Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, today I would like to pay tribute to Mr. Roland Kell on his retirement with thirty-eight years of service within the oil industry and to his ongoing support of the State of Mississippi.

He began his career at Gulf Oil's Milford Haven Refinery in 1972 filling various roles including technical services, planning and economics and operations supervision, transferring in the late 1970s to Gulf Oil's U.S. operation.

Roland was then assigned to Pembroke Cracking Company, a partnership between Texaco Limited and Gulf Oil (Great Britain) Limited, where he supervised various commissioning activities. This assignment was followed by an appointment as Manager, Operations, Pembroke Cracking Company, prior to joining Texaco as General Manager, Pembroke Cracking Company.

Roland Kell was appointed to his current position, General Manager, Chevron's Pascagoula Refinery, in July 2002. Before coming to Pascagoula, Roland served as the Vice-President of ChevronTexaco's Europe and West Africa manufacturing, supply and trading business. From 1997-2001 he was General Manager of ChevronTexaco's Pembroke Refinery in Wales.

Following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Chevron under Roland's leadership was recognized as one of the driving forces that formed partnerships with the local communities and State to help ensure successful recovery paths. While under his direction, Chevron's Pascagoula Refinery has secured approval and commenced construction of various major expansions that have employed thousands from across the States of Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana.

In Jackson County, Roland serves on the board of directors of the Jackson County Economic Development Foundation. He is a member of the Gulf Coast Business Council and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College District Workforce Council. On the State level, he serves on the State Workforce Investment Board. He also serves on the Industrial Advisory Board for the University of South Alabama College of Engineering.

Roland graduated from Leeds University, UK, in 1972 with an Honours Degree in Chemical Engineering and is a Chartered Engineer and a Member of the Institute of Chemical Engineers.

A native of Great Britain, Roland currently resides in Pascagoula. He has two grown children and enjoys travelling and meeting people of different cultures.

I congratulate Roland on his retirement and thank him for his diligent service to the energy industry, particularly in the great State of Mississippi. May he have many joyous days to pursue his personal hobbies and interests!

Madam Speaker, today I recognize and pay tribute to Sergeant Jennifer Evitts, United States Marine Corps, on the occasion of her transfer from the liaison office. I, and many other members of this chamber, have had the pleasure of working with her over the past three years that she has served as part of Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs and as the Congressional Liaison Non-Commissioned Officer of the U.S.M.C. Liaison Office in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Sergeant Evitts distinguished herself through exceptional meritorious service while serving as the Non-Commissioned Officer of Legislative Affairs. Every day she served in direct support of not only the Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs but in direct support of every member of Congress, every Marine and every American. Her keen abilities in organization, interpersonal relationships, and communication were extremely critical to the successful accomplishment of the Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs' mission. Her achievements and ability to get the job done have been understated but always effective and noteworthy. While serving in the Liaison office, Sergeant Evitts was able to develop and execute legislative strategy for the United States Marine Corps that was instrumental in creating a fiscal and policy landscape conducive to training and equipping the Nation's most elite fighting force, ensuring their success on the battlefield. She routinely turned broad guidance into action which energized the Office of Legislative Affairs and members of Congress alike. Her actions allowed the Marine Corps to engage members of Congress and their staffs, directly facilitating the increased emphasis on improving Congressional relationships--a cornerstone of CMC's strategic vision.

The Marine Corps House of Representatives Liaison Office that Sergeant Evitts leaves behind is functional and responsive, highly integrated, and favors a proactive legislative strategy. While leading the House Liaison Office through the extraordinary challenges associated with Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and the ongoing Global War on Terror, she concurrently ensured that a myriad of daily Congressional communications, taskings and events were executed flawlessly. During Sgt. Evitt's four years as the Non- Commissioned Officer, she accomplished the full spectrum of the Marine Corps' legislative mission. She exemplified the candor and knowledge that we have come to expect from the Marine Corps and she played a key role in maintaining superb relationships between the Marine Corps and the House of Representatives.

