Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Woodbridge Middle School as a leader in education reform. Woodbridge was recently designated as a 2009 School to Watch by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform.

The Schools to Watch program was establish in 1999 with the purpose of identifying schools on a path to meeting the National Forum's criteria for high performing schools. There are four categories in which qualifying schools must excel to be selected as a School to Watch. First, students must be challenged academically with clear and well-communicated education goals. Second, a school must work to develop a well-rounded student. This is accomplished through programs that foster healthy physical, social, emotional and intellectual development. Third, a School to Watch must present students with a socially equitable learning environment where diversity, civility, service, and democratic citizenship are valued. Finally, a qualifying school must have organizational structures in place that work to institutionalize the first three criteria.

Consistent with the cooperative spirit of the Schools to Watch program, the motto that drives Woodbridge Middle School is, ``We get better together.'' Students, faculty and administration are held accountable for school performance and are encouraged to make the education experience a team effort. The staff is required to follow a set meeting schedule for the purpose of monitoring instructional and support programs. Students who are in danger of failing a course must work with parents and teachers to map out a plan to achieve a passing grade. No one is an island at Woodbridge Middle School where education is a community effort.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in applauding Woodbridge Middle School on this prestigious designation and in encouraging it to continue these proven successful approaches to education. Woodbridge Middle School is a model that provides guidance in how to effectively improve our education system. The students, faculty and entire community benefit when we invest in our nation's future by providing our children with a productive and positive learning experience.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the recipients of this year's Fairfax County Human Rights Awards. Jeannie Cummins Eisenhour, Philip N. Reeves, Robert B. Worley, and the Communities of Faith United for Housing will be honored on July 2nd 2009 for their dedication and commitment to the community.

Each year, the Fairfax County Human Rights Commission presents the Human Rights Awards to individuals, nonprofits, and business who ``demonstrate accomplishments in eliminating discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, age or disability in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, private education and credit.''

Ms. Eisenhour is recognized for her commitment to working with members of the community with disabilities, opening opportunities to them and educating the public on their specific needs. Her distinguished work has aided persons with disabilities throughout Fairfax County and the D.C. area. Her accomplishments include working with the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority to ensure that it amend its universal design policy to accommodate those with special needs. Ms. Eisenhour is not only president of the board for the Coalition for Housing Opportunities in the Community for Everyone, but she also is director of development for RPJ Housing. She uses her positions to work tirelessly on behalf of disability groups to ensure accessible and affordable housing.

Philip N. Reeves is recognized for his work as a health services advocate, educator and author. After serving in the Air Force, he worked to develop the Leaders of Tomorrow program which works to eliminate discrimination in nursing and long term care methods.

Robert B. Worley is a deserving recipient for his dedicated work on behalf of people in need in Fairfax County and the D.C. area. A leader of the United Way's Fairfax County/Falls Church campaign, he has been an indispensible asset to and dedicated fundraiser for local and regional charities. Mr. Worley has also dedicated his time working with organizations like the YMCA and the American Heart Association, raising funds to help those in need.

This year, The Virginia Peters Fair Housing Award and the Human Rights Award are being given to the Communities of Faith United for Housing (CFUH). The CFUH is an advocacy network of faith communities and nonprofit organizations that are committed to increasing the amount of affordable housing in Fairfax County for low-income families and individuals. The CFUH is especially dedicated to providing long term housing to the homeless or

those who are dangerously close to becoming homeless. They have dedicated time to educating the public and elected officials on how to do more to provide low-income housing and have worked with the community and the county to create the Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. Their work has provided an invaluable service to the community.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring these individuals and their dedicated service to the community. Their commitment is deserving of not only the prestigious Human Rights Award, but of our respect and deep appreciation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Paige Laura Epler from Woodbridge, Virginia, on her graduation from the University of Oklahoma High School. Twelve year old Paige graduated on June 5, 2009 as the youngest girl to earn a high school diploma from an accredited high school. Paige had a 4.0 grade point average; however, she excelled in other areas as well. An extremely accomplished violinist, in addition to playing at her graduation, she was the selected violinist for NASA's 50th Year celebration and at President Obama's Inaugural Luncheon.

