Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the many volunteers who rose above and beyond the call of duty in helping their fellow Kentuckians following what many consider to be the worst natural disaster in the Commonwealth's history.

In late January, severe ice storms left over 700,000 homes without power, countless businesses were crippled and communities across the state were left with miles of roads to clear and enormous amounts of debris to clean up. The First Congressional District bore the brunt of these devastating storms, with many in Western Kentucky being left without power for weeks while local officials and utility workers labored round the clock to restore electricity.

While this was an extremely trying time for the First District, it also brought out the very best in many of our local leaders and ordinary citizens who volunteered their time to help their communities. State and local officials acted quickly to coordinate relief efforts with various community organizations and faith-based groups. Volunteers operated 192 shelters across the Commonwealth, providing shelter, food and water to nearly 8,000 Kentuckians. Individuals from 25 organizations in 15 states traveled to Kentucky to volunteer their time in support of relief efforts.

While the magnitude of the ice storms made recovery efforts more difficult and slower in some areas than was hoped, so many people went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that Kentuckians were kept safe and that vital supplies were disbursed to those in need. I would like to commend all of the local and state officials, utility workers, volunteers, members of the Kentucky National Guard and all those who contributed to the recovery and relief efforts following the storm. During a difficult time that tried all of our spirits, these individuals rose to the occasion to aid their fellow Kentuckians and help the Commonwealth get back on its feet.

While I applaud everyone who worked so hard to help the Commonwealth cope and recover, the ice storms highlighted the dire need to make federal disaster assistance more effective and efficient following an emergency or natural disaster. For this reason, I am a co-sponsor of legislation to extend the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) Pilot Program. The Public Assistance Pilot Program will enable FEMA and local officials to cut through bureaucratic red tape and distribute critical funds immediately following a storm or natural disaster.

In addition, while I am pleased that President Obama issued an emergency declaration for Kentucky so quickly following the storms, I continue to call on FEMA to pay 100 percent of the costs for repair and clean-up. Nearly 3 months after these storms hit the Commonwealth, debris removal and clean up efforts are still ongoing. With local governments in Kentucky already facing significant budget shortfalls this year, the additional financial burden imposed by the ice storms is simply too much for our counties and towns to bear. It is essential that FEMA step up to the plate and ensure that local officials have the funds and resources they need to clean up and rebuild.

I'd like to thank Congressman Brett Guthrie for his leadership in bringing this Resolution to the floor today as well as all my fellow Members of the Kentucky Congressional Delegation. Too often leaders and hard working citizens of our local communities go without recognition for the good work they do. It is my privilege to be able to honor all those who volunteered their time, donated supplies, worked weekends and overtime hours in an effort to restore power and all those who assisted in the clean-up following the storms. On behalf of the people of Kentucky and all those impacted by the storms, I thank you.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of the FY 2009 Omnibus.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield

Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus

Account: Section 205

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Nashville Army Corps of Engineers

Address of Requesting Entity: Nashville, TN

Description of Request: The funds will be used for engineering and design of a dry-dam on the South Fork of the Little Ricer, which would reduce 100 year flood levels in the City by 2.6-4.9 feet. This will protect the safety and security of the citizens in the vicinity of the flood zone. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield

Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus

Account: Economic Development Initiatives (EDI)

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Clinton County, KY

Address of Requesting Entity: 100 South Cross Street, Albany, KY 42602

Description of Request: The funds ($142,500) will be used to establish a Clinton County Community Senior Wellness Center to serve the needs of the elderly community to further enhance the quality of life in the rural community at the Senior Center. The center will serve as a facility to enable seniors to receive health and educational services in the community. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to solemnly recognize the 17th anniversary of the massacre at Khojaly, and to honor the lives of those lost in this great tragedy.

On February 26, 1992, the small town of Khojaly, Azerbaijan was violently shaken by invading Armenian troops during the Armenian- Azerbaijan war. Armenian forces surrounded the town and opened fire on the innocent inhabitants. During this bloody incursion, nearly 2,000 civilians--mostly women, children and the elderly--were brutally killed, wounded or taken hostage by the Armenian military forces as they seized the town. This resulted in the largest massacre of modern times in the Caucasus and Caspian Basin.

