Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, this legislation will increase utility bills, raise the price of a gallon of gas, push fuel prices and food prices to new heights, and increase the cost of nearly every consumer product. It is a national energy tax. Let's make that clear. This will punish middle class families, farmers, the elderly, and small businesses both in Kentucky and especially across the Nation.

America needs a comprehensive energy plan, not a national energy tax. Local, State and Federal officials have stressed the need for policy to create jobs. This cap-and-trade proposal will fail to do that when America needs them most. We will lose jobs. Manufacturers will simply move their plants to other countries with cheaper energy and lower taxes, hurting American workers and the environment globally.

In the past 4\1/2\ years, I have watched House Democrats defeat every meaningful proposal for energy independence and job creation that has been proposed in this Chamber, and we have got to bring an end to that.

This bill is nothing more than the economic colonization of the heartland by the coastal States like New York and California.

The one thing that I will tell you is it is not about energy. It is about confiscation of wealth. Vote ``no'' to protect our children's future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Rev. Richard B. L. Fowler, a dedicated community servant and spiritual leader from the Fourth District.

Reverend Fowler was born and raised in Covington, Kentucky. He earned his bachelor's degree in engineering science from the University of Cincinnati and then attended the Cincinnati Bible Seminary, where he earned a master's in ministry degree.

He served our great country during the Vietnam War as a member of the Army stationed in Germany. Upon completing his military duty, Reverend Fowler began an impressive 28-year career with Procter and Gamble. During his tenure with the company, he acknowledged his call into the ministry and was ordained in 1979.

Reverend Fowler has served as pastor of the Ninth Street Baptist Church in Covington since 1983. And in addition to his duties at the Ninth Street Baptist Church, Reverend Fowler has contributed to his community as a member of numerous boards and committees, including the United Way, Northern Kentucky Children's Home, the Northern Kentucky Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Council, and our local community and technical college. He is also the founder and organizer of OASIS Incorporated, a nonprofit agency for education, community advocacy and substance abuse recovery.

On the 25th of June, Reverend Fowler marked the beginning of legislative business in the House of Representatives by offering the opening prayer on the House floor.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in commending Reverend Fowler in offering him our sincerest thanks for his years of service to Kentucky and to our Nation.

Mr. Chairman, today I offer an amendment that will enable our Nation to more effectively plan and execute national security and interagency operations.

To enhance our national security, we must be able to effectively integrate the military and nonmilitary elements of our national power. This requires the effective integration of all agencies of the Federal Government, not only those with traditional national security roles. However, achieving highly integrated national security interagency planning and execution requires personnel who have the knowledge, skills and attributes to plan and participate in these interagency operations. At present, there is no permanent, institutionalized system for developing the skills and experience required.

Examples abound of the need for this change, and I will cite two briefly. My first relates to our ongoing interagency operations in Afghanistan, and I commend President Obama for his determination to pursue an integrated interagency approach to resolving that conflict.

As our national security community knows, helping the Afghan Government create a secure and stable society requires, among other things, that we assist farmers in growing crops other than poppies, which are used to produce opium. Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has never been used before now to provide personnel in support of operations like those in Afghanistan. Instead, the military has been required to fill the gap with people without agricultural experience.

While our soldiers are very adaptable, we would be better off if USDA were routinely engaged in overseas national security operations with other agencies, military and civilian, of the Federal Government.

Next I cite our experience in Iraq. In the early days of the Iraq occupation, there was no modern banking system in Iraq, and Iraqi security forces could only be paid in cash, which required them to leave their units and to spend days away from their units taking money home to their families. During this period, the deputy Treasury Secretary told me that if he was given the go-ahead, he was prepared to help Iraq establish a modern, electronic banking system which would have, among other things, enabled Iraqi soldiers to get their pay at home without leaving their units and ongoing combat operations.

If Treasury, and in particular a Treasury cadre of national security professionals, had been properly involved early on, the problem and rise of criminal gangs and militias could have been mitigated sooner, thereby contributing to increased Iraqi combat power, lightening the load on our troops during a very difficult period.

My amendment, simply put, would require the President to commission a study by an executive agency to develop national security professionals across departments of the Federal Government to provide skilled personnel for planning and conducting national security interagency operations.

