Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a dedicated community servant and a national leader in his profession.

Scotty Lippert, Jr., is a standout in his field. For twenty-one years. he has worked for Clopay Plastics Products, a global leader in specialty films, extrusion coatings, custom-printing and engineered laminations. As a planned maintenance specialist and lubrication systems leader, he is one of only 745 people worldwide to meet the education, training, and examination standards required to achieve Machinery Lubrication Technician Certification.

Scotty Lippert helped design and construct a lube room that was judged best in the world by a panel of national and international lubrication engineers. He is beyond doubt an expert in his field, authoring training books on lube-room construction and articles on lubrication systems and lending his services to a number of Fortune 500 companies. Just as importantly, Scotty Lippert's best practices in the field of lubrication, inspired, designed and implemented at Clopay, are now being used by the U.S. Navy.

On November 2, 2007, Scotty Lippert was chosen as the 2007 Kentucky Manufacturing Employee of the Year. He was chosen by a panel of judges on account of his innovation, teamwork. community service, and leadership credentials.

In addition to his dedication to his company and profession, Scotty Lippert serves his community as a magistrate in Bracken County.

Scotty Lippert deserves praise for his contributions to his vocation and community, and I know the citizens of Bracken County and the Fourth Congressional District join me in recognizing his many achievements and contributions to our region.

Madam Speaker, I rise this evening to honor 27-year teaching veteran Kelva Nelson, who is a second grade teacher at Crabbe Elementary School in Ashland, KY.

Kelva was chosen by the U.S. Department of Education to receive the prestigious 2007 American Star of Teaching Award from Kentucky. Across the Nation, one teacher was chosen from each State to receive the American Star of Teaching Award, which recognizes dedication and innovation in the classroom.

As a teacher at Crabbe Elementary, Kelva believes that all of her students can achieve. Each day, she enters the classroom with enthusiasm to teach. Her innovative teaching style and imagination have brought learning to life for the many students that have entered her classroom. I applaud her commitment to educating the next generation of Kentuckians. I am extremely proud of Kelva and her tremendous professional accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the academic achievements of Highlands High School in Ft. Thomas, KY. Recently, Highlands High School was announced by the U.S. Department of Education as a recipient of the 2007 Blue Ribbon Award.

The Blue Ribbon Award was presented to 287 distinguished schools nationwide and I am pleased that Highlands High School was one of four from Kentucky's Fourth Congressional District.

Highlands has worked hard in advancing its curriculum and performance of its students to ensure that they are some of the best and brightest in our Nation. This is an accomplishment that deserves great praise for the students, parents and teachers. In a world where we are facing competition from abroad and we frequently hear that our students are lagging behind, Kentucky's Blue Ribbon schools are forging ahead.

I would also like to highlight the fact that Highlands is ranked in the Top 1000 High Schools by U.S. News & World Report. Furthermore, Highlands' commitment to educational excellence shines through in its ``Cum Laude chapter'' that stresses not only academic, but civic and community involvement. The awards and accomplishments received by the high school are tremendous reflections of the dedication and commitment of the entire Highlands High School community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the academic achievements of Covington Catholic High School in Covington, Kentucky. Recently, Covington Catholic was announced by the U.S. Department of Education as a recipient of the 2007 Blue Ribbon Award.

The Blue Ribbon Award was presented to 287 distinguished schools nationwide and I am pleased that Covington Catholic was one of four from Kentucky's Fourth Congressional District.

Covington Catholic has worked hard in advancing its curriculum and performance of its students to ensure that they are some of the best and brightest in our Nation. This is an accomplishment that deserves great praise for the students, parents and teachers. In a world where we are facing competition from abroad and we frequently hear that our students are lagging behind, Covington Catholic is forging ahead.

I would especially like to acknowledge Covington Catholic's commitment to improving its students' well-being both in and out of the classroom. Covington Catholic encourages the young men attending the school to get involved and help make their community a better place. Covington Catholic also encourages moral and spiritual development in its students to ensure their successful transition from childhood into adulthood. In providing a well-rounded education for Kentucky's young men, Covington Catholic is helping to ensure the continued success of our Commonwealth. I applaud their dedication and thank the students, teachers and parents of the Covington Catholic Community for all that they do.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the academic achievements of Blessed Sacrament School in Ft. Mitchell, KY.

Recently, Blessed Sacrament was announced by the U.S. Department of Education as a recipient of the 2007 Blue Ribbon Award.