According to Human Rights Watch and other international observers, the massacre was committed by the ethnic Armenian armed forces, reportedly with the help of the Russian 366th Motor Rifle Regiment. This crime led to the death of 613 civilians; including 106 women, 63 children and 70 elderly men; 1275 persons were taken hostage, and the fate of more than 150 remains unknown.

At the time, Newsweek Magazine reported, ``Azerbaijan was a charnel house again last week: a place of mourning refugees and dozens of mangled corpses dragged to a makeshift morgue behind the mosque. They were ordinary Azerbaijani men, women and children of Khojaly, a small village in war-tom Nagorno-Karabakh overrun by Armenian forces on 25-26 February. Many were killed at close range while trying to flee; some had their faces mutilated, others were scalped.''

Tragically, during this war, Khojaly was simply the first example of this savage cruelty. In fact, the level of brutality and the unprecedented atrocities committed at Khojaly set a pattern of destruction and ethnic cleansing that Armenian troops would adhere to for the

remainder of the war. On November 29, 1993, Newsweek quoted a senior U.S. Government official as saying, ``what we see now is a systematic destruction of every village in their (the Armenians) way. It's vandalism.''

Altogether, the occupied areas represent roughly 20 percent of the territory of Azerbaijan. And, altogether roughly one million Azerbaijanis were evicted from their homes over the course of the Armenian-Azerbaijan war.

Armenia's then-defense minister Serge Sarkisian in an interview with British journalist Tomas de Waal openly admitted that ``before Khojaly the Azerbaijanis thought that . . . the Armenians were people who could not raise their hands against the civilian population. We were able to break that [stereotype].''

Madam Speaker, in recognition of this horrific day, an international humanitarian awareness campaign, ``Justice for Khojaly,'' was initiated by Mrs. Leyla Aliyeva, and provides much needed information on the massacre through its website for interested parties. In the wake of the 17th anniversary of this massacre, I encourage all of us to familiarize ourselves with this dreadful past so it is not repeated in the future. I also stand with all Azerbaijani-Americans as they recognize and commemorate this solemn day.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of the FY 2009 Omnibus.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield

Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus

Account: National Forest Service

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Land Between the Lake National Recreation Area

Address of Requesting Entity: 100 Van Morgan Drive Golden Pond, KY 42211

Description of Request: The Land Between the Lake National Recreation Area is a premier tourist attraction in Kentucky which continues to thrive under Forest Service management. It has been managed in concert with the provisions of the original LBL Protection Act. This money ($8,200,000) will be used for much needed maintenance at the facility, especially debris cleanup after the recent ice storm through the Commonwealth. The Forest Service will be receiving this money to be used at the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. The total amount will be used for scheduled maintenance at the recreation area. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield

Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus

Account: OJP-Byrne Discretionary Grants

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Pennyrile Narcotic Task Force

Address of Requesting Entity: 511 South Main Street, Hopkinsville, KY 42240

Description of Request: The Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force (PNTF) covers a 20 county area. Based in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, it is a law enforcement organization dedicated to fighting the spread of drugs and, in particular, methamphetamine production, trafficking, and abuse. According to the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC), Kentucky currently ranks sixth nationally in the number of law enforcement responses to meth-related incidents. These funds ($500,000) will allow the task force to purchase materials and pay for manpower to educate people in the school systems, health departments, law enforcement agencies, and civic organizations on the dangers of methamphetamine. These funds are vital to eliminating the threat of illegal drugs in Kentucky's First Congressional District. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield

Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus

Account: Investigations

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Paducah

Address of Requesting Entity: 300 South 5th Street, Paducah, KY

Description of Request: This money ($143,000) will be used for rehabilitation of the current flood control system involving repair and replacement of pumping station equipment, corrugated pipes, concrete, and other appurtenant features. This is considered a levee safety issue in this City and is in dire need of repair. The entity receiving the money is the City of Paducah in Kentucky. The total amount will be used in FY 2009. The City has already committed $2 million to the project. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield

Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus

Account: Construction

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Nashville Army Corps of Engineers

Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 1070 Nashville, TN 37202-1070

Description of Request: The Kentucky Lock and Dam Addition project consists of constructing a completely new lock and dam structure and was authorized in the 1996 Water Resources Development Act. The amount appropriated ($22,300,000) will be specifically spent on the superstructure to facilitate traffic over the Tennessee River. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield

Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus

Account: Construction

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Nashville Army Corps of Engineers

Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 1070 Nashville, TN 37202-1070

Description of Request: The Wolf Creek Dam Rehabilitation project is to rehabilitate the Dam that is failing on the Cumberland River. This project was one of six dams across the nation that was identified by the Army Corps of Engineers that is in dire need of rehabilitation. The earmark ($54,554,000) will be used to further the rehabilitation. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield

Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus

Account: Construction

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Louisville Army Corps of Engineers

Address of Requesting Entity: 600 Martin Luther King Place Louisville, Kentucky 40202

Description of Request: The project consists of twin 110 foot wide by 1200 foot long dock chambers, five tainter gates and boat operated wicket navigable pass that can be raised or lowered for navigation purposes. This project was authorized in the 1989 Water Resources Development Act and the funding in the bill was for FY 2009 is $109,194,000. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield

Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus

Account: Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Department of Energy

Address of Requesting Entity: Washington, D.C.

Description of Request: The funds ($116,446,000) will be used to accelerate the removal of over 50 years of legacy waste and contamination stemming from the production of enriched uranium. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield

Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus

Account: Other Defense Activities--Health, Safety, and Security

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Department of Energy

Address of Requesting Entity: Former Worker Screening Programs in the Office of Health, Safety, and Security located in Washington, D.C.

Description of Request: The Department of Energy will receive this money ($999,075) and it will be used to assess the health of former DOE workers in order to detect selected occupational illnesses at an early stage. The total amount of the money will be used by DOE to ensure the welfare of employees at the plant. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield

Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus

Account: Higher Education (includes FIPSE)

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Breathitt Veterinary Center (BVC)

Address of Requesting Entity: 715 North Drive in Hopkinsville, KY 42241

Description of Request: The entity receiving this money ($95,000) is Murray State University Breathitt Veterinary Center (BVC) located in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The funds will be used to upgrade and expand research technology and allow for acquisition of equipment and supplies to facilitate teaching capacity at the BVC. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield

Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus

Account: Museums & Library

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Livingston County Library Board

Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 70, Smithland, KY 42081

Description of Request: The entity receiving the money ($190,000) is the Livingston County Library Board. The funds will be used to purchase books, equipment, and update technology at a new library center. Funding to construct or purchase the facility will be provided by government at the local or state level. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield

Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus

Account: TCSP--Transportation & Community & System Preservation

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

Address of Requesting Entity: 200 Metro Street in Frankfort, Kentucky 40622

Description of Request: The entity receiving the money ($2,280,000) is the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in Frankfort, Kentucky, but the money will be used between Hopkinsville, Kentucky and the Interstate 24 connection near the Kentucky/Tennessee border. The Pennyrile Parkway Extension project will provide a critical missing link in the highway system of Western Kentucky. By connecting the Pennyrile Parkway, a National Highway System route, with Interstate 24 near Fort Campbell, both routine regional travel and special

national defense deployment needs can be better accommodated. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield

Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus

Account: Economic Development Initiatives (EDI)

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Adair County, Kentucky

Address of Requesting Entity: 424 Public Square in Columbia, Kentucky 42728

Description of Request: The entity receiving the money ($166,250) is Adair County, Kentucky. The funds will be used to establish a City of Columbia/Adair County Community Senior Wellness Center to serve the needs of the elderly community to further enhance the quality of life in the rural community at the Senior Center. The center will serve as a facility to enable seniors to facilitate health and educational services in the community. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield

Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus

Account: Economic Development Initiatives (EDI)

