Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Lt. Col. D.R. Cannon Jr. who, on June 25th of this year, will be retiring after 28 years of service to the United States Air Force. Today, we celebrate his dedication to his family, our country, and the Judge Advocate General's Corp.

Col. Cannon was a direct appointee to the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Department, starting as first lieutenant in June 1982. He began active duty in July 1982 and served four years at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. Upon leaving active duty in June 1986, he joined the active reserves and was stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, FL until June 31, 1988. From August 1986 until June 1988, he served a split attachment with his tour at Eglin Air Force Base and inactive training at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. In June of 1988, Col. Cannon was re-attached to the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Eastern Space and Missile Center (now 45th Space Wing), at Patrick Air Force Base. After leaving active duty, Col. Cannon started working for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration with the office of Chief Council at Kennedy Space Center. Since November 2004, he has been the Director of Procurement at Kennedy.

Among his various awards, Col. Cannon has been awarded the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, NASA's Exceptional Achievement Medal, NASA's Exceptional Service Medal, and the NASA Small Business Administrator's Cup Award for Fiscal Year 2009.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Col. Cannon has remained a dedicated and caring leader, husband and father; putting his all in everything he does. His legacy will continue in the hundreds of JAG Corps personnel he has mentored through the years.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Lt. Col. Dudley Cannon on the occasion of his retirement and thanking him for his service to our great nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Gerald Virgil Myers who, on July 6 of this year, will celebrate his 92nd birthday. Mr. Myers is a dedicated father, grandfather and veteran. Today, we celebrate his life, career and this momentous occasion.

Gerald Virgil Myers is part of our ``Greatest Generation''; he served our country honorably in World War II earning both the silver and bronze stars for his service, as well as the Purple Heart.

He served in the 80th infantry division, which was responsible for discovering and liberating the Buchenwald concentration camp. He recently returned to Germany to attend the 65th anniversary celebration honoring this occasion.

Mr. Myers also served in the Battle of the Bulge. He returns to Luxembourg annually to participate in the festivities marking the end of the conflict. Mr. Myers has even been named an honorary citizen of Luxembourg.

In his post military career, Mr. Myers made a living as a sales manager for Quaker Oats and Allied Feeds. He retired to Lakeland, Florida where his son, Gary and daughter, Ronna live close by. He is a grandfather to literally dozens of grandchildren and great grandchildren; most of whom live nearby as well.

In his spare time, he does his part to keep our Nation's history alive. He frequently visits local school groups and shares with them stories of his service to our country. He also enjoys crafting his own stained glass.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Myers on the occasion of his 92nd birthday and thanking him for his dedicated service to our great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1294, expressing support for designation of the first Saturday in May as National Explosive Ordnance Disposal Day, to honor those who are serving and those who have served in the noble and self-sacrificing profession of explosive ordnance disposal in the United States Armed Forces. Although clearly a work of Hollywood drama meant for entertainment purposes, the Academy Award-winning film, ``The Hurt Locker,'' has brought new attention to our Nation's EOD technicians. While the action shown in this film is intense and very gripping, there is no question that when it comes to explosive ordnance disposal, truth is even more compelling than fiction. For this reason, I, along with my colleague from Oklahoma, Representative Boren, introduced House Resolution 1294, to recognize the real contributions that explosive ordnance disposal technicians have made to our Nation's military since the United States first began its bomb disposal program over 69 years ago.

On average, there are over 4,000 brave men and women serving as explosive ordnance disposal technicians within the four services.

EOD techs are responsible for the location, identification, neutralization, and disposal of hazardous explosive items and devices. They are on the front lines in the global war on terrorism, protecting their fellow troops from conventional explosives, nuclear weapons, and improvised explosive devices. As my constituent and the executive director of the EOD Memorial Foundation explains, EOD technicians ``are people who voluntarily take that long walk into uncertainty'' every time they go to dispose of a bomb.

This resolution also supports observing the first Saturday in May as National Explosive Ordnance Disposal Day. This date was selected to coincide with the annual EOD Memorial Ball. This year's ball, which happens to have been the 42nd annual one, was held in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on May 1, and I understand that it was a wonderful success, selling out all of the tickets that were available. Because the EOD Memorial Foundation is headquartered in my district in Webster, Florida, I have had the great honor to meet many of these warriors. I have learned that the ties that bind the EOD community together extend far beyond the battlefield. The EOD community is a family, and when even one part of that family is lost, the rest of them come together to support and assist those left behind.

