Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday June 17, 2014 I was not present for 2 votes. I wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been present to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 313, I would have voted ``yea.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 314, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of a great citizen of the State of Michigan, Mr. Don Davis, a pioneer in music and business. Mr. Davis passed away on Thursday, June 5, 2014, at the age of 75. He is survived by his wife, Kiko, and his three children.

A three-time Grammy winner, Don knew that he had a passion for music at an early age and once told the Detroit News, ``The music industry chose me. If there is a gene for music, I had one.''

Don began his music career as a session musician in the early sixties for Detroit based Motown Records. He played guitar on their hits, ``Money (That's What I Want)'' by Barrett Strong, a song that would later be covered by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Doors, and ``Bye Bye Baby'' by Mary Wells, reaching number 45 on the Billboard Charts.

As a songwriter, Don experienced his first major hit in 1968 with Johnnie Taylor's ``Who's Making Love,'' which peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Charts. In 1976, he collaborated with Johnnie Taylor again, producing the song ``Disco Lady'', the first single to be certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Twenty years later, Don would expand beyond his outstanding music career to become the CEO and Chairman of the First Independence Bank, the only African-American owned bank in Michigan.

First Independence Bank, which operates a number of Detroit branches, has been named by Black Enterprise Magazine as one of the top 15 African-American owned banks in the country. In 2012, coming out of the Great Recession, First Independence Bank was able to record the most profitable year in its history and increase its total assets to $185 million.

As CEO, Don took his responsibility to his community seriously. In his 18 years as CEO, Don made it a priority to improve his community by focusing on its housing needs and providing excellent banking services to small business owners and families in Southeast Michigan.

Over many years, Don grew First Independence Bank into a trusted financial institution with loyal customers. Don believed that First Independence Bank could provide quality services to communities and customers who were previously overlooked by other banks. He was successful in advancing this mission.

Mr. Speaker, I will miss Don greatly and I know he will be missed by many in our community. I ask that you all join me in honoring his lifetime achievements and service. He will remain in our thoughts and his legacy will live on in Michigan and across our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, June 9, 2014 I was not present for 3 votes. I wish to submit my intentions had I been present to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 272, I would have voted ``yea''; had I been present for rollcall No. 273, I would have voted ``no''; had I been present for rollcall No. 274, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Reverend Dr. Steve Bland Jr. on the occasion of his Tenth Anniversary as the Senior Pastor of the congregation of Liberty Temple Baptist Church in Detroit, MI.

As the son of the late Reverend Steve Bland Sr., who was pastor to Bethesda Baptist Church, Dr. Bland grew up immersed in the teachings of Christ. It is hardly surprising that, like his father, Dr. Bland would heed the call and desire to serve his community. Dr. Bland entered the ministry full-time after working at a Kansas City accounting firm in the early 1980's. He is also the former Minister of Music, Youth Pastor and Assistant Pastor to the late Rev. Dr. Mac Charles Jones at the St. Stephen Baptist Church of Kansas City, MO. After faithfully serving for over 14 years in Rockford, Illinois as Pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Church, Dr. Bland was called to serve the congregation at Liberty Temple Baptist Church.

Under his leadership, the congregation at Liberty Temple has flourished with an increase of well over 900 members in a brief time. During his 10 years as Senior Pastor, Dr. Bland has brought a great sense of spiritual revitalization and excitement to Liberty Temple Baptist Church and the city of Detroit. Dr. Bland is a dynamic leader who offers a vibrant worship experience, inspirational teaching, and uplifting preaching, while meeting the holistic needs of the church, his family, and surrounding community.

As a Miles Jones Fellow and doctoral graduate of the Samuel Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, Dr. Bland's intellect and achievements have been sought out leading to appointments on several boards and leadership positions in the BM&E State Convention, Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Michigan District Baptist Association, the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit & Vicinity, the Ministers Council of the Michigan Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. of Detroit, Michigan and the Progressive National Baptist Convention.

