Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, sixty-five years ago, our nation's greatest military minds gathered with our European allies deep beneath London to set into motion a plan called Overlord. Unsure if the weather would clear long enough for the operation, planners reluctantly gave the order--advance to Normandy.

On the morning of June 6, 1944, forces approached from the sea in silence, under cover of darkness seeking single points on a map. Their names--Omaha and Utah, Juno, Sword and Gold--are forever stained by the fateful events of that day.

All told, the Allies mustered nearly 3 million Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen. Nearly 160,000 troops came across the English Channel on D-Day with another 2 million in the months after.

Those brave many boarded landing craft and aircraft, bound for an uncertain fate against a war-tested opponent that had become the most feared army to cross Europe in two millennia.

Tossed by rough seas and unsettled by the distant echo of machine gun fire, young men from every corner of America stepped into the breach, wading through neck-deep water to open a beachfront in France and blaze a trail of liberation to Berlin.

American landing forces at Utah beach faced the lightest resistance of the invasion's 50 mile breadth. 197 brave souls lost their lives at Utah, but most of the 23,000--men like Raymond Jackson, a Tucsonan with the 15th Cavalry Recon Squadron--came ashore and linked up with the 101st Airborne in Normandy's first major success.

Omaha was less absolute. High bluffs were defended by mortars, machine gunners and pillboxes. The German forces atop the steep, sandy cliffs were highly trained and combat tested. They repelled Allied landing craft and destroyed American tanks as they hit the beach. Commanders considered abandoning Omaha. But our brave Soldiers persisted.

Led by signalmen like Norm Hartline from Tucson, more than 50,000 men in all came ashore at Omaha. More than 5,000 wouldn't advance past the surf line. Killed and wounded lay in the wake and behind parapets for hours or days. History tells us that it took until June 9th for American infantry units from Omaha to successfully establish a beach head at Omaha.

Today, we once again pull back the curtains of history to honor those American and Allied heroes who stood as the point of liberty's spear. Within boundless volumes on World War II are the eulogies of Bradley and Eisenhower, Patton and Montgomery--leaders of the Allied liberation of Europe.

But where we find D-Day's true heroes are not within the dust jackets of history books or news clippings from the day. They haven't lived lives of great fanfare. Our greatest generation arose from America's factories and farms, from our inner cities to our outlying territories. And to these places they returned.

On their backs we won a great victory for freedom and liberty, against oppression and

hatred. Then on those same backs we built the world's greatest democracy, serving as a beacon of light, a shining city atop a hill. Many of the true heroes of D-Day have forever gone unrecognized because they sought not the special recognition afforded their heroism. To these heroes, it was a patriotic duty--a level of selfless sacrifice that transcends medals and citations. And in small towns and big cities across America, the few remaining true heroes of D-Day continue to live quiet lives.

But as these standard bearers for virtue pass on and the torches that marked their trail to liberty are extinguished, we take a proud moment to offer our sincerest gratitude and our indebted praise to those brave warriors who stood between humanity and evil to save mankind from the brink.

And we remember in our hearts and prayers those who gave their last full measure of devotion--for freedom.

Madam Chair, on rollcall No. 308, I arrived on the floor and the vote had closed. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Madam Speaker, a couple weeks ago our Nation celebrated Memorial Day, a day to give tribute to the men and women who have given their lives for our country. But I think it's important for those of us who serve in the Congress to realize that we, on a regular basis, have to do everything we can to protect and defend those who protect and defend us.

Later today I will be introducing the Armed Forces Behavioral Health Awareness Act as well as the Veterans and Survivors Behavioral Health Awareness Act with Congressman Akin. These bills represent a strong bipartisan commitment to expanding and protecting access to mental health treatment and services for our active duty and retired military. These bills will provide all servicemembers with equal access to readjustment counseling and mental health services at Vet Centers. We will provide dedicated funding for nonprofits supporting military families and create a program for proactive mental health outreach to soldiers. We will also provide a program for Vet Centers aimed at growing the number of mental health trainers as well as providers.

These bills will dramatically expand our ability to provide mental health coverage to our warriors who are doing so much for all of us both here at home and abroad.

I encourage my colleagues to join me in moving these bills toward swift passage.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to reaffirm a sacred principle that has guided and inspired our Armed Forces for more than two centuries. That principle--

``leave no man behind''--was given new meaning in Southeastern Arizona on May 15 and 16, 2009.

On those dates, 58 American soldiers who died while serving their country were reburied in an emotional ceremony. The flag-draped caskets holding the remains of these soldiers were carefully transported from Tucson to their final resting place at the veterans cemetery in Sierra Vista.

