Floor Statements

I thank the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues today to condemn in the harshest terms possible the vandalism that scarred the Vietnam Veterans Memorial a few weeks ago.

My district in Florida is home to the second most veterans of any Member of this body, with more than 105,000 veterans and their dependents residing there.

I also serve on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. So many brave soldiers, marines, Navy men, airmen who fought with bravery over in the Southeast to stop the spread of communism and to protect American interests live in my district. For those brave troops throughout our great Nation who perished in the line of fire, their names are forever marked on the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial here in Washington, DC. That anyone would deface the wall and desecrate the memory of these fine soldiers is beyond anyone's comprehension.

As someone who grew up in the Vietnam era and someone whose brother

and cousin and other family members served honorably and, thankfully, came home safely, I know firsthand the sacrifices these soldiers made, physically and emotionally, during their periods of service.

While thousands of our troops perished in the jungles of Vietnam and had their names inscribed on the wall, tens of thousands more came home to their families and loved ones. These are the people who deserve to be the most outraged by the vandalism that took place, the families, friends and fellow soldiers of the deceased, who make pilgrimages to the wall to pay respects and honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our great Nation.

I commend Judge Carter for bringing this resolution to the floor today. And I thank him for doing his part to honor the memory of those who fought and died in Vietnam.

We all hope that the individuals who perpetrated this crime will be caught and prosecuted to the full extent of the law and that, clearly, something like this would never happen again.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the resolution offered by Representative Baca of California. I applaud him for bringing this resolution to the floor today and I am very proud to support his efforts.

With a district with so many veterans, I can honestly stand here today and tell you that Veterans Day in my district is on par with the love of God, mom and apple pie. Almost every town and municipality in the eight counties that make up my congressional district goes out of their way to hold a public event celebrating the accomplishments of our Nation's veterans.

Traveling around my district, I have met literally thousands of men and some women who recount their stories of military service with pride and with joy. They tell of the bravery of their comrades, of the sacrifices to protect the innocent and the weak and the memories of those killed in action.

The resolution before us, House Resolution 237, is a good sense of the House that encourages the celebration of Veterans Day. Veterans Day is not just another day to go to the mall or look for Veterans Day sales but, rather, to honor those who have served our country.

These brave soldiers fought for our freedoms and the liberties of our Nation around the world, including France, England, Poland, Vietnam, Korea, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. The actions of the American military throughout the history of our Nation have helped advance the cause of freedom around the globe and protect citizens from attack from foreign powers, and today from attacks from terrorists.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage every American to adopt the spirit of this resolution in celebrating Veterans Day and show our veterans how much we appreciate their sacrifice and the time served. May God bless our soldiers and our veterans.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding individual who lived in the early days of Brooksville, Rev. Arthur St. Clair. Rev. St. Clair will be posthumously awarded the 2007 Great Brooksvillian of the Year at a ceremony next week. The award is presented annually to a current or former resident who has made a significant impact on the city of Brooksville.

Born in 1837, Arthur St. Clair was the former slave of Marina Sanderson May, a landowner and taxpayer in Brooksville. Upon gaining his freedom, Rev. St. Clair became a leader in the Reconstruction-era politics of Hernando County and a founder of the Bethlehem Progressive Baptist Church. He also went on to become a Baptist minister, presiding over services at the new church, originally located on South Lemon Street. He and his brother also helped to found the first African- American school in Hernando County.

Eventually rising to serve as the voter registrar, deputy sheriff, county commissioner, a captain in the state militia, and a four-time Republican nominee for the Florida State House of Representatives, Rev. St. Clair was a prominent leader in Brooksville and Hernando County. In an era when black men throughout the South were looked down upon and relegated to second class citizenship, it is a testament to the character and personality of Arthur St. Clair that he remained a valued member of the Hernando County community for so many years.

In his role as an African-American Baptist minister, Rev. St. Clair was not afraid to take on controversial issues, including that of mixed marriages; those marriages considered taboo in the mid to late 19th century. On a spring day in 1877, Rev. St. Clair presided over a wedding ceremony between a black man and a white woman. This did not sit well with several members of the community, and later that summer on a trip home from Fort Dade, a mob set upon Rev. St. Clair and shot him to death.

In efforts to cover up the crime, the perpetrators then set fire to the courthouse, burning all the records and voter files for the entire county. This led to a severe deterioration of race relations in Hernando County, an episode that some have called a ``race war'' and left a lasting impression on Hernando County for nearly a quarter of a century.

Madam Speaker, the city of Brooksville was lucky to have had a man like Arthur St. Clair take an active role in our community and have been such an advocate for civic involvement and religious freedoms. I am proud to recognize his accomplishments, and congratulate his descendants on Arthur St. Clair being named the 2007 Great Brooksvillian of the Year.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 3530, which will rename the post office on Highway 41 in Inverness, Florida, after Chief Warrant Officer Aaron Weaver.

