Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Woodfill Elementary School, a 2011 National Blue Ribbon award winning educational institution in the Fourth Congressional District of Kentucky.

The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private institutions whose students achieve academic excellence or have made profound advancement in closing the gaps of achievement, especially among disadvantaged and minority students.

To be named a Blue Ribbon School is to join an elite group. Of over one hundred thirty thousand schools in the United States, just over 6,000 have received this honor since its creation by the Department of Labor in 1982.

Today, as we celebrate the accomplishment of this exceptional Kentucky institution, it is my hope that Woodfill Elementary School's leading example of hard work and growth encourage schools across the nation to strive for the same level of excellence.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in commending the students, teachers, and administration of Woodfill Elementary School for their devotion to the success of the youth of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, today I am joining with my colleague Mr. Doggett of Texas, among others, to introduce the Standard Data and Technology Advancement Act, or the ``Standard DATA Act.'' This legislation will establish consistent requirements for the electronic content and format of data used in the administration of key human services programs authorized by the Social Security Act.

Human services programs serve overlapping populations and should, from an information technology standpoint, operate consistently within and across programs. By beginning the process of data standardization and the use of common reporting mechanisms, this bill will help achieve three goals: better prevent and identify fraud and abuse; increase the efficiency of administrative resources to serve eligible beneficiaries; and produce program savings for U.S. taxpayers.

The private sector is far ahead of the public sector in its ability to use data efficiently to detect patterns of misuse, such as when credit cards are lost or stolen, and streamline backend data processing to reduce manual workloads. The public sector needs to review and implement these same sorts of best practices to better improve the operation of public benefit programs.

As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Human Resources, I called a March 11, 2011

hearing on the use of data matching to improve customer service, increase program integrity, and achieve taxpayer savings. We received testimony in support of consistent data standards that are non- proprietary and promote the interoperability of data across various information technology platforms, including the range of State legacy systems. The hearing confirmed that not only are programs within the Subcommittee's jurisdiction in silos, but so are the accompanying data.

Applying the provisions of the Standard DATA Act across multiple programs will advance the longer-term goal of allowing data both within and across all Federal assistance programs to operate more efficiently--first by establishing standard elements for individual items of information, and second by defining, in predictable ways, how those elements relate to one another. These standardization activities will promote transparency, flexibility, and consistency across various information technology platforms established by Federal and State agencies.

This bill continues the efforts begun in the bipartisan, bicameral Child and Family Services Extension and Enhancement Act of 2011, which was our first effort at requiring a human services program to implement standard data elements and reporting. President Obama signed that bill into law on September 30, 2011.

Improved data standards will help increase the efficiency of data exchanges to use and reuse data within and across programs. That will allow States to automate the exchange of claimant data on work and benefit receipt, reducing delays and minimizing improper payments. It will also help to automate application forms by pre-populating them with reliable and verified data, which can reduce the manual burden on staff and allow them more time to engage beneficiaries, all while reducing error. That's good for program beneficiaries and taxpayers at the same time.

I thank my colleagues for co-sponsoring this important legislation, starting with Mr. Doggett, the Ranking Member on the Human Resources Subcommittee, as well as Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Herger, Mr. Nunes, Mr. Tiberi, Mr. Reichert, Mr. Boustany, Mr. Price of Georgia, Ms. Jenkins, Mr. Paulsen, Mr. Marchant, Mr. Berg, Mrs. Black, and Mr. Reed.

I also want to thank Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Issa and the Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and Procurement Reform Subcommittee Chairman Lankford for co- sponsoring this bill, as well as for their support and leadership on the larger effort to improve data reporting transparency.

I invite all Members to join us in supporting this important legislation designed to improve the integrity of the benefit programs millions of Americans access today, and ensure that taxpayer funds are properly spent.

I want to thank Chairman Camp and Chairman Brady for their leadership in moving the three pending free trade agreements that are long overdue for our consideration.

I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support the passage of all three pending trade agreements. Passing the Colombian agreement would not only create jobs in the U.S. but would signal our dedication to a faithful and strategic ally.

During my service in the U.S. Army, I ran Army flight operations with the Multinational Force and Observers-Sinai while serving jointly with the Colombian military. That was over 25 years ago. In watching the changes that have taken place, Colombian troops are still serving in peacekeeping roles, and they're serving internationally now in counterinsurgency and counternarcotic roles around the globe.