What made this ceremony so poignant was not the journey from one Arizona city to another. This reburial also was a journey through time. These men who once wore the military uniform of our country died between the 1860s and 1880s. Their remains, as well as the remains of four civilians, were unearthed during an excavation project in downtown Tucson.

My hometown has undergone many changes since the late 19th century. Then, Arizona was decades away from becoming a state and our military was nothing like the global fighting force it is today. Yet then and now we adhere to the principle that no soldier who died for his country should be left behind. This principle--like the Constitution these soldiers fought to defend--transcends eras and endures through the ages.

The reaffirmation of this principle would not have been possible without the men and women of the Historical Soldiers' Relocation Project who dedicated their time and energy to make sure our soldiers were given an honorable and dignified burial. These patriotic citizens worked tirelessly to organize a ceremony that would reflect the significance of the occasion. No detail was overlooked, from the Victorian style cemetery to the marble headstones made for each of the deceased. The flag covering each casket was the thirty-five star flag-- the flag under which these soldiers once served.

The remains of the soldiers were given every honor we should give all who have served our nation in the Armed Forces. The soldiers were placed among the other honored dead of our military after being escorted by more than 200 veterans on motorcycles from Tucson to their new resting place at the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery. I was honored to be a part of this escort.

All of this would not have been possible without the commitment of the members of the Historical Soldiers' Relocation Project. They are: Joey Strickland, Joe Larson, Bob Strain, Larry McKim, Ingrid Ballie, Tom Dingwall, Earl Devine, Col. Bob White, Dr. Randy Groth, Dan Ferguson, Donald Nelson, Paul Weishaupt, Angela Moncur, Bill Hess, Ty Holland, Mike Rutherford, John Clabourne, Lynn Roehsler, Dave Schultz, Jan Groth, Joe Smith, Phil Vega, Stephen Siemsen, Clarence ``Shorty'' Larson, Timothy J. Quinn, Jim Bellomy, Jacob Loveron, Jeremiah Sprat, Logan Daynes, 1st Sgt. Matthew A. Putnam, LCDR Shannon Willits, SSGT Timothy Diggs, David Schreiner, John Prokop, Roger Anyon, Marlessa Gray M.A. RPA, Dorothy Ohman, Jim De Castro.

I commend them for their work on this important project and for ensuring we rightfully honor all those who have put on the uniform to serve our country.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I rise today to honor and recognize our Nation's military and their families. As Memorial Day approaches, we remember the sacrifices of daily military life, but we also remember the legacy of service that blazed the trails of the American West and the avenues of freedom around the world.

Last weekend we laid to rest the bodies of 57 Tucson-area Civil War soldiers who were stationed in the Arizona Territory in the 1800s. They served in the Cavalry and the infantry as cooks and as scouts on the frontlines of American expansion. As we led the motorcycle escort to their final resting place near Fort Huachuca and Sierra Vista, hundreds of our Nation's veterans and supporters showed through their outpouring of patriotism that the underpinnings of Memorial Day are important every single day.

I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering all of the servicemembers and their families who have sacrificed for our great Nation both abroad and here at home.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm glad that during this period of economic downturn we are ensuring that we are doing everything we can to support our small businesses. We need to protect those taxpayers. We need to make sure that the backbone of the country stays intact.

I think it's also pertinent that this week we're recognizing National Small Business Week and celebrating the great efforts of American small businesses and everything that they're doing right now to survive this economic downturn.

For a second, I'd like to mention a small business in my district, AGM in Tucson, which last week was named by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce the Small Business of the Year for 2009. This is a Tucson- based manufacturer that is a leader in demonstrating intelligent business judgment and showing a true commitment to its employees and to its customers.

Arizona is a unique State. We have a lot of entrepreneurs, minority- owned businesses, and women-owned businesses. Altogether, there are about 100,000 small businesses that represent over 95 percent of the States' employers who, like AGM, are making vital contributions to our local economy.

Before I got involved with politics, I was the President and CEO of my family's small tire and automotive company. I know exactly how hard it is to compete in this day and age.

Small businesses are looking for the tools and resources that they need to operate and grow during this tough economic climate. That is why I'm supporting H.R. 2352, the Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act. This bill will reauthorize and modernize the SBA's entrepreneurial development programs. It's going to foster veterans' business opportunities and spur job creation and economic growth.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation and help foster American competitiveness.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I yield myself 2\1/2\ minutes.

First I would like to thank Chairman Miller for his work to bring this important legislation back to the floor of this Congress. I appreciate his willingness to work with me and my cosponsor, Representative Cleaver, on this amendment.