Aaron was a resident of my district from Floral City who gave his life for his country while serving in Iraq. After graduating from Citrus High School in 1989, Aaron Weaver joined the Army. Aaron's grandfather served in World War II and the Korean War, and his father was a very proud marine. Following in the family tradition, Aaron and his two brothers joined the military as well.

As a member of the elite Army Rangers in 1993, Aaron Weaver received the Bronze Star with valor for extreme courage for saving another soldier's life in the battle of Mogadishu in Somalia. Weaver's actions that day and the battle in Mogadishu were portrayed in the book and film ``Black Hawk Down.''

Aaron Weaver also fought another battle. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer, but would not let that get in the way of his mission to serve his country. The cancer could have easily been his way out of Iraq, but instead, Aaron urged his officers to let him enter the combat zone. In Iraq, Aaron served as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division and arranged to have his medical checkups for cancer while he was there. Aaron was actually on his way to a checkup not long before his tour of duty in Iraq was to end when his helicopter crashed on January 8, 2004, in southern Fallujah.

I hope that in the simple of act of renaming this post office that we will memorialize Aaron's incredible story. Aaron Weaver epitomized courage and patriotism. We must never forget his great sacrifice to our Nation.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

I thank the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a friend and a colleague, Jo Ann Davis from the great State of Virginia. When I was first elected in 2002, came to this body in 2003, Jo Ann was one of the first people to approach me and say, what can I do to help you, can I help you look for staff, what can I do. Jo Ann was always known for being a very willing, helpful person.

She never offered advice, but if you asked her for advice, you better be prepared for frankness, and she would strongly suggest that you follow that advice. She'd say you asked for it. And she was always very frank and very candid when she gave advice but always very gentle, always a lady.

I would have to say that Jo Ann Davis epitomized the Golden Rule. She followed the Golden Rule. She was a fighter and she was a woman who, although diminutive in size, demonstrated great, great strength, whether it was fighting cancer, that she beat back once, and then we all know it came back a second time to take her from us, but she was always a fighter and always with a smile on her face.

It can safely be said that Jo Ann loved God, and her country, as well as her beloved family.

We will miss Jo Ann Davis because of what she brought to this body, because of her spirit, because of her ever, ever-winning smile.

Jo Ann Davis had the honor of being respected by people on both sides of the aisle. They respected her, and they knew that she worked very hard to represent her district in Virginia.

We extend our sympathies to her husband, Chuck, her sons, Charlie and Chris, as well as her granddaughter, Charlotte.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an American soldier who gave his life in service to our Nation.

Army PFC Brandon T. Thorsen of Trenton, Florida, was killed by a gunshot while serving on guard duty in Baghdad, Iraq. Private First Class Thorsen is survived by his mother Susan Hostutler of New York, father Donald Thorsen of Trenton, Florida, sisters Sharony Sheldon of Spring Hill, Florida, and Amber Gay of Trenton, Florida, brother Dereck Hardyman of Gainesville, Florida, and his fiancee, Chana Gilbert of Newberry, Florida.

Growing up in Levy County, Brandon attended Chiefland High School, where he was remembered as an outgoing and charming young man with a great sense of humor. A defensive lineman and left tackle on the football team, Brandon played an important role in the team's success during the 2003 season. A lover of the outdoors, hunting and fishing, Brandon had plans to join the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as a game warden following his 4-year commitment to the Army.

Graduating Chiefland High School in 2005, Brandon fulfilled his ambition to serve the United States military when he was assigned to the 1st Cavalry 2nd Battalion following his enlistment. Inspired by the events of September 11, Brandon completed basic training at Ft. Benning in Georgia, and then went to Ft. Bliss in Texas for his combat infantry training prior to his service in Baghdad that began in November 2006.

Madam Speaker, it is soldiers like PFC Brandon Thorsen who have volunteered to protect the freedoms that all Americans hold dear. While brave men and women like Brandon have perished in the name of freedom and liberty, his family, friends and loved ones should know that this Congress will never forget his sacrifice and commitment.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dan and Luanne Hurst, the 2007 Angels in Adoption award winners from the 5th Congressional District of Florida.

Dan and Luanne decided to adopt their first child, Matthew, while they were working as college professors.

When Matthew's birth mother became pregnant again, she contacted the Hursts about their interest in adopting the second boy, so that the brothers could grow up in the same home.

Recognizing the importance of keeping the boys together as a family, the Hursts soon welcomed a second son, Jesse, into their lives.

As proud adoptive parents, the Hursts have also used their expertise in English education to help Matthew with the challenges of dyslexia.

Today Luanne home schools both children while working part time teaching evening college classes.