Throughout her tour, Sgt. Evitts effectively responded to several thousand congressional inquires, many of which gained national level attention. During her time on Capitol Hill, Sgt. Evitts successfully planned, coordinated and escorted over 50 international and domestic Congressional and Staff Delegations. Her detailed coordination with foreign government officials, U.S. State Department, and senior military officials ensured that each delegation was conducted professionally. Her attention to detail and anticipation of requirements allowed Representatives to focus on fact-finding and gleaning new insights that informed critical decisions to support the people of the United States. Due to her professionalism, dedication and keen knowledge, Sgt. Evitts became the most sought after military escort for delegations conducting Congressional travel. The time she has spent supporting Members of the House has been truly noteworthy. She has made lasting contributions to the House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I voted against H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, on November 7, 2009 and I will continue to oppose this legislation in the House. The House passed the bill by a vote of 220-215. During House consideration, I voted for the Stupak amendment, which prohibits federal funds from paying for abortions

or from subsidizing health insurance plans that would cover abortions. The House passed the Stupak amendment by a vote of 240-194.

Taxpayers cannot afford a new federal health insurance program. The government already provides Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs to provide medical care for senior citizens, people with disabilities, and others who have substantial medical needs. Our nation also has an obligation to provide medical coverage for veterans, active-duty military and their dependents, National Guard and Reserve personnel, and military retirees. With the national debt in excess of $12 trillion and projected to grow far into the future, I believe that Congress should focus on fulfilling the promises that have already been made rather than make new promises that we cannot afford.

There are several ways to make health care more efficient without increasing costs and without creating a whole new government program.

I strongly support efforts to allow the government to use their purchasing power to negotiate directly with drug manufacturers when buying prescription drugs for beneficiaries enrolled in the Medicare Part D Program. Negotiating prices with insurance companies would help to ensure that taxpayers are paying the best available price and that tax dollars are spent wisely without reducing coverage or affecting the individuals enrolled in Medicare Part D. In 2008, the government spent about $49 billion on Medicare Part D drugs. If the government could save even 10% by negotiating directly with drug companies, taxpayers would save nearly $4.9 billion.

The government should purchase generic drugs instead of more expensive alternatives, unless the prescribing physician says that a name brand drug is medically necessary. On average, generic drugs cost 1/10th of the cost of their name brand equivalent.

I am a cosponsor of H.R. 1583, legislation to repeal the insurance industry's antitrust exemption. The health care bill that passed the House included a repeal of antitrust laws only for the health care industry. While this is important, I firmly believe that repealing antitrust laws from the entire insurance industry would force insurers to compete with one another in a competitive market on the basis of price, service, and value. I strongly supported the bill that passed in the House which repealed the exemption of antitrust laws for the health care insurance industry.

I am also in favor of proposals that would allow individuals to continue to be covered under their parents' insurance plan until they reach the age of 27.

I would like to remind you that I do not support creating a whole new health care program, but I do support smaller reforms to make the current system more effective for taxpayers and consumers. Again, I voted against the health care bill that passed the House, and I will oppose this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Commander Shanti Sethi, United States Navy, who provided invaluable service to this House on national security issues for the last two years as a liaison officer assigned to the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs and who will soon be on the front lines of our Nation's defense as the commanding officer of a United States Navy destroyer.

Commander Sethi is a native of Reno, Nevada but was raised in Connecticut, New York, Oregon, and California. Her step-father is Hall of Fame drag racer Conrad ``Connie'' Kalitta and she spent many of her formative years at the track honing her mechanical skills. She graduated from Norwich University in 1993 with a degree in International Affairs and commissioned through the NROTC program. She holds a Masters Degree in International Policy and Practice from The George Washington University.

At sea, Commander Sethi served on USS Butte (AE 27) from March 1994 to June of 1996 as Communications Officer and Electrical Officer, making a Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf deployment in support of Operations Deny Flight, Sharp Guard, and Southern Watch. From August of 1996 through October of 1998, she served as the commissioning Navigator onboard USS Hopper (DDG 70). During this tour she supported a Panama Canal transit, accelerated test and trials, and a Middle East Force deployment in support of Operation Southern Watch commencing within one year of the ship's commissioning. She served as the Weapons Officer and Combat Systems Officer on USS Higgins (DDG 76) from March of 2001 until May of 2003. Onboard USS Higgins, she completed an Arabian Gulf deployment for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom including missile defense tracking and cruise missile operations. She subsequently participated in the first test of crew exchange on destroyers serving as Combat Systems officer on USS Benfold (DDG 65) until her transfer in November of 2003. Commander Sethi was selected for early sea command and assumed command of MHC crew BOLD in April 2006 while embarked in USS Blackhawk (MHC 58). During her command she was responsible for training Greek naval officers in the operation of MHC vessels prior to foreign military exchange. She subsequently assumed command of MHC crew Detector embarked on USS Kingfisher (MHC 56) where her ship provided valuable services to pre-deployment workups for Navy carrier strike groups.