In 2009, 16 EOD technicians lost their lives serving our Nation in battle. Another EOD warrior was killed taking apart an IED just within the last week. This resolution honors those men and women who courageously, selflessly, and graciously face the real dangers posed by traditional and improvised explosives.

With that, I urge my colleagues to join myself and Mr. Boren in honoring those American warriors and supporting House Resolution 1294.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Adriana Selvaggio. A devoted mother and renowned physician, Dr. Selvaggio has committed the majority of her adult life to serving others.

Born to Italian immigrants, Dr. Selvaggio came from a modest upbringing. Her father was a baker and worked hard to support her and her five brothers and sisters.

After graduating from Hampton High School, at the behest of her parents, Dr. Selvaggio postponed college to help support her family. However, she never lost sight of her desire to further her education. She eventually left home to pursue her degree at Penn State University. She completed her bachelor's degree in science in just two years.

Completing her bachelor's degree in just two years was only the beginning of Dr. Selvaggio's long list of accolades and accomplishments. She applied that same work ethic and determination to her studies at Temple Medical School and Boston University Hospital. Highly regarded by her colleagues as one of the country's top doctors in the field of Nephrology, she has opened several dialysis centers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Recently, Dr. Selvaggio completed her eight- year term as the president of UPMC Shadyside's medical staff. She was the first female to serve as president in the hospital's 135-year history. Dr. Selvaggio is married to Dr. Steven Heilbrunn. They are the proud parents of two remarkable children, Max and Evi.

Dr. Adriana Selvaggio is truly a woman of great courage and perseverance. She has built a legacy that will be talked about in medical classes and passed down through generations. Her son, Max, said this of his mother's character, ``To this day, my mother is more proud of the strong willed character that her adversity has built than the accolades she has earned having overcome them. The profound content of my mother's character is something that I will praise and cherish for the rest of my life.''

The medical world is lucky to have her as their colleague, her children are blessed to call her Mom and I am grateful to know her as a great friend.

Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me today in honoring the character and achievements of Dr. Adriana Selvaggio.

I thank the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1963, the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009.

As Members of Congress, we do have a responsibility to provide the best support we can to our Nation's veterans. With provisions for caregiver support, rural health improvement and mental health benefits, there are many reasons why I support this legislation. I could speak at length about these important and necessary benefits. However, in the interest of time, I would like to highlight just one: health care for women veterans.

While more and more women are joining the military, the VA's health care services for women veterans have not kept pace. Although approximately 14 percent of our troops are female, as a female veteran recently said in an interview with Good Housekeeping magazine, it is as if women are ``Martians, abnormalities descending on the VA health system.'' In fact, of the country's 153 VA medical centers, only about half even have a gynecologist on staff. This is despite the fact that between 23 and 29 percent of all female veterans seeking medical care through the VA have reported experiencing sexual assault. Is it any surprise, then, that the number of female veterans being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder rose from 1 to 19 percent in only 4 years?

For this reason, my colleague, Representative Herseth Sandlin, and I introduced H.R. 1211, the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act. Although the Senate has not acted on our legislation, I am happy to see some of the key provisions, like studying the barriers preventing women veterans from receiving VA health care and developing a plan to improve that care for women veterans both immediately and in the long term, that actually made it into this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Elwood and Patricia Treadwell of Groveland, FL. On April 2, 2010, Mr. and Mrs. Elwood celebrated 50 years of marriage.

Elwood Treadwell, better known by his friends and family as ``Woody'', attained the rank of colonel while serving in the military. In his civilian life, his career has taken him as far north as Niagara, New York where he worked as a structural engineer, to sunny Florida where he currently works for the Walt Disney World Transportation Department, in the Magic Kingdom's ferry boat section.

Patricia Treadwell's passion for animals and devotion to those in need also took her to Niagara, New York. She devoted countless hours to training dogs for the Guiding Eyes program.