One of the most difficult challenges facing adoption agencies is to keep siblings together, yet people like Dan and Luanne show us that this is not an impossible task.

Please join me in recognizing the Hursts and all families that welcome adopted children into their homes, giving them the love and support they need to thrive.

Madam Speaker, I rise this evening to highlight one of the most important pieces of legislation yet to pass this Congress: the Veterans Affairs-Military Construction appropriations bill. Each year from 1995 to 2006 the Republican-led Congress passed record increase

after increase for our Nation's veterans. More importantly, the Republican-led Congress made it a priority to pass the VA appropriations bill so that our veterans could continue to receive the care that they deserve.

That, Madam Speaker, cannot be said of this year's VA funding bill. Reports in today's Congressional Quarterly are that the majority is considering holding the vital VA bill hostage as a means of passing a giant omnibus bill to fund government operations. The health and welfare of our veterans is more important to my constituents than it is to score cheap political points here in Washington, D.C.

Madam Speaker, I hope that you can find it in your heart to appoint conferees to the VA-Military Construction appropriations bill and send the President a bill that he can sign. Our veterans deserve nothing less.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time.

I rise to engage my good friend Chairman Frank in a colloquy concerning the bill.

Mr. Frank, as you recall during the committee process before we actually marked up H.R. 3121, my Florida colleagues and I raised some serious questions and concerns over expanding the flood program to cover wind. We are concerned that while this expansion may help some in areas of the United States, we were uncertain whether it would hinder some States like Florida that tend to be excluded from the national insurance market.

You will remember Representatives Feeney, Putnam and I introduced an amendment that struck the provisions expanding NFIP to cover wind losses. The amendment put a GAO study in its place to give members in the department time to vet this issue further. Unfortunately, the amendment did not pass the committee, but you and I asked for a GAO study very similar to the one included in the amendment.

You and I have worked closely on issues in the past, and I know that you are a man of your word and you have always given those of us with differing thoughts an opportunity for ample discussion and consideration.

I am hoping today to get your word that when the GAO study is released in April, that the committee and the regulators will take into serious consideration their findings. For example, some of the questions we asked were whether consumers would be able to purchase wind and flood policies at sound, actuarial rates; whether FEMA had staff available and was prepared to administer such an expansion; and how much an expansion of this nature would expose taxpayers to future losses. Those and other questions that were posed, they are tough questions that GAO will be responding to.

But I hope I have your commitment that the Committee on Financial Services members who support an expansion and the regulators listen and respect the findings, regardless of the outcome. I would ask for that commitment, Mr. Chairman.

I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.

I look forward to continuing this ongoing work relating to the NFIP program.

Madam Speaker, on Monday, September 24, 2007, while returning from a Homeland Security field hearing in New York City my train was delayed, and I missed the following votes. Had I been present, I would have voted in favor of:

Rollcall 891, H. Con. Res. 193, recognizing all hunters throughout the United States for their commitment to safety.

Rollcall 892, H. Res. 668, recognizing the 50th anniversary of the September 25, 1957 desegregation of Little Rock Central High School by the Little Rock Nine.

Rollcall 893, H.R. 1199, to extend the grant program for drug- endangered children.

Rollcall 894, H. Res. 340, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives of the importance of providing a voice for the many victims (and families of victims) involved in missing persons cases and unidentified human remains cases.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Reverend Robert R. Donlan, Pastor at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Brooksville, Florida, on the 40th anniversary of his ordination into the priesthood. For the past 40 years, Father Donlan has served the Catholic Church with honor and distinction, all in the name of Jesus Christ.

Born in Amsterdam, New York, Father Donlan has dedicated his life to serving the

Church. Earning his B.A. at Kilroe Seminary of the Sacred Heart in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, his Bachelor of Sacred Theology Degree from Sacred Heart Monastery in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, and his Masters in Religious Education from the University of Detroit, Father Donlan spent an early part of his career as Pastor of St. Margaret Mary Church in Detroit, Michigan. He then moved on to serve the Church in Mississippi and Florida, eventually moving to Brooksville, Florida where he has been Pastor at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Brooksville for the past 14 years.

Father Donlan joined St. Anthony's Parish following service as the Parochial Administrator at St. Jerome Church in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida. Loved by his parishioners from throughout Hernando County, Father Donlan has fostered a spirit of unity throughout the Church with his good deeds and kind words. In fact, since his appointment 14 years ago, the number of registered families in the parish has grown to more than one thousand three hundred, including this member of Congress and her husband. Having listened to his homilies for many years, I can tell you that he preaches from the heart and speaks the true word of Jesus Christ.

In addition to his decades of service, Father Donlan has been very involved in local church and civic organizations. This volunteerism includes service as the Secretary and Treasurer of the Brooksville Ministerial Association for 10 years, the Vicar Forane of the Hernando Deanery of Catholic Churches, and volunteer efforts at area nursing homes and health care facilities.