My colleagues also may know Paige from her passionate efforts to Save the Sharks. Starting at age eight, she has worked to educate people about sharks and dispel the myths that have led to a number of species becoming endangered. Paige has given briefings at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, the Science Museum of Virginia, and to the United States Congress.

Madam Speaker, Paige Epler represents the best this country has to offer, and her dedication to her studies bespeaks of the bright future before her. I congratulate her on her wonderful accomplishment and wish her well in all of her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to speak in support of this historic legislation. Congress has never faced a challenge of such magnitude, complexity, or urgency. Global climate change is an existential threat that undermines our national security and imperils our coastal cities, agricultural heartland, and economic vitality.

After enduring eight years of intransigence, denial, and fealty to special interests, we are poised to transform the marketplace and spur a new generation of technological and industrial innovation.

By creating incentives for clean energy we will jump-start job creation and investment in production of advanced batteries, wind turbines, solar panels, geothermal systems, carbon capture and storage, and cellulosic biofuels. The dozens of companies that support this legislation have told us that they are poised to make these investments.

Although we have seen an alarming rise in greenhouse gas pollution, we also know that it is not too late to act. From New Orleans to Glacier National Park to the Everglades, by acting now we will protect America's iconic places and our national identity.

I thank Chairman Waxman, Chairman Markey, and their committee for leading the effort to write this legislation. Like many of my colleagues, I ran for Congress in order to restore economic growth, reform health care, and address global warming. We have made progress on the first pledge and are embarking on the second. With my vote for this bill I redeem my pledge to begin to address global warming and ask my colleagues to join me.

I also wish to thank Chairman Waxman, Chairman Markey, and the staff of the Energy and Commerce Committee for their collaboration in drafting this bill. When this discussion draft was released in March, the American Clean Energy and Security Act did not provide dedicated funding for local governments through the State Energy and Environmental Development (SEED) or Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance (REEP) programs. I wrote to Chairman Waxman and requested that a portion of funding through these programs be dedicated to local governments, to support local efforts to improve buildings' efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas pollution. The Committee responded to my request by dedicating SEED funding to local governments and by ensuring that REEP funding would support local weatherization programs. These important changes ensure that Northern Virginia localities can continue to lead efforts to reduce residents' electric bills and greenhouse gas pollution. These changes are very significant for Virginia. According to the Congressional Research Service, Virginia will receive between $108 and $216 million in SEED funding in 2012. As a result of the changes I requested, between $13.5 and $27 million should flow directly to local government programs to reduce pollution.

In my letter to Chairman Waxman, I also requested reforms to the transmission line siting process in order to protect environmental and cultural resources. Northern Virginians know that we must act to correct deficiencies to the 2005 Energy Policy Act, which created a National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor process that granted unprecedented authority for federal agencies to site transmission lines without regard for the impact on environmental and cultural resources or property values. Fortunately, the manager's amendment that is incorporated in the American Clean Energy and Security Act takes the important first step of ensuring that state and federal environmental agencies and land managers have a seat at the table in the planning process. Although additional reform of the transmission siting process is still needed, this change will better enable us to protect important Northern Virginia resources such as Manassas National Battlefield Park, Prince William Forest Park, and Shenandoah National Park.

I also applaud Chairman Waxman for incorporating an amendment proposed by the Sustainable Energy and Environment Caucus, of which I am a member. This amendment ensures that the Federal government will derive 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. This proposal, which Chairman Waxman incorporated into the manager's amendment, is particularly important for Northern Virginia because it will result in renewable energy deployment to power Federal facilities in the National Capital Region. This is important because we must move to clean energy generation if our region is to achieve ground level ozone reductions, which are essential for public health, as recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Finally, I thank Mr. Waxman for incorporating language that expresses the sense of Congress that the International Civil Aviation Association limit aviation-related emissions worldwide. Following Committee passage of H.R. 2454, the Washington Airports Task Force asked members of the Northern Virginia delegation to identify a role for the International Civil Aviation Association in limiting emissions, and I asked the Committee to see if they could address the Washington Airports Task Force's request. I believe that the language incorporated in Mr. Waxman's manager's amendment is a step in the right direction, and appreciate his willingness to address this issue at such a late point in the legislative process.

