Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Dr. and Mrs. James

Dobson, the founders of Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs. For 30 years Dr. and Mrs. Dobson have nurtured and defended not only families in Colorado, but families worldwide.

Focus on the Family has been a tireless champion in the fight to protect and preserve the sanctity of human life in all stages. In addition, Focus on the Family strives to preserve the institution of marriage while simultaneously battling the rising scourge of judicial activism. This invaluable organization informs and inspires those who care deeply about the family, rallying them to become involved in the moral, cultural, and political issues that threaten the core principles of our great Nation. I applaud their work around the world.

It is selfless individuals like the Dobsons upon whom this great Nation has been built. It gives me great comfort to know that such people are still working to defend and expound American values.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I rise today in support of H.R. 797, the Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act. I would like to thank Chairman Filner, Ranking Member Buyer and my colleague Mr. Hall for their help in bringing this important legislation to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I offered an amendment to this bill which would provide families the option of choosing a bronze V in lieu of a VA headstone for graves already marked by a private marker. I am happy to say that this amendment was accepted with bipartisan support during committee markup.

Many private cemeteries do not allow a second marker on a grave, but a bronze V would be accepted by all cemeteries and would identify a veteran's grave in the same manner as a VA headstone.

While not the intent of the amendment, it may also lead to a decrease in costs for the Veterans Affairs Department. The average cost of a VA headstone is about $100. Last year, the VA provided 6,534 second markers for a total cost of about $650,000 plus shipping. The cost for the same number of bronze V markers would have only been between $148,000 and $184,000.

Mounting of these second markers is at the family's expense, usually several times the cost of the stone. The bronze V, however, will avoid the need for professional mounting, thus reducing significant expenses for the veterans' families.

This amendment not only distinguishes our Nation's veterans on their headstones, but it also allows families to demonstrate their loved one's selfless service to our Nation in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

It provides a great solution to an unfortunate problem with the added bonus of saving money for veterans' families and the VA.

Mr. Speaker, this bill will help our veterans, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 797.

Madam Speaker, I rise in recognition of Mr. Eric Bransby on his 90th birthday and the tremendous contributions he

has made to the Colorado Springs community and the greater art world.

A gifted artist, Mr. Bransby developed his interest in mural painting while studying at the Kansas City Art Institute. Since that time he has become an internationally renowned muralist. Recognized as a Phi Kappa Phi National Honorary and a Fellow of the National Society of Mural Painters, he is one of only a few painters to work in traditional fresco. Mr. Bransby studied at Colorado College and later at Yale University as a graduate fellow. He translated this formal training into a life dedicated to furthering American art as both an artist and educator.

Students from Yale University and Colorado College among others have benefited from Mr. Bransby's passion, and the citizens of Colorado from his extraordinary talent. Among Mr. Bransby's works are the history of aviation mural at the United States Air Force Academy and the pioneer scene in Cossit Hall at Colorado College. His magnificent depiction of 200 years of Colorado history featuring nearly 100 subjects, from early, unknown settlers to historical figures can be seen at Colorado's Pioneer Museum located right in my hometown of Colorado Springs.

My district and our Nation are fortunate to count among their citizens this extraordinary individual. Mr. Bransby has inspired generations by bringing to life, with vivid imagination, our history, and we owe him immense gratitude.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this resolution. There are many flaws in this resolution. One of the most serious is that while it gives lip-service to a desire to support and protect the troops, it turns around and disapproves of the plan that is best calculated by the commanders on the ground to bring order to Baghdad.

This surge is the best way, in the opinion of the commanders, to clamp down on the insurgency, to protect our troops and ultimately to lead to victory. I don't see how you can claim to protect and support the troops while taking away the best option for victory.

That brings up another serious flaw in this resolution: It has no positive alternative. The resolution seems to say that we should go on as before, which I thought my colleagues across the aisle said was unacceptable.

Yet another serious flaw is that Members of Congress, who are many thousands of miles away from the battlefield, are substituting their judgment for that of the commanders in the field. This is foolish and arrogant. This gives rise to a constitutional conflict as well. The Constitution gives the President the power of Commander in Chief. President Bush, who was reelected by a vote of the entire American people just 2 years ago, has the duty and authority to conduct the war in Iraq.

Congress has the power to declare war and to fund or to not fund war, but does not have the power to conduct a war. This constitutional division of powers is vital, because, among other things, a clear chain of command is better calculated to lead to victory with the least possible loss of life. War by committee, on the other hand, does not best serve the interests of our country or our troops.