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Metcalfe County, Kentucky

Address of Requesting Entity: 100 East Stockton Street in Edmonton, Kentucky

Description of Request: The entity receiving the money ($95,000) is Metcalfe County. The funds will be used to expand the current facility to meet the increasing needs of the community by relocating to a larger building already owned by the County to accommodate the needs of a successful operation already in place. In preparing for those needs, the day care center applied for a license to operate as a medical model day care center facility and recently received that license. Currently, the day care center is only able to serve 6 to 7 clients per day, but direly needs to expand. These funds will allow that expansion for the community to serve medical, educational, and day care services needs. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield

Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus

Account: Economic Development Initiatives (EDI)

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Casey County, Kentucky

Address of Requesting Entity: 768 South Wallace Wilkinson Blvd in Liberty, Kentucky

Description of Request: The entity receiving the money ($190,000) is Casey County, Kentucky. The funds will be used to finish the parking area and lighting at the Casey County Agriculture Exposition Center. These funds will complete the project that received funding in 2004. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield

Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus

Account: Buses and Bus Facilities

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Murray-Calloway Transit Authority

Address of Requesting Entity: 607 Poplar Street Suite B in Murray, KY 42071

Description of Request: The entity receiving the money ($1,496,250) is the Murray Calloway Transit Authority in Murray, Kentucky. The funds will be used to design a Route System Project to be a more convenient service for many transit-dependent riders, which will allow for more flexibility for transit services. This project has been nationally recognized. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ed Whitfield

Bill Number: FY 2009 Omnibus

Account: Buses and Bus Facilities

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Fulton County Transit Authority

Address of Requesting Entity: 300 Eastwood Dr in Fulton, KY 42041

Description of Request: The entity receiving the money ($237,500) is the Fulton County Transit Authority located in Fulton, Kentucky. The funds will be used for radios and Wheelchair Vans, Mini Vans, Sedans, and passenger vans, as well as GPS units for their vehicles. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Mr. Speaker, Chairman Oberstar has been a great leader in the transportation issues of our country, and certainly one of the leaders in rail transportation policy, but I would just like to say on this bill that one of the goals of the rail transportation policy of the United States is to ensure the development of a sound rail system to meet the needs of shippers and the consuming public.

I am genuinely concerned that H.R. 6707 may actually have an adverse impact on our rail system, particularly as it relates to rural communities. In rural areas of our country, at one time we had strong railroad service which contributed a great deal to the economic development in rural America. I am very much concerned that this legislation, while it has every good intention of protecting local communities, will actually be a chill to continued rail service in a lot of small communities.

The Rail Transportation Safety Board already is required to look, on rail mergers and acquisitions, to look at the public interest standard and must evaluate that. I am just concerned that this additional requirement will really be a chilling effect and will adversely impact rail service in rural America which will have an adverse impact on all of us, particularly at this time when energy prices, being as high as they are, we know that we can transport goods by rail cheaper which makes us more competitive in the global marketplace. For that reason, I would respectfully oppose this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of this legislation, I would like to thank my colleagues and the Education and Labor Committee for allowing this legislation to be considered today. Additionally, I would like to recognize Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, who during her five terms in Congress, worked to advance fire safety, particularly on college campuses.

Mr. Speaker, far too many of our nation's young people have been lost to senseless fire tragedies at places where they are supposed to be encouraged to grow and kept safe--their own college campuses. According to the Center for Campus Fire Safety, 94 people have been killed in student housing fires since January of 2000. Sadly, many of these deaths may have been preventable with the help of proper fire safety technology.

This legislation will establish a demonstration incentive program within the Department of Education to promote the installation of fire sprinkler systems, or other fire suppression or prevention technologies. This program is vital to helping ensure that our students are provided the most technologically advanced fire safety equipment. I am confident that this will not only help make colleges safer across the country, but will also save lives.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bipartisan and important piece of legislation.