In summary, Chairman Waxman, Chairman Markey, and the staff on the Energy and Commerce Committee have been very responsive to my requests for changes to this bill that benefit Northern Virginia. I greatly appreciate their willingness to work with members like me to ensure that this legislation will benefit residents of Northern Virginia and across the country. As important as it is to have sound overarching legislation, I believe it also is essential that the legislative process allow individuals and businesses from across the country to have a role in crafting any bill. Because of the outstanding work by Chairman Waxman, Chairman Markey, and their committee, this bill has evolved to reflect the needs of Northern Virginians and others from across the country.

Finally, I would like to offer special praise to my colleague from Virginia, Mr. Boucher. As a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Mr. Boucher played a central role in writing the American Clean Energy and Security Act. He is the only Virginia Congressman on that Committee, and I believe he did an outstanding job representing the interests of the Commonwealth. Specifically, he ensured that coal- reliant states like ours can transition to cleaner energy sources without creating price spikes and without negatively impacting regions where coal extraction is important economically. This was a difficult balance to strike, and required the skill and experience of a legislator of Mr. Boucher's caliber. Years from now, when coal extraction and electricity generation is substantially cleaner than today, and when Virginia finally has significant renewable electricity generation, we may look back and thank Mr. Boucher for his role in crafting this legislation that made such a transition possible.

Congress has never dealt with such a complex bill of such fundamental importance to our economy, environment, and quality of life. Led by Mr. Waxman and Mr. Markey, the American Clean Energy and Security Act reflects a carefully crafted consensus that has the support of large utilities like Dominion and environmental organizations alike. While forging this consensus the Committee found time to address requests from members representing diverse regions of the nation with competing needs. I thank Chairman Waxman, Chairman Markey, and I am proud to cast my vote for the American Clean Energy and Security Act.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to introduce this amendment with my fellow Virginians Mr. Nye and Mr. Perriello. During the 110th Congress, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act did address cell phone and property lease contracts for active-duty deployed. However, they did not address--they addressed individual cell phone contracts and individual leases. They did not provide that protection to family cell phone plans.

As a result, we have servicemembers who are finding themselves having to continue to pay obligations to cell phone companies. Under the motor vehicle section of our amendment, the leasing agent may not charge an early termination penalty, something also not addressed in SCRA last year.

This is a practical amendment that will help our active-duty deployed and their families make sure that they are safe and secure from this kind of hounding when they are serving their country overseas.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2 minutes.

Mr. Chairman, this amendment would clarify that section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act does not preclude Federal agencies from purchasing fuel that is not predominantly derived from tar sands or other high-carbon sources. At the same time, this amendment maintains the intent of section 526 by ensuring taxpayer money is not being used to subsidize highly polluting technologies.

Originally contained in the Carbon Neutral Government Act and incorporated in the Energy Independence and Security Act, section 526 precludes Federal agencies from entering into a contract that would result in construction of a refinery of fuel that produces more greenhouse gas pollution than conventional petroleum fuel. This exact amendment, introduced by Mr. Boren of Oklahoma last year, passed the House on a voice vote; unfortunately, it was not adopted by the Senate. This language represents a compromise that preserves the intent of section 526 without tying the hands of Federal agencies that need to procure fuel.

Without using carbon capture and sequestration, turning coal into liquid fuel produces up to twice as much greenhouse gas pollution per unit of energy as conventional petroleum fuel, and fuel processed from tar sands generates 14 to 42 percent more greenhouse gas pollution per unit compared to production of conventional petroleum fuels. Section 526 has successfully protected taxpayers from costly and destructive subsidies of highly polluting fuel production.

The reality is that fuel derived from tar sands already comprises a small proportion--roughly 6 percent--of much of the gasoline and diesel fuel consumers purchase.

Mr. Chairman, this amendment simply clarifies that the hands of the Federal Government are not tied and that Federal agencies can, in fact, procure commercially available fuel that is available to them.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to my friend from Florida (Mr. Grayson).

