Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor CPL Sebastian Degaetano, a veteran of the second world war and a resident of Port Richey, Florida in my Fifth Congressional District.

I will soon have the pleasure of recognizing CPL. Sebastian Degaetano for his heroism and bravery as a U.S. soldier who fought in the European Theater from January 19, 1943 through March 28, 1946.

During the pivotal Battle of the Bulge, which turned the tide against the Germans and was the largest land battle of World War II, CPL Degaetano was hit in his leg by shrapnel.

I will present CPL Sebastian Degaetano with the Purple Heart, the oldest military decoration in the world, nearly 50 years overdue.

Though he earned this honor, he never received it from the Defense Department and I am honored to have the opportunity to present to him the Purple Heart for his selfless devotion to duty and service to the United States.

Mr. Speaker, ``A poet in Russia is more than a poet.'' Yevgeny Yevtushenko was speaking of poetry's unique role in Russia, but the words apply equally to Yevtushenko himself--the world's most famous living poet, and also prose writer, photographer, filmmaker, congressman, professor, world traveler. In the civic tradition of Russian poetry, the poet is the voice of the people, the ombudsman, the champion of truth and justice, and the catalyst for social change. Because poets express the strivings and needs of the people, they are revered in Russia as nowhere else. In the Soviet Union, the message had to be elliptic, and poetry was read closely, between the lines.

Yevgeny Yevtushenko, born in Zima Junction, Siberia in 1933, burst onto the scene when very young, his first poems published in 1949, when he was just sixteen. He and his peers, Akhmadulina, Voznesensky, Rozhdestvensky, drew enormous, agitated crowds to their readings, and their popularity could be compared only to that of rock stars. They shaped an entire generation, the generation of Gorbachev and Yeltsin, who began the changes that ultimately brought an end to the Soviet Union.

His famous poem ``Babi Yar,'' against anti-Semitism, was written in 1961 and set to music by Shostakovich. In 1952, Yevtushenko wrote ``the Heirs of Stalin,'' with a call to throw off the oppressive shadow of the tyrant. He began his nonpoetic political protest activity with a telegram to Brezhnev condemning the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968. Thirty years later, his political activity was channeled into a formal democratic role--he was elected a congressman with an overwhelming 74.9 percent of the vote (in a field of nine candidates). There was a national write-in-vote to select the cochairmen to join Andrei Sakharov in leading the Memorial Society, dedicated to the memory of the victims of Stalinism. Yevtushenko was one of the three co-chairmen selected, further evidence of the faith in his integrity and appreciation of his outspokenness among his countrymen.

Yevgeny Yevtushenko traveled extensively, and he brought the world to the Soviet Union through his writing, but he also brought Russia to the world. In 1960, he was the first Russian poet to break through the Iron Curtain and to recite his poetry in the West, where he was befriended by Pablo Picasso, Max Ernst, Henry Moore, Federico Fellini, John Steinbeck, Graham Greene, Heinrich Boll, T.S. Eliot and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Over the years, Yevtushenko has toured 94 countries, all of the republics of the USSR, and all of the states of the U.S.A. He has recited his poetry in sports arenas from Russia to Santiago, Chile (where he appeared with Pablo Neruda), in the Opera di Roma, in London's Albert Hall, in the Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution, and National Cathedral in Washington, D.C, and in Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and Lincoln Center in New York. His works have been translated into 72 languages. Eighteen of his books have been translated into English. Most of his readers in France, Cambodia, Africa, Greenland, Australia, Germany, and China--among other places--have never been to Russia but they know and love Russian poetry.

Yevtushenko has been in the center of the action for fifty years. Yet his insatiable curiosity about the human experience and his monumental energy remain at their highest levels. He celebrated his seventieth birthday in Moscow this July, reading to enormous, adoring crowds, and then continued the extravaganza across the country, reaching out to his readers. His life is heartening proof that one man's voice, raised high and often, can alter the course of events.

Welcome all over the world, Yevgeny Yevtushenko and his wife, Masha, have chosen to divide their time between Russia and the United States, where they are bringing up their family. He is Distinguished Visiting Professor at The University of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and tenured at Queens College, in New York City. He has received numerous international prizes in literature and the arts. In addition to receiving four honorary degrees, he was elected an honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and a member of the European Academy of Arts and Sciences, was awarded The American Liberties Medallion of the American Jewish Committee, and in 1999 was appointed Poet-in-Residence of the Walt Whitman House Museum in Long Island, New York. Naturally, he is writing poetry and a new novel and is in the finishing stages of a major anthology of Russian poetry. We are fortunate to have Yevgeny and Masha Yevtushenko in our country and even more fortunate to have them here at the Russian Fireworks gala.

