Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I proudly rise today in recognition of the honorable, compassionate, and influential life of the late Marjorie L. Posey Pfaff of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District which I proudly represent. Marge leaves behind a legacy of a life dutifully fulfilled and a state proudly served. Throughout Marge's lifetime, her love of living, enthusiasm for her relationships with the many friends she held so dear, and unwavering devotion to not only her career in real-estate, but also to Missouri politics revealed Marge as an unequaled, exemplary leader in this great state.

Born to Clyde O. and Crystal V. Alexander, Marge began what became an honorable, dignified life on October 10, 1926 in Chillicothe, Missouri. Married to the late Francis Leon (Toby) Pfaff on December 19, 1977, Marge began a family that would go with her from Chillicothe to Independence, Missouri, the hometown of President Harry S. Truman and Marge's hallowed resting place. Her son, Robert Posey and his wife Dana remain in Independence, continuing to share the gift of geniality which their mother so dearly possessed.

Marge began her long career in real-estate in Chillicothe, where she owned the Gaslight-Pfaff Realty Company. From this small operation in Chillicothe, Marge would later work for ReMax and finally Reece and Nichols in Independence. Marge began her long career as nearly one in a million women who would later come to compose a much larger contingent of our real-estate industry. Marge let her light of experience and charm shine, earning the Missouri Association of Realtors salesperson of the year in 1997 and as the Kansas City Association of Realtors salesperson of the year in 1996. As a female pioneer in her craft, Marge tirelessly sought to make possible the success and equality of opportunity for women in not only the real-estate industry, but also in politics.

Serving as a president of the Independence Young Matrons and the Independence Sanitarium and Hospital Auxiliary, Marge found a voice amongst equals who would come to herald her as a leader not only for her deep connectivity to influential individuals in her state, connections she earned through her sharp wit and unforgettable personality, but also because of her steadfast dedication to the success of her ideals. She forged ahead in all of the many political activities in which she was involved, never for personal gain, but for the greater potential of providing equal opportunity for all. Her service as the president of the Women's Council of Realtors and beloved participation in the Real Estate Political Action Committee afforded not only the great state of Missouri, but also our Nation an opportunity to share in the historical breakthrough of a unique and powerful woman to the apex of both respect and heroism in whose likes few before her have been held. As Federal political coordinator for the Fifth Congressional District, Marge proved only what I knew to expect from her since the first time she and I met, nothing but excellence and caring commitment.

We rejoice in the life of Marge today not only because she, like so many, sought to share in the American dream of the equality of opportunity for all of our neighbors, but because she tirelessly endeavored to make it a reality. Overcoming the adversity that once lay before her, a woman whose very heart and soul worked to shake the male- dominated establishment around her, Marge creates for not only all women, but all those held behind by the oppression of myopia, a bastion of hope and a model of success to guide them all to a promise of equality that we too often find neglected.

Madam Speaker, please join me in expressing our appreciation to my dearly departed friend, Marjorie L. Posey Pfaff, for her loving devotion and limitless dedication to serving the residents of Kansas City, the State of Missouri, and our Nation. Strong, sustainable societies are built upon a foundation of goodness and dedication. It is our hometown heroes, like Marge, the well revered and benevolent, who ensure the longevity of, and strengthen, our free and democratic way of life. May God continue to bless Marge as she lives on forever in our memories.

First of all, Mr. Speaker, let me thank the committee and the work that has been done by Chairman Davis. All nine members of the Missouri delegation joined together to support this concurrent resolution.

As I think all people in this Nation know, Harry Truman was from Independence, Missouri, a part of the district that I currently represent, and we are very, very pleased and proud that Harry Truman not only rose to become President of the United States in 1948, but he contributed to our community in a number of ways.

And his daughter, Margaret Truman Daniel, was not a person who had her sights on becoming an individual in Washington who would garner a great deal of attention, but it was bestowed on her. And when her father chose to run for President, she actually traveled around with him on the ``Whistlestop'' campaign.

Once he became President, she did all of the things that the offspring of Presidents will in fact do. But she had more to offer than just being the President's daughter. She ended up being a great singer. She performed at the Metropolitan Opera, she was on the old ``Ed Sullivan Show,'' and then eventually had her own television show in Philadelphia, a daily show in Philadelphia.

She was such a factor in our community that on February 23, my colleague from Missouri, Ike Skelton, and I, along with all the members of the Truman family, buried her at the Harry Truman Library, alongside her parents in Independence, Missouri.

And so it is my hope that Congress can make its expression of support of Margaret Truman Daniel by passing this concurrent resolution.

Madam Speaker, yesterday the Democratic Congress once again supported energy independence and security. This legislation, which the President is now expected to sign, includes an historic increase in fuel economy standards for vehicles and significant new support for alternative fuels.

This comprehensive Democratic energy bill provides a dramatic shift in our Nation's energy policy, including new standards for buildings, homes, lighting and appliances, and makes great strides in our fight against global warming. It is also something that we can feel good about, because it reduces the price at the pump through increased efficiency standards that reach 35 miles per gallon by 2020. This is the first increase in CAFE standards in 32 years and will save the average driver between $700 and $1,000 a year.

Madam Speaker, the protection of our environment is both a spiritual and moral issue, and Congress has failed for too many years to address this issue. I am proud that the Democratic Congress has worked to bring this historic legislation to the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the fact that this Congress is taking some action. And if this cause is just, it will eventually triumph, in spite of all of the deaths, disease, doubts and disappointments. If this cause is just, and I believe that it is, it will eventually triumph, in spite of all of the rapes, all of the apathy, all of the cynicism, and all of the ``look the other way'' by nations in the region and, in fact, around the world.

This tragedy in Darfur shows that genocide is better at abolishing people than people are at abolishing genocide. One speaker earlier mentioned the Balkans. And so genocide is not new. This is not new. The main reason history repeats itself is because the world didn't pay attention the first time. And it seems to me that this provides us with an opportunity to stand up any time we begin to see that genocide is occurring anywhere around this planet.

In the war of right and wrong, the United States of America, and certainly this Congress, cannot afford to be neutral. Some businesses in the United States and around the world are probably like a catsup bottle. We may need to slap them on the bottoms a few times to get them moving. I think this legislation will, in fact, do that; and I commend the sponsors and the chairman and the ranking member of our committee, as well as Ms. Lee from California, for standing up and making sure that when the United States can make an impact in the world, we, in fact, do.

Madam Speaker, normally we come to this floor to debate, and quite often in our Special Orders we have the opportunity to speak in positive tones about positive things that are going on in our district or in our Nation.

I am very proud to represent Missouri's Fifth Congressional District. It is the district that encompasses Independence, Missouri, and the home of Harry Truman. In this Fifth District, I am proud that the fastest growing city in the State of Missouri is not the two largest cities, Kansas City being the largest, St. Louis being the second largest, but it is a city that many people have not even heard of. It is called Lee's Summit.

Lee's Summit, Missouri is exploding with growth. Its mayor, Karen Messerli, is doing a fantastic job. The downtown area is being redeveloped. But what I want to zero in on this evening is Lee's Summit West High School.

Madam Speaker, this high school has achieved something that I don't believe can be matched by any other congressional district. So far this year, from September to December, they have won three State 4A championships. The girls volleyball team won the State championship coached by Mark Rice. The girls cross country won the 4A State championship coached by Dave Denny. And then, just recently the Titans football team coached by Royce Boehm won the 4A Missouri State championship and went through the entire season undefeated.

I was listening to Judge Poe earlier talk about some tragedies in Iraq. And I sat here, and it caused me to tremble to think about what that young woman must have gone through; and it also caused me to renew my commitment to focus on the positive attributes of our young people. If you visit Lee's Summit High School, which has been in existence only 4 years, 4 years, and it has already become one of the most prominent schools in the State of Missouri, not just for athletics, but because this school is well organized. Their population, 1,300 students, is constantly growing. The principal of that school, Cindy Bateman, is doing a fabulous job. They are achieving academically. And I am so proud to be able to stand on this floor tonight and speak without qualification about how fabulously this school is performing.

Most of the time, girls' athletics are ignored. And so in the Missouri 4A volleyball championship, probably there are people even around in Lee's Summit who are unaware of the fact that that State championship has been won. The cross country club normally would be ignored, but they have achieved something positive. They brought some positive attention to that school.

And so, on this night, I would not only like to lift them up and express how proud I am to represent that particular area, but I would also encourage any Member of the United States

Congress who serves a district where a school has won three State championships thus far this year to let me know it, and I will give them a huge box of Gates barbecue. Kansas City, of course, is the barbecue capital of the galaxy, and I will gladly bring that barbecue in from Gates Barbecue in Kansas City. But I am not even worried, because I am absolutely certain that there is no school in the United States that has won three State championships in 4 months.