The Blue Ribbon Award was presented to 287 distinguished schools nationwide and I am pleased that Blessed Sacrament School was 1 of 4 from Kentucky's Fourth Congressional District.

Blessed Sacrament has worked hard in advancing its curriculum and performance of its students to ensure that they are some of the best and brightest in our Nation. This is an accomplishment that deserves great praise for the students, parents and teachers. In a world where we are facing competition from abroad and we frequently hear that our students are lagging behind, Kentucky's Blue Ribbon recipients are forging ahead.

I would like to acknowledge Blessed Sacrament's ardent dedication to developing a well-rounded learning environment for each of its students. There is no place more deserving of the motto ``Where Kids Come First'' than Blessed Sacrament School. Aside from an exceptional classroom learning experience, Blessed Sacrament also promotes spiritual growth in each of its students. Every day, the teachers and faculty at Blessed Sacrament strive to help its students achieve their goals in the hopes of giving them a bright future. The teachers, students and parents at Blessed Sacrament should be applauded for their hard work in becoming a Blue Ribbon recipient. In Blessed Sacrament, the Commonwealth of Kentucky has a fine educational institution that will serve our communities for years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the academic achievements of Villa Madonna Academy Elementary and Junior High School in Villa Hills, KY.

Recently, Villa Madonna was announced by the U.S. Department of Education as a recipient of the 2007 Blue Ribbon Award.

The Blue Ribbon Award was presented to 287 distinguished schools nationwide and I am pleased that Villa Madonna Academy was one of four from Kentucky's Fourth Congressional District.

Villa Madonna has worked hard in advancing its curriculum and performance of its students to ensure that they are some of the best and brightest in our Nation. This is an accomplishment that deserves great praise for the students, parents, and teachers. In a world where we are facing competition from abroad and we frequently hear that our students are lagging behind, Villa Madonna is forging ahead.

I would especially like to acknowledge Villa Madonna's commitment to its enrichment program, which works to ensure its students have a diversified experience in art, music, physical education, and world cultures. This program, coupled with its academic excellence, is why the Villa Madonna Academy continues to exemplify greatness in Kentucky's schools.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a young combat veteran whose efforts in an Afghani hospital embody the characteristics of a true humanitarian.

From May 5, 2007 to September 11, 2007, Brandi Hinds served as an Emergency Medical Technician with the 455th M.D.O.S. at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. While providing medical care in the local Afghani hospitals, Brandi noticed the day to day struggles that the Afghani people face, particularly the children. Brandi made it her mission to restore some normalcy to their lives in the midst of the chaos. Instead of writing home and asking for items that she needed, Brandi selflessly requested that friends and family members send items for the young children at the hospital. Shortly thereafter, packages began to arrive from home filled with toys and other small novelty and recreation items. Brandi's efforts brought joy to the many children she encountered. After her departure, Air Force Chaplain CPT Terri Gast continues to distribute the gifts to the Afghani children. What began as the desire of one individual to make a small difference has grown into a program fittingly named ``Brandi's Kids.''

Brandi's service and sacrifice has inspired the many whose lives she has touched. Today, Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to recognize Brandi's tireless dedication to the children of Afghanistan and thank her for her service to our great Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of our Nation's veterans who have fought hard to protect our freedoms and preserve our liberties.

It has been over 140 days, more than 4 months since the House passed the MilCon-VA appropriations bill and nearly 8 weeks since the Senate passed it. My colleagues on both sides of the aisle joined together to craft and pass this important legislation, and the President is standing by, waiting to sign it into law.

Yet it was only last week the Democratic leadership announced that they were finally going to take action, not to pass the bill, but, instead, to use funding of our veterans as a political tool to help ensure passage of a massive increase in spending in the Labor-HHS appropriations bill.

I stand here today in support of our Nation's veterans, in support of MilCon-VA appropriations, and staunchly oppose the Democratic leadership's attempt to use veterans as human shields to pass this bad Labor-HHS bill.

Our veterans deserve better and Congress must deliver.

Mr. Chairman, I have great respect and admiration for my neighbor, the chairman from West Virginia, for work that we've done in our river industries and supporting local industries; but I have to rise in objection to this bill. I think in some ways we might entitle it the Exporting America's Jobs Overseas Act.

I grew up around the American mining industry at the working-class end and got to see it from that side, one of the great transformations that took place during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s; and I think there are three core issues.

The law needs to be reformed, I agree, to adapt it to a 21st-century economy within which we live. However, the issue of competitiveness, the issue of American jobs and the issue of fundamental social justice all militate against this bill.