It is critical that we achieve a transformation in national security education, training and interagency experience to produce national security professionals who are able to work seamlessly together. By requiring the President to commission such a study on an interagency national security professionals program, my amendment lays the foundation for that transformation.

I commend Chairman Skelton. He has spent a lifetime supporting defense

reforms going back to Goldwater-Nichols and championing these reforms to further integrate our national security tools moving into the 21st century.

I thank Ranking Member McKeon for his work on this issue during my 4 years on the Armed Services Committee and continuing now as our ranking member on the committee.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I secured as part of H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010.

Requesting Member: Congressman Geoff Davis

Bill Number: H.R. 2892

Account: Predisaster Mitigation

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Brooksville

Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 216, 201 Government Street, Brooksville, KY 41004

Description of Request: Appropriate $18,500 to purchase an emergency generator for the City Fire Department/Community Center and City office building. This facility is the only emergency shelter area within the City of Brooksville. The generator will allow for this critical facility to serve as a shelter and emergency operations center during times of hardship and disaster, such as the ice storm in Kentucky in early 2009. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because completion of the project will ensure appropriate emergency management and protection the local community during significant weather events and emergencies.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I secured as part of H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010.

Requesting Member: Congressman Geoff Davis

Bill Number: H.R. 2847

Account: COPS Law Enforcement Technology

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Fleming County Fiscal Court

Address of Requesting Entity: 201 Court Square, Flemingsburg, Kentucky 41041

Description of Request: Appropriate $48,000 to acquire four (4) Mobile Data Terminals

(MDT) for the Fleming County Sheriff's Office. MDTs will allow the department to connect to the Kentucky State Police LINK/NCIC system directly from the police vehicle. MDTs also increase both officer and public safety by empowering law enforcement with critical information prior to exiting their vehicle. MDTs will quickly let the officers know if a vehicle is stolen, the person driving is wanted, and if the person is licensed to carry a concealed weapon. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will improve the safety of sworn officers responsible for protecting the community.

Requesting Member: Congressman Geoff Davis

Bill Number: H.R. 2847

Account: COPS Law Enforcement Technology

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Henry County Sheriff's Office

Address of Requesting Entity: 50 North Main St, New Castle, Kentucky 40050

Description of Request: Appropriate $82,000 for the purchase of law enforcement equipment for the Henry County Sheriff's Office, as well as the City of Eminence Policy Department and the City of Campbellsburg Police Department. Equipment will include five (5) MDTs, 1 TASER, 3 ATN-NVM 14-3 Night Vision Minocular, 3 Aimpoint Comp M4, among other items. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will improve the safety of sworn officers responsible for protecting the community.

Requesting Member: Congressman Geoff Davis

Bill Number: H.R. 2847

Account: COPS Law Enforcement Technology

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Oldham County Police Department

Address of Requesting Entity: 1855 North Highway 393, La Grange, KY 40031

Description of Request: Appropriate $57,000 to purchase six (6) Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs). The County currently has some MDTs and the use of these systems has provided a rapid and reliable means of obtaining information in today's criminal justice arena. For example, use of MDTs allows the officers to immediately determine wants or warrants on individuals and reduces down time by allowing them to enter reports and stolen property information immediately while still on duty. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will improve the safety of sworn officers responsible for protecting the community.

Requesting Member: Congressman Geoff Davis

Bill Number: H.R. 2847

Account: OJP--Byrne Discretionary Grants

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Oldham County Sheriff's Office

Address of Requesting Entity: 1855 North Highway 393, La Grange, Kentucky 40031

Description of Request: Appropriate $75,000 to acquire upgraded equipment appropriate to assist the Sheriff's Department in responding to a variety of law enforcement situations within the community. Equipment purchases will include dual antenna radar units, handheld radar units, mobile data terminals, portable breath testing units, Taser brand units, community service kid care identification machine, and Magna PD6500 brand security scanners, among other items. The Oldham County Sheriff's Office provides emergency response to the residents of Oldham County and surrounding Counties as requested. In addition, the Sheriff's office is responsible for courtroom security, prisoner transport throughout Kentucky, and protection of government employees, officials and government property. Federal funds will be used to purchase equipment that will increase the interoperability, improve the safety of sworn offices and the department's ability to respond to the needs of Oldham County. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will improve the safety of sworn officers responsible for protecting the community.

