Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I do rise in support of H.R. 5116, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act. And I am proud to say that I have worked with Dr. Ehlers, with our incoming chairman, Mr. Hall, as well as our outgoing chairman.

We all know that the reauthorization of America COMPETES is to ensure that our future is more prosperous than our past. It is about ensuring America's memories are honored by investing in dreams that are even higher. The legislation before the U.S. Congress today is a message, a message that makes America understand that we are not here just to compete but to lead the 21st century.

As a member of the House Science and Technology Committee for over 18 years, I am proud to be an author of this bipartisan legislation. As it returns from the Senate, it is not the same bill that we sent over. But nothing is perfect around here, and we are not headed in the future to be perfect. But we must stand up and make sure that our responsibilities to our country and to our future will be intact. Therefore, I will support this legislation and hope that we can improve it at another time.

I am eager to serve with Mr. Hall, as ranking member on the committee, and I hope that we can continue to look at what this country needs to do to educate its young people so that we can be in the future. We are losing ground, and I hope that we will find ways to regain it. I have in mind to try to bring with the chairman a group of CEOs, superintendents, teachers together around the table so we can all understand what we must do to educate our young people for the future if we want to be anywhere near competing with the rest of the world.

I am pleased that this bill reauthorized the Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, a program which I helped to shape. This program helps to prepare thousands of qualified new teachers and provides current teachers with academic and development courses. Every bit of our research shows that that's one of our major problems. We have teachers teaching courses where they have never majored. Seventy percent of them, as a matter of fact, in this country are teaching courses where they never majored.

It is never going to be what we want as long as we have teachers teaching math, science, engineering that have never majored in it in college. We have to have teachers who are more prepared. And as women and minorities continue to be underrepresented in the sciences, it is unfortunate that the Senate chose to cut out the Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Act. I have sponsored that for two sessions. I will again. I do not believe that we, as a Nation, can compete ever with ignoring the fact that 50 percent of its brainpower is left behind. I am pleased that this bill does prohibit the consolidation of programs that serve minority institutions and students in the National Science Foundation.

We must be proactive. We have more work to ensure that all Americans are afforded the same chance to compete in the 21st century. It is not an in-your-face. It is not a civil rights act. It is to make sure that the majority of the students in this Nation become prepared to save this Nation.

We cannot sit around and think that it is going to happen without effort. We need to help our schools around the Nation to elevate their math and science programs so that they can achieve the standard exemplified by the School of Science and Engineering at Townview, a high school in my district, in Dallas, Texas, which is rated one of the best public schools in the Nation. But that's only 20 percent of the students in the District. We must make sure that that quality of education is offered to all of our students.

I want to commend Chairman Gordon and Ranking Member, soon-to-be chairman, Mr. Hall for their hard work on the legislation. And I believe that if nothing else gels us as a committee, looking out for our young people and the future of our Nation will become a real goal to achieve because it represents what is bipartisan; it represents a concerted effort to create a more competitive science and engineering workforce.

I support this bill, Mr. Speaker. It is not perfect. But we have got to move on and look to the future.

Mr. Speaker, I'm here this morning to simply say that Democrats continue to fight to maintain tax cuts on income up to $250,000 for couples and $200,000 for individuals. My Republican colleagues continue to demand tax cuts for all incomes, including millionaires and billionaires.

I ask my Democrats to please continue to extend the unemployment benefits to help out Americans to make it through this recession, and I plead with my Republican colleagues to not hold the middle class and unemployment hostage any longer.

I also recommend that we help the 155 million middle class Americans at a cost of $214 billion, and I plead with my colleagues to join us in assisting to help because only 4.8 million of the country's wealthiest, at a cost of $133 billion, is what we are trying to make a decision on.

Please join me and look out for the working people of this country, and let the billionaires continue to pay the bills.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, and let me thank the gentlewoman from Minnesota for organizing this.

I rise this evening to honor a longtime Member and the current chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Mr. James Oberstar, the distinguished gentleman from Minnesota.