Mr. Speaker, I am one of those Republicans who grew up very poor. My dad was a Democrat. And I remember asking him why he was a Democrat, and he said because the Democrats protect the poor.

What I am hearing here tonight says the Democrats do not care about the poor. They do not care about the little old lady whose income is about $11,000, who only has Social Security, who cannot get prescription drugs today. That is the wrong message to be sending if they hope to be the savior of the poor and the drowntrodden.

I also teach health care. One of the things that I teach in my class are statistics. And the statistics are that the African American community and the Hispanic community pass away at a much earlier age from heart attacks, from coronary artery problems, and you know what? These are the prescription drugs that will be available under this prescription drug plan. How can they go back home and say that they are protecting the poor and the down-trodden? These are the same, the poor and the down-trodden, these are the people that are going to benefit from this prescription drug plan. I fully support it. It is a good bill for everyone.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Bipartisan Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act because it finally provides the much needed prescription drug relief seniors have asking for, offers help to our rural hospitals and our nation's doctors, and begins the real modernization and reform of a Medicare program in dire need.

Throughout my public service, I have heard a persistent question from my seniors how are you going to help us with the cost of prescription drugs? With the passage of this bill, I feel that I can finally begin to answer that question.

For the first time in history, we are going to provide all 40 million seniors and disabled Americans with prescription drug coverage.

It gives me great comfort to know that in 2006, with this Prescription Drug Plan, drug costs for seniors could be cut almost in half. And as early as next year, senior will begin to save an estimated 25 percent on prescription drugs with their Medicare prescription drug card. In the first year we expect seniors to save an estimated $365.

As a member of the Speaker's Prescription Drug Task Force, this is something we fought for, and this is something we got.

In addition, we are giving Americans more control over their health care by creating Health Savings Accounts, where they can contribute up to $2,500 a year into these tax-free accounts and citizens 55 years or older are permitted to make ``catch up'' payments. These accounts can be used for future medical expenses and may prove to be an additional much needed asset to our aging population.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to bring to the attention of my colleagues a very important component to this bill. As we are all aware, in 2004, the prescription drug discount card in Medicare will offer seniors up to 25 percent off their drug costs and provide low- income seniors, those with incomes of less than 135 percent of poverty into account, a $600 subsidy on top of the discount card. That's great savings, especially for wealthier seniors.

But what if you have an income of over 135 percent of poverty and you're disqualified from receiving the cash subsidy? Currently, hundreds of thousands of seniors in this country are provided discount cards from the prescription drug companies that offer significant savings on medications that a particular company produces. The income- restrictions on these cards are in some cases up to 300 percent of poverty. This means virtually all seniors in my district are eligible for this savings, which in many cases equals up to 80 percent off the retail cost of the drug. For example, Mr. Speaker, Eli Lilly makes Prozac; and if one of my 5th district seniors needs assistance with the cost of that drug, they can sign up to receive a card from Eli Lilly that entitles them to receive a 30-day supply of any Eli Lilly product for just $12. If, due to the new Medicare discount card, these important voluntary programs were discontinued, many of our Nation's seniors would end up paying higher prices. My constituent would end up paying over $75 for the same Prozac he or she is now receiving for only $12. Just as there was a fear this benefit would cause employers to drop coverage once it became available, I was concerned that the drug card would cause drug manufacturers to discontinue their cards.

Mr. Speaker, working with you, Majority Leader DeLay, Majority Whip Blunt and many of my other colleagues in this House, I took the lead and fought to protect seniors who are benefiting from the current prescription drug cards.

Now, on page 64 of the report language addendum and addressing section 1860D-31 of Conference agreement; Section 105 of House bill; Section 111 of Senate Bill reads:

Seniors currently benefit from prescription drug assistance

programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. Conferees

intend that these programs continue to be offered until the

full implementation of the prescription

drug benefit. Nothing in this conference report shall be

interpreted as encouraging the discontinuation or diminution

of these benefits.

Additionally, I have secured several letters from drug manufacturers in this country indicating their commitment to continuing to offer these worthwhile and necessary card programs, copies of which I'd like to insert into the Record.

