Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, in 1935, President Roosevelt and a Democratic Congress envisioned and passed a safety net for senior citizens and the disabled. We call it Social Security. It has worked well, and I cannot imagine what we would be as a Nation without it.

The cash flows of the fund will see a deficit in just a few years because of the aging of the baby boom generation. We will fix this problem, and hopefully, our Republican colleagues will work with us for a bipartisan solution.

In December, I'm confident that the President's fiscal commission will present well-conceived ideas. We must use their recommendations to develop a bipartisan solution to protect Social Security. When those recommendations are presented, bipartisanship must prevail. Partisanship must take a hike.

I am committed to doing my part and look forward to the commission's report.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Spirit AeroSystems on the grand opening of their new facility that will build major components for the Airbus A350 aircraft.

Spirit AeroSystems recently completed construction of a 500,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Kinston, North Carolina at the Global Transpark. Spirit AeroSystems will employ over 1,000 individuals who will be responsible for building the main fuselage and portions of the wings for Airbus' Xtra-Wide-Body A350 passenger aircraft.

Based in Wichita, Kansas, Spirit AeroSystems could have built a manufacturing facility anywhere in the world. But they chose eastern North Carolina, and I am grateful for their decision.

Madam Speaker, I represent the fourth poorest Congressional district in the country. The daily struggle to make ends meet for many of my constituents is an unfortunate reality. More than anything, eastern North Carolina needs good-paying jobs. And I hope that other companies who are looking to expand will see the great success and mutually beneficial relationship Spirit AeroSystems and Lenoir County have fostered. Eastern North Carolina's ready workforce and strategic location provide a competitive advantage for any organization.

North Carolina has a strong history of aviation. In 1903, the Wright Brothers took to flight in, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina--about 150 miles from where the Spirit AeroSystems facility is located today. As we all know, the Wright Brothers are credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane, and I am confident that Spirit AeroSystems will be credited with revolutionizing the aviation industry in eastern North Carolina.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Spirit AeroSystems on the grand opening of their new manufacturing facility. I thank Spirit AeroSystems for the trust and confidence they have in the State of North Carolina, the Eastern Region, and most importantly the local, homegrown people that will proudly serve Spirit AeroSystems and their customers.

Madam Speaker, as we work to resolve our Nation's fiscal crisis, we must have bipartisan cooperation to best find ways to balance economic recovery and job creation with long-term deficit reduction. Americans clearly understand the danger of debt and the need for a serious long-term plan. What they don't understand is sound bites and political rhetoric.

And so to my Republican colleagues, as you come to the well today, put your ideas on the table. It doesn't help to demagogue this issue. The fact is, and it remains, President Obama inherited a $11 trillion debt on day one, and we are trying to recover. The American people need your constructive ideas.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize and honor the Applewhite family, which will soon be holding its reunion in my hometown of Wilson, North Carolina from July 2nd through July 4th, 2010.

The family reunion includes the descendants of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas and Dinah Horne Applewhite, who were born in 1880 and 1884, respectively. They lived in the area of Saratoga and Garner, North Carolina where they raised eight children--Walter, Lonnie, Lossie, Minnie, Almeta, Sherman, Mattie and Nettie.

While past reunions have been held individually by the Applewhite descendants, this will be the first reunion to include the entire family. More than 125 family members are expected to come together in Wilson, North Carolina from as far away as Arizona, Utah, California, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Georgia, and Washington, D.C.

America is truly a nation of families. We take pride in our families and we value family life. Our families teach us the values of loyalty, independence, responsibility and mutual love.

Strong, stable families are our nation's greatest asset. But to remain strong, families must nurture and reinforce their bonds. Family reunions provide a wonderful opportunity to strengthen and preserve those family ties. It is a time to learn, laugh and renew the ties of affection.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the Applewhite family as generations gather for this special occasion. Let their celebration remind us of our own roots, and of the strength and importance of our own families. May their family reunion be a successful event full of happy memories they can pass along to future generations.

Madam Speaker, on Saturday, July 17, 2010, friends and family will gather to celebrate the 100th birthday of Mrs. Gladys Haskins in Wilson, North Carolina. Mrs. Haskins is a strong and caring woman who strives to treat everyone well and always tries to do what is right.