First of all, for the Democratic Caucus, from my friends on the other side who are committed to protecting jobs, I think it's amazing that we want to raise taxes on a core industry that's important to our supply chain, for our technology industry, to drive jobs overseas. It's going to increase material costs, increase our dependency on foreign hardrock minerals which has doubled over the last 10 years according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Secondly, there is a significant impact on jobs. Mining jobs and the mining support and supply chain jobs and industries that support that cannot be replaced by hospitality jobs. That is a flawed logic, in my mind; and it's very critical that we maintain the robustness of this industry as a strategic asset and a strategic resource.

For our future in energy, our future in manufacturing, we have to use the resources that we have in an environmentally friendly way to not only protect our jobs but to grow their jobs.

Finally, I think the one thing I found in trade agreements through the years here in the House, there's always the discussion about a social justice component in establishing trade agreements with countries that may have

sweatshops, may abuse men, women and especially children. In this case, I would point out that areas where we get strategic materials now that will increase their industry are abusive of children. Specifically, you can see a picture here of a child who's a Peruvian miner, children who are Colombian miners, and a Ugandan miner, all of whom are young children, all of whom are having their futures closed down because of this.

I oppose this bill. I ask that we yield back to the principles expounded by the gentleman from New Mexico and the gentleman from Alaska.

Madam Speaker, on Monday, October 29, 2007, I was absent from the House due to travel complications. Had I been present I would have voted:

On rollcall No. 1010--``nay''--H.R. 3224, Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act of 2007.

On rollcall No. 1011--``yea''--H. Res. 573, Recognizing and commending the efforts of the United States public and advocacy groups to raise awareness about and help end the worsening humanitarian crisis and genocide in Darfur, Sudan, and for other purposes.

On rollcall No. 1012--``yea''--H. Res. 747, Recognizing the religious and historical significance of the festival of Diwali.

Madam Speaker, I rise this evening to recognize the achievements of Community Christian Academy in Independence, Kentucky.

Founded in 1983 by the Community Pentecostal Church, the academy was born out of a strong desire to provide a first-rate education rooted in the fundamentals of Christianity. What began as a small school has grown into one of the most respected private schools in northern Kentucky.

The academy offers curriculum from kindergarten through high school. Recent years have seen the school and its facilities grow by leaps and bounds, becoming a fixture in the community. CCA is accredited through the International Christian Accrediting Association and the Non-Public School Commission of Kentucky.

The academy is known for its family-oriented atmosphere that emphasizes the participation of the entire family in the education of their 200 students.

Recently, CCA was recognized by Cincinnati Magazine as one of the best private high schools in the greater Cincinnati area. This achievement would not be possible without the support of an outstanding staff and faculty, guided by Principal Tara Bates.

I am pleased to recognize the achievements of students, parents and educators at the Community Christian Academy. For over 20 years, CCA has produced highly educated students in God's image. Tonight, I would ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing their commitment to excellence in education, dedication to their students and to thank them for their contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon to pay tribute to one of our Nation's heroes, Staff Sergeant Delmar White. Sergeant White lost his life when serving a convoy mission in Baghdad, Iraq on September 2, 2007.

Sergeant White was a dedicated soldier and served in the Marine Corps in the Persian Gulf War. He had been a member of the Kentucky Army National Guard since 1998 and was serving in Iraq with Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery based in Carlisle, Kentucky.

I recently had the opportunity to visit with Sergeant White's family, and his wife conveyed to me that he died for a cause that he truly believed in. His fellow officers, noncommissioned officers and soldiers told me of a kind and gentle man who was dedicated to the military and to his family.

Today, as we honor his memory, our thoughts and prayers turn to his wife, Michelle, their two children, Shelby and Seth, and his family and friends as they struggle with the loss of this great man.

Our Nation is deeply indebted to Sergeant Delmar White for his service, dedication to his mission, and for making the ultimate sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to pay tribute to Sergeant Nicholas Carnes, a citizen soldier who believed in our Nation and acted on that belief to answer the Nation's call to serve.

Nick Carnes was from Dayton, Kentucky. He lost his life on August 26, 2007, in Orgun-e, Afghanistan. Sergeant Carnes served with Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Regiment in the Army National Guard in Carrollton, Kentucky.

Nick Carnes was a lifelong Kentuckian who grew up in Dayton and graduated from Dayton High School in 2000. Nick joined the Army National Guard at 17 and began working at BB Riverboats. Shortly before his deployment in October 2006, he became a riverboat captain and married his sweetheart, Terri Bernstein Carnes. Sergeant Carnes was due back in Kentucky this month to celebrate his first anniversary with his wife.