Second, I would like to extend a special thank you to my colleague Steve Israel from New York. Representative Israel has done a lot of excellent work on green schools and green education, and he has contributed substantially to the quality of this amendment. I am indebted and grateful to him for his work.

Greening our society represents both a tremendous opportunity and an urgent imperative. For the sake of our economy, our national security, the environment, our public health, we must make the transition to greener technologies without delay.

The bill before us recognizes the importance of making this transition in our Nation's schools. This legislation will facilitate the adoption of green technologies in the buildings where our children spend their days learning. This will reduce the environmental footprint and improve the learning environment of schools across the Nation.

But more than that, green projects represent a significant opportunity to enhance our students' education. The purpose of this amendment is to capitalize on this opportunity. The amendment would encourage schools receiving funds to educate their students about the projects that they have undertaken. This includes both how the projects function as well as the environmental, energy, and sustainability benefits. Adding an educational component to these projects will serve two important goals:

First, it will provide an opportunity to teach students about how to use our natural resources in terms of the way it affects the world around us economically, environmentally, and even geopolitically. Second, it will expose students to new technologies and show them how they can solve problems through creativity and innovation. We live in an increasingly technological world; we must take every opportunity to inspire our kids and equip them with the skills that they're going to need for 21st-century problems.

I know firsthand from the experience of schools in my own district the value of green technologies and school building and curriculum. Schools like Civano Elementary and Empire High are reaping the benefits of exposing their students to solar power and other green technologies. This amendment would encourage others to follow their lead.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to my colleague from Missouri (Mr. Cleaver).

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.

The 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act addresses critical infrastructure needs in our Nation's schools. Let us ensure that it addresses critical educational needs as well.

I urge my colleagues to adopt this amendment and once again thank Chairman Miller for his leadership on this legislation.

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

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Speaker, many Members tonight are speaking on energy efficiency and renewable energy because they represent tremendous sources of barely tapped potential to help our Nation save money, increase energy independence and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This week the House Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Caucus is drawing attention to these important opportunities by sponsoring the annual Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Expo. The event will run all day on Thursday in the Cannon Caucus room. It will feature over 50 companies and advocacy groups explaining the latest and greatest in energy.

Coming from southern Arizona, it's no surprise that my favorite type of renewable energy, of course, is the sun. And this is an exciting time for solar power. Technologies are rapidly improving, and costs are falling.

Solar power is already cost-competitive with peak power in many areas of the country. Many experts believe that it is on track to be competitive all day long within just a few years.

I urge my colleagues to stop by the expo on Thursday and learn more about these exciting contributions that energy efficiency and renewable energy will make to our future.

I'm honored today to be here to celebrate May as National Jewish American Heritage Month. A little history lesson: in 1654, 23 Jewish refugees traveled from Brazil to present-day New York and founded the first Jewish communal settlement in North America. It really wasn't until 100 years earlier that the Spanish Inquisition descended upon the inhabitants of New Spain, where Jews decided to flee to Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, and that really marked the beginning of a rich heritage of Jews in the Southwest.

The Jewish community in southern Arizona today is strong and vibrant and we have a tremendous amount of history. During Arizona's territorial years, Henry Lesinsky, a Jewish immigrant from Europe, immigrated to southern Arizona and spearheaded the copper mining business in southern Arizona, and really, Bisbee of today is a legacy of his. Another pioneer, Isadore Solomon, a Jewish banker, founded Valley National Bank, which today is known as BankOne.

This week we are also recognizing the 61st anniversary of the State of

Israel. In my trips to Israel, I have had a chance to witness the resiliency and resolve of its citizens.

So I'm proud, Mr. Speaker, to join with Jews of the Southwest to celebrate our heritage around the world, as well as to recognize Israel's 61st anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to celebrate April as National Community College Month with my support of H. Res. 338, ``Supporting the Goals and Ideals of National Community College.''

As the largest rural college district in the state, Cochise College has served the area of Southeastern Arizona since 1964. With multiple campuses and learning centers in Douglas, Sierra Vista, Benson, Willcox, Fort Huachuca, and Nogales, Cochise educates about 14,000 students a year.

Community colleges are essential to expanding access to postsecondary education to those who might not normally benefit from traditional colleges and universities. As a member of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges consortium, Cochise College offers tailored learning to active-duty or retired servicemembers and their families.

Furthermore, community colleges contribute over $31 billion annually to the Nation's economic growth. In Cochise County, the College is the 10th largest employer in the county.