Madam Speaker, I submit the following:

Pursuant to the Republican leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2638--the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009--in the Training Devices, Nonsystem account under the Department of Defense. Funds in this earmark will be used to provide enhancements to allow ARNG units training at those sites to conduct realistic, effective training similar in quality to that found at the CTCs by integrating new soldier, vehicle, weapon simulation, and battlefield effects instrumentation developed specifically for the battalion-level XCTC initiative. When fielded, this system will enable company-sized units training at those installations to reduce the time required for post- mobilization training and thereby assist in meeting the DoD policy limiting unit mobilizations to a period of 1 year. The entity to receive funding for this project is Army National Guard, located at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, KY. The total cost is $800,000.

Pursuant to the Republican leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2638--the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009--in the Predisaster Mitigation account under the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Funds in this earmark will be used to establish emergency operations and allow for the county to better prepare for natural disasters and other emergencies. The Crittenden County Fiscal Court will be receiving the funding for this project, and the project will be located on Industrial Drive in Marion, KY. The total cost of the funds--$750,000--will be used to establish the facility, and the land has been donated.

Pursuant to the Republican leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2638--the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009--in the Procurement, Army account under the Department of Defense. Funds in this earmark will be used for a one-man portable expedient wall breaching kit capable of defeating 8" triple brick masonry or double reinforced concrete structural walls in Military Operations Urban Terrain (MOUT) missions. Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company, located at P.O. Box 219, State Route 175, Graham, KY 42344, will be receiving these funds. The total cost is $3,200,000.

Pursuant to the Republican leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2638--the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009--in the Army Medical Technology account under the Department of Defense. Funds in this earmark will be used to evaluate improvements to indoor air quality (IAQ) obtained through the use of antifungal copper and copper alloys in military HVAC systems. IAQ is vital for the protection of United States Armed Forces, particularly those serving in enclosed weapons systems such as tanks and submarines, transport equipment, and buildings in both domestic and deployed locations. The entity to receive funding for this project is Luvata Franklin, located at 4720 Bowling Green Road, Franklin, KY 42134. The total cost is $2,000,000.

Pursuant to the Republican leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2638--the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009--in the Army account under Military Construction. Funds in this earmark will be used to construct a 200-capacity center for children ages 6-10 providing before and after school care during the duty day, summer, school-out days, and holidays. This facility supports readiness by reducing lost duty time due to conflict between parent responsibilities and unit mission requirements. The entity to receive funding for this project is Ft. Campbell, KY. The total cost is $10,000,000.

Pursuant to the Republican leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2638--the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009--in the Army account under Military Construction. Funds in this earmark will be used to construct a 1,200-seat chapel/family life center which includes a worship center, activity/fellowship center, chaplain family life and pastoral care center, resource center, multimedia center, religious education classrooms, kitchen, storage areas, restrooms, and circulation area. The entity to receive funding for this project is Ft. Campbell, KY. The total cost is $630,000.

I certainly want to thank Chairman Rush and the Democratic staff and the Republican staff for working so diligently to pass not only the Calling Card Consumer Protection Act, but also the Travel Promotion Act. I certainly want to congratulate Mr. Engel for bringing this matter before the House. It certainly is an important issue, and we are all delighted that this bill is moving forward.

Madam Speaker, I simply wanted to have a colloquy, if I could, with Chairman Rush about a couple of issues relating to this bill, and simply wanted to confirm with Mr. Rush the intent of certain provisions as they relate to small retailers that are selling these prepaid calling cards.

I guess my question, Chairman Rush, is that if a retailer sells a card but is unaware that the calling card does not make all of the disclosures required by the act, will the retail merchant be subject to monetary penalties under sections 4 or 5 of the bill?

Thank you very much, Chairman Rush.

To be clear, it is also my understanding that, obviously, to protect consumers, a retailer could be enjoined by the FTC, or State authorities, and required to stop selling fraudulent cards, which they should be required to stop, whether or not they knew the cards were fraudulent.

Such retailer would not, however, it's my understanding, and I think you pointed this out, they would not be subject to civil penalties or damages unless they knew the cards were unlawful; is that correct?