Just a comment, Mr. Chairman.

I thank the support of my friend, but I want to clarify for the record that, as a matter of fact, we already have tar sand oil. About 6 percent of the gasoline supply in the United States already has it. And we already have the liquefication of coal used in the United States, and the bill I hope we will pass tomorrow or Saturday, in fact, will allow a lot more of it.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished Chair of the committee, Mr. Skelton.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to my good friend from California (Mr. Schiff).

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

I thank my distinguished friend, the chairman of the subcommittee.

Heritage programs have proven to be effective vehicles for increasing tourism and conservation. Many citizens have worked with their Members of Congress to designate new heritage areas. Thanks largely to the work of my colleague Frank Wolf, one of these new areas is the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area. I appreciate the chairman including funding for this and other new heritage areas in this markup as well as that of the ranking member, Mr. Simpson, and I ask if he foresees an opportunity to revisit that financial support in appropriations cycles.

I yield to the gentleman from Washington.

Yes, I agree with the distinguished chairman. In order to maintain and expand upon the existing program, we must ensure that existing heritage areas establish independent funding resources as originally envisioned. My district is the prime example of the importance of Federal funding. The historic village of Buckland is home to a Native American step mound, the home of a Jefferson-era northern Virginia Congressman, homes of an antebellum freeman community, and a Civil War battleground. It is one of the best preserved examples of a village planned on the traditional British axial layout. Many of the local residents have worked together to acquire and protect the historic structures and landscapes in Buckland. However, they cannot do it alone with development pressure in the National Capital Region threatening to degrade this fully intact historic site. This is a prime example of where additional funding could be used to augment substantial private funds to preserve an entire village in this case and surrounding landscape representing American history from the Native Americans to the Civil War and beyond. Madam Chairman, I thank the chairman for his interest and commitment to the heritage partner programs and look forward to working with him in the future.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the economic need for health care reform. Indeed, as my friend from North Carolina just indicated, there are a lot of misleading statistics on health care. In fact, we just heard a few from her.

We have heard a great deal about the human costs of failing to reform health care. Forty-six million Americans lack health care insurance. A child without insurance, for example, is 5 times more likely to die of appendicitis than a child that has access to health care insurance.

The loss of any life is truly incalculable. However, there are those who would rather avoid talking about that child. They prefer to discuss the dollars and cents of health care. For those who worry only about the cost of reform, I would like to discuss the tremendous economic cost of doing nothing.

We know the cost of doing nothing. Without reform, small businesses will pay $2.4 trillion in health care for their employees over the next decade. Reforming the system and controlling costs could save those small businesses $800 billion by 2018 and save 168,000 jobs, unless we do nothing.

Currently, 46 million Americans lack health insurance. We know the economic costs of that. In 2008, Federal, State and local governments paid $442.9 billion to reimburse the uncompensated costs for visits to health clinics and hospitals by the uninsured. That places a tax burden on every American of $627 a year, Madam Speaker. If we continue doing nothing, the tax burden in inflation-adjusted dollars will nearly triple by 2030.

As health insurance costs continue to rise, and they will, and as more Americans find themselves unable to afford insurance, and they will, those reimbursement costs will, of course, skyrocket. We know the cost of doing nothing, and we cannot afford that cost.

Americans have the most expensive health care system in the world. True, the quality of care at the highest levels is second to none. However, the dramatically rising costs each year render more and more people unable to access that quality care.

As chairman of Fairfax County, Virginia, Board of Supervisors, one the primary concerns I heard from county retirees was the rapidly rising cost of health care. Senior citizens and those on fixed incomes were especially concerned that the ever-growing premiums were forcing them to choose between health care and other necessities. Private industry is also feeling that pinch. Companies such as IBM have begun to eliminate retiree health care benefits altogether, precisely because of rising health care costs.

In 1960, health care costs in the United States were 5 percent of our Gross Domestic Product. Today, they represent 18 percent, and if we do nothing, the costs will rise to a staggering 34 percent of our entire GDP by 2040. Madam Speaker, our children will be paying seven times more for health care costs than we paid in 1960. That level of cost increase is unconscionable and unsustainable.