Requesting Member: Congressman Geoff Davis

Bill Number: H.R. 2847

Account: COPS Law Enforcement Technology

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Pendleton County Sheriff

Address of Requesting Entity: 202 Chapel St, Falmouth, Kentucky 41040

Description of Request: Appropriate $12,000 for the purchase of twelve (12) X26 TASERs (Electronic Control Devices) for county law enforcement officials and related training in equipment usage. Pendleton County does not have a detention center, so the Sheriff's Office and Jailer's office both transport prisoners fifty miles to and from Boone County Detention Center for court hearings and trials. TASERs would give the officials an additional tool on a non-lethal scale to control an unruly person. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will improve the safety of sworn officers responsible for protecting the community.

Madam Speaker, by 2035, the Heritage Foundation estimates that Chairman Waxman's legislation will cause a 90 percent increase in electricity rates and a 55 percent rise in residential natural gas prices. Experts predict that this will result in substantial numbers of United States jobs going to countries like China and India that have not adopted a national energy tax.

At a time when the national unemployment rate is soaring, approaching 10 percent in the next several months, and the Kentucky unemployment rate is getting dangerously high, we can't afford to enact this legislation that will create additional hardships.

Energy prices are a major factor in determining the cost of living and the cost of doing business in a particular location. The fact is that Kentucky is one of the lowest energy cost States in the Nation and depends on electricity produced from coal.

I recently met with plant managers and business leaders in Carroll County, Kentucky, who reiterated that the low cost of energy in the Commonwealth was a major reason they chose to base their businesses in the county, creating many jobs.

This energy tax will drive those businesses away or out of business, losing American jobs, because it is not considering the long-term economic impact, let alone the lack of environmental veracity. A familiar positive story that we hear throughout our Commonwealth is low energy creates jobs.

Madam Speaker, as a former enlisted soldier and Army officer, the lives and safety of our servicemen and -women has always been one of my top priorities. Chairman Conyers and I are, therefore, calling for the prompt negotiation of a bilateral naval agreement between the United States and Iran.

In January of 2008, Iranian Revolutionary Guards naval speedboats engaged in provocative actions against three U.S. naval vessels, showed little to no regard for maritime safety, and the event very nearly escalated into an armed conflict between the United States and Iranian vessels.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most crowded shipping lanes in the world. A conflict in the strait would have dire consequences for the world's oil supply and the international economy. An average of 15 tankers carrying between 16 and 17 million barrels of crude oil pass through the strait each day, making these waters one of the most strategically important oil choke points. The Department of Defense has stressed the importance of preventing future naval interactions in the region from escalating. The U.S. has a significant long-standing naval presence in the Persian Gulf, protecting our soldiers and marines in theater and international shipping lanes critical to global commerce. A military-to-military negotiation of bilateral ``Incidents at Sea'' agreement between the U.S. and Iran would codify vessel-to-vessel communications and improve safety, similar to the agreement during the Cold War.

I ask you to join Chairman Conyers and me in support of this agreement.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I secured as part of H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009.

Requesting Member: Congressman Geoff Davis

Bill Number: H.R. 1105

Account: Department of Justice--Byrne Discretionary Grants

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Buffalo Trace/Gateway Narcotics Task Force

Address of Requesting Entity: 908 Kenton Station Drive, Maysville, KY 41056

Description of Request: Appropriate $280,000 to continue the operations of the Buffalo Trace/Gateway Narcotics Task Force to collect, analyze and process information through an organized, coordinated investigation, with the assistance of local, State, and federal agencies, to discourage and eliminate the use and sale of illegal narcotics.

The Task Force will benefit law enforcement in the investigation of all types of crimes related to drug trafficking and drug abuse which may include thefts, robberies and homicides. Local law enforcement does not have the funds to strengthen and investigate drug related crimes in some of our communities.

The Task Force will impact the drug abuse and drug related deaths in the ten county area in which it covers, as well as provide the offender's with treatment and recovery. Local governments and law enforcement agencies provide matching funds to support operations of the task force.