In every way possible, Dr. Bland finds avenues through which he can further God's kingdom and genuinely pursues them. Dr. Bland's grand efforts have been strengthened by his wife, Phyllis, and his three children, Steven, Brandon, and Sydnie.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the profound impact that

Reverend Dr. Steve Bland Jr. has made on the congregation of Liberty Temple Baptist Church as its pastor for the last ten years and the larger impact he has made on the communities around him. I wish Dr. Bland, his family, and the congregants of Liberty Temple many more blessed years of spiritual fellowship.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the brave men and women of the Michigan law enforcement community who were recently awarded the 2014 Police Officers of the Year award by the Police Officer Association of Michigan (POAM), which represents over 14,000 frontline officers across the state. As part of the 47th annual POAM convention that was held on May 22, 2014 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, five officers were recognized for recent heroic actions and dedication to their work.

I would first like to honor Southfield Police Officer Nicholas Smiscik who, on New Year's Day 2013, bravely pursued an armed carjacker who shot and injured two people in Redford Township.

Officer Smiscik subdued the dangerous suspect and placed him under arrest. During his acceptance speech at the POAM convention Officer Smiscik stated that he was simply ``doing his job.'' I want to thank him for his service and for risking his life to keep our communities safe. I am honored to have him as a constituent in my District.

I would also like to recognize Crawford County Officers Matthew Swope and Michael Jacobi, who were honored as Police Officers of the Year for putting their lives on the line while apprehending a dangerous individual who was deemed a proven threat to the community.

In addition, Grand Blanc Officers Andrea Carlson and Lindsay Witthuhn were honored with the 2014 Police Officers of the Year award for acting with great bravery and discipline when responding to a domestic disturbance and preventing a far more tragic outcome.

Mr. Speaker, as a long-time friend, supporter and ally of the Michigan law enforcement community, I am proud to recognize the commitment of Michigan's police officers and the sacrifices they and their families make each and every day. Like Officer Smiscik, they will say they are just doing their job, but their dedication and bravery in the line of duty make our communities safe and enjoyable places to live.

It is a great honor to represent these heroic men and women and I invite my colleagues in the House to join me in congratulating all five Michigan officers on receiving this award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark a significant milestone in the history of Akiva Hebrew Day School in Southfield, Michigan--the school's 50th Anniversary of providing education to Greater Detroit's Jewish community.

Founded in 1964, Akiva was created by a dedicated group of educators who sought to provide the Jewish community in Metropolitan Detroit with a school that provided its students with a comprehensive academic curriculum, while deepening their connection to their faith and heritage. Today, Akiva offers an outstanding academic program for children from nursery school through high school, while providing complementary curricula that foster a love for their Jewish heritage, the State of Israel, and a deep commitment to a way of life that values the lessons of the Torah.

To support the ability of its students to achieve their maximum intellectual potential, Akiva provides them with a core academic curriculum that promotes the development of critical thinking and effective studying skills. Among the course offerings for students are an array of Advanced Placement level classes, as well as courses that support preparing them for higher education.

As part of this commitment to its students' education, Akiva is constantly revising and fine-tuning its programming at all phases in its students' development. Under the leadership of Rabbi Tzvi Klugerman, Akiva has recently made changes to its kindergarten reading program to promote both bilingualism and improved phonics skills during the earliest stages of development. Additionally, Akiva has implemented the ROAR program in its elementary school, to reinforce positive learning strategies among its students early in their academic careers. In its middle school, Akiva is providing an enhanced math program, and, in its high school, Akiva has added more Advanced Placement courses.

As a significant component of its curriculum, Akiva provides its students with a strong coursework of Judaic studies, which promotes the students' connection to their cultural heritage, faith, and the community--both locally and globally. Through a strong connection to their culture, Akiva students continue to take an active role in fostering the unique relationship between the United States and Israel, with many graduated students spending a year in Israel after high school. By practicing the tenants of their faith, Akiva students have supported a number of local non-profit organizations, like the Yad Ezra food pantry, the Friendship Circle and Yachad, which assist those who are experiencing moments of challenge in their lives.