Workers currently receiving employer-provided health insurance are increasingly faced with two devastating scenarios; either the level of care they receive is reduced to counter the costs, or their health care costs rise each year, far outpacing their rise in wages. For many workers, they see both in a double whammy of paying more for less. This is evident in the growth in the average employer-sponsored health insurance family deductible. In just 7 years year, Madam Speaker, from 1999 to 2006, the average deductible grew 50 percent. For firms with less than 50 employees, the deductible increased from roughly $1,300 in 1999 to over $2,000 in 2006.

Currently 43 percent of those smaller firms offer their employees health care coverage. As costs continue to rise, this number will shrink and more Americans will find themselves uninsured and unable to afford affordable options. If we can continue to do nothing, government spending on health care will suffer equally. Spending on Medicare and Medicaid, currently 6 percent of GDP, will rise if we do nothing to 15 percent by 2040.

Studies have shown that slowing the cost growth in health care by 1.5 percentage points a year will result in dramatic decreases in the Federal budget deficit. By 2030, Federal deficits would be 3 percent of GDP smaller than it otherwise would have been, saving us hundreds of billions of dollars a year, something my friend from North Carolina just indicated she was concerned about. If we do nothing, we condemn our future to rapidly increasing budget deficits and a dearth of funding available for other essential government functions.

Madam Speaker, I support comprehensive health care reform.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Coles District Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad. On June 27, 2009 the department will hold its 60th Annual Installation of Officers Banquet, marking its 60th year of service to the residents of Prince William County.

Prince William County has changed drastically since the Coles Department was established in 1949 as the Independent Hill Volunteer Fire Department. At that time, the early fire notification system consisted of a 110 foot fire tower that looked out over Prince William County's largely wooded landscape. Just six community volunteers handled the department's workload in those early years.

After years of expansion and the construction of a new fire station in 1979, the Coles District Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad continues to be an invaluable resource for the Prince William community. The membership has grown to 45 life, active, junior and associate members. These members are business executives, police officers, professional firefighters, information technology professionals, tradesmen and other civil servants in local and federal government. Each year, they dedicate tens of thousands of volunteer hours to promoting and protecting the safety of their friends and neighbors.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring the members, past and present, of the Coles District Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad. The dedication of these community volunteers has ensured that the Coles Department will remain a vibrant and robust organization, delivering vital services to residents during an emergency.

And to every member of the Coles District Volunteer Fire Department, I say, ``Stay Safe.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the distinguished career of Richard J. Baumgartner. Mr. Baumgartner has served the children of Northern Virginia as an educator for thirty- seven years. Mr. Baumgartner has consistently been a strong advocate of quality education for all children and appropriate compensation for teachers.

As an educator, Mr. Baumgartner witnessed first-hand the expansive growth of Fairfax County and its public school system. Mr. Baumgartner's career has led him to excel in a variety of capacities within Fairfax County Public Schools. In fact, during his tenure, Mr. Baumgartner had the unique opportunity to serve on the initial opening faculty at three different elementary schools. He was a valuable asset to these schools and their principals during the difficult process of establishing a new school.

Mr. Baumgartner was a strong advocate on behalf of teachers in Fairfax County while serving as President of the Fairfax Education Association from 2000-2002 and 2004-2007. During his first term, Mr. Baumgartner worked with the school administration to examine the effectiveness of National Board Certification. Mr. Baumgartner also succeeded in helping change policy with regards to the Virginia Retirement System. Significant highlights of Mr. Baumgartner's second term include getting salary credit for instructional assistants who become teachers and implementing a nationally recognized teacher working conditions survey.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in expressing our gratitude to Richard J. Baumgartner for his thirty-seven years of service to the students and staff of the Fairfax County Public School system and in wishing him the very best in his retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Maud Robinson on her retirement and to recognize the significant contributions she has made to the community as a member of the Vienna Town Council and throughout her years of civic involvement.