The youngest of 12 siblings, Mrs. Haskins was born in Florence, South Carolina on July 3, 1910. Because her family worked as sharecroppers, she had to leave school after the third grade to work. Her family later moved to Wilson, North Carolina where she met and married her husband, Nathan Haskins, Sr.

After living in Washington, DC for a decade, Mrs. Haskins returned to Wilson, North Carolina where she lives to this day. She maintains an interest in gardening, and has been a faithful member of Wilson Chapel Free Will Baptist Church for more than 50 years. And, as the Bible commands in Exodus 20:12, Mrs. Haskins has always sought to honor her father and mother in order to live long in the land the Lord has provided.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing Mrs. Gladys Haskins. She is a truly remarkable person deserving of our deepest good wishes as she and her loved ones celebrate her 100th birthday.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend Lowe's Charitable and Education Foundation on their recent $100,000 donation to Weldon Elementary School in Weldon, North Carolina. This much needed funding will be used to renovate facilities, make technology upgrades and improve security.

Lowe's was founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The company now operates stores in all 50 states, Canada, and Mexico and serves over 14 million customers per week. Lowe's operates a distribution center in Garysburg, North Carolina, a small town of just over 1,200 residents, located in my Congressional District. Over 750 people are employed at the distribution center and more than 1,500 people are employed at Lowe's six home improvement stores located in my District. Many of them have friends or family that have attended Weldon Elementary School and understand the potential impact of Lowe's gracious donation.

Donating funds to needy school districts across the country is nothing new for Lowe's. Founded in 1957, Lowe's Charitable and Education Foundation is dedicated to improving the communities they serve through support of public education and community improvement projects. The Foundation donates millions of dollars annually to public schools, community organizations, and individual students.

Madam Speaker, I am encouraged by Lowe's strong involvement in communities across the country. I hope that other businesses will follow Lowe's example and work to build public-private partnerships that yield tremendous benefits for communities across the country.

I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Lowe's for their recent donation to Weldon Elementary School and to the many other worthwhile projects they support across the country.

Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate MSgt Vandiver ``Van'' Hood of the 4th Civil Engineer Squadron, 4th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, North Carolina, on receiving his third Bronze Star. Master Sergeant Hood's actions while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom saved the lives of his fellow servicemen and provided invaluable intelligence toward ending the ongoing global war on terror.

Master Sergeant Van Hood was born in Winston Salem, North Carolina on November 19, 1973. He was an extremely active young man. He participated competitively in soccer and swimming, leading him to varsity letters all 4 years of high school. Master Sergeant Hood graduated from Page High School in Greensboro in 1992 and joined the United States Air Force less than 2 years later on April 26, 1994.

Master Sergeant Hood was first stationed at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico. While there, he excelled, and won the First Sergeants Association's Diamond Sharp Award, was named the Master Blaster of the Year, and in 1997, was selected as Cannon Air Force Base's Airman of the Year. Master Sergeant Hood served at Cannon Air Force Base for over 4 years before being assigned to Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

After arriving at Ramstein Air Base in June 1999, then-Sergeant Hood was promoted to staff sergeant. He conducted explosive ordnance disposal testing on large caliber munitions as part of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe's, USAFE's, Projectile Attack Trials, yielding beneficial data for U.S. military efforts. While at Ramstein Air Base, Master Sergeant Hood won the USAFE Major General Eugene A. Lupia Military Technician of the Year award. Further, the unit he led received three ``excellent'' ratings on nuclear surety inspections. Following his 4 years at Ramstein Air Base, Master Sergeant Hood was stationed to Fort Dix, New Jersey, to work at the Air Mobility Warfare Center.

After arriving at Fort Dix, Master Sergeant Hood completed degrees in Explosive Ordnance Disposal and in Technology and Military Science. The latter afforded Master Sergeant Hood the opportunity to teach new airmen and prepare them for the rigors of the military.