I was at the sendoff for Alpha Battery in October of 2006. We saw the families. We saw the motivated soldiers who were ready to go and answer the call of service. I had the great honor and privilege to see Nick, to meet him and talk with him while I was there. And I was impressed with him. The one thing that this old soldier can say is I know a good noncommissioned officer, the backbone of our military, representing the character of our Nation, when I see one, and he clearly showed me that.

A man or a woman is the product of many things. First, Nick's mom, Wray Jean, and dad, Gove, you gave the Nation a great young man. You gave our community a great young man. And that was reflected in a letter that he sent to Terri on November 11, 2006, a few weeks after the unit had activated. He wrote this:

``Dear Terri:

``Hello, beautiful. I hope this letter finds you in good spirits. Also, I hope you are coping well with my absence. You mean the world to me, my beautiful wife. I am so sorry that my decisions in life have forced me to be away from you. Unfortunately, I can't change those decisions. Even if I could, I believe that I would sacrifice time with you to be part of helping another country and defending our own. If the other soldiers who came before me did not stand up for freedom, then we would not have freedom. So I feel that I am obligated to stand up for freedom to ensure that everyone else after me has the same freedoms we do today.

``I am not going to Afghanistan to kill Afghans. I am going there to help them stand up to the Taliban and regain control of their country. As people, sometimes we need help. Afghans happen to need help. Yes, helping the Afghans may put me in harm's way, but I have been well trained and will continue to receive training for the rest my military career.

``Everything will be fine. I feel confident and will do everything within my power to bring myself home safely. You need not worry, baby doll. I will go and do the job that is asked of me and return myself to your arms. I love you. Nick.''

The greatest value of our citizens serving is not simply their military proficiency, but the amazing character of a free people, embodied in the life of a young man like Nick Carnes, who understood the call that he was accepting and saw the higher good and the greater purpose.

Tonight, Mr. Speaker, I ask that we honor Sergeant Carnes and his service to our great Nation. Sergeant Carnes was a brave soldier, dedicated husband, loving son, who was taken from us all too quickly fighting for a cause that he truly believed in. I honor his bravery. I honor his legacy. My thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family during this solemn time.

Mr. Speaker, it is fitting to rise and honor this young man who laid down his life for the defense of our Nation on Constitution Day. As I stand here tonight, we talk about the Constitution as one of the great cornerstones of the form of government that we have as a free people. Yet, its preservation will not occur unless there are young men and women like Nick Carnes to come forward in every generation to answer that call, to be willing, as he said, to place himself in harm's way to preserve the ideals that he believed in.

As we look tonight, I am reminded of the words of Jesus in John 15:13, who

declared, ``No one has greater love than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.''

To you, Nick, I say thank you. Thank you for the example of your life. To his comrades in Alpha Battery who are here in this country now and also back in the theater, I say thank you for carrying on the mission. Thank you for honoring the flag, the highest ideals of service and what we represent as Americans.

Four special people in his life also need to be thanked, because as much of our country does not know, serving in the military is a family business that only 1 percent of our population responds to.

To Terri, I bear condolences for you, as I shared with you at the funeral home on behalf of a grateful Nation. Despite political differences that fly in the air, the backbone of our freedom is founded in sacrifices like your family has made, and I thank you for lending us Nick for a time. To Wray Jean and Gove, Nick's mom and dad, I say thank you for your son's service and for the example of his character. To his father-in-law Alan, thank you for your example and work. Raising a young leader who impacted our community, his duty and honor to country represent the best and greatest aspects of our national character. His sacrifice is not in vain

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 819, I was unavoidably detained dealing with a serious health issue with my ill mother who is being prepared for movement to a long-term care facility; had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, on Monday, July 23, 2007, I was absent from the House to attend the State of Northern Kentucky address.

Had I been present I would have voted:

On Rollcall No. 687--``yes''--H.R. 404, Federal Customer Service Enhancement Act.

On Rollcall No. 688--``yes''--H. Res. 553, Mourning the passing of former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, and celebrating her life and contributions to the people of the United States.

On Rollcall No. 689--``yes''--H. Res. 519--Honoring the life and accomplishments of renowned artist Tom Lea on the 100th anniversary of his birth.

On Rollcall No. 690--``no''--Previous Question on H. Res. 558 (Rule for H.R. 3074).