Maud Robinson has lived a life of commitment to her community and her country. During World War II, she proudly served with the United States WAVES. A few years after the war, she moved to Vienna, Va., where she has lived for nearly 60 years. Throughout this time, Maud has been an active community supporter, donating her time and energies to The Ayr Hill Garden Club, the Vienna Rotary Club, Historic Vienna, Inc. and many other civic organizations.

In 2000, Maud was appointed to the Vienna Town Council. Her late husband, Charles A. Robinson Jr., died earlier that year after serving 38 years on the Council, the last 24 as Mayor. Maud Robinson won re- election in 2001 and again in 2005. During her term she has been known for her historic preservation efforts, fiscal conservatism and the maintenance of the ``small town'' atmosphere that makes Vienna a very special place. Always

acting to improve the quality of life for the residents of Vienna, Maud has been a constant presence at Fairfax County Board of Supervisor meetings, revitalization meetings and everywhere else where her dedication to her community would have a positive impact on fellow Vienna residents.

After serving on the Vienna Town Council for the last nine years, Maud has decided to not seek reelection and enjoy some well deserved leisure time. The community will be eternally grateful for her many contributions, and her strength and determination will be missed.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Maud Robinson on the occasion of her retirement and in thanking her for her years of service to the community and our country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the recipients of the 2009 Literary Council of Northern Virginia Awards.

Founded in 1962, The Literary Council of Northern Virginia is a non- profit educational organization that recruits and trains volunteers to teach adults who need help reading, writing, speaking and understanding the English language.

The Literacy Council provides a wide range of programs including programs for English speaking adults who need help with reading and writing, ESOL programs for those in our community for whom English is not their native language and Family Learning Programs to teach English proficiency to parents and their children who are between the ages of two and 12.

Each year, The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia recognizes a few of its outstanding adult learners, volunteers and/or community partners. This year, a special award will be given to student essay contest winners, the theme of which was ``Hope for the Future''. It is my great honor to recognize the following recipients of the 2009 Literacy Council of Northern Virginia Awards:

Recipients of the Community Partners Awards are: Alexandria Community Trust, The Wish You Well Foundation, and the Richard Byrd Library (Fairfax County).

Recipients of the Volunteer of the Year Awards are: Kay Habeger, Michael Wolff and Monica Simone.

Recipients of the Student Essay Contest Awards are: Jieun Jang, Albert Costanzo, Wei Yang Tsai, Gloria Cruz, Hala Elnoby, and Deepa Kulkarni.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing the contributions of The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia and congratulating each of the 2009 Award recipients. Their dedication, hard work and commitment improves the quality of life for the students as well as the community by providing the program participants with the life skills that are necessary to become an active and productive member of society.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Gayle Bevis Ewing Reed and her remarkable service to our country during World War II. Ms. Reed was one of the courageous women who served her country as a part of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program which began in August 1943 to facilitate the war effort. She was dedicated to her dream of becoming a pilot and, despite the barriers confronting women in the aviation field, she succeeded and went on to fly PT-19s, BT-13s, and UC-78s during the war.

Upon hearing of the WASP program she became determined to aid the war effort and was among the earliest women to join. Of the 25,000 who applied, she was one of those selected to undergo a rigorous training program. She earned her wings in 1943, becoming one of 1,074 women to do so. In the 17 months that the WASPs were operational, she and her fellow pilots flew more than 60 million miles in over 60,000 hours of duty providing an invaluable service for our country.

Ms. Reed and her fellow WASPs were responsible for testing both new airplanes and those that had undergone repairs. They delivered planes from one destination to another and assisted with the training of other pilots by towing targets, simulating bombings and even participating in the direct instruction of male cadets.

She and her fellow pilots displayed tremendous courage and bravery as their duties were strenuous, exhausting and, at times, even life threatening. Thirty-eight women lost their lives while serving our country. Women pilots faced constant gender discrimination and antagonism from male pilots who adamantly believed that women did not belong in the aviation field.