I thank the gentleman very much, and I just wanted to express once again, the pleasure of working with the chairman on this.

We appreciate your great leadership.

Once again, I want to thank the staffs on both sides of the aisle.

Yes, sir.

We certainly appreciate that clarification and look forward to the passage of this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this conference report for the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.

To begin, I would like to thank Chairman Bobby Rush, the original author of this bill, for his tremendous leadership on this issue. He has been in our thoughts and prayers and we are extremely pleased to see he is back and recovering. I look forward to continuing our important work together.

I also would like to thank full Committee Chairman John Dingell and Ranking Member Joe Barton for their collaborative work during this conference. Unfortunately, we have seen in recent history that the minority--on both sides of the aisle--have been shut out of conference negotiations. We are here today under the best of circumstances, and I credit this to their character and hard work.

Madam Speaker, we were all horrified at the number of children's products that were recalled last year. I am glad the Commission worked so hard to get those potentially dangerous products off the store shelves and this bill will make that important job easier and more effective.

When parents purchase toys the last thing they should be worried about are toxic levels of lead, potential chemical side effects from accidentally swallowing a toy, or similar health hazards.

Both chambers acted swiftly to approve legislation--and I might add the House voted unanimously--to better fund and equip the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) so they can help prevent another ``year of the recall.''

Today's conference report represents months of work to get a strong but reasoned bill that protects our children, and to send it to the President for his signature into law. Among other provisions, the conference report sets the toughest lead standard for children's products in the world. We require the CPSC to lower allowable lead to only trace amounts, and task them to revise this standard downward if it is technologically possible. We also require mandatory third party testing for children's products to ensure compliance with CPSC regulations and standards.

As I mentioned, the conferees acknowledged that the CPSC has been underfunded and understaffed for years. To alleviate that, we increase the authorization levels significantly in the first year and then by approximately 7 percent for each of the next 4 years. These new resources will allow the Commission to hire additional staff and update their laboratory to help them do their job more effectively. This conference report also increases the penalties for bad actors and enhances the authority of State Attorneys General to seek appropriate injunctive relief, so that dangerous children's products don't make it into the hands of our kids and grandkids.

Finally, I would like to address one of the more controversial provisions relating to a group of chemical plasticizers known as phthalates. Most of us in Congress are not scientists; however, concerns were raised that some phthalates could potentially be harmful to young children and pregnant mothers.

While I support restricting the use of the certain phthalates that many scientists agree are harmful, I have some concerns about the interim prohibition on other phthalates that are considered to be safe. We obviously do not want to replace one safe plasticizer with a lesser known and potentially more harmful one. However, I am pleased that we asked the CPSC to quickly form an expert panel to review these phthalates and their alternatives to ensure we get it right.

I also would just like to note that the conferees on both sides of this issue worked in good faith to find a true compromise on this section, and I believe they all should be commended for their hard work and open mindedness.

I would also like to briefly mention the issue of Federal preemption. While this is sometimes a contentious issue, I believe that it is important that businesses are given some certainty as to what rules they must follow, and who will be enforcing those rules. A confusing patchwork of State laws ultimately benefits no one.

So, I am glad that this conference report preempts State standards-- notably for lead, lead paint and the phthalates I mentioned--and that the authority of the State Attorneys General is appropriately limited to ensure that enforcement is swift, efficient, and consistent across the country. All of the children in America will be protected equally and vigorously.

Madam Speaker, I strongly support this conference report as the compromise product of a good process. In closing, I would again just like to thank all the members of the conference committee on both sides of the Capitol and their staffs, including my own staff, James Robertson, for working tirelessly to produce a law that will maximize our opportunity to protect children from dangerous toys and products.

Madam Speaker, the meeting of the two Cypriot leaders on March 21, May 23, and July 1, 2008 and the agreement reached by them to launch full-fledged negotiations, which will aim to find a comprehensive settlement to the longstanding Cyprus problem, have been welcomed by the international community, including the United States, the European Union,

and others. The meetings raised hopes among the international community that a mutually acceptable settlement would now be more seriously sought by the Greek Cypriot side, whose policy over the years had been to delay the start of full-fledged negotiations.