I know that there are other people who are proud of their districts, and I am pleased that they are proud of their district, they are proud of their schools. And some people stand up and brag about their districts, and some people are actually telling the truth. But I want to go on record tonight as saying that the entire country can be proud of what has happened in this community, because the entire community has rallied to build this magnificent physical structure that is the school, and I appreciate very much the opportunity to share this with the Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained for Rollcall votes 1142 through 1144 and ask for unanimous consent to enter into the Record the following statement on the series of votes held on Tuesday, December 11, 2007, beginning with Rollcall 1142.

Unfortunately, I was detained in my district; Missouri's Fifth, due to a massive ice storm, which is crippling our community. My heart goes out to those individuals who have lost power, and I salute the city and utility workers, who are working tirelessly to restore lost utilities in this freezing weather.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have cast the following votes on H. Res. 842, Expressing sympathy to and pledging the support of the House of Representatives and the people of the United States for the victims of Cyclone Sidr in southern Bangladesh; H. Res. 847, Recognizing the importance of Christmas; and H.R. 4343, the Fair Treatment for Experienced Pilots Act of 2007:

Mr. Speaker, had I been present for H. Res. 842, roll No. 1142, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, had I been present for H. Res. 847, roll No. 1143, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. Speaker, had I been present for the H.R. 4343, roll No. 1144, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the valiant services of all peacetime and wartime veterans now residing in the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri which I proudly represent. We find in these bravest of men and women the best of what we all wish to be--generous, compassionate, and dedicated. Yet, too often we forget that in many of our veterans burn the experiences of the worst our world has to offer, the memory of enduring the atrocities of war for our country. These are America's patriots--our true heroes. While each of their stories is uniquely American, it is my privilege to share the story of one Missouri veteran who has the distinction of serving in three of our country's most brutal conflicts.

Twenty-five-year Army veteran MAJ William C. Watson grew up in Marceline, MO. He was recruited by the University of Missouri Football Coach Don Faurot and played in the 1942 Sugar Bowl. While at the University of Missouri, he joined the Army Reserve. Through his ROTC training at the University of Missouri, Major Watson earned the rank of second lieutenant in his infantry unit. Two weeks after the Sugar Bowl, Major Watson found himself in the Army, near the end of World War II. He was stationed in Korea, and upon returning from his tour of duty, Major Watson chose to stay in the Army Reserves. He married Fran, a widow whose first husband was killed in the Philippines during World War II, and settled down as a family man, making a living as a carpenter.

In October 1950, Major Watson received a letter from the United States Army ordering him to report for a physical. He was assigned to Fort Riley, KS, on October 20, 1950, the day Fran and his third child were born. Within 7 short months, on May 15, 1951, he was taken prisoner. He had been engaged in an intense battle against the Chinese. It is reported that the Chinese sent 64,000 troops to attack 3,000 Allied soldiers. For the Chinese, it was a costly battle and has been dubbed the ``May Massacre,'' as the Chinese lost over 48,000 troops. The Chinese turned over their prisoners to the North Koreans, including Major Watson, and for the next 120 days, the once 300 pound soldier was reduced to a mere 180 pounds. The prisoners were forced into starvation and a devastating 900-mile march through the bitter, piercing cold of winter. Major Watson was stronger than most and, when necessary, carried his fellow prisoners on his back to keep them from being summarily executed. While at ``Camp 2,'' our man from Missouri fixed a sawmill for his North Korean captors with the ultimate plan to make bunk beds for his fellow POWs in order that they no longer had to sleep on the cold, dirt floor. He succeeded in making 300-bunk beds and saved many lives in the process. Ultimately, the prisoners were returned to the Chinese, under whose control Major Watson spent the remainder of his 837 days in captivity.

Forever dedicated to our Nation, Major Watson chose to remain in the military after the end of the Korean conflict and was once again deployed, this time to Vietnam. After a year in Vietnam, he returned home and retired from the U.S. Army, only to continue his public service as Mayor of Peculiar, MO, for 8 years. Of the 7,190 U.S. prisoners-of-war, 2,730, or 38 percent died, mostly at the hands of the North Koreans.

So traumatic an experience won Major Watson neither a hero's welcome, nor the respect he deserved upon returning to his station at Ft. Riley, KS. Instead, he was greeted with charges against him of providing comfort to the enemy while a prisoner-of-war, his fate left to a board of inquiry. This insult stemmed from Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy's accusations that the Army was soft on communists. The board of inquiry gave only vague charges of misconduct, claiming that his actions were treasonous because he did not actively resist the enemy, when it was irrational and futile to do so. Major Watson contacted fellow prisoners, who came to his defense. The board of inquiry never gave Major Watson a verdict, leaving him waiting for 6 months to finally let him know that, while there was no ruling as to his case, he was no longer under the restraints of an inquiry.

Of war, World War II GEN Omar Bradley once said, ``the world has achieved brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war than we know about peace, more about killing than we know about living.'' Madam Speaker, to grow as a Nation, we must learn the stories of our veterans, such as that of Major Watson. I honor him and all veterans today for their patriotism and heroism. Their sacrifices are the heritages that add to the rich tapestry that is our Nation's history. Please join me in encouraging our Nation to never forget and learn from our veterans' stories. While we continue to fight, our prayers and deepest gratitude are with those who endeavor for the strength and longevity of our American way of life. Our land of freedom and opportunity, democracy and justice, remains just that because of the service men and women like those in Missouri's Fifth District who tirelessly engage in the struggles to end that which threatens our stability. Let us honor the selfless sacrifices of our veterans by striving for peace and diplomacy in all that we do. May God continue to bless MAJ William C. Watson and all of our veterans as they remind us of the price we pay for our liberty and the debt owed to those who gave so much of themselves to protect and ensure the prosperity of our great Nation.

Madam Speaker, this morning I rose from my slumber and turned on C-SPAN, as I always do, and caller after caller mentioned that they interpret what goes on here in this body as irrelevant, that we don't listen to the American people. Of course, if they are talking about the war, which most Americans want ended, they are right. If they are referring back to the Terri Schiavo incident, they are right. But many of them were talking about the SCHIP program. It is troublesome to me that we will not provide health insurance for 10 million children.

I don't attack the President, I don't condemn my colleagues and call them names, but I have got to say that it is embarrassing that the dreams of the American public show up here on this floor to die. This has become the burial ground for American dreams.

Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to have the opportunity to address the House. I am excited to be a Democrat. I always take pleasure in giving reasons for why I am a member of the Democratic Party.

Since taking control of Congress, Democrats have worked to pass legislation that will help families once again live the American Dream. Over the last 6 years, college costs have shot up 40 percent, putting higher education out of reach for most Americans. I have one son in college today, and I can tell you I am excited over the fact that we passed, and the President did, in fact, sign the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007. This law is the single largest increase in college aid since the GI Bill. It strengthens the middle class by cutting interest rates in half and subsidizes student loans over the next 5 years. We are also able, in this bill, to increase the maximum Pell Grant scholarships by $500.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased and I am excited to be a Democrat.

Madam Speaker, I very proudly stand here today to recommend the Reverend Dr. Wallace S. Hartsfield, a minister in the Fifth Congressional District, which I very proudly serve, be given the honor of having a postal facility named in his honor at 4320 Blue Parkway in Kansas City, Missouri. All nine members of the Missouri delegation have signed on to this bill, and they signed on for one real reason. It is this:

Rev. Hartsfield is an American story. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 12 in 1929. He was raised by his mother. He was the only child and yet she worked and struggled and pushed him. He eventually graduated from high school and then served a 3-year tour of duty with the United States Army. He returned to this country and attended Clark College, which is now called Clark Atlanta University. He received a bachelor's degree, and then he went on to receive a Master's of Divinity at Gammon Theological Seminary, which is known as the Interdenominational Theological Seminary today. He's received a number of honorary doctorate degrees, and he is recognized in our community as a man who is always going to be where something good is happening.

He has been a strong worker in the field of diversity. He is a man who has been able to bring the clergy together from across racial and even religious lines. He's known as the dean of preachers in our community, and I dubbed him the ``Godfather of Preachers'' because of the respect he receives from members of the clergy. Anytime anything in our community is going on that is productive and meaningful, you can expect to see Rev. Wallace S. Hartsfield present.

This postal designation is the first I've ever introduced, and one of the reasons that I feel strongly about this is the post office delivers mail to everyone, and if you look at the life and work of the Reverend Wallace S. Hartsfield, that is exactly what he's done. He has delivered ministry, friendship and civic concern to everyone in our community, and so a post office, I think, is very, very appropriate to bear his name.

And so, Madam Speaker, it would be my hope that this body would allow our community to celebrate fully his retirement at a November 9 banquet, during which time I would like to proudly announce that the United States Congress has named a post office in his honor.