Requesting Member: Congressman Geoff Davis

Bill Number: H.R. 1105

Account: Department of Justice--Byrne Discretionary Grants

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Oldham County Sheriff's Office

Address of Requesting Entity: 100 W. Jefferson Street, La Grange, KY 40031

Description of Request: Appropriate $90,000 to acquire upgraded equipment to assist the Sheriff's Department in responding to a variety of law enforcement situations within the community. Needed equipment includes: dual antenna radar units, handheld radar units, Mobile Data Terminals, tazers, four wheel drive police vehicle, GPS positioning units, PD6500 security scanner, and other appropriate equipment

to assist the agency in responding to a variety of law enforcement situations within the community. The Oldham County Sheriff's Office is a twenty-four hour law enforcement agency that provides immediate assistance to the residents of Oldham County and surrounding counties as requested. In addition, the Sheriff's office is responsible for courtroom security, prisoner transport throughout Kentucky, protection of government employees, officials and government property.

Requesting Member: Congressman Geoff Davis

Bill Number: H.R. 1105

Account: Department of Justice--COPS Law Enforcement Technology

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Alexandria Police Department

Address of Requesting Entity: 8236 W. Main St., Alexandria, KY 41001

Description of Request: Appropriate $30,000 to digitize police records and make them available in real time to officers throughout a three county region. The City of Alexandria Police Department on behalf of the Northern Kentucky Police Chief's Association is working collaboratively with local law enforcement agencies throughout our region to share police records. These records are considered public record, but are not readily available to local law enforcement as a means of data intelligence or for viewing by patrol officers in the field. This project uses state of the art software in a web interface that enables officers in real time to check master name files and previous contacts, as well as print warnings and other citations from the car using broadband internet connectivity. This project will allow local law enforcement to become more responsive to the community from a crime reduction standpoint.

Requesting Member: Congressman Geoff Davis

Bill Number: H.R. 1105

Account: Department of Justice--COPS Law Enforcement Technology

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Flemingsburg Police Department--

Address of Requesting Entity: 140 W. Electric Avenue, Flemingsburg,

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate one of my constituents, Mason County School District Superintendent Tim Moore of Maysville, Kentucky. On January 31st, Superintendent Moore received the F.L. Dupree Outstanding Superintendent Award from the Kentucky School Board Association.

The Dupree Award was created by Kentucky School Board Association and the family of the late F. L. Dupree, Jr., who was a member of the former London Independent Board of Education and a lifelong supporter and promoter of public education in Kentucky.

Superintendent Moore was chosen to receive the Dupree Award for his outstanding service to Kentucky's youth and to the communities of Mason County. Since becoming Superintendent in 1997, he has helped the school district improve its academic rankings, and meet all the goals outlined by the No Child Left Behind program. Additionally, he has fostered better relationships between students, faculty, parents and staff and helped the district rebound from debt by bringing the general fund balance up to $4 million.

Last year, former U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings and I traveled to the Mason County School District to learn about the innovative ways Superintendent Moore has dealt with the challenges faced by rural schools. During the visit, Superintendent Moore helped lead roundtable discussions with the Secretary, teachers, students and parents to discuss the local impact of federal education law in Kentucky and the improvements that can be made. Secretary Spellings and I were very impressed with Superintendent Moore's commitment to the students and to improving the learning environment in Mason County.

Superintendent Moore has inspired countless children and has been an exceptional leader in the Fourth District.

Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in commending Superintendent Tim Moore for his achievements.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of Gateway Community and Technical College.

On December 9, 2008, Gateway Community and Technical College attained Full Regional Accreditation by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) as a Comprehensive Community and Technical College.

With this regional accreditation, Gateway Community and Technical College has attained a longstanding goal of becoming a comprehensive institution.

Over the years, Gateway has distinguished itself through its dedication to the education and workforce development needs of Northern Kentuckians. The institution has maintained a clear mission to higher education and offers the resources, programs and services to accomplish and sustain that mission. The students and faculty deserve recognition for their diligent multi-year efforts that have resulted in the school's recent accreditation.

I applaud Gateway's commitment to excellence in education and their contributions to Kentucky communities. Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating this Kentucky institution on their recent SACS accreditation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate one of my constituents, Ms. Myra Morgan of Sparta, Kentucky. On December 9, 2008, Ms. Morgan was awarded the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award for excellence in education.