Her shore assignments include serving as the Executive Assistant to the Commandant of Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy, Resource Officer for Shipboard Protection Systems and Shipboard Radar Systems on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations where she was instrumental in the rapid fielding of systems to protect warships from small boat and unconventional attacks, and her current assignment as the surface warfare liaison officer assigned to the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs.

In her current assignment Commander Sethi's responsibilities included primary liaison for surface combatant construction, surface ship combat and weapons systems, ballistic missile defense, and a myriad of other logistical and operational issues affecting the surface fleet. CDR Sethi provided invaluable support to me, the Committee on Armed Services, and the various Members and personal staff of the subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces. She displayed a unique ability to explain complex military requirements against the backdrop of uncertain future threats. In this she served this committee well and reflected great credit upon herself and the United States Navy.

Madam Speaker, I have the great honor to inform the House that Commander Sethi has been selected to assume command of the Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Decatur (DDG 73). When she does so, she will be only the 15th female officer to command a capital ship of the line. For myself and the other Members of the subcommittee we wish Commander Sethi fair winds, following seas, and Godspeed as she leads her crew in the protection of our nation.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 856) recognizing the Commissioning of the USS New York LPD 21.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

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

I rise today to support House Resolution 856, recognizing the commissioning of the USS New York. I would like to thank my colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler), for his work in bringing this resolution to the floor.

The attacks in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001, will live on in American memory as one of the darkest days in our Nation's history. We can never forget the images of the members of the New York City Fire Department and Police Department, as well as other first responders, who demonstrated unsurpassed courage and bravery as they worked day and night to retrieve and rescue victims from Ground Zero. In the days shortly after September 11, Governor George Pataki asked the Navy to name a ship involved in counterterrorism after the State of New York to honor the sacrifice and strength of the people lost that fateful day.

On November 7, 2009, the fifth San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship will be commissioned as the USS New York LPD 21. The ship's bow is comprised of 7\1/2\ tons of steel forged from the World Trade Center wreckage. F. Curtis Jones, a native son of New York, will serve as Commander. The USS New York will be able to deploy 700 marines and equipment to execute amphibious assault capability anywhere in the world on a moment's notice. This ability is critical to our ongoing efforts to suppress terrorist organizations, as well as protect and defend the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in congratulating the captain and commissioning crew of the USS New York as their ship joins the United States Navy by supporting H. Res. 856.

As a Mississippian, I want to commend the Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama shipbuilders who built this fine vessel.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my friend and colleague, the original sponsor of this measure, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).

Madam Speaker, again, I would like to thank the gentleman--one of the many gentle men and women from the State of New York--for introducing this resolution, and I encourage every Member to vote for it.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

I thank the gentleman.

I rise in opposition to the rule. We have at the moment about 10 percent unemployment in the United States of America. Some of the oldest laws of our Republic are the cabotage laws, which reserve coastwide commerce for American-made, American-owned, American-crewed vessels. They also required that all repairs to those vessels take place in the United States of America, except for emergency repairs, and certainly prohibited the rebuilding of any vessel overseas.

In recent years, I have supplied to the United States Coast Guard photographs of a ship that was clearly rebuilt in the People's Republic of China. Just yesterday, I supplied to the Rules Committee those same photographs, a vessel that any amateur could look at and clearly see this isn't an emergency repair. It is the rebuilding of an American- flagged Jones Act vessel in the People's Communist Republic of China.

Having brought this to the attention of the Commandant, he said that the law reads, and I want people to hear this, A vessel is deemed to have been rebuilt in the United States only if the entire rebuilding, including the construction of any major component of the hull or superstructure, is done in the United States.