In 20 years Colombia has gone through an incredible economic, social, and democratic transformation. They are a robust democracy with strong ties to the United States in a region that includes increasingly anti- American governments, especially Venezuela. Let's strengthen these ties and eliminate any concern about America's reliability as a partner by ratifying the Colombian trade agreement.

I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the Colombia free trade agreement for the job creation potential it brings to our struggling economy and especially to improve our national security in the Western Hemisphere.

I thank both Chairman Camp and Chairman Brady for their leadership on the pending trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. All three countries have seen incredible transformation take place over the last generation, especially Panama and Colombia.

In the last 25 years, they have revolutionized their economies. They've revolutionized socially, and their democracies are robust.

I rise in support of the pending trade agreement with Panama and encourage my colleagues to support passage of this important agreement. It's critical, not just to our economy but also for our national security. Passage of this agreement will mark renewed U.S. engagement with the region, while countering anti-Americanism and China's increasing economic prominence in South America.

Additionally, the U.S. is the largest user of the Panama Canal and works closely with the Panamanian government to ensure the safety of the canal itself and to enhance regional, maritime, and port security. For this critical asset alone and maintaining that relationship, it would be essential to passing this agreement.

I'd like to comment on one other aspect of security that's been enhanced in all three trade agreements, and that's the security of intellectual property rights. These agreements, all three of them, Korea, Panama, and Colombia, make significant improvements to IPR protections for U.S. companies. In all categories of intellectual property rights, U.S. companies will be treated no less favorably than companies in the partner countries. That's a great step forward.

The agreements establish tough penalties for piracy and counterfeiting. They include state-of-the-art protection for U.S. trademarks. The agreements include enhanced protection for copyrighted work and, ultimately, the agreements include stronger protections for patent and trade secrets.

As we look at the changing demographics of the world and the face of relationships, it is important that we turn our eyes to the south and to the east, strengthening our ties with Latin America and with South America, strengthening our ties with Asian democracies and republics through the Korean Free Trade Agreement. What we're doing with Panama, Colombia, and Korea is critical to our future, to our children's future.

I strongly urge passage of the Panama Free Trade Agreement. It's a great step forward. It's a great step in our alliance.

Thank you, Chairman Brady. I appreciate you organizing a Special Order tonight dealing with these critical free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea.

I am encouraged that the President sent the agreement to the Hill earlier here today, and we are here to lend support to the President for these agreements and to encourage him to implement them as soon as they pass the House and Senate.

Passage of these trade agreements is long overdue and critical not just for our national economy, but also for our national security.

Through the Colombian agreement, we signal our dedication with a strategic and faithful ally. During my service in the U.S. Army, I ran U.S. Army aviation operations for the multinational force and observers in the Sinai, providing direct support and serving jointly with the Colombian military in the Middle East. In fact, they continue to serve in that same role. They are also serving in Haiti, Sierra Leone, and training militaries and police in counternarcotics and counterinsurgency measures across the globe.

U.S. leadership in our hemisphere is under threat from competitors, and the administration's inattention to Latin America is a real challenge that we are facing now. But the Colombia agreement signals our reengagement, which is critical to both our economic and our security future. U.S. exporters' share of Colombian imports fell 17 percent between 2001 and 2009, while Chinese exporter shares nearly tripled.

The trade agreement with Colombia will advance our national security interests by providing Colombians with alternatives to the drug trade. Colombia is a robust democracy with strong ties to the United States in a region that includes several increasingly anti-American governments, especially Venezuela. We must strengthen these ties and pacify any concerns about America's reliability as a partner by ratifying this trade agreement.

Similarly, implementing the Panama trade agreement will further mark our reengagement with the region, while countering anti-Americanism and China's increasing economic prominence.

The U.S. is the largest user of the Panama Canal and works closely with the Panamanian Government to ensure the safety of the canal itself. Panama is currently expanding the canal to double its capacity by allowing more and larger ships to transit. This expansion will increase the imports and exports to and from the United States

while creating the need for further cooperation between our two countries to enhance regional maritime and port security.