Because this resolution is so deeply flawed, it will send bad messages if it is passed. It will send a message to our enemies that we are weak and unable to complete a difficult task. It will send a message to our allies that we are undependable. It will send a message to the families and loved ones of our fallen soldiers and marines, to our brave men and women who have been disabled and to the troops in the field, that their sacrifice is in vain because their mission is not worth our commitment. These messages will be destructive, and I urge my colleagues not to go down this road.

If America does abandon Iraq, which many of my colleagues across the aisle want to be the ultimate outcome, destruction will spread across the entire Middle East and will be more likely to come to our own shores.

I know that the struggle against terrorism is difficult, but we cannot give up. Yes, we must learn as we go, and, yes, we must adapt to changing circumstances. But we must not think that retreat will bring relief. We and the entire world will pay a terrible price if we go down that road. This resolution is the first step down that road. I urge the defeat of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, the following is a list of young men who embody service and responsibility and have received the status of Eagle Scout. Today I want to applaud their achievement.

As a proud parent of four Eagle Scouts myself, I can attest to the hard work and dedication these men have put forth to become an Eagle Scout.

Only 5 percent of all Boy Scouts attain the highest advancement rank of Eagle Scout. To do so, a Boy Scout must excel in areas of

leadership, service and outdoor skills, Eagle Scouts must earn 21 merit badges, 12 specific merit badges are required, including, First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Environmental Science, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Camping, and Family Life.

Service and responsibility are the foundation of the Boy Scouts of America, and these fine young men have mastered an array of skills. Today I want to honor their commitment to these principles.

It is my privilege today to congratulate the following Eagle Scouts on their fine accomplishment:

Morgan Campbell, Anthony Stokes, Michael Maloof, Colin Bornmann, Daryl Lambert, Tyler Campbell, David Benhammou, Joshua Bonlek, Jacob Gelsinger, James Allen, Andrew Perroni, Eric Gillaspie, Stephen Byvoet, Erik Schlabs, Aaron Straight.

Timothy Martin, Erik Umland, Charles Overbay, Nathaniel Jeffrey, Christopher Wu, Jeffrey Marlor, Michael McCreight, Benjamin Kush, Adam Colvin, Anil Damle, Michael Joseph, Alexander Norr, Jonathan Miller, Steven Falk, Peter Zupan, Aaron Schlagheck, Jacob Whatcott, Mathew Jennings, Christopher Howe, Brandon Turner.

Austin Nestlerode, Aric Higgins, Aaron Burkhart, Gregory Wingerter, Stephen Fitzwater, Christopher Malley, Andrew Petering, Andrew Renehan, Michael Tope, Gregory Williams, Joshua Antuna, Jeff Tindell, Gabriel Bennett, Joseph Becar, Stephen Marzulla, Alexander McElhaney, Kyle Moody, Nathan Bennion, Peter Zupan, Jeffery Seymore.

Andrew Kugler, Charles Balch, Joshua Godshall, Timothy Jutras, Devin Sperle, Christopher Weiler, John Vogt, Cameron Ackley, Austin Williams, Stephen Cooley, Christopher Maddox, Benjamin Carlson, Nicholas Holmes, Forrest Lampella, David Law, Daniel McConkie, Kyle Spencer, Adam Stanton, Mark Nader, Tyler Hill.

Benjamin Hallgarth, Daniel Evans, Brian Hicks, Nicholas Glass, Aaron Busse, Derek Kirchhoefer, Alexander Ramsay, William Whittemore, Jr., Luke Saunders, Connor O'Laughlin, Nicholas Davis, Aaron Novy, Ian Watson, Sean Steele, Jordan Barnett, Kenji Tanabe, Christopher Ciccolella, Bryan Bredfeldt, Jonathan Johnson, Christopher Temple.

Michael Temple, Matthew Davidson, Adam Feliz, Sean Anderson, David Lloyd, Raymond Stauffer, Adam Khan, Stephen Hornung, Stephen Gremillion, Robert Miller, Adam Jensen, Peter Mattingly, Benjamin Provolt, Robert Burns, James Dwyer, Christopher Hare, Nicholas Cunningham, Skylar Warner, Jared Stoltz, Erik Rodriguez.