Twice deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, during his first tour, Master Sergeant Hood safely destroyed and recovered 164 improvised explosive devices, IEDs, unexploded ordnances, and weapons caches. Master Sergeant Hood led five separate missions where his team encountered enemy fire. On one such mission, he and his team were targeted with a rocket-propelled grenade, RPG. The RPG missed Master Sergeant Hood by less than 5 feet, but unfortunately struck a vehicle and injured a member of the Army's Quick Reaction Force. Master Sergeant Hood administered immediate medical care to the injured soldier and after support arrived, Master Sergeant Hood completed his initial mission. For this and other heroic efforts, Master Sergeant Hood received his first Bronze Star Medal.

Master Sergeant Hood was redeployed to Iraq as a Weapons Intelligence Team Leader in 2007. While there, he and his team successfully completed over 90 combat missions including 80 IED responses, recovery of several weapons caches, and serving in four named missions. One of those missions found Master Sergeant Hood and his team in danger of a radio-controlled IED. Through his quick thinking, Master Sergeant Hood immediately cleared the engagement zone from first responders and local citizens. He and his team were successful at rendering the IED safe, protecting local residents, first responders, and American warfighters. Master Sergeant Hood also designed a comprehensive curriculum on proper sensitive sight exploitation and conducted over 10 hours of training for the Iraqi Army Bomb Disposal Unit. His actions during his second deployment earned him his second Bronze Star Medal.

When Master Sergeant Hood returned to the United States, he received a promotion to the rank of Technical Sergeant. After nearly five years at Fort Dix, Master Sergeant Hood was stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

Master Sergeant Hood was at Seymour Johnson for less than a year when he deployed to Wardak Province, Afghanistan, to serve as leader for an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team. His third deployment to the region, Master Sergeant Hood again put himself in harm's way, saving the lives of his team and others. While on counter-IED operations, Master Sergeant Hood identified a hidden IED in rough terrain. Unable to remotely inspect the IED, he approached the device in a bomb suit and successfully disabled the hazard. Master Sergeant Hood and his team were responsible for an area over 6,000 square miles. He was instrumental in safely resolving over 150 emergency response missions including 75 IED incidents as well as 16 weapons caches. For his outstanding and distinguished service, Master Sergeant Hood received his third Bronze Star Medal. When he returned from Afghanistan, then- Technical Sergeant Hood was promoted into the senior noncommissioned officer ranks as a master sergeant.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to share MSgt Vandiver Hood's story. He has bravely and selflessly served the United States for over 16 years. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Master Sergeant Hood for having received three Bronze Star Medals. I also ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Master Sergeant Hood for his meritorious service to the United States.

Madam Speaker, on Saturday, June 19, 2010, friends and family will gather to celebrate the 100th birthday of Mrs. Estell Rountree. Mrs. Rountree is a strong and caring woman who believes that families should be bound by love, and that the families that pray together, stay together.

The proud grandmother of two, great-grandmother of four, and great great-grandmother to five, Mrs. Rountree is the oldest member of her community. Born in Nash County, North Carolina on June 15, 1910, she was the sixth of eight children born to William and Isabelle Ricks.

Mrs. Rountree attended Robin School in Nash County, and married Eddie Rountree from Pitt County, North Carolina. The couple had four children--Ernestine Rountree Porter, Gloria Rountree Williams, Barbara Rountree Petty and Deloris Rountree.

After the death of her husband in 1948, Mrs. Rountree took on the full responsibility of supporting the family as a full-time seamstress. She made clothes for herself, her children and people in the community. She also made uniforms for ushers of various churches, and continues to sew today. She also enjoys working in her flower garden whenever she gets the chance.

Mrs. Rountree is a dedicated member of the Little Hope Baptist Church. She served as an usher for over seventy years, and she has served on the Hospitality Committee and as janitor of the church. She also served as a Deaconess of the Church and later became one of the Mothers of the Church.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing Mrs. Estell Rountree. She is a truly remarkable person deserving of our deepest good wishes as she and her loved ones celebrate her 100th birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 13th Annual Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Expo here on Capitol Hill. As we struggle with rising energy costs and the BP oil spill, we are reminded every day about the importance of a sustainable energy policy.