Mr. Speaker, again, it is my pleasure to rise and recognize the outstanding leaders, educators and students of Akiva Hebrew Day School as they celebrate the 50th Anniversary of this great educational institution. Akiva programs are providing its students with a broad array of experiences both inside and outside the classroom which are preparing them to be future leaders, as well as supporting the special connection between the United States and Israel. It has been my pleasure to be partner with Akiva and to interact with its students. I look forward to the incredible impact that Akiva will continue to make as its faculty and staff guide future generations in their development.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Reverend Douglas Jones of Welcome Missionary Baptist Church in Pontiac, Michigan, as the congregation and the broader community celebrate his Twenty-fifth Pastoral Anniversary.

Throughout his tenure as the spiritual leader of the congregation at Welcome, Reverend Jones has approached his responsibilities with thoughtfulness and resolve for all of his congregation's members. From the very beginning of his tenure in 1989, Reverend Jones has focused on his congregation's future and in one of his first acts, took steps that allowed the church members to pay off Welcome's mortgage within his first three years. He also been keenly focused on the needs of Welcome's younger members and has established a number of ministries centered on catering to their needs. Furthermore, he has given special attention to members of his congregation facing moments of crisis in their lives--creating ministries that assist members with health and family emergencies.

The results of Reverend Jones' dedication are witnessed in the spiritual prosperity of the congregation at Welcome, which has grown both in membership from several hundred to more than four thousand, and in the deepening connection of its members to their faith.

In addition to the remarkable impact Reverend Jones has made at Welcome, he has engaged in endeavors that have affected the entire Pontiac community. As the founder of the Greater Pontiac Community Coalition, Reverend Jones brought together stakeholders from across the different sectors of Pontiac to make positive changes in their community. Additionally, Reverend Jones is active in many other community organizations in Pontiac and beyond, including Pontiac Youth Assistance and Pontiac's Committee of 50, a gathering of community decision-makers that drives philanthropic efforts within the city. Reverend Jones' work also includes the establishment of a scholarship fund to help youth realize their dreams of higher education and programs that support youth during their primary education.

Because of Reverend Jones' leadership and endeavors at Welcome Missionary Baptist Church and within the Pontiac community, many residents have received support at critical moments in their lives and have seen the bonds within their neighborhoods strengthened. I know the congregation at Welcome must be proud of all Pastor Jones' accomplishments over his twenty-five year tenure as their spiritual leader. I am grateful for Reverend Jones' friendship and his leadership on many issues of importance to the Pontiac community and the Greater Detroit region. I wish Reverend Jones, First Lady JoAnn and their family continued happiness and success as they continue to serve their neighbors in Pontiac and the Greater Detroit community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an exemplary member of our community, Mrs. Donna Quince-Cobb, for her abundant service to the community and her outstanding achievements as recognized by the Lambda Rho Zeta Chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. during its 31st Finer Womanhood Scholarship Luncheon.

Mrs. Quince-Cobb has an incredible passion for serving others, which is evident in her daily life. Forty years ago, her career began as a secretary to seven insurance agents, while simultaneously attending college. She diligently pursued her interest in sales and shortly after, acquired her own agency in 1982. Mrs. Quince-Cobb finds special joy in supporting children and the elderly. She is currently involved in a variety of community organizations, which also allows her to positively impact many lives. She is a charter member of the Noon Optimist Club of Auburn Hills and the North Oakland County Women's Council of Realtors. Concurrently, she dedicates her time to the spiritual needs of others through her volunteer service with the Senior Usher Board, the Deaconess Ministry, Pastor's Care, and Travel Ministries of Welcome Missionary Baptist Church.