I thank the gentleman from Virginia.

Mr. Speaker, one of the first individuals I met when I was elected to Congress was Jo Ann Davis. I actually met her, along with the gentleman from Virginia, at our prayer breakfast and immediately had the opportunity to get to know her and to work with her. I sat beside her on each Thursday; and over the course of a year, we got a chance to know each other and began to tease each other, play with each other, have fun with each other, and then we ended up as the cochairs of the prayer breakfast for this past year.

On the night before the prayer breakfast, I was called in my apartment and told that Congresswoman Davis was not feeling well enough for us to jointly lead the prayer breakfast. I knew of her physical problems, and so I knew that things had to have gotten worse, but I had the opportunity to say to her something that I really, really feel strongly about. My goal is not to hate a single individual, and I get up each morning with a goal of not even trying to resemble, in my actions, something that would be related to hate.

But I told her, and I will say it here, I hate cancer, I hate it. I have seen it wreak havoc in the lives of men and women almost all of my life.

When Jo Ann tried to come back to Congress, this body that she loved, I was able to go over and sit down beside her. I wasn't going to have a gloomy conversation. She said, you know, you don't recognize me, do you, because I have lost so much weight. We had a relationship where we could tease each other, and I kept in contact with her office staff and the prayer breakfast. As the gentleman from Virginia and the gentleman from Tennessee will recall, we sent flowers to her about 3

months ago, which she was very thankful for.

But I would like to say this, Jo Ann Davis and I didn't agree on a lot of things politically; but we were able to sit together, talk together, eat breakfast together, eat lunch together and enjoy this world together. If there is anything I think we ought to be able to remember about her, I think it is in spite of political differences, ideological differences, this woman from Virginia, this tiny woman, was able to put all that aside in terms of personal relationships.

Thank you for this opportunity to share my thoughts about one of my colleagues, someone I cared a lot about.

Madam Speaker, I proudly rise today in recognition of the achievements of Mr. Alvin Brooks, a pioneer for civil and human rights, and a resident of the Fifth District of Missouri which I am honored to represent. This week, Mr. Brooks will be inducted into the Missouri Walk of Fame during a reception as part of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference, an event held to honor the achievements of African-Americans who have made significant contributions to Missouri.

As a former Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, I am well aware of the contributions Al has made to the landscape of Kansas City. Mr. Alvin Brooks' experience in City government spans over a quarter century. Alvin Brooks is the former Mayor Pro Tem and 6th District At-Large City Councilperson for the City of Kansas City, Missouri. He was first elected in 1999 and re-elected in 2003. After his first election, Brooks was appointed as Mayor Pro Tem by Mayor Kay Barnes. In addition to serving as Mayor Pro Tem, Brooks chaired the Public Safety Committee, the Police Capital Improvements Oversight Committee, the Police Site Selection Committee, and was vice-chair of the Aviation Committee and the Finance and Audit Committee. Brooks lost a bid for Mayor of Kansas City this past spring by a mere 851 votes.

While Kansas City's Mayor Pro Tem, Councilman Brooks served as a member of numerous committees and perhaps most visible through his work as President of the Ad Hoc Group Against Crime, which he founded in 1977. The Ad Hoc Group Against Crime is a broad-based, grass roots community organization, which appointed him President/CEO of Ad Hoc in April of 1991. ``I get my strength from my spirituality--from being spiritual and believing that one lightens his or her burden by helping people lighten their burden. People enter our space and you are energized by them,'' said Mr. Brooks.

Brooks learned his philosophy on the street. As Kansas City police officer from 1954 to 1964, he held the rank of detective and worked with runaways and gang members. Shortly after the civil disorder of 1968, he organized the city's Human Relations Department and served as its first director until 1984. He was the first African-American to serve as a department head for the City of Kansas City, Mo. In 1999, he was first elected to serve as the Sixth District at-Large Councilman in 1999 and re-elected in 2003. Brooks was appointed as Mayor Pro Tem by Mayor Kay Barnes. In addition, to serving as Mayor Pro Tem, Councilman Brooks was a member of the Legislative, Rules, and Ethics Committee and the Aviation Committees. His dedication to Kansas City includes serving as an Assistant City Manager for 7 years.

Presently, Mr. Brooks is a consultant to many business executives in the area of diversity, minority and women matters. He has also been a motivational speaker and lecturer for various governmental agencies, colleges and universities, and the private sector. He has conducted hundreds of seminars and workshops on the subject of cultural/racial diversity, religious tolerance and civil rights. He has taught classes and conducted lectures and workshops on a multitude of subjects, including the criminal justice system, crime and violence prevention, community involvement and police-community relations. He is also a certified mediator, and has lobbied at the local, state and federal levels.

In 1989, Brooks received national attention from President George H.W. Bush in 1989 as he was recognized as one of ``America's 1,000 points of light,'' and was subsequently appointed to a 3-year term on the President's National Drug Advisory Council. This is but one of the many accolades Al has received over the years. The recipient of four honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in metropolitan Kansas City and surrounding areas, Brooks has also received too numerous other accolades to mention. In all of his activities, he demonstrates his dedication and commitment to the greater good of others.

Al lives in South Kansas City, Missouri with his wife Carol, to whom he has been married for 57 years. Together they have raised six children--one son (deceased), and five daughters. They also have 17 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

Throughout his life, he has put his principles to practice, and the effects of his efforts have brought about a more diverse and concerned citizenry throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area. For these reasons and more, it is indeed an honor and privilege to recognize Mr. Alvin Brooks at the Missouri Walk of Fame reception, hosted by myself and fellow Missourian, U.S. Representative William Lacy Clay of St. Louis.

Madam Speaker, please join me in expressing our appreciation to Mr. Alvin Brooks, not just to the Kansas City community, but to the entire country at large. He is a true role model, a person who has been dedicated with

improving the condition of his fellow man for nearly 50 years.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition and to commemorate one of Kansas City's premier radio stations 89.3 FM, KCUR Radio. Based at and operating from the University of Missouri--Kansas City campus, KCUR is celebrating its golden anniversary on October 21, 1957. I know that Congressman Dennis Moore of Kansas joins me in my well-wishes for KCUR as it has served the whole Kansas City community, on both sides of the state line 50 years of continuous service.

At home, KCUR entertains, enlightens, and informs the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area. But more than that, quite simply, this radio station enhances the quality of life for Kansas Citians and all listeners by broadcasting over radio waves and the internet non- commercial radio programming 24 hours a day, including 20 hours of news each weekday, through its charter membership as a National Public Radio station. Continually, 89.3 FM is recognized for groundbreaking features and extensive coverage of politics, the arts, health, and minority matters. KCUR's original broadcasts and programs have captured the hearts and minds of listeners and learners nationwide.

This heartland station has grown from a station with two full-time employees and a signal range of four miles, to 23 full-time broadcast professionals and 17 part-time employees with a signal reaching a 90- mile radius covering northwestern Missouri and northeastern Kansas. Today, KCUR is broadcasting with a power of 100,000 watts to over 150,000 listeners all due largely through the efforts of its 200 tireless volunteers.

KCUR began broadcasting October 21, 1957 from the third floor of Scofield Hall with a signal range of 4 miles, 2 full-time employees and a budget of $15,000 from the University. It was the first university licensed educational FM station in Missouri and the second FM in Kansas City.

In the Spring of 1956, C.J. Stevens, then Director of Radio and TV at the University of Kansas City, submitted a budget request to establish and operate an educational FM broadcast station, and he was turned down.

However, Stevens and Sam Scott decided to raise money outside the university. A modest fundraising campaign was undertaken and a separate FM fund was established. KCUR-FM was in its conception and continues to be a community station.

In 1970, KCUR was awarded a grant of $7,500 from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for Community Service. National Public Radio broadcasts began the next year with KCUR as a charter member.

After Sam Scott retired in 1986, the station was without a General Manager for a year while Jim Costin, UMKC Associate Vice Chancellor oversaw the station. Patricia Cahill, a former KCUR reporter in the early 1970s, was hired in 1987 as General Manager, and she holds the position today.

In the 1960s, the Kansas City Times stated, ``In the community, (KCUR) it is a source of education, culture and pleasure.'' And those words still ring true today. I certainly know this firsthand. It is my radio station of choice, and this fact was never so clear, as well as my bias towards it, as when I had my daily radio show, Under the Clock, broadcast on its airwaves. Innovative programs, local heavy weights, and our community are their programming.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with the gentleman from Kansas, Congressman Dennis Moore, and we are proud to share with you and the membership of this House our heartfelt congratulations and appreciation for KCUR's many outstanding benefits to our community, as we approach the 50th anniversary of this treasure in our community.