That seems pretty clear to me. Apparently it was not clear to the Marine Inspection Office of the Coast Guard. So I asked the Commandant of the Coast Guard for a clarification. ``Why don't you come up with something, Mr. Commandant, that your folks will understand?''

He came up with a very simple amendment that said 10 percent of the weight of the vessel, if you are changing out 10 percent of the weight of the vessel, that is clearly a rebuild. It has to be done stateside.

I regret that an amendment drafted by the United States Coast Guard was rejected by the Rules Committee. I am told it was a concern about some foreign treaties, and I would remind Members this is language that goes back to 1956, prior to GATT.

So I am going to rise in opposition to this rule.

I would have thought with a Democratic majority that we would have been about trying to repeal things like NAFTA, things like most-favored-nation status for China, and those things that limit American job opportunities here within our own country.

I am deeply disappointed in the ruling of the Rules Committee. Obviously, we need to get this bill to the floor, but we ought to be taking steps every chance we get to bring jobs home to America. The Rules Committee decided otherwise in a vote last night.

I thank the gentleman very much for the opportunity.

Let me begin by thanking our chairman and ranking member for the phenomenal job they've done.

Let me begin by telling the gentleman from Virginia that I agree with much of what he said. I would also remind the gentleman from Virginia that, like him, I voted to send those young men and women to Iraq and Afghanistan. With that vote came my commitment to equip them, to pay them, to take care of their families should something bad happen to them, to provide them with the very best equipment.

The one thing that every American can agree on is we have the world's best Army. We have the world's best Navy. We have the world's best Marine Corps. We have the world's best Air Force. This bill keeps it that way.

I regret that the other body, by a vote of 87-7, put some language in there that should never be in this bill. But the bottom line is, come November, sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I'm going to be visiting at least 7,000 Mississippians, to the best of my ability trying to see every one of them that I voted to send there. And when I look them in the eye, I want them to know that I voted in support of them over the reservations of one small part of this bill.

The bill does a lot of good things for our Navy. It pays for seven new ships: a DDG-51 class destroyer, the best Destroyer in the world, one that we're going to build for at least another decade; two Littoral Combat Ships; two T-AKE dry cargo ships; a Joint High Speed Vessel; and a Virginia class submarine.

It includes language to see to it that our next generation of carrier, with the all-important electromagnetic launch system, will have the proper oversight so that it is delivered on time and on budget. It includes language to see that the Littoral Combat system that, to date, has been poorly handled will be done better in the future with a 10-ship buy, followed by a 5-ship buy, at the best price for whoever is willing to make that ship.

It funds the F-18E/F program, the world's best fighter, except for the F-22, and, quite frankly, a lot more affordable fighter than the F- 22.

Lastly, it includes $6 billion for the most important weapon in our inventory at the moment, and that is the next generation of mine resistant vehicles. Look at the casualty list from Afghanistan. Almost every casualty is a result of an improvised explosive device on a vehicle that is not mine resistant.

The magnificent vehicles that we have built that work so well in Iraq and have saved so many lives in Iraq were, unfortunately, too big and too bulky for the terrain in Afghanistan. That's why we have to come up with a second-generation vehicle. This bill funds 5,000 of those vehicles that when they are delivered, from day one, will start saving lives and bring our friends and our family members back home with their limbs.

So, Mr. Speaker, again, like many of you, I have very, very, very deep concerns and, in fact, anger over some language that was included in this bill. But that is not enough to keep me from voting for funding the troops that serve our Nation so well, giving them the equipment they deserve.

Would the gentleman yield?

I want to thank the gentleman. You ask a great question. The reason is, in the 6 years that he was Secretary of Defense, Don Rumsfeld decimated the defense acquisition community, fired tens of thousands of people who would have drawn those drafts and would have put it out for bid. We are trying to reconstitute that community right now.

You are exactly right. Because of the lack of trained professionals, there really isn't anyone in the DOD anymore who can say what something should cost. You don't learn that overnight. Now, we are trying to restore that----

And we are dealing with it.