For the past 40 years, Father Donlan has tended to the needs of his congregation. As a part of his ministry, he has gone above and beyond the call of duty to help his Church grow and prosper. One example of his devotion was the creation of a Wailing Wall in the Church. Designed after the original Western Wall of the old temple in Jerusalem, the wall is designed to receive petitions that are burned each month during the celebration of Mass.

Madam Speaker, Father Donlan's dedication to the Lord and to the Catholic Church has served as an inspiration to thousands throughout Hernando County. His ministry has touched the hearts of many, and the Church has continued to grow under his leadership. Father Donlan is to be commended for his years of service, his commitment to the Lord, and for serving the men and women who rely on his counsel and wisdom. Father Donlan is a shining example of the good that serving Jesus Christ can bring to our friends and families, and he is to be commended on the 40th anniversary of his ordination into the Catholic Church.

Mr. Speaker, after terrorists attacked New York City and Washington, DC on September 11, 2001, our Nation came together. Without a study commission or partisanship, Congress quickly passed the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act to help business owners, and acted swiftly again by passing an extension in 2005. Now again, less than 2 years later, we just considered another TRIA extension.

If Congress can come together and help businesses after a terrorist attack, we should be able to come together to help homeowners who cannot afford the skyrocketing costs of insurance. For over 3 years, Congress has forgotten about homeowners around the country who are grappling with ever-increasing insurance rates.

For these reasons, Mr. Buchanan and I offered an amendment in the Rules Committee that would have added homeowners' reinsurance as losses covered under TRIA. This measure would have helped new families, parents, and grandparents who are homeowners. Sadly, the Rules Committee did not allow this amendment to be part of the rule and so Members did not have the opportunity to help their constituents.

Although I voted for TRIA, we should be saddened that the majority chose only to help business owners today and to ignore the insurance crisis facing homeowners.

Mr. Speaker, I am deeply saddened to stand here today on the House floor. No Member envies speaking about the attacks on America that killed 3,000 of our citizens, but I feel it is extremely important that we take time to speak out in remembrance of their lives.

I don't know if you can see this pin, Mr. Speaker, but I have worn this pin since 9/11 on the 11th day of every month. It has firefighters erecting a flag over the World Trade Center. It was given to me by Florida firefighters who joined their colleagues in New York after 9/ 11.

Every time I put this pin on, I am reminded of the horrors of that September day 6 years ago, as well as the challenges that our Nation faces from terrorist threats around the globe. We all remember the bravery and dedication of so many individuals in the immediate aftermath of the attacks on New York City and on the Pentagon, and the failed attempt where the plane landed in Pennsylvania. Thousands of policemen, firemen, EMTs, doctors, nurses and everyday citizens rushed into harm's way to help their fellow man. Many of these retired police and firemen and doctors have moved down to my area in Florida.

With passage of the resolution before us today, these heroes will be remembered by every Member of Congress and be recognized for their outstanding efforts.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of a new record for the State of Florida; our first set of sextuplets, born this weekend to new parents Karoline and Ben Byler of Wesley Chapel in my district.

As someone who raised three wonderful girls, I know the joys of motherhood, albeit one at a time. the Bylers, who already have a 4- year-old at home, now get six times the challenge of raising young children, welcoming five little boys and one girl into their home.

The boys were named Brady Christopher, Eli Benjamin, Ryan Patrick, Jackson Robert

and Charlie Craig. The girl is MacKenzie Margaret.

Madam Speaker, the residents of my district are like so many others around the Nation; good, caring and generous American citizens. Since the babies were born this weekend, the parents have been showered with gifts and support, including clothing, diapers, baby wipes, baby formula and gift cards.

While every child is a precious gift, to be blessed with six babies at one time is truly an accomplishment. In fact, this is the first time in Florida history, and only the fourteenth time in the United States that sextuplets have been born. My thoughts, prayers and best wishes go out to Karoline and Ben Byler as they begin an amazing journey as parents to six new children while ensuring that the older sister feels just as loved.

Madam Speaker, on September 6 the Financial Services Subcommittees held a hearing on a proposal to help Florida homeowners with their skyrocketing insurance costs. I am very troubled by the Administration's testimony and comments during that hearing.

The Administration alluded that homeowners are not paying enough for their premiums. The Administration claims that the insurance market is ``active and effective.''

Furthermore, the Administration's bipartisan opposition to any proposal by my colleagues or me to help homeowners along the Gulf Coast is a position we cannot accept.

Madam Speaker, I am troubled that the Administration continues to take a ``let them eat cake'' attitude while families and seniors are being forced from their homes, simply because they cannot afford property insurance. I hope the Administration takes notice of this problem soon, and begins to work with my colleagues and me to bring some relief to our constituents.