It has been my pleasure to serve on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for 18 years with Mr. Oberstar. We have had some really good moments. As a matter of fact, as I was listening about the bridge, we were right here on this floor the night that the bridge collapsed. We were talking then about an aviation issue.

The other thing is, being from Texas, I only speak one language-- that's Texas English--and sometimes people don't understand it here. Mr. Oberstar speaks many languages, and I was always very pleased when he was there to help me pronounce some of those names that came before our committee. To those of us who serve on the Transportation Committee and to many others in this Chamber, Chairman Oberstar has been an historian, our friend, our expert, our champion, and our admired leader. To think of the Transportation Committee--and certainly our House--without our beloved colleague leaves a vast hole among our ranks and in our hearts.

During his tenure on the committee as a staffer, later as a member, and then as chairman, Mr. Oberstar has played a key role in every major piece of transportation legislation that is law today, and no one would even try to dispute that he is widely held as a foremost transportation expert among us. His dedication cannot be matched regardless of the issue, whether it's transit, highways, aviation, water, infrastructure, Coast Guard, railways, maritime, and so much more. He has steadfastly worked to achieve the best results for the American people.

I will dearly miss my colleague, my friend, my chairman, but I also expect that none of us will shy away from seeking his advice in the months and years to come. During his tenure, we really have come to respect him as the expert, and we will regretfully miss him so much.

Mr. Speaker, the United States of America has a proud tradition of diversity. We are, after all, a nation of immigrants.

Yet we are also united by the American Dream--the ideal that all Americans, regardless of the circumstances of their birth, have the opportunity to prosper and succeed.

Note that the dream is not that everyone will be affluent, but that everyone will have the chance to achieve great things.

That is exactly what the DREAM Act offers to a select group of hard working young people. It applies only to those who were raised in the United States and went on to further their education or serve in the military.

It allows individuals who are truly outstanding to continue contributing to our nation's prosperity, without punishing them for the decisions of their parents or other relatives.

Let me be perfectly clear--this is not an amnesty program. The individuals covered by the DREAM Act are not being offered citizenship.

Initially they are assigned a conditional status, during which they are not eligible from most forms of government assistance. This includes Medicaid, food stamps, and federal grants.

After ten years, this limited group would be offered a chance or earn permanent immigrant status.

This is available only if the applicant can prove he or she has paid taxes; can read, write and speak in English; has maintained a good moral character; has lived continuously in the United States; and has either pursued higher education or military service.

He or she must also demonstrate that they are not likely to be deported, as this program is not meant to be a safe harbor for deportees.

Individuals who have benefited from the DREAM Act would be extremely constrained in their ability to sponsor family members for United States citizenship.

There is also a strict time limit--an individual must apply for conditional status within a year of graduating high school, entering college, or the date of the bill's enactment.

As you can see, the path laid out by this legislation is not an easy one.

There will be many individuals who want to take advantage of this program who will be denied.

There will be others who are inspired to greater heights of achievement, with the hope of attaining permanent immigrant status.

Our nation will only benefit from encouraging and retaining these exceptional young people. To do otherwise would belie the promise of the American Dream.

Mr. Speaker, middle-income families are the backbone of our economy, and that is why we should not wait any longer to vote on extending tax cuts for middle-income families. Extension of these taxes have been held hostage by the discussion of whether to extend the rates for the wealthiest Americans.

Ninety-eight percent of Americans face a tax increase January 1. For the typical middle-income American family, that would be the loss of $2,000 a

year. The Republican demands would mean that those making more than a million dollars a year would receive an average of $100,000 annually, and the middle-income would be saddled with the $700 billion in new debt to pay for the multimillion-dollar tax cut for billionaires.

The billionaires' lifestyles will not change, and no significant jobs will be created. If they were going to be, they would be now.

I am committed to continuing tax cuts for middle-income families on incomes up to $250,000.