Madam Speaker, I proudly rise today in recognition of the great accomplishments of Reverend Doctor Wallace S. Hartsfield, Sr., a minister, dedicated community activist, civil servant, compassionate role model, and a member of the Fifth District of Missouri which I am deeply honored to represent. Reverend Hartsfield retires as Senior Pastor of the Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church on January 1, 2008 after more than 40 years of service to Metropolitan and more than 55 years as a minister of God. He will be succeeded by his son, Dr. Wallace S. Hartsfield II.

Our community also rises on this occasion to honor his civic contribution in the renaming of the Parkway Post Office in an area he serves. This is a fitting tribute to Reverend Hartsfield whose legacy continues in his ministry, teachings, and goodwill. The Post Office building, whose new designation will officially bear his name, will celebrate Reverend Hartsfield's spirit and leadership at 4320 Blue Parkway, Kansas City, Missouri 64130.

Reverend Hartsfield was an only child, born to the late Ruby Morrissette in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 12, 1929. He served a 3- year tour of duty with the United States Army before receiving a bachelor of arts degree from Clark College in Atlanta, now Clark Atlanta University, in 1954. He went on to earn a master of divinity degree from Gammon

Theological Seminary, now the Interdenominational Theological Center, in 1957, also located in Atlanta. He holds many honorary degrees, including a doctor of divinity degree from both Western Baptist Bible College in Kansas City, Missouri and from Virginia Seminary and College of Lyncher, Virginia. His first pastorate was in Pickens, South Carolina. He later served in Wichita, Kansas; Barstow, Florida; and Brunswick, Georgia. As a scholastic theologian, Rev. Hartsfield serves on the board of directors at the Morehouse School of Religion in Atlanta, Georgia, in addition to serving as an adjunct professor of the Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Kansas. He is affectionately referred to as the ``Dean of Kansas City's ministers'' by all denominations. A friend and honored minister, I have dubbed Dr. Hartsfield the ``Godfather of Preachers'' because of his vast ministerial knowledge and oratorical skills.

Reverend Hartsfield celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary with his wife Matilda Hopkins on August 28. They are the proud parents of four children, Pamela Faith, Danise Hope, Ruby Love, and Wallace S. Hartsfield II.

Shining brightly as an example of unwavering open-mindedness, commitment, and heartfelt participation within his national community, Reverend Hartsfield has revealed himself as the quintessential citizen of both our American and world populations. The honor owed to this great leader and devoted man of profound faith reaches beyond our local, state, and national levels and touches our wider international community, just as he has sought to touch all of those he has met wherever he goes. He has fought tirelessly to promote, protect, and ensure civil rights and civil liberties for African Americans and other minorities throughout our great nation during its most shameful hours of injustice. He remains a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity created for African Americans. As a prolific and dynamic speaker, he has often been asked to serve as a guest speaker for lectures at colleges, universities, and seminaries locally and internationally, including as far from home as Australia. In 2006, he was selected as a member of an inter-denominational group and met with Turkish officials to tour the country and broaden international faith and community relations.

In many diverse capacities, Reverend Hartsfield has guided his broader, national faith community throughout the entirety of his devotion as a minister. He is a former chairman of the Congress of National Black Churches, representing over 65,000 churches with over 20 million members. Within the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc., he served as a member on the Foreign Mission Board, was secretary and treasurer of the Benevolent Board and Insurance Commission, is a former chairman of its Economic Development Commission, is former second vice president, and is currently vice president at-large under the leadership of Dr. Stephen J. Thurston.

Our greater Kansas City and Missouri communities stand stronger having been both blessed with and built upon by a cornerstone as unshakable and committed as Reverend Hartsfield. He was at the forefront of successful efforts to construct low income, 60 unit housing developments known as the Metropolitan Homes, located near the Linwood Shopping Center, the creation of which is also due largely to the encouragement of Reverend Hartsfield. Furthermore, he served as president of the Baptist Ministers Union, an influential organizer for the Concerned Clergy Association, and a moderator for the Sunshine District Association. Appointed by the Governor, Reverend Hartsfield served as commissioner on the Missouri Highway Commission. He was also president of the Greater Kansas City Chapter of Operation PUSH, an organization dedicated to the promotion of religious and social development and human rights.

While his long list of accolades helps detail his many great talents and achievements, it remains only a small sampling if one tries to understand the deeply positive and vast impact Reverend Hartsfield has so generously imparted to his neighbors. He is named ``One of the Top 50 Ministers in America'' by Upscale magazine of Atlanta, Georgia. As a local minister, he has received the One Hundred Most Influential Award from the K.C. Globe newspaper, the Greater Kansas City Image Award from the Urban League, and the Minister of the Year Award from the Baptist Ministers Union of Kansas City. As a public servant, a role inexorably intertwined with his role as a minister, he received the Public Service Award from the Ad Hoc Group Against Crime, the Role Model for Youth Award from Penn Valley Community College, and the Community Service Award from the city of Kansas City, Missouri, to name only a few.

Having personally been influenced and encouraged by his generosity, compassion, and myriad successful endeavors throughout his career, I find it among the greatest honors and opportunities to acknowledge and celebrate the great victories of Reverend Hartsfield as he prepares to enjoy the next stage of his life, retirement from the vocation of compassion he so joyously fills and will continue to fulfill in a new capacity.

Madam Speaker, please join me in expressing our appreciation to my dear friend, Reverend Doctor Wallace S. Hartsfield, Sr., for his loving ministry and limitless dedication to serving the residents of Kansas City, the State of Missouri, and the worldwide community. Strong, sustainable societies are built upon a foundation of goodness and devotion. It is our hometown heroes, like Reverend Hartsfield, the hallowed and benevolent, who ensure the longevity of, and strengthen, our free and democratic way of life. May God continue to bless Reverend Hartsfield as he embarks upon a new journey of embracing and improving the lives around him.

Madam Speaker, I had the privilege, with my colleague, Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis of Virginia, of co-chairing the 55th Annual National Prayer Breakfast, held here in our Nation's Capital on February 2, 2007. This annual gathering is hosted by Members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives weekly prayer breakfast groups. Once again, we were honored to have the participation of our President and the First Lady and we were inspired by the remarks shared by Dr. Francis Collins.

This year we hosted a gathering of over 3,500 individuals from all walks of life in all 50 States and from many countries around the world. So that all may benefit from this time together, on behalf of the Congressional Committee for the National Prayer Breakfast, I would like to request that a copy of the program and of the transcript of the 2007 proceedings be printed in the Congressional Record at this time.

55th National Prayer Breakfast--Thursday, February 2, 2007, Hilton

Washington Hotel, Washington, DC

Co-Chairs: U.S. Representative Jo Ann Davis and U.S. Representative

Emanuel Cleaver, II

U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II: My name is Emanuel

Cleaver, and today my job will deviate slightly from what I

do during the week. During the week I serve as the Fifth

District Representative of Missouri. I am also a United

Methodist pastor. Today I would like for all of you, if you

would, to please either get out a checkbook or----(Laughter)

No, I'm serious. In seminary they taught us when you have a

crowd this large, you take up an offering. We may wait--but

you don't seem enthusiastic. It is my honor and pleasure to

serve today as chair of the 55th National Prayer Breakfast.

My co-chair and dear friend, Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis of

Virginia, will not be able to join us today, and please keep

in mind that if you have a great experience today at this

prayer breakfast, it is due in no small part to the work that

she has done in preparing for this day. And hopefully she

will join us next week with her work in Washington.

One of the basic truths of the Holy Writ is one that all of

us can relate to and perhaps are familiar with--you will reap

what you sow. You don't plant corn and expect soybeans. You

don't plant an apple seed and expect a pear tree. A nation

that sows anger will reap bitterness and division. But a

nation or a collection of nations that sow love and

understanding will reap a harvest of peace. That is what we

are doing here today--sowing the seeds of civility in this

city, in our country, and in our world. There is nothing more

important for us to do. The ground is already covered with

weeds and plants of discord. So today we are going to begin

to plant flowers. The best way I know to do that is with

prayer. If you will, please, put your food down, which you

shouldn't have begun to eat----(Laughter)

If you are the person at your table who did wait for the

blessing, please express to the others your spiritual

superiority. (Laughter)

Let us pray.

Almighty and loving God, we are gathered here today from

all over the world to say thank you for your love, your

grace, your mercy. We confess, God, that our world is not as

you intended, and we have contributed to the wrongness of the

world because of our own sins and errors. But Lord, we know

the truth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s words, that

humankind is ``caught in an inescapable network of

mutuality.'' When any of us suffers injustice, we are all

diminished. But in the same way, when anyone finds peace, we

will all benefit.

Bless, oh Lord, what is said and sung and planted in the

hearts of all who share this experience today, that we can

make this world more of a garden of your love, and if we are

able to do anything good and great from this prayer breakfast

today, we're going to give you all of the credit, all the

glory and all the honor. In your name and for your sake we

pray, Amen.