Mrs. Quince-Cobb also extends her support to many women's shelters and other organizations, which support less fortunate children, such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Children's Village. She has actively served on the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Auburn Hills and served as a judge for an oratorical contest for college scholarships. Throughout her life, she has thoughtfully provided opportunities to many high school students through Co-Op and summer jobs. She has also helped shape the careers of many adult women in her agency by encouraging them to pursue a career in the insurance industry and other professional endeavors. She is proud to be the longest serving member of the Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce and received an award for her commitment to the Auburn Hills community. Additionally, she was recognized by the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. as Business Woman of the Year in 2007 and by the NANBPW Clubs as the first black female business owner in the Pontiac area.

Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Quince-Cobb has devoted her life to helping others in need. From serving others as an aspiring career-woman in her early days to being a distinguished businesswoman and leader in her community today, she is a role model to the community and the epitome of an excellent leader. She has changed and impacted the lives of many people through her service. I am pleased to honor Mrs. Quince-Cobb as the Lambda Rho Zeta Chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority recognizes her as one of its 2014 31st Finer Womanhood Scholarship Honorees.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Jeanette M. Campbell for the remarkable impact she has made on the Greater Detroit community, which has earned her recognition from the Lambda Rho Zeta Chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

Early in her life, Dr. Campbell demonstrated dedication to succeed and make a difference in her community. From the beginning of her journey through the higher education system, Dr. Campbell recognized the value and power that comes with knowledge. After graduation from Tennessee State University with her Bachelor's Degree, Dr. Campbell went on to obtain a Medical Doctorate from Meharry Medical College and a Master's of Business Administration from Madonna University. She later went on to continue her studies at Children's Hospital of Michigan, Vanderbilt University and the Columbia University School of Medicine.

In her professional career, Dr. Campbell currently serves as Vice President of Medical Associates, Inc., Associate Medical Staff at both Doctors' Hospital of Michigan and St. Joseph Mercy-Oakland and a member of the teaching faculty at St. Joseph Mercy-Oakland. She has served at St. Joseph Mercy-Oakland for more than thirty-five years and is the recipient of a service award in recognition of her diligent work on her patients' behalf. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Campbell serves on the Pediatric Advisory Committee for St. Joseph, as well as on the Pediatric Executive Committee of the National Medical Association. She also serves as Treasurer for the Pediatric Section of the National Medical Association and has been recognized by her peers with the Grace James Leadership Award in Pediatrics.

Beyond her professional work, Dr. Campbell is active in the Greater Pontiac community--engaged in endeavors that are helping others to realize their dreams. As a mentor for the Upward Bound program at Oakland University, Dr. Campbell is helping students realize the value of higher education which is vital to their success. Dr. Campbell is an active lifetime member of the NAACP, a speaker for the Black College Fund and an active member of the St. John United Methodist Church in Pontiac. She has received numerous awards for her leadership in the community including: the Image Award in Medicine and Theophalious Northcross Award from the North Oakland

Branch of the NAACP and the Community Service Award from the Negro Business and Professional Women's Club.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize a strong community leader, like Dr. Jeanette Campbell, for her dedication to her profession and to the Pontiac community. Her hard work and selflessness are an inspiration to all of us that seek to serve others I know her husband, Dr. Eugene Rogers, and their children and grandchildren must be so proud of Dr. Campbell for this great distinction and I wish Dr. Campbell well as she continues to make a difference in the Greater Detroit community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an exemplary member of our community, Major Patricia Overton, for her dedicated service to our country and young people through her administration of the JROTC program. It is these outstanding qualities that have earned her recognition from the Lambda Rho Zeta Chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

Major Overton, a graduate of the University of Tennessee and Webster University, was on active duty from 1981 to 2001 as a U.S. Army Officer. She is a member of Lomax Temple AME Zion Church, Detroit Federation of Teachers, American Federation of Teachers and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She has received the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and the Distinctive Silver Instructor award.

As an outstanding member of her community, Major Overton has benefited the JROTC program by serving as the Deputy Director for 17 high school JROTC programs and approximately 4,000 cadets. Her position includes coordinating formal inspections, developing standards for staff briefings, producing and editing summer camp newsletters, fostering relationships with TACOM/TARDEC for summer jobs for cadets, STEM tutoring for cadets and STEM instruction at JCLC. Major Overton also improves the lives of our youth by assisting cadets with college and scholarship applications. One of her greatest contributions has been to establish sponsored visits to West Point for her exceptional 2nd and 3rd year JROTC cadets who demonstrated interest in a military career, which has led an average of acceptance for two of her cadets to West Point each year.