South Korea also serves as a critical U.S. ally, both diplomatically and militarily. Our alliance with the Republic of Korea has grown even closer since the March 2010 sinking of a South Korean naval vessel by a North Korean submarine. Currently, the U.S. maintains about 28,000 troops in the Republic of Korea, and our militaries regularly conduct joint exercises.

Our geostrategic relationship with South Korea is important not only to counteract the threat from North Korea, but also in dealing with China's military ambitions and security in the Pacific Rim.

With elections for South Korea's National Assembly and Presidency scheduled for 2012, it's critical to strengthen this vital relationship. Ratifying the South Korea trade agreement will demonstrate our commitment to this important partner and help to act as a counterweight to Chinese influence.

Furthermore, entering into an FTA with South Korea will help reorient the alliance between our great nations to adapt to the changes on the Korean Peninsula and in East Asia. Continuing to delay ratification of the trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea could seriously harm American credibility, economic advantages for our country's exporters, and our position of global leadership.

I urge the President to implement the agreements immediately after they clear Congress for the betterment of our national economic health and our military and diplomatic partnerships.

Thank you again, Chairman Brady, for holding this important discussion tonight on the House floor.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2943) to extend the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families and related programs through December 31, 2011.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the subject of the bill under consideration.

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

I rise today in support of H.R. 2943, legislation to temporarily extend the authorization of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and related programs.

Since it replaced the New Deal-era welfare program in 1996, TANF has been successful at cutting welfare dependents by 57 percent through the end of last year. Even more importantly, by promoting work among single parents, who are the most common welfare recipients, it helped significantly reduce child poverty in female-headed families over time.

Even at today's elevated unemployment rates, TANF continues to promote more work and earnings and less poverty. But despite this general progress, TANF can and should be strengthened to do more, especially to help more low-income families work and support themselves in the years ahead. Unfortunately, too many parents are exempted from work requirements today for a variety of reasons we learned at a recent hearing held by the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources, which I am privileged to chair.

But given the current administration's support for only a straight 1- year extension of current law, which is a view shared by the other body, there are limited prospects for making needed changes to TANF before the program expires at the end of this month. That's the reason for the short-term extension before us today.

This 3-month extension will provide an opportunity for Congress, including the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, to review TANF alongside other entitlement programs this fall. Important questions need to be asked, including what is the proper funding level for these programs and how can they best be focused on engaging low- income parents in work and other productive activities so more can support themselves in the long run.

Another thing this additional time will let us do is to take action to close what some call the ``strip club loophole.'' This refers to an outright abuse of taxpayer trust permitted under current law when adults on welfare spend taxpayer funds on liquor, gambling, tattoos, or even visits to strip clubs. As recent exposes have revealed, too many welfare recipients access taxpayer funds at cash machines in casinos, liquor stores, strip clubs, and even on cruise ships.

Some States have already taken action to close this loophole by blocking access to welfare EBT cards at such establishments. There is bipartisan legislation to require all States to do that, and doing so is something of particular interest to our colleague, Senator Coburn. I share his commitment to getting this done this fall and urge all my colleagues to support action that we will take to close this loophole.

The legislation before us is designed to provide time for a closer review of and action on these sorts of issues. Importantly, it does not add to our deficit since it simply continues current TANF funding for 3 months. I note that TANF is a fixed block grant, which is not adjusted for inflation.

I wish we were debating legislation today that extended and actually improved TANF programs so that they work better; but given the impediments before us, the bill before the House today offers the best chance that we will be able to do that in the near future, and I urge all of my colleagues to support it.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's suggestion that this legislation should be amended to revive the TANF Supplemental Grants program.

TANF supplemental grants expired in June 2011 in accordance with legislation Democrats crafted last year that President Obama signed into law. These payments have now expired and are not payable under current law. Extending them would mean spending more money to revive the program, which is beyond the scope of what we're doing today in maintaining only current TANF programs.

Since TANF supplemental grants were first paid, about $4 billion in extra TANF programs have been paid out only to a minority of States. At some point, we have to ask when such supplemental spending should come to an end. The last Congress, which, again, was led by Democratic majorities, said the end should come this past June. I respect that judgment.

The committee is obviously aware of Mr. Doggett's bill to extend these payments yet again, but we don't know how he would pay for that since the bill he introduced includes no pay-for. That would mean increasing our current historic deficits even more.