The other part is, on those major programs, starting with the big ones, whenever we buy something here going forward, we are demanding that when we buy something, we own the technical data package, that from now on we will own the specifications so that----

If we think the contractor is not being fair with us, we can put it out for bid for someone else.

Again, I would remind the gentleman; the gentleman makes the point that we have had a new administration for 6 months. Don Rumsfeld, the guy who said he knew the Iraqis had weapons of mass destruction and he knew they were going to use them, decimated the acquisition force.

Unless you own the specs, you can't put it out for competition. We are in the process, in the Armed Services Committee, of getting the specifications of everything we buy from here on out--something Rumsfeld never did--so that we can have the kind of competition that the gentleman seeks. We are in the process of doing so, starting with the Littoral Combat Ship.

If the gentleman has a question, I would be more than happy to answer it.

Sure.

Again, there will be times when someone who has invented something comes to Congress and says, I have something that is bigger, faster, smaller, faster--whatever the deal is. And if that person says, and by the way, I own the unique rights to this, do you want to buy it from me or not? That first time it makes sense for the Nation to buy it. It also makes sense for the Nation to say, from here on out, when we buy your product, we are buying the specifications with it so we can get it from somebody else in the future.

Sure.

Mr. Chairman, last year you had extensive hearings on this subject. The bill that was proposed by the House increased the coverage amount since it was a shock to a lot of people who had to rebuild--$250,000 just doesn't buy the kind of house that it used to 10 years ago.

We took the step to end the practice of concurrent causation, where if, according to testimony before the Mississippi Supreme Court, a house was 95 percent destroyed by the wind before the water got there, the insurance companies would bill the Federal Government for 100 percent of the cost of the damage, as testimony before the Mississippi Supreme Court. And then the other thing is the possibility of adding wind insurance to the National Flood Insurance Program so that there isn't any discrepancy. It doesn't matter if the wind destroyed your house or if the water destroyed your house, if you built it to code, if your community built to code and you paid your premiums, that you are going to get paid.

I realize your committee has been very busy with the housing crisis. Everyone is aware of that. But the folks in the affected regions--which is now 52 percent of all Americans--are curious; at what point do you think there will be some talk of these changes to the flood insurance?

Specifically, does the gentleman envision hearings this fall on the subject?

I thank the gentleman.

And to the previous speaker, as someone who lives in a house on stilts and represents a lot of people who live in houses on stilts, they're not all that bad.

Thank you very much.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to express my opposition to this bill and for permission to insert a statement in the Record.

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill.

One of the provisions of this bill would create a cap and trade system throughout the United States in an effort to reduce the production of global warming gases. This system would limit the amount global warming gases emitted through regulation of ``allowances'' to each company. If a company released more

gases than their ``allowances'' permitted the company would be taxed by the federal government.

The system also would establish an ``allowance'' market that would permit companies to buy and sell ``allowances.'' The same speculators who manipulated oil futures last year, pushing gasoline prices over $4 per gallon will be trading in the cap and trade market, trying to figure out how to game the system at the expense of consumers and taxpayers.

I do not believe a cap and trade system is the approach that is best to reduce global warming gases. As a matter of fact I think it is a simple ``Ponzi Scheme'' that will increase energy prices. According to the Congressional Budget Office it will create a complex financial system that allows risky investment in the energy market increasing the cost of living per household by $1600 per year. Additionally, I don't like the idea that a factory in one state is cleaner than it has to be so that another factory is dirtier than it should be. This could potentially leave Mississippi with the cancer causing agents and other states with the credit.

Madam Speaker, I'll be brief.

This is a bad deal for South Mississippi and my nation. I hope that we will defeat this bill.

I very much want to thank our outstanding chairman, Mr. Skelton for giving me this opportunity.

I rise in support of H.R. 2647, the National Defense Authorization Act. As chairman of the Sea Power and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee, I am pleased to report to the House that this bill strengthens our Navy and Marine Corps by providing the necessary equipment for the brave young sailors and marines to carry out the tasks that our Nation requests of them. In all, this bill authorizes $38 billion for Navy and Marine Corps procurement, $19.6 billion for Navy and Marine Corps research and development efforts, $3.2 billion for Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Contingency Operations, and $401.9 million for maintaining a robust United States merchant fleet.