Ms. Morgan was notified of her win by Former Kentucky Commissioner of Education Jon Draud, who made the announcement during a surprise assembly at Gallatin County Lower Elementary School. Ms. Morgan has been a teacher at the elementary school for twelve years and is currently the department chair and team leader for the school's kindergarten team. She was one of eighty national winners of the 2009 Milken Educator Award and the only winner from Kentucky.

In May, Ms. Morgan will attend the Milken Family Foundation National Education Conference in California, where she will receive a $25,000 reward. The Milken Family Foundation was established in 1985, and the first awards were given in 1987. Since 1993, forty-nine Kentuckians have won the award.

Ms. Morgan has inspired countless children, and has been an exceptional leader in the communities of Gallatin County. We are all extremely proud that Ms. Morgan has received the recognition she deserves.

Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in commending Ms. Myra Morgan for her outstanding service to Kentucky's youth.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Reverend David Charles Cheek, an outstanding community leader in Kentucky's Fourth District. On January 8, 2009, the May's Lick Baptist Church held a celebration in honor of Reverend Cheek's 20 years of service to the Baptist Conference.

In 1989, Reverend Cheek was called to serve as pastor of May's Lick Baptist Church. He is the church's forty-third pastor.

Reverend Cheek has helped May's Lick Baptist Church expand its services to the community. Not only has the Church built a modern nursery and a Family Life Center during Reverend Cheek's tenure, they have also expanded the Sanctuary, purchased additional property and a new bus, developed an Educational Facility and settled all the Church debts.

Over the last 20 years, Reverend Cheek has ordained seven Deacons and has worked with four youth ministers. He has also mentored four individuals who eventually became ministers, three of whom were ordained at May's Lick Baptist Church. Reverend Cheek has served as Vacation Bible School Director for Bracken Association of Baptists for 20 years. He has also served on the Executive Board of the Bracken Association of Baptists and is a member of the Bracken Association Council.

Madam Speaker, please join me in commending Reverend Cheek for 20 years of extraordinary work. We are all blessed to have such a dedicated servant in May's Lick, Kentucky.

Mr. Speaker, we have come a long way since Julia Carson and I introduced the original version of this bill, H.R. 840, nearly 2 years ago. The McKinney-Vento programs haven't been reauthorized in nearly 15 years, and I am glad that the HEARTH Act was able to get this important discussion going again in Congress.

The Financial Services Committee held two hearings on this issue last year, and the testimony that we heard, from the providers especially, had a large impact to give us all a reality check on the different types of homelessness we are facing in this Nation. For example, in my part of the Nation, in the heartland in Kentucky, I'd like to call it homelessness in plain sight. We have very few of the classic HUD definition of homeless but, in reality, the vast majority, overwhelmingly so, are single parents with small children; more often than not, a battered woman with small children.

It's especially poignant for me to be here today, and I have to thank my friend and former office neighbor, the late Congresswoman Julia Carson. I was honored that she asked me to join originally to work on this bill with her. I give special thanks to my congressional classmate, Congresswoman Gwen Moore, for helping me to keep this issue at the top of the committee's priorities.

I'd also like to recognize the tireless work of all of the homeless advocates on this bill, members of staff here, so many team members, that worked hard in common cause but, in particular, one person that I have to recognize and thank is Linda Young from Welcome House in northern Kentucky. Linda was the one who originally brought this problem of leaving children and families out of the HUD homeless programs to my attention over 2 years ago. She came up to Washington to testify for us about her hands-on experience with this issue, and truly she has been an inspiration, not only here, but to thousands and thousands of the needy in Kentucky.

As a fiscally conservative Republican, I fully support the Federal investment in the homeless assistance grant programs. A roof over one's head goes a long way, but it's truly the supportive services, combined with housing, that have the biggest impact on changing a person's path in life. These programs lend a helping hand to people who want to build a future and pursue a dream. This type of Federal assistance has a lasting and positive impact, not only on the recipient, but on our communities and, frankly, on the Federal Treasury.

To help children, especially now, in this time, in this formative time, to keep them from becoming part of the system in the long-run, a falling into the despair of a hopeless future, it is critical that we make this investment and we give our care providers on the front lines the opportunity to build relationships that will transform lives.

