Mountain National Park is among the ten most visited national parks in the United States, drawing an average of 3 million visitors each year. The Continental Divide and headwaters for the Colorado River lie within the Park's boundaries, creating stunning vistas.

I am a frequent visitor of the Rocky Mountain National Park. Located in the Park is Trail Ridge Road. According to the National Park Service, it is the highest continuous motorway in the United States, with more than 8 miles lying above 11,000 feet and a maximum elevation of 12,183 feel.

Like my fellow Coloradans, I am proud our State hosts this property, and would recommend my colleagues plan a visit to enjoy the magnificent natural beauty and plentiful recreational opportunities. It is a memorable experience our Nation is preserving for future generations. I commend the work of committed staff at the National Parks Service for preserving and facilitating ongoing access to this true national treasure. Rocky Mountain National Park is truly one of the crown jewels in our National Park System.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Boy Scouts of America on their 100th Anniversary. Many of our nation's most respected citizens are members of this esteemed organization, including government officials, business leaders, entertainers, and astronauts. Today, there are almost three million young men enrolled as members of the Boy Scouts. In my home state of Colorado, there are over 40,000 young men currently involved in scouting programs, and over 600 earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2009.

I have personally seen the positive impact of the Boy Scouts: my wife and I dedicated many nights and weekends with our four sons to carving Pinewood Derby cars, learning to tie knots in ropes, and planning service projects. Today, all four boys are Eagle Scouts. It is an achievement that speaks to years of dedication and hard work. The Boy Scouts of America has played an invaluable role in helping millions of families, just like mine, raise up young men of character.

The Oath of the Boy Scouts is this: ``On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.'' At a time when this country desperately needs men of character, the Boy Scouts of America is actively training the next generation of leaders to fulfill this pledge.

May God Bless the Boy Scouts of America during the next 100 years.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend Biblica for the contributions they have made to our country and join with them in the celebration of their 200th anniversary.

On December 4, 1809, a small group of concerned citizens met in lower Manhattan to discuss how to make the Bible available to the residents of the city and formed the New York Bible Society, beginning an organization that has been woven into the fabric of United States culture for 200 years.

The New York Bible Society provided Scripture for members of the United States Armed Forces in each conflict, foreign and domestic, since the War of 1812, and in partnership with the United States military chaplaincy, distributed more than 1,000,000 Bibles to members of the Armed Forces looking for courage, guidance, and comfort.

When the gates of Ellis Island opened in 1890, the New York Bible Society greeted new immigrants with a copy of Scripture in their native language, and over the 60 years that followed, provided an average of 160,000 copies of Scripture each year to immigrants.

In 1962, John Glenn lifted off into space with a Bible he received from the New York Bible Society. In 1968, the New York Bible Society sponsored the Committee on Bible Translation, a group responsible for creating the New International Version, which is now the most widely distributed, contemporary English version in the world, with more than 300,000,000 copies in circulation.

The New York Bible Society moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1988 and became the International Bible Society.

Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the International Bible Society distributed more than 800,000 copies of Scripture to those seeking hope and comfort during one of the darkest moments in United States history. The International Bible Society also provided Scripture to disaster survivors worldwide, including victims of Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

The International Bible Society merged with Living Bibles International and Send the Light and today operates as Biblica.

Biblica is one of the largest distributors of Bibles and biblical resources in the world, operates in 54 countries, and has translated the Bible into more than 100 languages. Biblica is the leading provider of Bible translations on the Internet, providing the Bible in 29 languages to more than 100,000,000 Internet users annually.

It is an honor to recognize Biblica as an integral part of our nation's history and I commend them for the contributions they have made to the United States and around the world.

Madam Speaker, this picture shows what the failed policies of this Congress and administration are doing to America. This sign was put up near a homeless camp in my district. It's next to the highway, down by the river. It says: Welcome to Obamaville--Colorado's fastest growing community.

It's obvious that the liberals' prescription for creating jobs only creates more government by taking hard-earned dollars from families and small businesses for taxes that could have gone into creating real jobs.

When the President said he wanted more jobs through the so-called stimulus, it's mostly meant more bureaucrats, and that's not the jobs Americans want. When Americans lose their jobs in this recession and end up living in a tent, something is wrong.

The policies of this administration and Congress, by raising taxes and putting more regulations in the way of business, will not create the jobs Americans need for the future, but their policies will create tent cities.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dane Nowels, an American patriot who passed away on December 1, 2009. As a resident of Colorado Springs and Colorado, Nowels was a true servant to his nation and community. I rise today to honor his contribution to our community and country.