This important event will bring together nearly 50 businesses, sustainable energy industry trade associations, government agencies, and energy policy research organizations to showcase the enormous potential of renewable energy and energy efficient technology.

As we search for ways to stimulate the economy, create green jobs, lower costs, reduce reliance on energy imports, and lessen the threats posed by the emission of greenhouse gas emissions, we must pay attention to this.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in welcoming this year's participants, and I encourage everyone to take some time to see the exhibits and speak with the participants.

Let me thank the gentlewoman for yielding the time and thank her for her work on the committee and her work here in the Congress. She is certainly representing her district very well, and I thank her for that. Let me also thank the ranking member, the gentleman from Wisconsin, who is managing the bill on the floor today for his friendship and thank him for the kind words he said about my alma mater, North Carolina Central University. I particularly want to thank my good friend, Congressman David Price, who proudly and effectively represents Durham County and the surrounding counties, which is the home of North Carolina Central University. I thank him for what he means to that community. Congressman Price has been so involved in the life of the university for so long, and I want to thank him publicly for that effective leadership.

Madam Speaker, I first arrived on the NCCU campus way back in August of 1965. It was a great year. I remember it so well. At the time, the university was named North Carolina College at Durham. It was while I was there at Central that the name was actually changed to North Carolina Central University. Not only did I receive a very effective and appropriate undergraduate education at the university, but I also received my law degree there at North Carolina Central University School of Law. So I have a lot to be proud of, and I have a lot to be thankful for. That's why I have come to the floor today to pay tribute to this great institution for its service over the past 100 years.

As Congressman Price said a moment ago, North Carolina Central University was established in 1910. It has grown into one of our Nation's oldest and most prestigious Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and all of us who attended North Carolina Central know the history of Dr. James E. Shepard. He was an extraordinary leader whose vision for the university has come to fruition. We call ourselves the Eagles. Congressman Price referred to that a few moments ago, and so we are certainly Eagles.

NCCU offers degrees in more than 100 fields of study. It awards graduate degrees in approximately 40 disciplines to a student body of 8,500. I believe when I started at the university in 1965, there were some 3,500 students at the school, and so the census and the population of the student body has actually doubled.

North Carolina Central University boasts a state-of-the-art biotechnology research institute that allows students to collaborate with pharmacy and biotechnology companies in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park. North Carolina Central University holds the top spot among public schools in the U.S. News & World Report's latest ranking of the Nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Finally, Madam Speaker, as I take my seat, I cannot help but mention the fact that we have nine NCCU law students on the Hill serving as interns this summer. They have been placed in various offices throughout the House of Representatives, and they represent the best of North Carolina Central University. They are our future leaders, indeed. And so we honor this great institution today. I ask my colleagues to join with us in voting ``aye'' on H. Res. 1361.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize and congratulate New Bern, North Carolina residents Zelmyra and Herbert Fisher, Sr. on 86 years of marriage--the longest marriage of a living couple in the world.

Mrs. Zelmyra Fisher, born on December 10, 1907, and Mr. Herbert Fisher, Sr., born on June 10, 1905, have been married since 1924. In that year, Calvin Coolidge was President; New York taxis cost 10 cents per half-mile; the Teapot Dome Scandal broke; the Ford Model T was the most popular automobile; and a postage stamp cost 2 cents while bread cost 9 cents a loaf.

In 1942, Mr. Fisher built what would become the family's home in the James City neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher would raise five children in that home, and continue to live there today. The couple met in elementary school and married when he was 19 years old and she was 18 years old, and they have shared 86 blissful years.

On Valentine's Day this year, Mr. and Mrs. Fisher gave free marriage advice on Twitter. When asked to share the best marriage advice they've received, they advised couples to ``respect, support and communicate with each other. Be faithful, honest and true. Love each other with all of your heart.''

Mr. Fisher, a retired worker from the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, has a great passion for baseball, especially for his two favorite teams, the New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves. Mrs. Fisher, a retired caretaker, greatly enjoys reading the Bible.

Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have contributed a lifetime of service to the fabric of their community through various community organizations and their respective churches, Jones Chapel A.M.E. Zion and Pilgrim Chapel Missionary Baptist.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and congratulating Mr. and Mrs. Zelmyra and Herbert Fisher, Sr. on the blessing of 86 years of marriage. They serve as a wonderful and enduring inspiration of love, family and sacrifice.

Thank you very much, Chairman Markey, for your leadership and thank you for bringing this important job-creating bill to the floor today.

Let me just highlight a section of the bill that I worked on to guarantee that all data processing jobs created will be American jobs. Because of this bill, companies and nonprofits will be aggregating data to provide rebates for thousands of energy-efficiency projects created by the act. We have ensured that the work is done right here in the

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the life and work of County Commissioner Minnie Shirley Wiggins who died on Sunday, April 18, 2010 after a short illness. Commissioner Wiggins was a well- respected elected official and community leader in Perquimans County, North Carolina.

Born on February 6, 1933 to the late Mary and Hardy Wiggins, Sr., Commissioner Wiggins was a graduate of Perquimans County Training School and St. Agnes School of Nursing in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Commissioner Wiggins served our Nation with honor as a United States Navy Nurse Corps Captain, serving aboard the USS Sanctuary during the Vietnam War. She was a proud member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Vietnam Veterans of America.

During her more than 20 years as a Perquimans County Commissioner, she provided a passionate and tireless voice for the youths and senior citizens of the Albemarle Region. She worked as a volunteer with elementary school children and devoted significant time to the Meals on Wheels program. She earned recognition for her devotion to public service, including North Carolina's highest honor--the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.

Commissioner Wiggins had a great passion for her church, Melton Grove Missionary Baptist Church of Winfall, North Carolina, where she was a devoted member for many years.

She is survived by brothers, Percy A. Wiggins Sr. and Horace Wiggins; brother/son Hardy Wiggins Jr.; daughter/niece C. Loretta Buggs; and a host of nieces, nephews, adopted sons and daughters, godchildren and extended family.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues rise to recognize the life and work of Commissioner Minnie Shirley Wiggins and her outstanding public service to the community. I also ask that we pass along our best wishes and prayers to her family, friends and loved ones during this time of bereavement.

Madam Speaker, today I am proud to mark Earth Day's 40th anniversary. The brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson, Earth Day has done more than simply raise awareness of environmental issues; it has helped shape policy to build a more sustainable country.

This occasion should remind everyone of the opportunity to swiftly take steps toward addressing our most dire environmental threat--global climate change. Last June, the House approved the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which would establish a process to curb greenhouse gas emissions. If signed into law, our children will celebrate the 80th annual Earth Day in 2050 with 83 percent less domestic greenhouse gas emissions.

It is critical that the U.S. Senate take immediate steps to provide meaningful, science-based legislation to limit greenhouse gas emissions. We must do our part to leave a legacy of conservation and sustainability for future generations. And, as Congress slowly labors to provide direction, millions of Americans are taking their own steps to live greener and more sustainable lives.

Northwest Halifax High School, located in Littleton, North Carolina in the First Congressional District, has installed a 2.0k/W solar panel system that will use a third less energy and reduce carbon emissions by 117,840 pounds over the lifespan of the system. On average, the school will save enough money to hire two full time teachers.

Madam Speaker, as we celebrate Earth Day, I urge Congress to meet the mandate of the American people and pass meaningful legislation to confront climate change. I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating Earth Day, and commending Northwest Halifax High School on setting an example for all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, when I recently visited a restaurant in my rural district, a gentleman approached me to say that he was a Republican and had never voted for a Democrat, but he voted for President Obama. He stated his appreciation that the President was standing up to greed, that he was standing up to Wall Street and corporate America. He felt that corporate greed is among the greatest challenges facing our Nation, and he is absolutely correct.

The first day President Obama took office, the country was at the brink of economic ruin triggered by financial deregulation and banks that pursued reckless investments to produce quick profits. Wall Street was acting more like casinos than banks, taking big gambles, and when they lost, forcing the taxpayers to pay. They got rich, everyone else got squeezed.

Democrats have a solution. Wall Street doesn't like it, but we have a solution. We want transparency, we want accountability, and we will not stop until that happens.