As the former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, I know that

our cities are the rubber of our democracy, and I also know

that there are only a couple of positions in this country

superior to serving as mayor--the presidency, obviously, and

the Senate, of course. (Laughter)

Of course the Senate.

But serving as a mayor of one of our major cities places us

on center stage of the municipal drama. We are very pleased

today to have with us, for welcome, the mayor of Washington,

D.C., Mayor Adrian Fenty. (Applause)

Mayor Adrian Fenty: Thank you very much, Congressman

Cleaver, for your generous introduction and hosting everyone

here today. Members of Congress, governors, mayors, religious

leaders, President and First Lady, it is appropriate for me

as mayor, especially mayor of the District of Columbia, to

start out this prayer breakfast. Congressman Cleaver, as a

mayor, said it would be okay if I asked you all to say a

prayer for me, because it is going to snow today. (Laughter)

Start out by asking that all of our snow plows work here in

the District of Columbia.

At a time when we have gathered with so many influential

people, I will reflect on one prayer, and that is Solomon's

prayer for influence. When Solomon said to God, make me

famous--and all of us politicians and public servants are

famous in our own jurisdictions--Solomon said, I want you to

spread the fame of my name and give me power and blessings

and make me well known. When people read that first passage

they say, why would Solomon ask such a self-serving thing?

Like all other prayers, you have to read on. Further on in

Solomon's prayer, he says to give him these things so that

the king may support the widow and the orphans, defend the

defenseless, care for the sick, assist the poor, and to speak

up for the oppressed, the immigrants and the foreigners.

And while we are all influential and powerful, as we start

out this great prayer breakfast, it is important that we

remember what influence is supposed to be used for, and the

purpose of influence as Solomon taught us is to speak up for

those who have no influence.

Let's have a great prayer breakfast and let's use our power

for those who need it the most. God bless you. Thank you very

much. (Applause)

Rep. Cleaver: Thank you, Mayor, for welcoming us to your

city.

It is my pleasure to introduce you to the folks seated here

at the head table. All of you cannot follow directions, so--

(Laughter) I would really like for you to applaud after all

of those at the head table are introduced, but since some of

you can't do it, if you would just applaud now. (Applause)

Thank you.

To my left is the Reverend Dan and Kathy Mucci of Glen

Burnie, Maryland. My co-chair, Jo Ann Davis, is not here, but

she once worked with Pastor Mucci's congregation as the

church secretary. He will offer a prayer for the nation in

just awhile. You have already met Mayor Fenty. And next to

him is the most important person in the room, it is my wife

for more than 30 years, Diane Cleaver.

On the other side of the podium here is Dr. Francis

Collins, our keynote speaker who I will introduce more fully

later. Next to him, representing our nation's governors, many

of whom have events just like this in their own states around

the country, is Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota. He will

be offering a prayer later for world leaders. Next we have

one of my distinguished colleagues from the House of

Representatives, Allyson Schwartz, who represents the 13th

district in Pennsylvania. She will be sharing a reading from

the Talmud. Then we have people here from the Lower House,

the United States Senate--(Laughter)

Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas, and Senator Mike Enzi of

Wyoming and his spouse Diana. The senators will bring a

greeting from their weekly prayer breakfast group, from which

this whole event sprang more than 50 years ago.

Finally we have our singer, Nicole Mullen, and her spouse

David.

Now join me in thanking the head table. (Applause)

Despite all the awards she has won and all the famous

venues that she has performed in, Nicole Mullen just wants to

be known as everyday people--it's not going to work, however.

The title of her best-selling album is ``Everyday People.''

She has amazing musical talent which she uses with a loving

servant's heart all over the world. Ladies and gentlemen,

Nicole Mullen (Applause)

(Song: ``On My Knees'') (Applause)

U.S. Representative Allyson Schwartz: Good morning. I am

very pleased to be here and share in this fellowship this

morning. I am Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz from the great

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I am pleased to be here this

morning. (Applause)

A few Pennsylvanians in the crowd.

I sometimes believe that my first memory was when I was

barely 3 and my father left for the Korean War. I can picture

my mother, my older brother at 4\1/2\, my younger sister at

2, all slightly sad, not really sure why.

But I know that my father's return more than two years

later, after serving in an Army MASH unit in Korea, is in

fact my own real, first remembrance. I was 5 years old, I was

in kindergarten, and my father came to school to get me. I

remember seeing him in uniform--how unlikely to see a man in

uniform at school. But what I remember most is that I did not

recognize him. I didn't know him. I was a little awed, I was

a little scared. I remember needing to be reassured by my

older brother--who at 6\1/2\ was in fact really my older

brother--that it was okay, that this man was in fact our dad.

So I know, as I watch families see their dads, and their

moms, off to war, that there are tough goodbyes. And there

are also the not-so-easy homecomings. That reuniting families

is not easy. That our troops come home with experiences

separate from their families, some good, and some very

difficult. That reuniting, reconnecting, is often hard.

So for the men and women serving and returning from Iraq

and Afghanistan who are struggling with changes in their work

lives and changes in their home lives, and for all families

who have experienced separation or loss, who have experiences

that are often not revealed and difficult to communicate, but

nonetheless are struggling to be as good as they can be to

each other and to their children, I offer a prayer for

healing, for overcoming the difficulties, for forgiveness,

for feeling connected and whole again.

Today as we offer our public officials our prayers and our

support, I offer this reading for all of us. The prayer I

will read dates from the Talmudic period and is offered at

evening and Sabbath services in synagogues across the world.

It is a beautiful prayer for serenity and for protection from

danger.

Lord our God, we pray thee that we may lie down this night

in peace and awake in the morning to refreshed existence.

Spread over us the shelter of thy divine peace and guide us

with thy good counsel. Help us for thy name's sake. Be thou

at all times our shield and our protector from harm, our

guardian against danger, our savior from all manner of

trouble and distress. Keep far from us anxiety and sorrow,

and shelter us under the shadow of thy wings, for it is in

thee alone, oh God, ever gracious and compassionate, that we

put our trust. Guard thou our going out and our coming in,

that we may live a life of peace now and evermore. Amen.

(Applause)

Senator Mark Pryor: My name is Mark Pryor from Arkansas,

and this is Mike Enzi from Wyoming, and we bring you

greetings from the Senate prayer breakfast. Every Wednesday

morning that we are in session, all senators are invited to

come to the Senate prayer breakfast. It is a great time of

fellowship and we have different faiths and very, very

diverse backgrounds that are represented there. It is really

a great way, maybe the best way, in the Senate, to get to

know each other in a deeper and more meaningful way.

Another thing that we do there is, the chaplain at the

beginning of every Congress hands out a prayer card that has

all of the names of the senators on there, and he gives us a

weekly schedule to pray for our colleagues. And my experience

is, that when I am praying for my colleagues by name, any

hard feelings, any bitterness, any animosity has a way of

just melting away. So, we bring you greetings from the Senate

prayer breakfast, and here is Mike.

Senator Michael Enzi: Mark mentioned our weekly prayer

breakfasts. I want to tell you about our global outreach. We

are willing to help any parliament or group of elected

leaders to start a prayer breakfast. We only participate when

we are asked. We send a senator and some prayer supporters to

meet anywhere the leaders seek the uniting power of the

teachings of Jesus. We have seen prayer groups bring

different faiths together. We have seen enemies begin to see

each other as people, people with similar problems, problems

solvable through the power of God used through leaders. We

want to share the care, the reconciliation, the respect and

concern that can unite. We want to share the concentration on

the 80 percent that we all believe in rather than the 20

percent that divides people. Of course these trips of

faith give each senator a gift of faith greater than what

we are able to share. May each of you, through the power

of God's hand, use your gifts for the betterment of God's

world. (Applause)

Rep. Cleaver: Why don't you go ahead and eat. (Laughter)

Lord, bless the food that we are about to receive, and may

this food do for our bodies what your Spirit does for our

soul. Amen.

We will be back with you shortly. (Breakfast)

Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the

United States, and Mrs. Laura Bush. (Applause)

Rev. Daniel Mucci: Good morning, everyone. It is an awesome

privilege to be here this morning to lead us in prayer for

the leaders of our nation. As I was reflecting on this

opportunity to pray, I am reminded of the truth that men

should always pray and not give up. For we know what is

impossible with men is possible with God. With these thoughts

in mind, let us pray for our nation's leaders.

Almighty God, we thank you for the blessing of leadership

you have provided to our nation time and time again

throughout our history. We thank you for the men and women

who offer themselves to serve their fellow man and seek to

fulfill the higher purpose of your will here on earth as it

is in heaven. For these gifts we express our gratitude.