On Dec. 20, 1944, Congress voted to disband the WASP program, determining that it

was no longer necessary as male pilots were becoming available to fill the jobs the women were performing. Despite the end of the program, she and many other women did not abandon their love of flying. They continued to fight alongside one another to gain recognition for their remarkable contribution. In the 1970s, they became deeply involved in a campaign nicknamed the ``Battle of Congress'' to gain veteran status for their service during the war. They finally succeeded in 1977 despite continued gender discrimination.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring Gayle Bevis Ewing Reed and other flyers from the WASP program who remain an inspiration for young women and men alike. She is not only a hero but a symbol of what can be achieved when goals are pursued and barriers overcome. She continues the legacy set down by generations of ambitious women by honoring her talent and maintaining a steadfast commitment to her dreams.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Lorraine Zilner Rodgers and her remarkable service to our country during World War II. Ms. Rodgers dreamed of becoming a pilot at a time when the field of aviation was dominated by men. Undeterred, she overcame gender barriers to pursue her goal. After graduating from the University of Illinois, she worked building military aircraft, using her salary and limited spare time to learn to fly. She eventually attained a private pilots' license.

While pursuing her dream to fly, she learned of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program and became inspired to join the war effort. More than 25,000 women applied and after completing a rigorous training program, Ms. Rodgers was among the 1,074 women who earned their wings. In the 17 months that the WASP's were operational, she and her fellow pilots flew more than 60 million miles.

Among her many duties Ms. Rodgers tested and ferried planes making necessary repairs to military aircraft. She displayed tremendous courage and bravery as her duties were strenuous, exhausting and at times even life threatening. Thirty-eight women lost their lives while serving and Ms. Rodgers was nearly one of them. While she was completing a routine testing flight in Waco, Texas, the plane she was flying abruptly went into an inverted spin. She made every attempt to right the aircraft to prevent destroying the plane, but as she neared the ground she was forced to abandon the aircraft. She was barely able to deploy her parachute before hitting the ground as she had delayed ejecting in an effort to save the plane. After recovering from her injuries, she was informed that her plane's rudder had been cut in an act of sabotage. Although such acts were rare, they were examples of the hardships women pilots had to overcome as they faced antagonism from male pilots who adamantly believed that women did not belong in the aviation field.

On Dec. 20, 1944, the same day Ms. Rodgers risked her life, Congress voted to disband the WASP program determining that it was no longer necessary as male pilots were becoming available to fill the jobs the women were performing. Despite the end of the program, Ms. Rodgers did not abandon her passion. She went on to work at the Glenview Naval Air Station and flew as much as possible.

In the 1970s she became deeply involved in a campaign to gain veteran status for WASPs. Despite resistance based on gender prejudices, they finally succeeded in 1977.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring Lorraine Zilner Rodgers and other pilots from the WASP program who remain an inspiration for young women and men alike. She is not only a hero but a symbol of what can be achieved when goals are pursued and barriers overcome. She continues the legacy set down by generations of ambitious women by honoring her talent and maintaining a steadfast commitment to her dreams.

Madam Speaker, after making three hundred thirty nine

straight recorded votes, I missed my first vote on the floor of the House of Representatives today as I attended the high school graduation of my daughter, Caitlin Rose Connolly.

While I take my responsibilities as a member of Congress seriously and make an effort to ensure my constituents are represented on every vote, nothing would have kept me from witnessing my daughter's graduation.

I would like to take this time to congratulate my daughter, Caitlin Rose Connolly, all of the graduating seniors at W.T. Woodson High School, and all other graduates in the class of 2009. Completing high school is a tremendous achievement. I am certain that the parents, family, friends and teachers of all of the graduates are as proud of their students as I am of Caitlin.

I would also like to take this moment to indicate how I would have voted on those votes that I missed.

On H.R. 2470, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 19190 Cochran Boulevard FRNT in Port Charlotte, Florida, as the ``Lieutenant Commander Roy H. Boehm Post Office Building,'' I would have voted, ``aye.''

On H.R. 780, the Student Internet Safety Act of 2009, I would have voted, ``aye.''

On the Motion to Table the Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair, I would have voted, ``aye.''

On H.R. 2247, the Congressional Review Improvement Act, I would have voted, ``aye.''

On H.R. 403, the Homes for Heroes Act of 2009, I would have voted, ``aye.''