Adam Phipps, Adam Muffler, Jeseph Yeurdjian, Seth Grover, Matthew Heimerman, Krystopher Ford, Robert Burton, James Nealy, Carson Hiltbrand, Nathan Mather, Matthew Sewell, Nicholas Kramer, Matthew Ford, Michael Coleman, Kevin Zrust, Trevor Wallner, Jordan Smiley, Matthew Zrust, Nikolas Rajcevich, Bryan Rapacz.

Colby Baker, Chad Barens, Alma Dally, Daniel Hellewell, Kurt Hanson, Roger Greenlaw III, Andrew Grimald, Aaron Cowles, Thomas Lightbody.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. S. Jerrard Smith, a philanthropist and leader for Colorado Springs.

He was a respected businessman, who served as president of Western Forge from 1998-2001 and also the managing director of the Colorado Baking Company. Yet what he valued more than any of these accomplishments was a drive for making the community of Colorado Springs a better place for all residents.

Mr. Smith epitomized philanthropy and giving. Under his leadership, fundraising grew over 18 percent during his 5 years as United Way president, to more than $5.5 million that goes a long way toward community projects and revitalization. He has left a legacy for Pikes Peak United Way that no other has nor ever will.

Jerry was a man with great vision and a passion for giving. He lived all of the core principles that United Way champions--Respect, Caring, Fairness, Integrity, Competence, Celebration and Passion. Friends described him as a renaissance man, who enjoyed symphony, opera, gardening, and gourmet cooking, a man equally at ease talking about football and azaleas.

There was a special place in his heart for this community and the United Way. He had served the agency first as chair in the 1980s, and was its chair again in 2002, when the position of CEO opened and he sought it.

Jerry passed away while doing something he loved--running in North Cheyenne Canyon. Jerry touched the lives of everyone he met, his legacy is eternal. The City of Colorado Springs is deeply grateful for his contributions and he will be missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Colonel Brian D. Allgood, who passed away on January 27, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Colonel Allgood died of injuries sustained when his helicopter crashed. Brian's wife and son reside in Heidelberg, Germany, and his parents, Gerald and Cleo Allgood, reside in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Colonel Allgood graduated from West Point in 1982 and from the University of Oklahoma Medical Center in 1986. After completing his residency, Colonel Allgood continued his military career as a doctor in the Army. He was not only a doctor but was a first-class soldier who parachuted into Panama as a battalion surgeon in the 75th Ranger Regiment during Operation Just Cause in 1989. After rising through the ranks, Brian became a full colonel in 2002 and served in top medical commands in Korea and Germany before becoming the command surgeon of Multi-National Forces Iraq.

Colonel Allgood comes from a strong military family and followed in the footsteps of his father, who was a Army doctor and a Vietnam War veteran.

Colonel Allgood was a remarkable soldier, an exceptional doctor and a devoted husband and father who served in the Army to keep this Nation free and sacrificed his life for our safety and security.

I thank Colonel Brian D. Allgood for his service to our country, and I offer my deepest condolences to his family.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6 would be bad enough if it only increased taxes by $6.5 billion. H.R. 6 would be bad enough if it only drove up the price of domestic energy, hurting working families and empowering Hugo Chavez and OPEC.

But there is a flaw in this bill that goes even deeper and touches on our oath to uphold the United States Constitution. This bill has a takings with no compensation in it which should not be allowed under the United States Constitution.

I thought we had all learned in the aftermath of the Kelo decision that the American people are offended when the government grabs property without just compensation. Yet this bill does exactly that. This bill forces owners of certain oil and gas leases to renegotiate those leases and forces them to forgo all economic benefits from those leases until they do so. This is a clear violation of the fifth amendment.

Under my oath of office, I cannot support H.R. 6. I urge all Members to oppose it for this reason alone, apart from all of the other bad policy that it contains.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 4 which was hastily drafted without proper committee consideration or any by the minority party.

Democrats are fond of citing the Department of Veterans Affairs as evidence that Medicare officials could squeeze lower prices out of drug makers if the government merely used its negotiating clout.

However, what they don't tell you is this program from the early 90s resulted in a stark increase in VA prices for drug purchases.

Additionally, independent experts at the Congressional Budget Office have said that government involvement in price negotiation will not lead to lower costs for seniors and could lead to significant restrictions in access to necessary drugs.

Our seniors can not afford either price increases or restrictions on the drugs they need to stay healthy, both of which are likely if this measure becomes law.

That is something I cannot support and I urge opposition to H.R. 4 today.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 3, I was inadvertently detained.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''