On July 20th, the Turkish Cypriots commemorate the 34th anniversary of the Turkish peace operation, which prevented the attempt by the Greek Cypriots to annex the island to Greece. Although peace prevails in Cyprus today, the social, economic, and political development of the Turkish Cypriots have been restricted for more than 3 decades.

In order to promote the spirit of goodwill generated during the recent meetings, it is my sincere hope that this positive stance demonstrated by the two Cypriot leaders will be supported by the United States government. The Turkish Cypriots have demonstrated their willingness to work collaboratively, by voting in favor of the Annan Plan, which presumed great sacrifices for the Turkish Cypriots, because nearly a quarter of their territory would have been ceded to the Greek Cypriot side, and almost a quarter of the Turkish Cypriot population would have been dislocated, some for the second, third, and even fourth time.

Despite the potential impact of the Annan Plan, 65 percent of Turkish Cypriots voted in favor of the historic referenda of April 24, 2004, while 76 percent of Greek Cypriots voted against it. The Turkish Cypriot people, in their continued commitment to achieve a just and lasting settlement that respects the political equality of these two groups on the island are still waiting for the international community to honor the promises it made to them.

Madam Speaker, I want to recognize the unwavering commitment of the Turkish Cypriot people to reunify the island, and I encourage the United States government to lend its support to lifting of the isolation that presently exists.

I certainly want to thank the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney) and the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers) as well as Chairman Skelton and Ranking Member Hunter for bringing this resolution to the floor today.

As has been said, Fort Campbell, Kentucky is the home of the 101st Airborne Division known as the Screaming Eagles, which is the only air assault division in the world. It has been my distinct privilege and pleasure to represent the First Congressional District of Kentucky, which is the home of this great unit.

I would also like to say that, while this resolution focuses explicitly on the 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell is also the home of the 160th Special Aviation Regiment, the Fifth Special Forces Group, the 86th Combat Support Hospital, and we have many young men and women also serving at the Blanchfield Army Hospital as well as the Garrison Command at Fort Campbell.

I was delighted that the gentleman from Connecticut and the gentleman from Alabama talked briefly about the history of this great 101st Airborne Division. I might say that, throughout its history, 19 individuals of that unit have received the highest declaration offered by the U.S. Government, which is the Medal of Honor.

Since Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom began, thousands of members of the 101st Airborne Division have been deployed no less than three times, performing dangerous counter-insurgency operations and working to secure liberty in nations that once served as safe havens for terrorists.

I might also say that we pay special tribute to the nearly 200 members of the 101st Division who have lost their lives fighting the global war on terrorism, and throughout its proud history over 6,000 have lost their lives.

Despite the dangers and difficulties faced by these soldiers and their loved ones, I might say that 65 percent reenlist and request to stay with the 101st Airborne Division, which certainly demonstrates the loyalty to the proud history and tradition of this unit.

I'd like to thank all of the cosponsors of this resolution. The brave soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division have never hesitated to answer this Nation's call to duty, and it is my great privilege to honor them with this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise in recognition of Beverly Largent, a Pediatric Dentist who practices in the City of Paducah located in my District, the First Congressional District of Kentucky. On May 25, 2008, Dr. Largent became the first female President of The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) after proudly serving the AAPD for 20 years.

Founded in 1947, the AAPD is a not-for-profit membership association representing the specialty of pediatric dentistry. The AAPD's 7,300 members are primary oral health care

providers who offer comprehensive specialty treatment for millions of infants, children, adolescents, and individuals with special health care needs. The AAPD also represents general dentists who treat a significant number of children in their practices.