My primary goal in cosponsoring the HEARTH Act was to increase local flexibility. Homelessness in Kentucky's Fourth District is not the same as it is in California, for example. Local continuums and providers should have the flexibility to tailor their programs and grant funding to meet their unique needs, and not have Washington bureaucrats try to give a one-size-fits-all solution for the definition of homelessness.

This is all about acknowledging that homelessness looks different in different parts of the country. Homelessness has many faces that for the most part go unseen by the public at large. They walk by us every day in the shopping mall and on the street. We see them passing us in the stores and in the parks and, regrettably, even in our churches. We look the other way because we don't have eyes to see. But if we open our eyes, if we ask for that gift, and we see, then we are called to action to make a difference.

I am thrilled to see that we have come to a compromise with the Senate on the definition issue. The compromise includes homeless families and unaccompanied youth identified by other Federal agencies. In HUD's definition, this was a problem.

This is a huge step towards ending homelessness. I thank everybody who has worked on this across the country, those here in the Chamber and on the Hill, those in our communities around the Nation, and for me, especially, I'd like to take a moment to share, as I stand in this Chamber, as I walk the halls of Congress tonight, and especially, for me, what I consider one of the most significant legislative pieces to affect a generation that is coming up now.

I am humbled to be here. I was one of those children who had to leave in the middle the night. I was one of those children whose mother in desperation married somebody who probably should not have been married; a man who was violent, alcoholic, adulterous, a mean-spirited individual. And I know that feeling to watch as a helpless 6-year-old when your mother is being hit, and to step between those two and to leave the house and to hide in the closet, the secret that the neighborhood knew nothing about. But that reality and that pain for us came to salvation by the grace of God, that there were little islands of opportunity where we could take refuge.

The truth though for so many thousands is that is not there. They have to move to other towns, other school districts and other communities. What this does is provide that island, that helping hand. It helps us with our weaker brother. It helps us care for those who are around us in a way that I believe is responsible, both fiscally and obligation morally.

I commend all who have worked on this, and I say God bless you for your efforts.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I secured as part of S. 3001:

Requesting Member: Congressman Geoff Davis.

BM Number: S. 3001.

Account: Other Procurement, Army.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: DRS Technologies, Inc.

Address of Requesting Entity: 7375 Industrial Road, Florence, KY 41042-2911.

Description of Request: Appropriate $2,400,000 for procurement of Multi-Temperature Refrigerated Container Systems (MTRCS). MTRCS is the follow-on generation of refrigeration systems. It provides the capability to transport and store both refrigerated and frozen products in a single container. It consists of an insulated 8' x 8' x 20' International Organization for Standardization shipping container with an engine-driven refrigeration unit that will allow operation on the move. The two compartments are separated by a moveable partition varying proportions of refrigerated versus frozen products, resulting in maximum loading of the container.

MTRCS is used principally by subsistence units. It will also be used by medical units for transport and storage of refrigerated medical supplies, including blood products.

The benefit to DOD is more efficient space utilization and reduced transportation requirements. Fewer vehicles will be required to transport food on the battlefield, reducing the number of soldiers exposed to danger from IEDs.

The Army Acquisition Objective for MTRCS is 4,432 systems, but only 1,050 are funded in the FY08-13 Future Years Defense Plan. This earmark would authorize procurement of an additional twenty systems.

Requesting Member: Congressman Geoff Davis.

Bill Number: S. 3001.

Account: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation, Army.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Ashland Inc.

Address of Requesting Entity: 50 E. River Center Blvd., Covington, KY 41012-0391.

Description of Request: Appropriate $800,000 to continue development of advanced coolant and lubricant systems utilizing nano-particle systems to enhance the capabilities of military ground vehicles and simplify

supply logistics. FY09 will be the third year of this project. The focus will be on transition to commercial production and final testing of stable nanofluids with improved cooling and lubrication properties while meeting all environmental requirements and making these processes commercially scalable.

Funds will be used for (1) transition production from development to commercial scale; (2) engine and vehicle dynamometer testing; and (3) field demonstrations. A dynamometer is a device that absorbs the power of an engine in the absence of a vehicle to move. The test engine to be used is the new production engine for the HMMVW that has been the engine of choice for that vehicle for the past several years. A test cell is a physical container or room that is properly outfitted for housing an engine-dynamometer combination for controlled and safe operations. Field testing of the nanofluids will occur through use of the HMMWV vehicle with the Optimizer 6500 Turbo-Diesel engine under extreme arctic and desert conditions.