I believe that the balance between quality, capability, and affordability is met head on with the bill before the House tonight. The bill provides authorization for the correct number of ships, planes and ground vehicles with the right capability to meet the threat, but with the recognition that unless equipment can be procured affordably, we will never be able to build our fleet or our air wings. That's why, working in a bipartisan manner, the subcommittee recommended and the full committee adopted our recommendation to grant multiyear procurement authority for the construction of DDG 51 destroyer programs, the world's best destroyer, and multiyear procurement authority to realize significant cost savings in the procurement of F/A 18 Strike Fighters to repopulate our air wings on the decks of our carriers.

In particular, the bill would authorize construction of eight new battle force vessels to include a Virginia Class submarine, three Littoral Combat Ships, one DDG 51 Burke Class Destroyer, two T-AKE Dry Cargo Ammunition Ships and one Joint High Speed Vessel. In addition to new construction, the bill would authorize procurement of long lead material construction for seven additional vessels in coming years, most importantly, two submarines per year starting next year.

The bill would authorize the Secretary of the Navy to enter into multiyear contracts for the purchase of additional F/A 18 Superhornets and E/A 18 Growlers. The bill contains over $100 million in additional funding to buy long-lead equipment and materiel necessary to continue production of these aircraft.

These are the finest aircraft in the world today, save our own Air Force F22 Raptor. Since it's unlikely that our Navy and Air Force will go to battle against themselves, that means the Superhornet is unmatched by any other strike fighter in the world.

We must always remember that the Navy and the Marine Corps are our Nation's 9-1-1 force; they can arrive anywhere in the world quickly with full combat power. They do not need weeks or months to ship and stage equipment. This is why the expeditionary force desperately needs more of these strike fighters. The bill will provide that capability.

This bill would also continue vital research and development efforts to ensure that our fleet maintains the technology and the superiority necessary to defeat all threats.

Most notably, advanced missile and advanced submarine threats. The bill would fund the design and development of the next class of missile submarine, the next class of nuclear powered cruiser, and the next class of aircraft carriers.

Finally, the bill authorizes the resources necessary to maintain a robust United States Merchant Marine and authorizes $60 billion for the Title XI program.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank Captain Will Ebbs, Ms. Jeaness Simlar, Heath Pope, Doug Bush, and Jesse Tollson for their work in putting together this portion of the bill. I recommend it to the full House for its passage.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman. There is nothing I can say that can top the words of the gentleman from New Jersey, but I do want to use this opportunity to say what a magnificent job the AmeriCorps volunteers did down in southern Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina. They showed up almost as soon as the dust settled from the storm, and they are still there 3\1/2\ years later doing things for people who need some hope. I wanted to take this opportunity to heartily endorse this program.

I want to thank the gentlemen from Massachusetts and California for their very timely consideration of this. I want to thank all the members of the Mississippi House delegation for cosponsoring it.

Gentlemen, there really isn't anything that remains to be said. I think you all did a phenomenal job of honoring Ed Freeman's life. The only thing I would ask is that his Medal of Honor citation be included in the Congressional Record.

Thank you for the timely consideration.

Medal of Honor Citation, Captain Ed W. Freeman, United States Army

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of

his life above and beyond the call of duty:

Captain Ed W. Freeman, United States Army, distinguished

himself by numerous acts of conspicuous gallantry and

extraordinary intrepidity on 14 November 1965 while serving

with Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st

Cavalry Division (Airmobile). As a flight leader and second

in command of a 16-helicopter lift unit, he supported a

heavily engaged American infantry battalion at Landing Zone

X-Ray in the Ia Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam. The unit

was almost out of ammunition after taking some of the

heaviest casualties of the war, fighting off a relentless

attack from a highly motivated, heavily armed enemy force.

When the infantry commander closed the helicopter landing

zone due to intense direct enemy fire, Captain Freeman risked

his own life by flying his unarmed helicopter through a

gauntlet of enemy fire time after time, delivering critically

needed ammunition, water and medical supplies to the besieged

battalion. His flights had a direct impact on the battle's

outcome by providing the engaged units with timely supplies

of ammunition critical to their survival, without which they

would almost surely have gone down, with much greater loss of

life. After medical evacuation helicopters refused to fly

into the area due to intense enemy fire, Captain Freeman flew

14 separate rescue missions, providing life-saving evacuation

of an estimated 30 seriously wounded soldiers--some of whom

would not have survived had he not acted. All flights were

made into a small emergency landing zone within 100 to 200

meters of the defensive perimeter where heavily committed

units were perilously holding off the attacking elements.