Major Overton has also established a National Forensic League-style forensics program for her LET IV cadets, providing them the opportunity to enhance their research, critical thinking, and public speaking skills, as well as their ability to be informed, engaged citizens of our society.

Mr. Speaker, Major Overton has dedicated her life to serving our country through active service and management of the JROTC. From helping ensuring JROTC operates as effectively as possible to making college a reality for many teenagers, she is a role model to the community and the epitome of an excellent leader. She has immensely improved the lives of many people through her service. I am pleased to honor Major Patricia Overton for her continuing accomplishments and service to the community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with pride to recognize three outstanding students, with Michigan roots, whose vocal talent earned them spots in the coveted finals of American Idol for its thirteenth season.

For more than a decade, teens from across America have been using the stage of this great competition to share their musical gifts with people across our country. American Idol has been the proving ground for many young vocal artists who have gone on to make careers in the extremely competitive music industry. This year, Jena Irene Asciutto of Farmington Hills, Malaya Watson of Southfield and Sam Woolf, originally of West Bloomfield, have demonstrated the incredible talent that exists amongst the youth of Michigan's Fourteenth Congressional District and the Greater Detroit area.

Paying homage to the incredible vocal talent of Detroit's past, Malaya Watson began her journey on American Idol by singing Ain't No Way from Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul. As the daughter of a professional guitar player, an active member of Detroit's Mosaic Youth Theater, and a tuba player in her high school marching band, it is clear that Malaya's passion for music began at a young age and is a significant part of her life. Having made it to the final eight contestants, Malaya is one of the youngest finalists in American Idol history.

Sam Woolf, who spent his early years growing up in West Bloomfield, comes from a family with a long history of musical talent. Sam's great- grandfather, Sammy Woolf, was a well-known bandleader in Detroit, and his uncle, Randall Woolf, is a composer. Sam's great-uncle was a particularly prominent musician in Greater Detroit's Jewish community. With his top-five finish in this year's American Idol competition, Sam has undoubtedly made his family, the community of West Bloomfield and his current neighbors in Bradenton, Florida proud.

For Jena Irene Asciutto, this year's American Idol competition has been a magical ride--one that took her all the way to the finale. It is clear that Jena Irene's love and passion for music began long before her American Idol debut. From age 12 to 16, Jena Irene was an active member of the band Infinity Hour and has been an annual participant in her school's Coffee House talent show. As she prepares to graduate from North Farmington High School, Jena Irene's outstanding performances on American Idol have brought great pride to her family, her friends and to many across the State of Michigan and our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, again, it is a pleasure to rise and recognize the outstanding talent of Jena Irene Asciutto, Malaya Watson and Sam Woolf, who have inspired aspiring young vocalists from across the country to hone their vocal talents and pursue their dreams. I join their family, friends, and many in the Greater Detroit community in expressing pride of their accomplishments and wishing them ongoing success as they continue to pursue their dreams.

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, May 28, 2014, I was not present for 2 votes. Had I been present for rollcall No. 241, I would have voted ``yea.'' Had I been present for rollcall No. 242, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark an important milestone in the City of Hamtramck as the community comes together to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Hamtramck Police Department.

When Hamtramck first incorporated as a village in 1901, the tight- knit community was served by a single Marshall, Charles Johnson. For the first twelve years of its existence, Hamtramck was served by one law enforcement officer. On November 14, 1914, under the leadership of Marshall Bernard Whalen, the Hamtramck Village Police Force was formed. As the Hamtramck community entered the 1920s, the police force began to develop and take shape.