Thank you for our president, George W. Bush, a man who

seeks your face. May your presence go before him, may your

peace sustain him, and your power keep him as he fulfills

your call to lead our nation during this challenging time. We

now lift up President Bush and his Cabinet, the members of

the United States Senate and the House of Representatives,

the Supreme Court justices, the governors of our states and

their respective general assemblies, the mayors of our cities

and towns and all those charged with the responsibility to

create and enforce the laws of the United States of America.

We unite our hearts in asking that you grant America's

leaders the courage to stand together when tested by the

winds of adversity--economically, socially, politically, and

spiritually--for there is no overcoming without a struggle.

So we ask that you would give them your grace to succeed in

our quest for peace and progress in our nation.

We also ask that you would grant your servants wisdom to

work toward unity when confusion overrides their clarity of

vision for the future, for there is no unity without

humility. So we humbly ask that you would grant them the

mercy and love that they need to recognize and fulfill your

purposes in this generation.

We ask for the determination to win the challenging battles

we face, to ensure the safety and security of our citizens,

and for those who call on us to be partners for democracy and

peace, for there is no victory without perseverance. So we

ask you to reveal to our leaders the strategic plans for

success, and to supply them with the strength to endure

the perils of war.

Please protect the men and women of our military who have

placed themselves in harm's way for the ideals of our nation.

And finally, with the faith of Abraham, the meekness of

Moses, and in the spirit of Jesus of Nazareth, give us all a

servant's heart to meet the needs of those who are suffering,

from poverty, hunger, or disease, when we have the resources

within our influence to relieve the suffering and to bring

hope and healing to our fellow human beings. We ask these

things in your mighty name, Amen.

General Peter Pace: President and Mrs. Bush, and to all of

you here, good morning. I am Pete Pace, and my wife Lynne and

I are honored to be here with you this morning. (Applause)

Since the founding of our country, generation after

generation of Americans have sacrificed themselves that we

might have the freedom to gather here this morning and pray

as we see fit to our God. It has been my personal experience

that although some may enter battle either not believing or

questioning the existence of God, that very few leave battle

with any doubt. In fact in my experience, almost the first

thing that those who are wounded say is, ``oh my God.'' In

answer to their prayer, often the compassion and love of God

in the midst of that most difficult of times is brought

forward in the form of our chaplains, who risk their own

safety to bring God's love and compassion to those who need

it. So it is with great respect and appreciation for our

chaplains and for their assistance, for their bringing God's

love to all of us daily, in battle and out, that I offer this

reading from the letter of Paul to the Philippians.

``Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again, rejoice.

Everyone should see how unselfish you are. The Lord himself

is near. Dismiss all anxiety from your minds. Present your

needs to God in every form of prayer and in petitions full of

gratitude. Then God's own peace, which is beyond all

understanding, will stand guard over your hearts and minds.

Finally, my brothers, your thoughts should be wholly directed

to all that is true, all that deserves respect, all that is

honest, pure, admirable, decent, virtuous, or worthy of

praise. Live according to what you have heard, learned, and

accept it, what you have heard me say and seen me do. Then

will the God of peace be with you.'' The word of the Lord.

(Applause)

Governor Tim Pawlenty: Would you please bow your heads and

join me in prayer for world leaders.

Lord, this morning we bow before you with humble hearts,

deeply grateful that you are a God powerful enough to form

the earth but gentle enough to care for our smallest

concerns. You are an amazing God. We know, Lord, that you are

the source of all love and that through the course of history

you have poured out your love, your mercy and your grace when

people have humbled themselves and prayed. It is with this

spirit that we come before you this morning. As the light of

the world, you have pierced through the darkness in troubled

times. Lord, our world struggles. We live in troubled times.

We struggle against the forces of darkness. The power of sin

and alienation is strong, but you are stronger. Our world

needs your healing power and your love.

Today, God, we pray for our world leaders. We pray that the

power of your love will guide their decisions. Lord, we pray

for your special blessing on those world leaders who are with

us today, Prime Minister Musa and President Bush. We also

pray for those in this room that will one day lead their

nations. Prepare them also, by your grace.

God, as our world leaders face the troubles and enormous

challenges of our times, we

pray Solomon-like wisdom for each of them. Touch their

hearts. Heal any brokenness.

We pray that each world leader will be guided by your

spirit, your leadership. Lord, bless them, teach them,

counsel them, continue to love them and hold them in the

powerful palm of your hand. May the leaders of this world be

led by you every day, in every decision, big and small. You

are the hope of the world and the ruler of history. We pray

that all world leaders seek first your kingdom and your

righteousness. I pray all of this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Rep. Cleaver: As you are continuing to eat your breakfast,

I would like to recognize a visiting head of state who joined

us today, Prime Minister Said Musa of the nation of Belize.

Prime Minister. (Applause)

Thank you so much for being with us.

And while focusing on the room, I want to recognize a

historic person in our midst, the first woman Speaker of the

United States Congress, Nancy Pelosi of California.

(Applause)

Rep. Cleaver: She had to leave. As many of you know, Father

Drinan, who served in the House of Representatives, died, and

she is going to attend his funeral.

For the Democrats who are in the House, who are in

Congress, if you would please let her know that I did

introduce her. Committee assignments have not been made.

(Laughter)

If I may have your attention once again, we will continue

with our program. But first let me share something with you

that I read the other day that I hope all of us can remember.

William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, said--and this is

extremely important; if you can remember these words, I think

it helps this entire nation: ``I know of no religion that

destroys courtesy, civility, or kindness.'' William Penn.

In this room today we are a people of over 160 nations and

many religious traditions, but a common teaching of all

faiths and philosophies is this important word civility.

I came to Washington and to Congress with this desire in my

heart, to do what I could to make this a more civil place. In

the intensity and tension of this place, it's really hard for

me and all of us to follow the biblical teachings to count

others as important as ourselves, and as far as it depends on

us, we must all seek to live in peace with all.

I have opinions that are as strong as anyone. My challenge

is to state them in a tone that raises the level of the

conversation and honors those who disagree with me. When you

look at the roots of the word ``civility,'' to be civil is to

be a citizen, a respected part of the community. So to be

uncivil is to fracture the community, locally, nationally,

and even internationally, and that is something none of us

can afford to do.

With the passing of President Ford recently, I was reminded

of a story of his days in the White House. He held regular

debates here in Washington with Democratic members of

Congress, but most especially with Congressman Thomas Hale

Boggs, at the National Press Club. At President Ford's

suggestion, they would actually share a cab downtown and

pick their topic for debate on the way. Afterwards, they

would often go out and eat together.

Mr. President, I am happy you are joining us for our House

Democratic retreat later today. It will be good for us and

good for the country to break bread together. (Applause)

Remember, we reap what we sow. I think God is pleased when

we as citizens of the world, and people of faith, sow

courtesy, civility and kindness with each other, and raise up

a harvest of grace and peace.

Now, our keynote speaker. Some of us know the song that

says, ``we are fearfully and wonderfully made.'' Any of us

who studied human anatomy in junior high biology probably

felt more fear than wonder. My biology teachers were always

the worst [pause] human beings (Laughter)

But I have grown to respect and appreciate the men and

women of science because they unlock the secrets of how we

can get more and better life out of these bodies.

Our keynote speaker this morning is one of the heroes of

that effort, Dr. Francis Collins, the director of the Human

Genome Project. He grew up on a little farm in Shenandoah

Valley, Virginia, and now he heads up the most significant

scientific project in history. He supervises hundreds of

researchers from different disciplines, different

institutions and different countries, in the effort to map

the human genome and share with the world what it means. And

I know the President appreciates this fact--he is ahead of

schedule and under budget. (Laughter, Applause)

He has also served as a volunteer doctor in hospitals in

developing worlds. Ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor for

me to introduce Dr. Francis Collins. (Applause)

Francis S. Collins, M.D, Ph.D.: Thank you for that very

kind introduction, Congressman Cleaver.

President Bush, First Lady, heads of state, members of

Congress, distinguished guests, I am deeply honored to be

speaking with you on this significant and moving occasion. As

you have heard, I am not a rock star, as the person who spoke

last year, and that's a large leather jacket to step into--

(Laughter)

I didn't say anything about the sunglasses.

I am also not a man of the cloth nor am I a political

leader. As you've heard, I am a physician and a scientist,

here this morning as a private citizen, but who had the

incredible privilege of leading the Human Genome Project. I

am also a believer in God.

The astrophysicist Robert Jastrow started his book on

science and faith with the following words: ``When a

scientist writes about God, his colleagues assume he is

either over the hill or going bonkers.'' I hope and pray that

I am neither of those. And yet in the scientific community

there is an unwritten taboo about discussing one's spiritual

leanings, so many assume that scientists are generally

godless materialists. That's not actually true--a recent

survey found that 40% of working scientists believe in a God

to whom one may pray in expectation of an answer. And that

number has changed very little over the past century.