All States received a share of $5 billion in special welfare funds in the 2009 stimulus bill. That was on top of almost $17 billion in TANF block grant payments all States receive each year, including those that previously collected supplemental grants. The States that collected supplemental grants received about $913 million of that $5 billion in one-time funds, or the equivalent of almost three years of supplemental grant payments.

I appreciate the gentleman's argument for extending these payments by reviving the now-ended Supplemental Grants program. The legislation before us does not do that, since it simply extends current law programs. But I know he and I will continue to have fruitful discussions and work together about this and other TANF funding and related issues, and I appreciate his continued input and effort.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2943 simply is a short-term continuation of Welfare to Work programs that have successfully cut welfare dependence and promoted work. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and to work with us to design a long-term reauthorization bill that fixes flaws in the system, fixes broken processes and allows agencies to communicate in a more holistic way as we address this to eliminate waste of taxpayer dollars and ultimately to design a long-term reauthorization bill that further promotes work and independence from welfare.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2883) to amend part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to extend the child and family services program through fiscal year 2016, and for other purposes, as amended.

I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the subject of the bill under consideration.

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

I rise today in support of H.R. 2883, the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act, a bill that continues a tradition of bipartisanship in crafting child welfare legislation.

The bill we're considering today reauthorizes two important child welfare programs, incorporating a series of improvements developed during hearings held by the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources over the past few months.

In addition to continuing and making improvements to two major child welfare programs, this bill also renews authority for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to approve child welfare waivers during the next 3 years. Past waivers have allowed States to test new and better ways of helping children at risk of abuse and neglect.

Earlier this year, the House unanimously passed legislation renewing this authority, but the Senate has not followed suit.

This bill, which our colleagues in the Senate also support and which was favorably reported by the Senate Finance Committee yesterday, will allow innovation to continue and may yield information to improve child welfare programs in the future. The bill will also establish a process to create needed data standards in child welfare programs. This language is a first step towards improving collaboration between social service programs.

We have often heard in hearings that States and programs within States have difficulty coordinating services because of difficulty sharing data, and that this lack of coordination increases costs and decreases effectiveness. This bill directs the Secretary of HHS to work with the States to establish national data standards so that all State child welfare programs are speaking the same language.

To show the wide support for this bill, Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert letters of support into the Record from the following organizations: The National Conference of State Legislatures; the American Public Human Services Association; the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators; the American Institute of CPAs; the American Humane Association; the North American Council on Adoptable Children; Voice for Adoption; the Association on American Indian Affairs; the National Indian Child Welfare Association; Youth Villages; First Focus Campaign for Children; Zero to Three (The National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families); the National Foster Care Coalition; the Child Welfare League of America; the Children's Defense Fund; the Center for the Study of Social Policy; and the Public Children Services Association of Ohio.

National Foster Care Coalition,

Washington, DC, September 13, 2011.

Hon. Max Baucus,

Chairman, Senate Finance Committee, U.S. Senate, Washington,

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to my friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett), for working with me to bring this measure to the floor today and thank him and thank both the majority and minority staffs for their hard work on this effort. H.R. 2883 is a bipartisan, bicameral, no-cost effort to extend and make modest adjustments to programs designed to help ensure the safety and well- being of children at risk of abuse and neglect. We need to do all we can to ensure more children remain safely in their homes, and this bill will help to do so.

National Conference

of State Legislatures,

September 13, 2011.

Hon. Dave Camp,

Chairman, House Ways & Means, Cannon House Office Building,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Sandy Levin,

Ranking Member, House Ways & Means, Longworth House Office

Building, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Camp and Representative Levin: On behalf of

the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), we urge

you to support H.R. 2883, a bill to renew the authority of

the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services

to approve demonstration projects designed to test innovative

strategies in state child welfare programs and reauthorizing

the Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) program.

Congressmen Geoff Davis and Lloyd Doggett have fashioned

bipartisan legislation that helps create opportunities to

enhance the state-federal partnership to assist our nation's

most vulnerable children.

NCSL supports reinstating and expanding federal waiver

authority so that states can test the results of increased

funding flexibility on the development of service

alternatives and on the overall delivery of child welfare

services. This allows states to target programs to address

the needs of their youngest citizens. By renewing and

extending Title IV-E waiver authority through 2014, H.R. 2883

will give states an enhanced ability to provide early

intervention and crisis intervention services that will

safely reduce out-of-home placements and improve child

outcomes.