Cochise College strives to educate students with transferable degrees and direct-employment training, which are important tools in a competitive job market such as this. As Southeastern Arizona continues to grow, the College's role becomes ever so important to our community's development.

I am proud to celebrate National Community College Month by recognizing the integral role community colleges play in our evolving society.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to celebrate April as National Community College Month with my support of H. Res. 338, ``Supporting the Goals and Ideals of National Community College Month.''

More than 11 million students are enrolled in for-credit and not-for- credit programs at community colleges nationwide, and in my district alone, over 73,000 students attend Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona.

Community colleges are essential to expanding access to postsecondary education to a more diverse population than traditional colleges and universities. Pima Community College exemplifies that mission with a student profile compiled of 56% women and 42% ethnic minorities.

Since 1969, Pima Community College has provided an affordable and convenient education by offering child care, job placement assistance, financial aid, and other support services. As University fees continue to rise and more people return to school in an increasingly competitive job market, the College's role becomes ever so important to our community's development.

I am proud to celebrate National Community College Month by recognizing the integral role community colleges play in our evolving society.

Madam Speaker, I am proud today to highlight May as ``Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and to rise in support of House Resolution 269, which I introduced with my colleague from Texas, Congressman Michael Burgess.

Our resolution recognizes the importance of motorcycles, and encourages riders to always wear helmets and other protective gear, to never drink and ride and to be properly licensed and trained.

H. Res. 269 also serves as a reminder to all riders and motorists to always share the road respectfully.

I have been riding and racing motorcycles for over 20 years--so the issue of motorcycle safety is of great importance to me.

Sadly, it is true that motorcycles have a higher rate of fatal accidents than automobiles.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, motorcyclist fatalities increased by 57 percent between 2002 and 2007.

Motorcyclists are about 35 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a motor vehicle traffic crash and 8 times more likely to be injured.

As motorcyclists across the county gear up for the upcoming riding season, these startling statistics highlight the need for safety education.

They also reflect the growing popularity of motorcycles. Over the past decade, U.S. motorcycle sales have more than tripled.

In my home state of Arizona we have more than 150,000 registered motorcycles.

With over 300 days of sunshine in our state every year, you can imagine why so many Arizonans choose to ride their bikes!

There are many other reasons why motorcycles are so popular, but one explanation is simple economics: motorcycles offer a more fuel efficient--and cheaper way--of getting around.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, motorcycles consume 56% less fuel per mile traveled.

On average, motorcycles can get between 40 and 75 miles per gallon of gas.

I am proud that, as a motorcyclist, I can leave a smaller footprint on our earth by riding my bike.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank the Motorcycle Industry Council, the American Motorcyclist Association, and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation for all that they do to support motorcyclists.

I am pleased that the House will be considering H. Res. 269 today, and I urge its swift passage.

Thank you and Happy Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month!

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Canyon Del Oro High School Academic Decathlon Team who recently won first place in the Arizona state competition and placed fourth in the United States Academic Decathlon.

These smart, industrious young men and women have set a wonderful example for every public school student in our country. Their achievements remind us that excellence is the direct result of determination, hard work and clearly defined goals. The nine-member team includes: Taylor Cleland, Marie Clymer, Benjamin Ferell, Melinda Fraser, Jordan Kurker-Mraz, Rush Moore, Dylan Ousley, Danielle ``Ellie'' Strasser, and Jennifer Wendel.

Guiding these talented young people was their able coach and teacher, Mr. Chris Yetman.

Before traveling to Memphis, Tennessee for the national competition, the Canyon Del Oro High School Academic Decathlon Team participated in the state competition in Phoenix. There, they took written exams, gave prepared and impromptu speeches and were interviewed on a diverse range of subjects. They were tested on their knowledge of mathematics, music, literature, economics, art history and social sciences. To be successful, each team must include students who have mastery in each of these subject areas.

It was a great source of pride for all Southern Arizonans when the Canyon Del Oro High School Academic Decathlon Team defeated their closest competitor by 3,000 points in the state competition. This victory paved their way to Memphis, Tennessee and their prestigious fourth place finish nationally.

Students on the team also won individual awards. Taylor Cleland finished with the bronze medal in art, the bronze in math and the silver in social science. Melinda Fraser finished with the silver in art. Benjamin Ferell finished with the top score on the team and was awarded the bronze in art, the bronze in literature, the gold in math and the bronze in ten events. Jordan Kurker-Mraz finished with the gold in art, the gold in essay, the silver in social science, the silver in the super quiz, and the bronze in ten events. Rush Moore finished with the silver in social science, and Jennifer Wendel finished with the gold medal in interview. Additionally, Benjamin Ferell received $1,000 in scholarships and Jordan Kurker-Mraz received $3,000 in scholarships.