Mr. Speaker, I favor jobs. Tax cuts for the rich will change nothing, but it will increase the deficit.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6184) to amend the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 to extend and modify the program allowing the Secretary of the Army to accept and expend funds contributed by non- Federal public entities to expedite the evaluation of permits, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material.

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

I am pleased to rise to support H.R. 6184, a bill to extend through the end of 2016 the authority of the Secretary of the Army to accept funds from non-Federal public entities for the consideration of permits under the Clean Water Act and the Rivers and Harbor Act of 1899.

This language is modeled after language included in the Water Resources Development Act of 2010 that was favorably approved by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in July of this year. And while I am disappointed that the larger water resources development bill is not likely to be enacted before the end of this Congress, I support the efforts of the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen) to provide a 5-year extension of the Corps' section 214 permit review authority. The authority expires at the end of the current calendar year, and this legislation will continue the program through the end of December 2016.

Madam Speaker, I support the inclusion of several commonsense reforms to the 214 program contained in this legislation which aim at addressing the potential conflict of interest that arises when a permittee can contribute funds to a government regulatory agency for review of its permit application. As chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, I have joined with my chairman in carefully monitoring the implementation of this authority. While it is very popular for those that have used it, there has been an ongoing concern that allowing a regulated entity to pay the costs of its regulator could affect the objectivity of that regulator.

In May of 2007, the Government Accountability Office issued a report that expressed concern with the overall implementation of this section 214 authority. This report recommended several improvements to increase the overall transparency and impartiality of Corps permit reviews conducted with outside funds.

Many of these recommendations are codified in H.R. 6184, including the requirement that any permit reviewed under the 214 program undergo a higher order review by the Corps district commander or an appropriate designee.

In addition, this legislation requires the Corps to publicly disclose, including on the Internet, copies of all final permit decisions that are reached utilizing the 214 authority. In my view, this additional level of public disclosure will provide an appropriate safeguard to ensure the integrity of the Corps' regulatory authorities, as well as the integrity of the 214 program. In carrying out this authority, the Corps should make every effort to have these records easily accessible to the general public and disclosed in a timely manner.

Finally, this legislation clarifies the original intent of the 214 program to be available only to public entities for projects that are for a public purpose.

The May 2007 GAO report highlighted one Corps district that had utilized the 214 authority to process a permit for a private development project.

This is inconsistent with the intent of this program. The amendments made by H.R. 6184 clarify this point and ensure that only projects for a public purpose may be reviewed using this authority.

I support the passage and quick enactment of this extension, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from the State of Washington (Mr. Larsen).

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I simply would ask all of the Members to support this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4783, the Claims Resolution Act of 2010. When I first entered the Congress in 1993 this issue was at the top of my legislative agenda. Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have been committed to bring justice to black farmers who were discriminated against by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Fairness has long been overdue for black farmers who were blatantly denied access to low- interest loans and farm subsidies by the government. As a longstanding advocate of this issue, I am particularly pleased to see this bill up for consideration today.

Mr. Speaker, it has been over a decade now we have been fighting for integrity and righteousness for black farmers who were unfairly discriminated against by the United States government in what is otherwise known as the ``Pigford case''. Resolving cases of discrimination and injustice should be a top priority for this country. As Dr. Martin Luther King famously said, ``Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.''

The evidence of discrimination in Pigford is clear and reminds us to remain vigilant against acts of racism which have unduly hurt so many hardworking families. When black farmers did receive loans, they were often at a rate higher than those offered to white farmers. Equipment grants and subsidies often came too late and without explanation, as farming is an extremely time sensitive endeavor.

Aside from justice, this money also will be going to some of the poorest counties in this country who are the most in need. Although this payment is not enough to save all of the black farmers now in jeopardy of losing their family land, it will help some survive and at least be partially compensated for the discrimination they faced. The 2007 Census of Agriculture reveals in my state of Texas, there are 6,124 Black principal farm operators, the largest number in any state.