NCSL supports the reauthorization of the PSSF program. The

PSSF program enhances state efforts to develop additional

family preservation, family reunification, and family support

programs. We appreciate the flexibility provided to states in

H.R. 2883 and that the legislation does not preempt current

state laws.

H.R. 2883 will allow states to improve the quality of their

child welfare interventions and reinvest savings in their

programs. It will also provide both state and federal

legislators tools to develop innovative an effective

approaches to transform the lives of children who are at risk

of abuse and neglect. We applaud Congressmen Davis and

Doggett for crafting this legislation.

Sincerely,

William T. Pound,

Executive Director, NCSL.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, September 12, 2011, I was unable to return to Washington, DC for votes, due to an important family event.

Had I been present I would have voted: on rollcall No. 699--``yes''-- H.R. 2076, Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act of 2011; on rollcall No. 700--``yes''--H.R. 2633, Appeal Time Clarification Act; on rollcall No. 701--``yes''--H.R. 1059, To protect the safety of judges by extending the authority of the Judicial Conference to redact information contained in their financial disclosure reports.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act.

The Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act is bipartisan legislation that extends and makes modest adjustments to the Child Welfare Services and the Promoting Safe and Stable Families programs that both expire September 30th of this year. Although only a small part of all federal child welfare funding, these programs help ensure that children can remain safely with their own parents or be supported by other caring adults when necessary.

The bill reflects agreements between Republicans and Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee, as well as with our colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee, for reauthorizing these programs. The bill is bipartisan and bicameral, and draws on the findings of several hearings we have had in the Human Resources Subcommittee this year on child welfare issues. Further, this bill does not increase spending or raise the deficit. When the American people ask us to work together across party lines to craft meaningful legislation that is fully paid for, this is the type of bill they have in mind.

In addition, this bill would renew authority for the Department of Health and Human Services to approve child welfare waivers. These waivers have been a valuable tool for States seeking to test new ways of helping children at risk of abuse and neglect, and the renewal of this authority will allow innovation to continue.

This bill adds important transparency and accounting requirements, and does not increase spending or deficits. This bill also requires that States establish common data standards to improve information sharing, which will improve the efficiency of the programs while allowing States to better coordinate services for children and families.

I thank the Ranking Member on the Human Resources Subcommittee, Mr. Doggett of Texas, for introducing this legislation with me, and for his efforts to move it forward and thus better serve children and families across the country.

I urge all my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2790, the Child and Family Services Extension and Enhancement Act of 2011.

Two child welfare programs expire on September 30 this year, namely the Child Welfare Services and Promoting Safe and Stable Families programs. Although only a small part of total federal child welfare funding, these two programs support State efforts to keep families together so children can safely remain with their own parents or be supported by other caring adults when necessary.

The Child and Family Services Extension Act will ensure that these two programs continue to help children remain safely with their own families or be cared for by other loving adults. This bipartisan bill extends these important programs, while adding important transparency and accounting requirements. Additionally, it does so without increasing spending or deficits.

This bill also requires that States establish common data standards to improve the sharing of information, which will improve the efficiency of the programs while allowing States to better coordinate services for children and families.

In introducing this bill, we are continuing the tradition of bipartisan child welfare legislation in Congress. I thank the Ranking Member on the Human Resources Subcommittee, Mr. Doggett of Texas, for introducing this legislation with me, and for his efforts to move it forward. I look forward to moving this legislation through the Ways & Means Committee in the coming months.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, July 7, 2011, I mistakenly voted ``no'' on Rollcall No. 522--Cole of Oklahoma Amendment No. 4, an amendment to H.R. 2219, Department of Defense Appropriations Act. The amendment stated that none of the funds made available by the underlying bill may be used to implement any rule, regulation, or Executive Order regarding the disclosure of political contributions that takes effect on or after the date of enactment of the underlying bill. I intended to vote ``yes'' on Rollcall No. 522.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize U.S. Army Sgt. Jeremy R. Summers from Bracken County, Kentucky, who lost his life on July 14, 2011 in Paktika Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His unit was attacked by enemy forces while he was on duty as a forward scout observer.