Yet there are increasingly shrill voices around us who

argue that somehow the scientific and spiritual worldviews

are incompatible. I am here this morning to tell you that

these different ways of finding the truth are not only

compatible, but they are wondrously complementary.

As the leader of the Human Genome Project, I had the great

privilege of serving as the project manager for a dedicated

team of more than 2,000 scientists from six countries.

Together, we determined all three billion letters of the

human genome, our own DNA instruction book, and we made all

that data freely available on the internet every 24 hours. It

is hard to get your mind around how much information this

is--three billion is a very big number, even in Washington.

(Laughter)

Suppose we decided to take a little time this morning to

read the letters of the human genome together, just to

express our awe at God's creation. If we could take turns

reading, and we would agree to stick to it until we were all

done, and we would read at a reasonable pace, A-C-G-T-T-G-C-

A-A--there are only four letters in the DNA alphabet, that

makes it a little easier but a little monotonous. (Laughter)

If we all decided that was worth doing, and we even decided

that we would stay up all night if it was necessary, we would

stay up a lot of nights. We would be here for 31 years. You

have all that information inside each cell of your body. And

every time that cell divides, it's got to copy the whole

thing. Isn't that amazing?

We have learned many interesting things already about this

human DNA instruction book, now that we have all those

letters. One profound observation--and it is a good one to

highlight this morning--is just how alike we all are. Your

DNA and mine are 99.9% the same, and that would be true

regardless of which one of you I chose for the comparison. So

you see, at the DNA level, we really are part of one big

worldwide family.

Faced with this rapidly growing body of information, one

cannot help but feel a sense of awe at the amazing complexity

and elegance of the human body--from the intricate digital

DNA code to the marvelous nanotechnology machines that

operate inside each cell of our bodies, to that most amazing

organ of all, the human brain.

But this exploration of human biology is for many of us not

just a sterile academic pursuit. Whether you are a Hindu, a

Buddhist, a Muslim, a Jew, a Christian, or still searching,

you would probably agree that the mandate to alleviate

suffering is one of our highest callings. These new tools of

biomedical research, many stemming from this new science of

genomics, now provide us with an unprecedented opportunity

for breakthroughs in cancer, diabetes, mental illness,

infectious diseases, and many other conditions, and a true

revolution is getting underway. Though there are legitimate

concerns about setting appropriate boundaries for this

research, we also have a strong ethical mandate to proceed as

quickly as possible, so long as a sick child lives somewhere

in the world who could be helped.

So these are exciting times for a scientist. But my hopes

and dreams for all of us do not rest solely in science. I am

also a man of faith. Many of you probably would assume that

this stance stems from childhood training in a particular

religious tradition, as that is certainly the way in which

many come to believe. But that is not my story.

I was raised, as you heard, on a small farm in Virginia by

wonderfully unconventional free-thinking parents who greatly

valued learning, literature, music and the arts, but for whom

religion was just not that important. As I fell in love with

science as a teenager, I also slipped into a worldview that

assumed that the only true meaning in the universe was to be

found in mathematics and physical laws. And so I became first

an agnostic and then an atheist.

But my scientific curiosity eventually led me from

chemistry and physics into medicine. And there at the bedside

of people with terrible illnesses, matters of life, death and

the spirit were no longer academic. Just as it has been

said--and General Pace said something very much like this--

``there are no atheists in foxholes,'' I found that there

were few atheists lying in hospital beds in this little

hospital in North Carolina. One afternoon, a kindly

grandmother with only a few weeks to live shared her own

faith in Jesus with me, and then asked, ``Doctor, what do you

believe?'' Stammering something about not being quite sure, I

fled the room--(Laughter)

I had the disturbing sense that the atheist ice under my

feet was cracking, though I wasn't quite sure why. And then

suddenly the reason for my disquiet hit me: I was a

scientist. I was supposed to make decisions based on

evidence. And yet I had never really considered the evidence

for and against faith.

Determined to shore up my position, I began to explore the

path of others who before me had asked the same questions

about

faith. In that search I was particularly affected by the

writings of the Oxford scholar C.S. Lewis, who had similarly

sought as a young man to defend his atheism and instead

became a believer.

As I explored that evidence more deeply, all around me I

began to see signposts to something outside of nature that

could only be called God. I realized that the scientific

method can really only answer questions about HOW things

work. It can't answer questions about WHY, and aren't those

in fact the most important ones? Why is there something

instead of nothing? Why does mathematics work so beautifully

to describe nature? Why is the universe so precisely tuned to

make life possible? And it is. Why do we humans have a

universal sense of right and wrong, and an urge to do what is

right, even though we often disagree on how to interpret that

calling?

Confronted with these revelations, I realized my own

assumption--that faith was the opposite of reason--was

incorrect. I should have known better. Scripture defines

faith as ``the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of

things not seen.'' Evidence!

Simultaneously I realized that atheism was in fact the

least rational of all the choices. As Chesterton wrote,

``Atheism is indeed the most daring of all dogmas, for it is

the assertion of a universal negative.''

How could I have had the arrogance to make that assertion?

So I had to accept the plausibility of a powerful force, a

creative Mind, that existed outside of nature. But was God

only to be found in the abstract, or did he also care about

me? I felt an increasing hunger to answer that question.

After searching for two years more, I ultimately found my

own answer, in the loving person of Jesus Christ. Here was a

man unlike any other. He was humble and kindhearted. He

reached out to those considered lowest in society. He made

astounding statements about loving your enemies. And he

promised something that no ordinary man should be able to

promise--to forgive sins. On top of all that, having

assumed all my life that Jesus was just a myth, I was

astounded to learn that the evidence for his historical

existence was actually overwhelming.

Eventually I concluded the evidence demanded a verdict. And

in my 28th year, while hiking in the majestic Cascade

mountains in the Pacific Northwest, I could no longer deny my

need for forgiveness and my need for new life, and I gave in

and became a follower of Jesus. He is now the rock upon which

I stand, the source for me of ultimate love, peace, joy, and

hope.

But, some of you might say, you're a geneticist. Doesn't

this make your head explode? (Laughter)

Aren't there irreconcilable contradictions between your

scientific and spiritual worldviews? No. Not at all! As long

as one uses a thoughtful approach to interpretation of the

meaning of Scripture in light of what science has allowed us

to learn about the universe, as St. Augustine compellingly

articulated 1600 years ago--I can't identify a single

conflict between what I know as a rigorous scientist and what

I know as a believer. Not one. Yes, science is the reliable

way to understand the natural world. But being a believer

allows me to see scientific discoveries in a wholly new

light. In that context, science becomes a means not only of

discovery, but of worship. When as a scientist I have the

great privilege of learning something that no human knew

before, as a believer I also have the indescribable

experience of having caught a glimpse of God's mind.

Bernard Lonergan captured this aspect of scientific

discovery as ``the eternal rapture glimpsed in every

Archimedean cry of Eureka.'' So if this is all true, why does

there seem to be such a battle going on between science and

faith, at least in some quarters? As is often the case in

such battles, a bit of effort on each side to understand each

other would go a long way. Concrete thinkers amongst my own

colleagues who deny the value of a spiritual worldview would

be well advised to admit the ultimate impoverishment of that

perspective given that it offers no answers to questions like

``Why am I here?'' Perhaps Jesus was thinking of such folks

when he said in Matthew 11, verse 25, ``I praise you, Father,

Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these

things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little

children.'' (Laughter)

On the other hand, some well-meaning believers have adopted

the view that science is a threat to faith, and that God has

to somehow be defended against scientific conclusions. Is

this really compatible with trust in the Almighty, who could

hardly be threatened by the efforts of our puny minds to

understand his creation? God's creation is majestic, awesome,

intricate, and beautiful, and it cannot possibly contradict

itself. He is the same God whether you find him in the

cathedral or in the laboratory. He is in the laws of physics,

but he is also the ultimate source of love and forgiveness.

On June 26, 2000, I had the privilege to stand in the East

Room of the White House, next to the President of the United

States, announcing the completion of the first draft of the

human genome. I was overcome with awe and a sense of history

that morning. As a believer, this remarkable book of life did

indeed seem to be written in the language in which God spoke

life into being.

But that day was also one of personal mourning, for I had

just spoken at a memorial service for my sister-in-law, a

marionette artist whose wonderful light had been snuffed out

much too soon by breast cancer. The promise of these new

discoveries about the human genome had come too late for her.