Mr. Speaker, my community will stand ready for justice for these unconscionable actions of discrimination.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation not only to bring justice to those who faced years of unwarranted discrimination, but to provide for those who work tirelessly everyday to provide much needed goods for this country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1638, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National GEAR UP Day. Since 1998, the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) have been serving thousands of at-risk students in entering into and succeeding in postsecondary education.

The GEAR UP programs have been extremely successful in raising expectations amongst our youth. They show our students that obtaining a college education is possible. In communities and high schools where the dropout rate is much greater than the graduation rate, students face an uphill battle in achieving a degree in higher education. GEAR UP exposes them to achievement, and gives them the tools to create academic success in their own lives.

GEAR UP is implementing the type of intervention programs that we need on a larger scale, including: promoting educational ideals of parent involvement; rigorous curriculum; academic and personal counseling; mentoring and tutoring; and college awareness. GEAR UP tracks student progress, rather than letting our children become part of a larger statistical tally. These GEAR UP students were able to attend and succeed in college; a goal that all students should be able to achieve.

We are currently losing millions of bright minds to the achievement gap. Our failure to invest in all of our students has resulting in America falling behind in the rankings of global education. If this continues, America will not be able to compete in the global economy. Programs such as GEAR UP help close that gap.

I would like to thank Congressman Fattah for introducing this resolution and support its passage.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Congressman George Thomas ``Mickey'' Leland, who lost his life in a plane crash during a humanitarian mission in Ethiopia. Were he still with us, he would have turned 66 last week on November 27.

Congressman Leland was best known for his advocacy for low-income families and individuals, both at home and abroad. Before he even held political office, he was active in pressing for crucial health care reforms in Houston, such as community health clinics. In 1972 he ran for the Texas House of Representatives as a member of the ``People's Five,'' a slate of minority candidates in a state that had not seen an African American state representative since Reconstruction. Congressman Leland won his election, and two subsequent reelections. In his tenure, he was lauded for his work to allow generic drugs to be prescribed, lowering costs and increasing access to life-saving medications for many Texans.

In 1978, Congressman Leland took over the seat vacated by Barbara Jordan's retirement from the United States House of Representatives. He was reelected to his position as a United States Congressman five times, typically winning majorities of 90 percent or more. Initially he drew attention with his unique sense of style, later for his ability to develop bipartisan partnerships. Congressman Leland chaired the Congressional Black Caucus in the 99th Congress, from 1985 to 1987. He was an ally to all minority groups, including the many Latinos in his district. He once surprised his colleagues by arguing in Spanish on the House Floor in favor of preserving the bilingual clauses of the Voting Rights Act.

However, Congressman Leland's greatest passion--the fight against world hunger--was born during a three-month trip through East Africa. There, he witnessed mobs of people rubbing their stomachs and pleading for food in Ethiopian refugee camps. There, he held a young girl in his arms as she died of starvation. After that fateful visit, Congressman Leland became a dedicated crusader, raising awareness of domestic and international hunger. He was instrumental in the creation of the Select Committee on Hunger, which in 1984 was able to push through Congress a nearly $800 million aid package for famine relief. He continued to travel to Africa frequently, often guiding his Congressional colleagues to refugee camps so they could see for themselves the dramatic impact of the aid money.

It was during a trip to Africa, during which he planned to monitor the delivery of supplies and inspect a refugee camp on August 7, 1989, that Congressman Leland's plane crashed into a mountainside. He and 15 others died in the course of this humanitarian mission. Many of the communities he had touched, both in Texas and nationally, were quick to honor his memory with awards, dedications, and outreach projects in Africa. His greatest legacy is, of course, his family--he is survived by his wife Alison and his three children.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing this remarkable man for his lifetime of service.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 5866, the Nuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 2010.

I am proud to see this vital piece of legislation up for consideration under suspension of the rules today. My colleagues and I on the Science and Technology Committee worked tirelessly on this bill which amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to modify and augment existing nuclear research and development programs at the Department of Energy. This legislation is an important step in ensuring the next generation of affordable and safe nuclear energy.