So far, Woody and Patricia's marriage has spanned 5 decades, 10 presidents, a moon landing and the Challenger explosion. They can remember where they were when Martin Luther King Junior gave his famous address on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and on the day President Kennedy was assassinated. In the past 50 years, technology has also evolved in ways that few could have imagined: the invention of the Internet and cell phones has made it easier than ever to connect with loved ones.

Over the span of their lives together, they have raised two children, and are the proud grandparents of four grandchildren. They have supported them with their love and have given them the tools to take on our ever changing world.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating the Treadwells on 50 years of wedded bliss. I wish them the best over the next 50 years as they continue to walk through life together.

Mr. Speaker, the Democrats on the other side of the aisle believe that the American citizens can no longer be trusted to manage their own health care in the best way that they see fit. You must now do things in their socialist way or face the wrath of the IRS.

Unfortunately, the size of the Federal Government isn't the only thing that's going to grow as a result of this bill. So will your insurance premiums, because the cost of insurance will

grow. That's right. The bill increases premiums for every American who has insurance. Our national debt will grow. Your taxes will grow.

The only thing that won't grow are the benefits that the seniors who are in the Medicare Advantage plan have. They will be losing their doctors because doctors are refusing to take Medicare patients and will once this bill becomes law.

Mr. Speaker, this bill cuts Medicare, raids Social Security, and we need to reject this bill.

Madam Speaker, by now, we all know the many flaws with the health care bill that is going to be rammed through this House, and there certainly are many.

It cuts Medicare by one-half trillion dollars. It raises taxes, jeopardizes patient access to health care, and puts an unelected bureaucrat, or many bureaucrats, in charge of your health care.

I want to tell a brief story about something that happened to me this weekend.

I was in a local drugstore with a friend of mine waiting for a prescription, and a woman came up to me and she said, Are you Ginny Brown-Waite? And I said, Yes, ma'am. And she said, I want to talk to you about the health care bill.

She proceeded to tell me, she said, I am about to lose my job, which means I will lose my health care. And I thought I knew what she was next going to say, and she totally shocked me. She pointed to her daughter, who she told me was 9 years old, and she said, But I don't want you to vote for that bill, Congresswoman, because I don't want this child and her children paying for an out-of-control health care system in America.

I believe that she really speaks the way most Americans believe.

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

You know, earlier this afternoon, our Democrat colleague, Mr. Skelton, a decorated war hero himself, came down to the floor and he posed the question, ``Have we forgotten 9/11?'' I think that this resolution perhaps sends the wrong message that this Congress has forgotten 9/11, and also the wrong message to Americans.

Just as our young men and women are always ready and always there for us in the military, we must show equally steadfast loyalty to them. Over 1.4 million men and women are bravely serving our Nation in active military duty today. I have attended sendoff ceremonies for the troops from my district headed overseas, and I have welcomed them home. I have rejoiced with those mothers and fathers and wives who, after months of not being with their loved soldier, are able to spend time with him or her. I have also wept for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. I have wept with their families. They made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, for our safety.

Every single soldier that I have spoken to who has been to Iraq and Afghanistan would say that they would go back again. They believe in the mission. It is pretty sad that Congress doesn't. They believe in the work that they're doing out there, and they need our support, not this resolution, which is, I believe, a demoralizing resolution to our troops. Rather, I would encourage my colleagues to vote against this resolution because by voting against this resolution I believe you will be voting for our troops.

Madam Speaker, I want to make it clear from the start that there are some items in this bill, some provisions, that everyone in this Chamber could probably support. Providing tax relief to small businesses is really a good idea, but this very fact raises an important question:

If the majority recognizes that lowering taxes for businesses is good for employment and is certainly good for the economy, then why do they insist on dramatically raising taxes everywhere else every single chance the Democrats get?

I also think that it is worth discussing the nefarious accounting gimmicks in this bill. I voted for the principle of PAYGO because I believed in it; but no sooner did the Democrats finish patting themselves on the backs for passing PAYGO than they turned around and came up with waiving it and, in this instance, kind of Bernie Madoffing it, if there is such a word. I think I just created a new word, Madam Speaker. I don't want to get too far into the technical weeds here, but this bill is PAYGO-compliant only because of some accounting gimmicks. In the fourth quarter, move a little first quarter money into future years, and presto-change-o, the bill becomes PAYGO-compliant. The American people know we can't spend the same money twice; so let's take a closer look.