Recalling the mixed emotions of that day, they bring into

sharp focus the complex nature of our human condition. We

have great hopes for health and long life for ourselves and

our families, but all too often we stand at the gravesides of

loved ones who have been taken from us much too soon. We find

in the great truths of faith the kind of clear spiritual

water that we long for, but all too often we see that pure

water has been poured into those rusty human vessels,

distorted, and discolored. We want to believe in ultimate

human goodness, but all too often our hopes are dashed by

selfish and violent acts of our own human family against each

other. We cling to the promise of new scientific

breakthroughs to help our hurting world, but we fear that

some of these discoveries may be used in ways that cause more

harm than good. All in all, we dream of an earthly garden of

delight, but all too often it seems more like a vale of

tears.

Yet if we put our trust in God, and resolve to put love

above all else, we are promised ultimate victory over all

these trials. ``Come unto me, all you who are burdened and

heavy laden, and I will give you rest.''

So, my brothers and sisters, from every creed and nation,

let us here today resolve to love one another, and to

celebrate the beautiful and intricate world that God has

given us. Let us agree to protect it, even as we seek to join

the power of science with the warm embrace of human

compassion to reach out to all those who need healing,

whether of body or spirit.

To conclude this homily, I propose to do something risky,

to ask you all to join me in singing a song. Some may find it

ironic that last year's speaker--(Laughter)

--the rock star Bono, spoke about justice and world

economics but passed up the chance to sing. (Laughter)

Now this year's speaker, a scientist who might be

considered a bit of a nerd, proposes to sing and even play

the guitar. But the Prayer Breakfast is where we are all

supposed to break out of our comfort zones. (Laughter)

So please help me--I need it--break out of your own comfort

zones and sing along with me. In your program you will find a

little card which has three verses of a wonderful hymn. The

tune will be familiar to many of you and will be quickly

learned by the rest. Harmony is welcome. So my brothers and

sisters, lift your hearts and voices with me as we praise the

God who is the source of all faith and learning.

(Song: ``Praise the Source of Faith and Learning'')

[Words by Rev. Thomas H. Troeger

From Borrowed Light: Hymn Texts, Prayers and Poems

Copyright 1994 Oxford University Press, used by permission

(To the tune of Hyfrydol)]

Praise the source of faith and learning who has sparked and

stoked the mind

With a passion for discerning how the world has been

designed.

Let the sense of wonder flowing from the wonders we survey

Keep our faith forever growing and renew our need to pray.

God of wisdom, we acknowledge that our science and our art

And the breadth of human knowledge only partial truth impart.

Far beyond our calculation lies a depth we cannot sound

Where Your purpose for creation and the pulse of life are

found.

As two currents in a river fight each other's undertow

Till converging they deliver one coherent steady flow,

Blend O God our faith and learning till they carve a single

course,

Till they join as one, returning praise and thanks to You,

their Source.

(Applause)

Dr. Collins: Amen. Amen.

Rep. Cleaver: Amen.

Although you do not have a speaking part at today's

breakfast, Mrs. Bush, you say more about grace and love just

sitting there than most of us could say in an hour. Thank

you. (Applause)

Dr. Collins used the words of the New Testament, ``Come to

me those who labor, those who are tired, those who are weary,

and I will give you rest.'' The President of the United

States has the most difficult job on this planet, and those

words should be comforting to him today.

Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States,

George W. Bush. (Applause)

President George W. Bush: Thank you all. Thank you very

much. Now will you please join me in singing ``The Eyes of

Texas.'' (Laughter)

Good morning. Laura and I are honored to join you here at

the 55th National Prayer Breakfast. It is an amazing country,

isn't it, when people from all walks of life gather to

recognize our dependence on an almighty God, and to ask Him

for blessings in our life. I think a breakfast such as this

speaks to the true strength of the United States of America.

(Applause)

We come from many different faiths, yet we share this

profound conviction: We believe that God listens to the voice

of His children, and pours His grace upon those who seek Him

in prayer.

I appreciate, Mr. Congressman, you and Jo Ann Davis, for

leading this prayer breakfast. And thanks for paying tribute

to my wife. (Applause)

I appreciate the speaker's presence, Congressman Hoyer's

presence, Congressman Blunt's presence. I want to thank all

the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives

who have joined us. I appreciate the fact that we have

governors here, local officials and state officials. I thank

the members of my Cabinet for joining us--Don't linger,

you've got a job to do. (Laughter)

I thank the military officials who have joined us;

distinguished dignitaries. Mr. Prime Minister, we are glad

you're here. Thank you for joining us.

I appreciate Dr. Collins. I want to thank Reverend Mucci

and his wife Kathy. I appreciate Nicole Mullen. Most of all,

thank you all.

We are a nation of prayer. America prays. (Applause)

Each day millions of our citizens bow their heads in

silence and solitude, or they offer up prayers in fellowship

with others. They pray for themselves, they pray for their

families, they pray for their neighbors and their

communities. In many congregations and homes across this

great land, people also set aside time to pray for our nation

and those entrusted with authority, including our elected

leaders.

In my travels, I often see hand-printed signs and personal

messages from citizens that carry words of prayer. Sometimes

it's a single little girl holding up a placard that reads,

``Mr. President, be encouraged, you are prayed for.''

Sometimes it's a banner held by a group of young people that

says, ``We are praying for you, Mr. President.'' I often hear

similar words when I meet people on a rope line. Isn't that

interesting? You're working a rope line and people come up

and say, ``Mr. President, I am praying for you and your

family.''

The greatest gift a citizen of this country can give those

of us entrusted with political office is to pray for us. And

I thank those in our nation who lift all of us up in prayer.

(Applause)

Our troops must understand that every day--every day--

millions of our citizens lift them up in prayer. (Applause)

We pray for their safety. We pray for their families they

have left at home. We pray for those who have been wounded,

for their comfort and recovery. We remember those who have

been lost, and we pray that their loved ones feel the healing

touch of the Almighty. During this time of war, we thank God

that we are part of a nation that produces courageous men and

women who volunteer to defend us.

Many in our country know the power of prayer. Prayer

changes hearts. Prayer changes lives. And prayer makes us a

more compassionate and giving people. When we pray, we

surrender our will to the Almighty, and open ourselves up to

His priorities and His touch. His call to love our neighbors

as we would like to be loved ourselves is something that we

hear when we pray. And we answer that call by reaching out to

feed the hungry and clothe the poor, and aid the widow and

the orphan. By helping our brothers and sisters in need, we

find our own faith strengthened, and we receive the grace to

lead lives of dignity and purpose.

We see this grace in the life of a young American named

Shannon Hickey. Shannon was one of Laura's guests at the

State of the Union. When Shannon was growing up, her favorite

priest was Father Mychal Judge, a chaplain with the New

York City Fire Department. Father Mychal helped Shannon

and her family through Shannon's struggle with liver

disease. On September the 11, 2001, Father Mychal lost his

life in the World Trade Center. In memory of her friend,

Shannon founded Mychal's Message, a non-profit

organization dedicated to sharing Father Mychal's loving

spirit. Over the last five years, Mychal's Message has

collected and distributed more than 100,000 needed items

to the poor and the homeless. With each gift to the needy,

Shannon encloses a card with Father Mychal's personal

prayer. It reads, ``Lord, take me where You want me to go,

let me meet who You want me to meet, tell me what You want

me to say, and keep me out of Your way.''

Father Mychal's humble prayer reminds us of an eternal

truth: In the quiet of prayer, we leave behind our own cares

and we take up the cares of the Almighty. And in answering

His call to service we find that, in the words of Isaiah,

``We will gain new strength. We will run and not get tired.

We will walk and not become weary.''

And so I thank you for joining us on this day of prayer. I

thank you for the tradition you continue here today. And I

ask for God's blessings on the United States of America.

(Applause)

Rep. Cleaver: Ladies and gentlemen, if you would please

remain in your seats while the President and Mrs. Bush leave,

and Nicole Mullen will return to the microphone. If all of

you would be so kind as to remain in your seats until I tell

you to leave. (Laughter)

Ms. Mullen: I wrote a song based on the words of Job, who

had gone from hardship and back to goodness again. He simply

said, ``I know that my redeemer lives.''

(Song: Redeemer) (Applause)

Rep. Cleaver: Amen.

Amen. He does live. Thank you so much, Nicole. Thank you

for blessing us.

As we prepare to leave this place today, I would remind you

that years ago the prophet Isaiah gave us the word of the

Lord when he wrote:

``Stop doing wrong, learn to do right. Seek justice,

encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless,

plead the case of the widow. `Come now, let us reason

together,' says the Lord.''

As the light of the world, you pierce the darkness in

troubled times, those of you who are leaders both in this

country and around the world. Please know that we all

struggle against the forces of darkness. The power of sin and

alienation is strong, but you are now stronger. Our world

needs your healing power and your love.

Today, oh God, I pray for our world leaders. I pray that

the power of your love will guide their decisions.

And now, we ask that you go out into the world and make a

difference. Amen. (Applause)