Military vehicles are designed to meet exceedingly strict and arduous cooling, lubrication and overall performance requirements. One of the goals of the Tank Automotive Command is to increase the performance and durability of engines, power trains and their component parts to support Army transformation in the areas of system mobility, durability, reliability and survivability and may ultimately serve to reduce the logistics cost burden for the Objective Force.

Requesting Member: Congressman Geoff Davis.

Bill Number: S. 3001.

Account: Operations & Maintenance, Air Force.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: TiER1 Performance Solutions, LLC.

Address of Requesting Entity: 6 East 5th Street, Suite 400, Covington, KY 41011.

Description of Request: Appropriate $1,600,000 for the Engineering Training and Knowledge Preservation System (ETKPS). The Air Force is facing significant turnover in its senior technical personnel. The Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) could lose as many as sixty percent of its top engineers over the next three to five years.

Preserving the knowledge base is essential to AFMC and will be a massive undertaking requiring processes and tools to capture operational, technical, and critical thinking knowledge. Integrating the ability to capture, store, align, and transfer knowledge to the next generation workforce through a single, secure Web-based knowledge and training portal is necessary. Functionality of this solution must include the ability to track an individual's skills across competencies throughout his/her career; evaluate all existing training and compare the cost-benefits of competing training approaches; allow experienced personnel to easily create new training and knowledge content in accordance with pre-defined standards; plug into existing defined competencies and skill requirements and capture knowledge from subject- matter-experts to address these; link novices to experts in real-time through a virtual Web Center; categorize, organize and search all knowledge and information across the enterprise; deliver assessments to determine skill proficiencies; deliver information in a variety of ways--through distance learning, on-line reference systems, technical manuals, job aids, mobile devices and other tools. FY 09 will be year four of this ongoing project.

Funds will be used for (1) requirements analysis; (2) functional design; (3) enhanced feature development; (4) USAF system integration; (5) user acceptance testing; and (6) USAF selected site development. Requirements analysis is an ongoing rigorous process to ensure the product meets the very specific needs of the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC). Functional design results in a document used to inform and gain agreement that what is being developed will satisfy the AFMC user requirements. Enhanced feature development results in a prototype developed per the functional design which is presented to AFMC for testing and feedback. USAF system integration establishes proper interfaces between the ETKPS system and existing Air Force IT systems. User acceptance testing is used to evaluate the quality and usability of the product. USAF selected site development will result in the deployment of ETKPS to six Air Force bases, ensuring consistency across all bases.

These system capabilities will enable AFMC to organize and align information to support ongoing training and development of its total workforce. Funding for this effort is critical to AFMC for maximizing the effectiveness and efficiency of retaining existing knowledge capital and for building effective training programs that support the development of new personnel.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of my constituents, Mr. Kyle Houston of Butler, Kentucky. On September 29, 2007, Kyle distinguished himself in a crisis situation when a kitchen fire erupted in his grandparents' home.

At the time of the fire, Kyle was watching television with his grandfather, Paul Green. Mr. Green has emphysema and receives oxygen 24 hours a day. In a display of courage, maturity and composure that far exceeded his 8 years of age, Kyle responded to the emergency quickly and effectively. Kyle roused his grandfather and helped him out of the house, then reentered the smoky home to retrieve his grandfather's portable oxygen tank. He then helped his grandfather reattach his oxygen tank and ensured that it was working properly. Finally, Kyle called 9-1-1 and alerted his parents to the situation.

Without his grandson's quick response, Mr. Green could have suffered extremely severe injuries from smoke inhalation. On October 6, 2008, in recognition of Kyle's heroism, Cub Scout Pack 75 will present Kyle with the Heroism Award for putting into practice Scouting skills and ideals. Kyle is a first year Webelos Scout with Pack 75.

Kyle's composure during what must have been a very frightening event is impressive. Kyle's mother and father have many reasons to be proud of their incredible son.

Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in commending Kyle Houston for his outstanding actions and character.