Dr. Largent practices in Paducah, Kentucky and is a past president of the Kentucky Society of Pediatric Dentistry and diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, has served on the ADA's Council of Ethics, Bylaws and Judicial Review, and is a past president of the Kentucky Dental Association. Dr. Largent attended dental school and received her pediatric dental certification from the University of Kentucky. She resides in Paducah with her husband of 40 years, Tom, and is the mother of two and grandmother of three.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I bring to the attention of this House the historical significance and sense of this notable achievement. Dr. Beverly Largent's commitment to children's oral health is evident in everything she does--whether it is in her office treating patients, educating parents and caregivers or on Capitol Hill advocating for children. I'm confident she will be a fine leader of this organization and help raise awareness of the importance of pediatric dentistry.

Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to instruct conferees.

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

On December 19 of last year, this body spoke with a resounding voice of approval for our Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act. The measure passed by a unanimous vote of 407-0.

I would like to thank Chairman Dingell; Ranking Member Barton; Chairman Rush; and my predecessor, Mr. Stearns, for the great job that they did in getting this bill through the House.

H.R. 4040 is a bipartisan product. We worked for 4 months and in the end came up with a stringent but reasoned approach to strengthen the Consumer Product Safety Commission and to vastly improve the safety of our children's products. The result was a bill that creates the toughest lead standard in the world and imposes mandatory safety standards on products for young children. To ensure such standards are met, we require third-party testing and certification of children's products and we nearly double the Consumer Product Safety Commission budget over 4 years to ensure both the new safety standards and the testing and certification requirements are met.

All the new standards and increased enforcement in the world will not help parents unless they also know about dangerous products. We therefore require improved public notice of recalls as well as tracking labels on all children's products so parents can identify recalled toys when they hear about them. We also loosened restrictions to allow the Consumer Product Safety Commission to release critical product safety information to the public when people face an imminent health and safety standard.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 4040. I know that this is a work product that will maximize our opportunity to protect children from dangerous toys and products, and I urge and hope that the House managers will stand by the provisions which passed this Chamber unanimously only 5 months ago and insist upon the measures of H.R. 4040, as passed by the House.

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

General Leave

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you for those kind remarks.

And, Mr. Speaker, I would just reiterate I think we have a great product. I think we have a wonderful opportunity in conference to come out with a great product.

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

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a strong friendship that has proven enormously important since the beginning of the Cold War. Time and time again, the Republic of Turkey has stood firmly with the United States as we have pursued our shared goals in a region where we have few steady allies. Turkey, a fellow NATO country, is a vital partner in our fight against extremism and an example of a vibrant democracy in a region burdened with inequality.

Turkey's assistance in supporting combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan has been instrumental in our efforts to bring opportunity and prosperity to millions of people. Its proximity to both countries has made it an ideal place to coordinate logistics and center supply routes. Over 74 percent of the air cargo that reaches American forces in Iraq passes through Incirlik Air Base in Southern Turkey, and around 4,000 trucks carrying fuel, food, and water cross into Iraq from Turkey every day.

The Turkish government also has provided over $50 million for reconstruction efforts in Iraq, and another $100 million for Afghanistan. Turkey has committed over 800 troops and assumed command of the North American Treaty Organization (NATO) Regional Command Center in Kabul. Their Provincial Reconstruction Team has trained over 1,900 members of the Afghan army, treated 650,000 patients at two fully equipped hospitals and four clinics, and educated 37,000 young minds at

the more than 30 schools it has constructed. In Iraq, Turkey's training programs for both Shiite and Sunni officials alike has been able to fill an important void in encouraging cooperation and reconciliation between the two rival factions.

Of course, our common bond goes deeper than mere military and political cooperation in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have in Turkey an ally that has proven it shares our commitment to spreading democracy, both within its own borders and amongst its neighbors. Their 70 million citizens have rejected an extremist version of Islam in favor of a secular, democratic government. Turkey also has been a valuable contributor to United Nations peacekeeping missions intent on halting the bloodshed in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Sudan.

Madam Speaker, Turkey has earned our respect, friendship, and gratitude, and deserves recognition for its crucial assistance over the last 60 years. I look forward to strengthening this important relationship as we continue working toward our mutual interests.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution and to offer my most heartfelt sympathy for all Americans who were affected by the tornadoes and other violent weather systems that hit the Delta region States including my State, Kentucky, on February 5th and 6th.