Hailed as a progressive organization for its time, the Hamtramck Police Department employed multiple African American officers beginning in the 1920s. When Officer Harry Wurmuskerken became chief in 1922, he oversaw the specialization of the department into bureaus to better serve the people of Hamtramck. Just two years later, the Hamtramck Police added a Women's Division to the department under the direction of Mrs. Susan Glinski. This division provided significant support to women and families living in the community. Thanks to its efforts, Hamtramck had one of the lowest juvenile delinquency rates in Michigan.

Over the decades that followed, the department grew along with the City of Hamtramck, reaching its peak of 120 officers in the 1940s. The department implemented many new technologies that helped increase responsiveness and public safety, including new patrol cars, a Teletype machine, a fire signal system, and a Western Electric one way radio system. During this time, thanks to the efforts and sacrifices of its officers in uniform, Hamtramck was named Safest City in America by AAA in 1946.

Following the peak of Hamtramck's population, the police department, just as its counterparts in neighboring municipalities, faced a period of tribulation where its officers faced increasing crime rates coupled with decreasing population and resources. In spite of these challenges, the men and women of the Hamtramck Police Department have been vigilant to protect their vibrant and diverse community. Their efforts are an important part of revitalizing the Southeast Michigan region and I commend the officers of the Hamtramck Police Department for their bravery and service to the community. The 100th Anniversary of the police department is a great milestone in the history of Hamtramck and I wish the officers of the department continued success and safety in their ongoing endeavors to protect their community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Al Fracassa as his family and the Greater Detroit community celebrate his retirement as Head Coach of the Brother Rice Warriors football team in Birmingham, Michigan. Capping off a 57 year career in football coaching, Coach Fracassa leaves the field as the winningest high school football coach in the State of Michigan's history having compiled 430 victories.

Long before his days as coach, Fracassa played football in high school and college--where he earned All State honors at Detroit's Northeastern High School and later joined the Michigan State University Spartans. At Michigan State, he was part of the school's dominance in colligate football during the early 1950s. While playing with the Spartans, Coach Fracassa was part of a team that won the National Championship in 1952 and played in the Rose Bowl in 1954. During his senior year, Coach Fracassa was honored with the highly coveted Fred Danziger Award. Praised by his teammates for his contributions both on and off the field, they describe Coach Fracassa as a dedicated athlete whose leadership inspired the best in his teammates--qualities that would continue to inspire while he worked the sidelines as a coach.

After his graduation from Michigan State, Coach Fracassa joined the coaching staff at Royal Oak's Shrine High School and became head coach several years later. In 1969, he went on to become head coach at Brother Rice High School in Birmingham, where he has served for 45 years and built a dynasty of dominance in Michigan high school football.

In football, so many important metrics of performance are measured by statistics, numbers which tell an incredible story of success for the Warriors under the direction of Coach Fracassa. With nine Michigan High School Athletic Association Championships--including three in the last three years, 16 Catholic League Championships, four teams that have been ranked national by USA Today and 430 victories over his career, Coach Fracassa has built an incredible program at Brother Rice. He is the recipient of many awards throughout his career, including the 2013 Coach of the Year Award by USA Today.

However, statistics do not tell the entire story of Coach Fracassa's success--the inspiration he instills in his players through his leadership and dedication to overall well-being. A constant throughout his career, Coach Fracassa is praised by his players for his inventiveness in play calling, his support of their development both on and off the field, and his genuine love for the sport of football. And as a testament to the long-term impact of his coaching, many of his players have gone on to excel in college and the National Football League.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Coach Al Fracassa for the incredible impact he has made on the Greater Detroit community and the State of Michigan. For 57 years, he has demonstrated leadership and dedication that have truly inspired his players to reach for their maximum potential. Coach Fracassa leaves an incredible legacy at Brother Rice--45 years of success and hundreds of students who he has helped develop both in personal character and in skill on the football field. I know his leadership on the field will be greatly missed and I wish Coach Fracassa and his wife, Phyllis, the very best as they embark upon a new chapter in their lives.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday April 28, 2014 I was not present for 2 votes. I wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been present to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 178, I would have voted ``yea.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 179, I would have voted ``yea.''