The official cost estimate of the bill does not include a $20 billion transfer from the general fund to the highway fund, meaning we will have to find that money someplace else. We will have to find that general revenue money someplace else, probably from China. The cost estimate doesn't reflect $142 billion in a new spending authorization for transportation projects that we don't have a source of revenue to pay for. Maybe that's why we were only given a few hours to read the bill before the vote is to take place on it.

While we're on the subject of transportation funding, I did hear Mr. Oberstar say that the Senate was going to fix this, but the bill before us is not one that is good for transportation for the various States.

I thank the gentleman.

Certainly, California and Illinois get half of the funding. That leaves the rest of America to ask, What's in it for us? Well, the answer is zero. Florida is a donor State and already pays far more in transportation taxes than what it gets back. Quite frankly, I cannot support the bill that is before us today for that reason and for several other reasons.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Greg First of Dade City, FL. for most of his life, Greg has been a faithful servant to his community; volunteering himself to many causes which have helped to enrich the lives of many.

Born to Jimmy and Mary First in Bedford, Ohio, Mr. First moved to Zephyrhills with his family at the age of 10. After graduating from Zephyrhills High School, he attended the University of Maryland and served in the United States Air Force from 1968 to 1972.

Mr. First has volunteered himself, quite literally, having donated a total of 16 gallons of blood while director of public relations for Blood Net, in addition to volunteering for Meals on Wheels, Relay for Life, and a local Hospice. He has kept up the spirits of Zephyrhills residents as an announcer for Main Street Parades and high school football games. A three-time president of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. First has been a Christian Radio DJ, a lifetime Am Vet Member, and he even started his own local news website, ``What's Up Zephyrhills?''

Madam Speaker, on February 26, the Conservative Club of East Pasco will honor Greg's achievements with the Lincoln Heritage Award. I ask you to join me today to honor him on the floor of this house. May we all give back to our communities as much as Mr. First has.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Greg First of Zephyrhills, FL. For most of his life, Greg has been a faithful servant to his community, volunteering himself to many causes which have helped to enrich the lives of many.

Born to Jimmy and Mary First in Bedford, Ohio, Mr. First moved to Zephyrhills with his family at the age of ten. After graduating from Zephyrhills High School, he attended the University of Maryland and served in the United States Air Force from 1968 to 1972.

Mr. First has volunteered himself, quite literally, having donated a total of 16 gallons of blood while Director of Public Relations for Blood Net, in addition to volunteering for Meals on Wheels, Relay for Life, and a local hospice. He has kept up the spirits of Zephyrhills residents as an announcer for Main Street parades and high school football games. A three-time president of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. First has been a Christian Radio DJ, a lifetime Am Vet member, and he even started his own local news website, ``What's Up Zephyrhills?''

Madam Speaker, on February 26, the city of Zephyrhills will honor Greg's achievements. I ask you to join me today to honor him on the floor of the House. May we all give back to our communities as much as Mr. First has.

Madam Speaker, 100 years ago Zephyrhills, FL was founded as a colony paradise by Howard B. Jeffries for his fellow Union civil war veterans. Originally named Abbot after the owner of the town's first drug store, Zephyrhills is now home to 11,000 proud residents.

Tradition holds that the town of Abbot's name was changed to Zephyrhills because of the cool, gentle, zephyr breezes from neighboring Greer and LeHeup Hill. The name officially changed to ``Zephyrhills'' on March 10, 1911; with it, the town of Abbott officially moved from an A to Z in the alphabet.

Zephyrhills residents are proud of the many accomplished men and women who have brought notoriety to their hometown. Zephyrhills High School coach John Clements has the distinguished record of being one of only five coaches in the United States with over 400 recorded wins; ``The Bulldogs'' baseball team now plays on the John F. Clements field in his honor. Having played professional baseball prior to coaching for ZHS, John, along with Yankees pitching coach Dave Eiland, Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Ryan Pickett, and NASCAR driver David Reiutmann, is among the list of athletes that call Zephyrhills their hometown.