Sgt. Summers joined the Army after graduating from Bracken County High School in 2002. He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He served tours of duty in Korea and Iraq in addition to his service in Afghanistan. Sgt. Summers was a dedicated soldier and demonstrated great character in his service. His dedication to defending our Republic was proven again when he recently reenlisted in the United States Army.

Sgt. Summers' life is yet another reminder of the high cost of freedom. Today, as we remember the life and accomplishments of this extraordinary Kentuckian, my thoughts and prayers are with Sgt. Summers' family and friends.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, July 25, 2011, I was unable to vote during the first vote series of the day.

Had I been present I would have voted: on rollcall No. 630--``yes''-- H. Res. 363, Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 2584, Department of Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2012; on rollcall No. 631--``yes''--On Approving the Journal.

Mr. Speaker, on May 26, 2008, Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry of Sante Fe, New Mexico, while on his 8th tour of duty in both Iraq and Afghanistan and in the midst of a firefight, distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. Ranger Sgt. Leroy Petry lost his right hand and suffered severe wounds after picking up a live grenade and throwing it away from his fellow soldiers, thereby saving the lives of his comrades. He also was wounded in both legs and in the midst of the battle tied tourniquets to his legs and arm. Today we honor this great American Hero and the many like him with the presentation of The Medal of Honor to him at The White House by President Barack Obama. I ask that this poem penned in his honor by Albert Caswell, be placed in the Record.

In Honor's Light

In . . .

In the battle, but comes the light!

From out of such darkness, so very bright!

All between life and death, that which so ignites! So

brilliant, and so very bright!

To lead the way, to win that fight! To save their Brother In

Arms, its height!

While, forsaking one's own most precious life! Shining there,

all in their most heroic glare so bright!

Leading the way, all in what they so gave so right! All In

Honor's Light!

For, from only out of one's soul . . . Can but only such

brilliance, so flow!

Can but only such light but shine so!

When, who lives . . ., or dies? And who but lives to see

another sunrise?

When, it all so depends on you! Such Splendid Splendor, Such

God-like Light!

Which, bring's such tears to even The Angels eyes! All in

such selfless sacrifice!

While, bathed all In Honor's Light! Goodness! Evil! Darkness!

Light!

Those Brave Hearts, Who Evil Must Fight! Who so shine, who

but bring their light!

All In Honor's Light!

Moments! Are all we have! When, it all so depends on you!

When, death but lies so very close! As when you Leroy, so

rose to such new heights!

Ranger, all in your most brilliant light! As it all so came

shining through!

All in valor's most magnificent hue! For what child will now

be born?

For which love's, will so live on?

Who might change the world, or rise . . . all In Honor's

Height!

Sgt. 1st Class Petry, All because you! When, All In Honor and

Death . . .

What your fine heart, so pledged!

For what was right and what is true! 'Ah yes, Ranger's lead,

Leroy as so did you!

All for our nation, and that old Red, White and Blue!

All for your Brothers In Arms, as your most courageous heart

so grew!

All in, Your Most Magnificent Hue! All In Honor's Light, So

Very True!

As why this day Ranger Petry, you so shine so true!

With all of those other magnificent's . . .

Who now so who, have so shown All Honor's Light so too!

As this Medal of Honor, we now bestowed upon You!

All In Honor's Light! This hue!

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor COL Keith A. Landry, the Commander and District Engineer for the Louisville District Army Corps of Engineers. After nearly 2 years of serving in this post, Colonel Landry will be retiring on July 14, 2011.

Colonel Landry received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers in 1985 after graduating from our shared alma mater, the United States Military Academy at West Point. He has since completed five overseas tours, including deployments with the 3rd Infantry Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom and two tours of duty teaching at the United States Military Academy.

During his tenure as the Commander for the Louisville District Army Corps of Engineers, Colonel Landry oversaw all military construction in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. His work has had a tremendous impact on the mission readiness capabilities and quality of life of soldiers and airmen across the nation.

Today, as we celebrate a distinguished career spanning 26 years, I am pleased Colonel Landry has decided to remain in the great Commonwealth of Kentucky and I am certain he will approach his future endeavors with the same level of excellence in service we have come to expect from him.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to join me in commending COL Keith Landry and in offering him our sincerest thanks for his incredible service to our country and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.