Born in Oakland California on October 18, 1947, Nowels graduated from The Ohio State University in 1969 with a degree in agricultural economics. As an agricultural enthusiast, Nowel was a four time National Champion in Tractor Pulling using the tractors that he built himself.

After service in the Army and a career as a commodities broker, Nowels moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado to provide heavy equipment to farmers and ranchers throughout southern Colorado for Ellen Equipment Company.

Nowels was a natural leader, and he used his talents to serve others in the El Paso County community. As President of the Pikes Peak Firearms Coalition and Vice-Chairman of the El Paso County Republican Party, Nowels accomplished much in El Paso County in defense of liberty. Nowels encouraged minorities, youth, young adults, and businesspeople to rally behind local and state candidates who

exhibit support for a strong national defense and limited government. He was an advocate for traditional American values based upon the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, especially the Second Amendment right to bear arms. In addition, Nowels was an active member of the Pikes Peak Economics Forum, often speaking to and debating area high school and college students about the free market system and the Constitutional rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Throughout his life, Nowels was committed to serving this great country, whether in the Army or defending liberty in his community. I mourn his passing, and today ask that we honor the life of a true American hero.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 856, which was introduced by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).

This resolution recognizes the commissioning of the USS New York, the newest of the U.S. Navy's San Antonio-class ships known as the landing platform dock, or LPD.

As has already been stated by my colleague, this is no ordinary commissioning. On Monday this week, it arrived in New York Harbor to fanfare, including a 21-gun salute near the site of the 2001 terrorist attack.

It was September 2002, in a ceremony aboard the USS Intrepid in New York City, that then-Secretary of the Navy Gordon England announced the decision to name the fifth amphibious ship of the San Antonio class the New York. During the ceremony, Secretary England stated, ``USS New York will project American power to the far corners of the Earth and support the cause of freedom well into the 21st century. From the war for independence through the war on terrorism, which we wage today, the courage and heroism of the people of New York have been an inspiration.''

During that same ceremony in 2002, Governor Pataki highlighted one special aspect of this new ship: ``We are very proud that the twisted steel from the World Trade Center towers will soon be used to forge an even stronger national defense. The USS New York will soon be defending freedom and combating terrorism around the globe while also ensuring that the world never forgets the evil attacks of September 11, 2001, and the courage and strength New Yorkers showed in response to terror.''

I am honored to speak in favor of this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to join me in support of House Resolution 856.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am once again urging all of my colleagues to support this wonderful resolution. I am proud that I can do so as well.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I rise, too, in support of House Resolution 868, which honors and recognizes the service and achievements of current and former female members of the Armed Forces.

Throughout this great Nation's history, women have answered the call without hesitation to defend our democracy and freedom. Since colonial America, women have fought for our independence and have continued to serve with distinction in some capacity in every one of our Nation's conflicts. Before women were formally allowed to serve in the military, they served on the battlefields as nurses, waterbearers, cooks, and saboteurs.

Since 1901, when the Army Nurse Corps was established and formally granted women rank and military status, hundreds of thousands of women have served with honor in the Armed Forces. They have never shirked responsibility, shied away from tough jobs, or hesitated to go in harm's way; 34,000 women served in World War I, 400,000 in World War II, 120,000 in the Korean War, over 7,500 in Vietnam, and over 41,000 served in Desert Storm, the first Gulf War.

Today, over 350,000 women are serving in our Armed Forces. Over 190,000 have deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and other unheard of troubled spots around the world to help rid the world of tyranny and terrorism. They serve on land, at sea, and in the air, performing the technically challenging and dangerous missions we hear of in the news, including pilots, military police, and convoy truck drivers.

These women, just like the men in our Armed Forces, are volunteers. They have always been volunteers. They have chosen to serve and chosen to make the sacrifices that are inherent in military service. They endure long hours, long separations from loved ones, and the hardships and horrors of combat. These women have been wounded, imprisoned, and have paid the ultimate price for their devotion and duty to this great country.

It is without question that our military forces are unsurpassed. It is also undeniable that women have played a significant role in developing the extraordinarily capable military we are so proud of today.

Military women have been pioneers in computer science, space, undersea exploration, and medicine. Through their accomplishments, America has made great strides in technology, mathematics, and engineering.

Next week, as we take the time to remember our veterans, I ask that all Americans take a moment to thank the men and women who serve today and who have served our Armed Forces in the past. I strongly urge all Members to support this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she might consume to the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Ms. Fallin). I want to say that she has been a welcomed and strong addition to the Armed Services Committee.

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