Our country should focus on creating environmentally safe and economically sustainable nuclear energy in order to reduce reliance on fossil-fuel resources. I was pleased the Science and Technology Committee included an amendment I offered during the Energy and Environment Subcommittee Markup on July 27th, 2010 which is now section 13 of H.R. 5866. Section 13 calls for the Secretary of Energy to work with the National Academies to conduct a long-term operating study of our Nation's existing nuclear power plants.

We need to know how long these facilities can last safely and what can be done to maintain these plants better. We should also identify what major impediments are threatening their long-term operational viability. To help transition to a low carbon economy, Congress needs these questions answered.

The United States currently has 104 reactors in 31 States that generate approximately 20 percent of our nation's electricity. Data indicates that it is possible that one-third of nuclear facilities in our country will be retired in the next 20-25 years. Given that nuclear power provides approximately 20 percent of the electricity in the United States, this topic is of critical national concern.

Many existing nuclear facilities in the U.S. are nearing the end of their initial 40-year licenses. Many of these facilities are likely to seek and receive license renewals for an additional 20 years. As the demand for low-carbon electricity grows, it is not too soon to identify options for these plants beyond the 60-year mark. The dearth of new nuclear units necessitates that our current nuclear infrastructure must continue to operate reliability, safely, and efficiently.

In the U.S. there are 59 nuclear plants that have reapplied for licenses through the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for an additional 20 years, taking the age of their plants from 40 to 60. The need to demonstrate the technical and financial feasibility of extending the life of nuclear facilities beyond 60 years is evident. Madam Speaker, the best way to lower energy costs is to identify and implement affordable clean energy.

I would like to thank Chairman Bart Gordon for introducing this critical legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation in order to shed some light on the best path forward for our National Nuclear R&D strategy.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1714) congratulating the engineers, scientists, psychologists, and staff of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for helping to successfully rescue 33 trapped Chilean miners from a collapsed mine near Copiapo, Chile.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 1714, the resolution now under consideration.

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

I would like to urge my colleagues to support this resolution now under consideration. While we often think of NASA's inspiring achievements in launching humans into space, assembling and operating the international space station, and deploying probes that deliver stunning images of the Earth, our Sun, planetary systems, and the universe, NASA's role in assisting the Chilean Government in the successful rescue of 33 miners trapped underground in northern Chile shows us a different side of NASA's greatness. It shows us the contributions of NASA's skills and technologies to benefiting people back here on Earth--whether here in the United States or around the world.

Based on NASA's extensive experience in working with extreme isolation, analog missions, undersea environments, and spaceflight, the Chilean Government sought guidance from NASA in addressing this task of rescuing 33 miners trapped over 2,000 feet underground--particularly on the nutritional and behavioral health of the trapped miners, which was extremely challenging. A team of NASA personnel from the Johnson Space Center in Texas and the Langley Research Center was assembled, including two medical doctors, a psychologist, and an engineer, who traveled to Chile to support the Chilean Government's rescue efforts. The NASA team worked diligently and tirelessly to provide input and information that could help preserve the health and well-being of the 33 trapped miners during and after their confinement as well as aid in their rescue.

Mr. Speaker, when called to help the Chilean Government, the NASA team responded with unwavering excellence and commitment. This enthusiasm is characteristic of the NASA workforce at the Johnson Center and at each of the other centers. The support of NASA and its team to the Government of Chile and the successful rescue of the 33 trapped miners is just the latest example of NASA's accomplishments in applying space technology, scientific knowledge, and operational and other skills to enrich the lives of Americans and people across the world. Those accomplishments include the use of NASA-developed research and rescue technologies to identify distressed ships and sailors at sea; the use of NASA air and space-based imagery to provide details on the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill; and the application of software developed to process Earth science imagery to the diagnostic interpretation of medical imagery.