Zephyrhills is also proud of its local beauties. Begun in 1956, the Lions' Club's ``Miss Zephyrhills'' pageant is a favorite feature during the annual Founders Days. It has become a launching ground for the statewide ``Miss Florida'' competition. Many former ``Miss Zs'' love their hometown as much as any other resident, 1978's winner, Diana Kennedy, summed up her experience saying, ``I was very proud to represent Zephyrhills and I know the experience made me feel like Miss America. I remember being involved in the community; throwing out the first baseball and attending parades. Of all the titles I held, representing my hometown was the most rewarding.''

One hundred years ago Howard B. Jeffries founded a town. Zephyrhills has become a community based around family, neighborhoods, small businesses and longstanding traditions. I congratulate Zephyrhills on this momentous occasion and wish them continued prosperity and lasting memories throughout the next one hundred years.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of Billy's Law. I want to thank the many tireless advocates of missing children everywhere, and I certainly want to commend Representative Murphy for sponsoring this very important piece of legislation.

Every day thousands of people are reported missing. The good news is that many of them are quickly located by our heroes in the local law enforcement agencies. What happens to those who are not found in the first few very critical days after they're reported missing? In the past, the names were noted in files of local police agencies, but without any leads, investigators were left with few options and their names lingered on this list.

Madam Speaker, in 2005, a group of people that included Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies, medical examiners, forensic scientists, and other experts gathered in Philadelphia to discuss ways to solve missing persons cases. The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System is a result of that effort.

Local and State law enforcement agencies need a central database to which they can turn, and that is why I believe NamUs is so important. NamUs has also launched a DNA initiative, which is an effort to make sure we are using DNA technology in every way possible to track down missing persons. Billy's Law provides grants to local law enforcement agencies to improve their access to DNA technology and to NamUs.

In my district, Milton and Evelyn Nerenberg have spent years trying to find out what happened to their missing daughter, Audrey. Frustrated that

their daughter, too, remains missing, the Nerenbergs came to me for help. They were concerned that the Federal Government was not doing enough to make sure that information gathered in central Florida, for example, where they lived, was being shared with the right people in other parts of the country. They also wanted to make sure that the DNA technology be made available to law enforcement agencies throughout our Nation as well as in Florida. Billy's Law will make it happen. It is very similar to the legislation I previously introduced and that was named after Audrey Nerenberg.

Important progress has been made in the past 5 years, but more must be done. Forty thousand missing persons, including Audrey Nerenberg from my district, their families will certainly benefit from this legislation.

I have worked in previous Congresses to improve the Federal Government's ability to locate missing persons, and as a cosponsor, I am very pleased to see Billy's Law come to the floor, and I will be proud to vote in favor of its passage.

I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an American hero, Harry L. Begle of Brooksville, Florida. A decorated war veteran, Lieutenant Begle's service to our nation will forever be remembered by this Congress.

Born in Lexington, Virginia, Lt. Begle graduated from Fork Union Military Academy in 1943 and entered WW II soon thereafter.

He served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 101st Airborne Division and an Assistant Platoon Leader with the H Company 3rd Battalion in the 506th Parachute Division. While deployed outside of Bastogne, Belgium, Lt. Begle's platoon came under attack by a German Infantry. To describe that moment, Lt. Begle said, it was then that ``all hell broke loose''. During the battle, Lt. Begle's hand was struck by a bullet, and his upper body was struck by shrapnel from an artillery shell explosion. The blast caused wounds in his neck and left him in a British Military hospital for several months. Lt. Begle received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for his courageous actions in battle.

Despite his wounds and time spent away from the front lines, Lt. Begle returned to serve his country abroad once again in 1945, This time in Austria. He was later transferred to the 82nd Airborne Division when the Pacific ended.

In 1946, he returned home. He marched in the WW II victory parade in New York where he was greeted with a heroes welcome. He served as a reservist until 1949 when he was honorably discharged.

Long after his military days had passed, he continued to protect his fellow Americans, serving as a Washington D.C. Police Officer for 23 years; he retired in 1972.

Madam Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Harry L. Begle; a beloved and decorated American hero. On behalf of a grateful nation, this Congress, his family and friends, I thank him for his service and sacrifice to our country.