Captain Freeman's selfless acts of great valor, extraordinary

perseverance and intrepidity were far above and beyond the

call of duty or mission and set a superb example of

leadership and courage for all of his peers. Captain

Freeman's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in

keeping with the highest traditions of military service and

reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United

States Army.

I want to thank the chairman of our committee and our ranking member for working together to help Mr. Bartlett and I put together what we think is an excellent package on the Navy and Marine Corps programs.

Mr. Speaker, we took the $14 billion that the President of the United States had asked for in shipbuilding to build seven ships, and because of the good work of Captain Ebbs on our subcommittee and Ms. Simler, we were able to stretch that out to 10 ships by setting other priorities.

We didn't quite get the package that originally passed the House due to some concessions to the Senate, but we did give the Secretary of the Navy the leeway to return to building the DD-51 program, rather than the DD-1000, should he deem that be in the best interest of our Nation. I think it is.

Additionally, we have $1.6 billion in funding for the National Sealift Fund. For the Maritime Administration we have about $878 million, which includes money for the Merchant Marine Academy, Military Sealift program, Assistance to Small Shipyards, and $30 million for the vital title XI program.

We've also given the Maritime Administration, working with the Senate, the language to make adjustments at the Merchant Marine Academy, so that their very generous alumni can continue to contribute to that institution, and those funds help subsidize the cost of it.

I want to point out that with the great help of my ranking member, Mr. Bartlett, we have taken a second huge step as a Nation to lessen our Nation's military vulnerabilities to having our fuel cut off. Last year, with his help, we determined that the next generation of cruisers would be nuclear-powered. This year, again with his assistance, we're going to see to it that the next generation of marine amphibious assault ships will have nuclear

propulsion, which means that we don't have to call on Hugo Chavez or the Iranians to get our vessels from one place to another, and that is a huge step on the part of this Nation towards energy independence.

Again, I want to thank the chairman and our ranking member. We have about $14 billion in for shipbuilding. We have another $14 billion in for planes and helicopters for the Navy and Marine Corps, $10 billion for weapons, ammunition, vehicles and equipment upgrades for the Navy and Marine Corps. Again, none of this could have been done without the tremendous assistance of my ranking member from Maryland (Mr. Bartlett).

I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Congress of the United States showed incredible generosity to the people of south Mississippi. One of those acts of generosity was the transfer of approximately 100 acres of very valuable waterfront property along Highway 90 in Gulfport, Mississippi, that had, and is still owned by the Veterans Administration to the City of Gulfport. We are very grateful for that. It had been my desire that that remain a veterans hospital, but because of the decision by the CARES Commission, the initial plan was for the Nation to sell that property and plow the proceeds of that sale into other Veterans Administration facilities in south Mississippi for upgrades.

In the aftermath of the storm, our very capable Senators drafted some legislation that allowed the city of Gulfport to receive this property free from our Nation. And again we are grateful for that.

What I regret is that there were no safeguards to ensure that this transfer, that this property continues to serve a public purpose. And this piece of property has been a public asset for over 80 years. For 80 years veterans with psychological, traumatic mental illnesses

have been treated there. And I think it would serve our Nation well to delay this process, go to conference and make sure that there are adequate safeguards so that the funds received from the lease of this property, any future use of this property, serves a public purpose.

And so I have brought this to the attention of Mr. Filner. I brought this to the attention of Mr. Edwards.

I would hope that, given, again, we respect the fact that Congress acted very quickly in the aftermath of Katrina to do something to help the people of south Mississippi in their efforts to act quickly. I regret that I don't think there were adequate safeguards to protect the public. This is an effort to slow this down just long enough to put those safeguards in there. I believe I have the support of Chairman Filner. I would hope I have the support of Chairman Edwards. I would hope Ranking Member Wamp would agree to this.

I yield back the remainder of my time.