The United States' investment in our space program and its workforce has far-reaching benefits for our economy, our national security, our international relations, and our humanity at large. NASA's contribution to the Chilean Government's rescue operation demonstrates the importance of ensuring a robust future for NASA as a multimission agency. NASA continues to provide the United States strong leadership in science, aeronautics, human spaceflight, and exploration, and that preserves and nurtures the world-class talent.

The NASA workforce is the heart of our space program's greatness. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the NASA team and its contributions to the Chilean Government's successful and inspiring rescue mission that brought 33 trapped miners to freedom and safety.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to convey my opposition to H. Res. 1631, which passed by a voice vote on September 29, 2010.

Unfortunately, I was not able to come to the floor of the House to personally express my concerns that this resolution will be against the interest of the America's Foreign Policy. I have always been and will continue to be a strong advocate for religious freedom, and human rights around the world, but this resolution, while cloaked under the mask of religious freedom is actually a direct attack towards our NATO Ally, Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots.

The United States has supported the many efforts by international organizations who have long been engaged in the efforts to bring about a negotiated compromise to the dispute in Cyprus. Moreover, the current Greek and Turkish Cypriot Leaders are currently engaged in peace talks.

Instead of helping to solve the problem between Greece and Turkey, two NATO Allies, this resolution could harm those careful negotiations. This Congress should be supporting the efforts to find a mutually agreed resolution between the parties instead of passing one-sided resolutions.

I urge this Congress to take actions to ensure that an accord is achieved that would lead to an independent government with both Greek and Turkish Cypriot governmental engagement, and I oppose H. Res. 1631 since it may harm the United States Foreign Policy in that region.

Madam Speaker, it is with a sad heart that I rise to recognize the passing of W.W. ``Bill'' Aston, a model citizen--veteran, community advocate, civic leader, volunteer, and devoted health care expert from Dallas, Texas, who passed away on July 8, 2010, at age 82.

Mr. Aston lived in multiple locations in Texas from the Rio Grande to the Red River, throughout central Texas and in Arkansas and Oklahoma before coming to Dallas. He served in the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific in 1945-46. After he was discharged from the Navy in 1946, Bill went to work for Dallas Power & Light Company, where he worked for 40 years before retiring in 1986. He worked in overhead construction, human resources, advertising, sales, customer relations, and public relations at DP&L before becoming president, a position he held until retirement.

Mr. Aston was active in many volunteer activities, locally and nationally, with a focus on health care. He served as board chairman of the American Heart Association's Dallas Chapter and Texas Affiliate before becoming board chair of the national organization. During his many years of service to the American Heart Association, he was proud of the progress made in reducing mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases through educating the public about the risk factors--smoking, elevated blood pressure, lack of exercise, cholesterol, salt, stress, and obesity.

He has served the Baylor Health Care System for over 20 years at various times as board chair of Baylor University Medical Center, board chair of Baylor Heart and Vascular Hospital, and a board member of the Baylor Health Care System. At Baylor, he authored a resolution calling for continuous improvement of the delivery system for high quality, safe patient care which was adopted by all Baylor Health Care System facilities.

Since the 1940s, he has also served other organizations such as: Chairman of City of Dallas Civil Service Commission, DART board member, officer or board member of Dallas Zoological Society, Dallas Ballet, Dallas Summer Musicals, The Science Place, Camp Fire Girls, Dallas Advertising League, Dallas County Community College System, Public Relations Society of America, Dallas Assembly, State Fair of Texas, United Way and Texas Health Care Trustees.

Bill graduated with honors from SMU's Cox School of Business with a BBA degree and was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma. He served as president of SMU's Alumni Association and as a member of the Executive Board of SMU's Lyle School of Engineering. He was a long-time active member of Rotary, and served as president of the Dallas Rotary Club and district governor of Rotary International. Bill also served for 18 years as a volunteer driver on the McKinney Avenue Trolley.