I commend the Canyon Del Oro High School Academic Decathlon Team for their outstanding accomplishments. Their journey to these academic heights has brought local, state and national recognition to each of them and their school. Their achievements are an inspiration to us all.

Mr. Speaker, this week the Space Shuttle Discovery docked at the International Space Station to deliver the final platform of solar panels that will support additional laboratories and the arrival of an expanded crew.

As the new chair of the Space and Aviation Subcommittee and a champion of solar energy, I am delighted by the space solar alliance that will advance human knowledge and technological development.

The panels being installed 220 miles above us this week have a wingspan of a 747, and they contain over 32,000 cells, enough to power 50 homes.

Recently, First Solar, an Arizona solar panel maker, announced solar cells that will be less than $1 per watt. Global Solar, another Arizona company, creates solar cells that can be integrated into military and police gear.

What started as an expensive niche technology is now a consumer- driven, mass-produced product. Solar was absolutely vital to America's success in fulfilling our bold commitment to explore the heavens. Today it is playing a vital role in tackling an equally daunting task, America's energy independence.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor United States Air Force Staff Sergeant Timothy Bowles, who was killed in action with three fellow Airmen when his armored vehicle struck a buried IED near Kot, Afghanistan on March 15, 2009. He leaves behind father, his Louis, a Retired Airman, his mother, Lisa, and a sister, Heather.

Born in Anchorage, Alaska, Timothy grew up on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and lived much of his life in Tucson, where his father was stationed. Timothy graduated from Tucson High School in 2002 and attended Pima Community College before joining the Air Force in 2007. Staff Sergeant Bowles was assigned to the 3rd Logistics Readiness Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base back in Alaska, where he was trained to be a fire truck mechanic. But on this day, he volunteered to stand in for a fellow airman who was not feeling well.

Timothy's Provincial Reconstruction Team was headed out to Jalalabad to check on a local schoolhouse when a pressure-plate IED ended his life. He was only twenty-four years old.

Born to and raised among the United States Air Force, Staff Sergeant Bowles knew well the costs of war. He volunteered for the nine-month deployment that took him to Bagram Air Base in November 2008. He volunteered for this dangerous duty. Tying humanitarian support to local security, Timothy and his PRT teammates stood between civilians and insurgents as Afghans seek to rebuild their long-oppressed country.

We remember Sergeant Bowles and offer our deepest condolences and sincerest prayers to his family. My words cannot effectively convey the feeling of great loss nor can they offer adequate consolation. However, it is my hope that in future days, his family may take some comfort in knowing that Timothy's legacy reaches beyond the desolate landscape of Afghanistan and into the hearts of a grateful nation.

This body and this country owe Timothy and his family a debt of gratitude and it is vital that we remember him and his fellow servicemembers who have paid the ultimate price.

Timothy is a hero both to his country and to his wonderful family. We salute his selfless service, sacrifice and bravery. May he not be forgotten and may his mission continue in the work of this body and the hearts of all Americans.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor United States Army Sergeant Jeffrey A. Reed, who was killed in action near Taji, Iraq on March 2, 2009.

Sergeant Reed was assigned to the 411th Military Police Company, 89th Military Police Brigade, from Fort Hood, Texas. His mission in Iraq was to mentor Iraqi Police units so that they could effectively maintain the peace as we withdraw our forces in the coming months.

Jeffrey was just 15 days from completing his second tour in Iraq and returning to Tucson, where he and his wife Ashley reside. A Chesterfield, Virginia native, Jeffrey joined the Army shortly after he graduated from high school in 2004, following the example of his older brother, who left college to sign up with the Army after the Sept. 11 attacks.

He was part of a routine patrol just north of Baghdad when a grenade ended his life. Jeffrey was just 23 years old.

We remember Sergeant Jeffrey Reed and offer our deepest condolences and sincerest prayers to his parents and young wife. My words cannot effectively convey the feeling of great loss nor can they offer adequate consolation, but it is my hope that in future days, his family may take some comfort in knowing that Jeffrey's legacy reaches beyond the desolate landscape of Iraq and into the hearts of a grateful nation.

This body and this country owe Jeffrey and his family a debt of gratitude and it is vital that we remember him and his fellow servicemembers who have paid the ultimate price.

Jeffrey is a hero both to his country and to his wonderful family. We salute his selfless service, sacrifice and bravery. May he not be forgotten and may his mission continue in the work of this body and the hearts of all Americans.