He received many awards and recognitions: The American Heart Association's Dwight D. Eisenhower Award as Volunteer of the Year for Texas, Brotherhood Citation Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews, Distinguished Alumni Award from SMU, Founders Award from the Texas Health Care Trustees, Trustee of the Year Award from the Dallas County Medical Society and Distinguished Health Service Award from the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council.

Most recently, the Board of Trustees of Baylor Health Care System established the ``Bill Aston Annual Award for Quality'' which will be awarded by the Texas Hospital Association for the first time in 2011.

Madam Speaker, there simply isn't space in this tribute to fully capture Mr. Aston's contributions to our community. He was uniquely American--a dreamer, a doer, a giver, a lover of life. In short, he was a community treasure.

I join so many North Texans in mourning W.W. Aston's passing, and in extending condolences to his wife of 62 years, Evelyn, and family and friends. You are all in our prayers.

Madam Speaker, George S. Patton, Jr. said ``It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.'' For that reason, on September 29, 2010 we did not mourn Jason Edward Justice Jr's death; rather we celebrated his life.

Jason was born on March 20, 1955, in Galveston, Texas. He was inspired to study hard

and prepare himself for college. He attended La Marque Independent School District. He was a great athlete which enabled him to receive full college scholarship. He graduated in 1977 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor of Arts Degree.

He parlayed this degree into a career of public service as Chief of Staff to Texas State Senator Royce West and me when I served in the Texas Senate. In addition, his more than three decades of state service included working for Ann Richards when she was the Texas Comptroller and with the Texas Employment Commission.

Jason was involved with many organizations such as the Coalition of Black Trade Unions, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employee Union, the AFL-CIO and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. His integrity and excellent service earned him various awards.

Jason was devoted to his wife, Janis DeGrate Justice, and to his family. In addition to Janis, he is survived by his children, Jason Justice, III, Christopher Justice, Derek D. Smith and Barbie Smith.

Many of us in Texas knew and admired Jason Justice. I valued his friendship and advice, as did so many others, and we will greatly miss him. It is impossible to fully grasp the breadth and depth of a life of someone like Jason, who gave every project or responsibility his very best effort and who lived his life with boundless enthusiasm and compassion. He was a role model and mentor to so many, and he leaves a powerful legacy that will last for generations to come.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in memory and in honor of this great American, dedicated public servant, and truly great man-- Jason Justice. We will not mourn that he has left us behind; rather we will rejoice what he has left behind.

Mr. Speaker, let me thank our committee chair and ranking member for handling this bill, and thank all the staff who put it together and support it.

I rise to support Senate bill 3729, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010.

Forty years ago, the United States Apollo program put the first human on the Moon. Children across the United States watched Neil Armstrong, an American, speak the words, ``That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.'' After that moment, there was an outpouring of interest in science. Children dreamed that one day they too could be the next man or woman on the Moon.

I would like to see increased investments in these, particularly in the Minority University Education Research programs, which have been highly successful. But sometimes we can't get all that we want. This is that time. But we can continue without stopping.

And now is not the time for us to cede leadership to our international competitors. The research has been the most successful research in the history of our country for both commercial products and medical treatment.

I believe that NASA has a unique ability to touch the imagination of children like no other Federal agency. When money is short, however, we must adjust, not stop.

A robust NASA budget should contain concerted efforts toward inspiring our Nation's future scientists and engineers. A strong NASA is valuable to the national and Texas economies. Recent census data indicates that Texas ranks first in high-tech manufacturing and certain engineering industries. Space flight, aeronautics, and scientific research and education are top priorities for Texas.

NASA also conducts important educational programs.

NASA should be congratulated for the great research it has supported and the fearless missions carried out by its astronauts, scientists, and engineers. I support the agency and am interested to know how Congress can continue to partner with it for the benefit of the American people.

We cannot let America cede its leadership in human space flight. We need a strong NASA, and NASA needs an authorization bill. I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.