Mr. Speaker, I simply want to bring this to the attention of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and especially to the seniors in my district. Neither conference staff nor most of the members of this body were aware of this glitch in the proposal and I am very proud of the work we were able to do together.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, friends, colleagues, the citizens of the 5th Congressional District of Florida elected me to this seat because they believed my voice would be heard and that I would stand with them in making a prescription drug benefit in Medicare a reality. It simply has been too long that our Nation's seniors have had to choose between life-saving drugs and food and this is unacceptable.

No one in this chamber believes that this bill is perfect, including myself, but I believe this bill is a good beginning and it signifies progress in our efforts to provide all of our constituents with the best, safest, and most affordable health care the world has to offer. In the months and years ahead, it is my hope and my promise that I will continue to work with Democrats and Republicans, to continue to make progress in our ongoing battle to improve health care for all Americans, including additional protections for retirees currently receiving health care benefits and addressing the rising costs of prescription drugs.

But tonight we have a choice to make--to take a step forward or to accept the status quo. Instead of concentrating on the weaknesses of this proposal, we must each embrace its strengths and dedicate ourselves to the next step forward. Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the Prescription Drug and Medicare Modernization Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my support for H.R. 2297, the legislation that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs has worked so hard to pass this year. I want to commend the gentleman from New Jersey (Chairman Smith); the ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans); and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown) for their steadfast leadership on veterans issues.

I also want to recognize the efforts of the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi) in drafting the Veterans Entrepreneurship Act of 2003, which is included in this legislation. Obviously, this bill will increase the opportunity afforded to veterans who spent their youth serving our country. Federal agencies will have the discretionary authority to sole source contracts for disabled veteran-owned businesses. Additionally, disabled veterans enrolled in school under a VA vocational rehab program will be allowed to declare self-employment as a vocational goal. Certainly this encourages entrepreneurship and business ownership. It clearly establishes a level playing field for those who have been wounded or injured while defending our freedom.

Very important to a lot of widows back home is that it addresses an injustice which has been suffered by military widows whose spouses died while on active duty or of a service-connected condition. They will no longer be denied the benefits earned by their first husband if they choose to remarry later in life. A military spouse already faces a life of sacrifice and hardship and should not be stripped of earned benefits because of a new-found love and companionship. We should not as a government be discouraging people to get married, and this bill corrects that injustice.

In a time of war, it is critically important that our servicemen and -women see that when they return home they will be welcomed by an eternally grateful Nation. This bill helps to express the gratitude that Congress has for our veterans of wars past and present.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to make a clarification to my voting record. I returned early this morning from a Congressional Delegation trip to Iraq. Unfortunately, while I was away, I was unable to cast a recorded vote on three measures passed yesterday. Had I been present, I would have voted in favor of:

S.J. Res. 22--A resolution recognizing the Agriculture Research Service of the Dept of Agriculture.

S.J. Res. 18--A resolution commending the Inspectors General.

H. Con. Res. 299--Honoring Mr. Sargent Shriver.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

My Fifth Congressional District in Florida is home to one of the southeast's largest prison complexes, and that is the prison complex in Coleman, Florida. It is a very small rural county.

At Coleman, working for Federal Prison Industry is a heavily sought after benefit that the inmates want. If an inmate misbehaves, he cannot work for FPI and they have lost that privilege.

Inmates who work are proven to be less violent and more able to be reintegrated into society.

We have to remember that these Federal inmates have broken the laws governing our land. In turn, we house them, we feed them, we provide them with some of the best medical care which our taxpayers very often resent. When I say we, I mean the American taxpayer.

We also offer, but not mandate, the opportunity for these inmates to gain some work skills.

The Federal Government owes it to the taxpayers to utilize Federal Prison Industries for efficient and inexpensive government production. I regularly hear from the Coleman employees and members of their families. They all feel that knowing that an employee is working for FPI is a greater safety factor.

My mama always used to say that an idle mind is the devil's workshop, especially in prison; and keeping the prisoners busy to me is a safety issue for the prison guards.

Given the current fiscal crunch that we are having and the estimates that we need to fund the ongoing war against terrorism, we should not pass a measure that will cost the taxpayers $589 million.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Washington Waste Watchers and of this body, I feel it is my duty to bring to the public's attention instances of fraud, waste, and abuse. Such actions of fraud, waste, and abuse not only steal from the taxpayers, but also from the beneficiaries very much in need of the benefits. A perfect example of fraud, waste, and abuse is actually occurring right now in my district. In July, after 10 years of service, the Department of Labor decided not to award the contract for senior employment to the group called Experience Works. It is a not-for-profit organization that has been working extremely well with seniors. The Department instead decided to award the contract to the American Association of Retired Persons or AARP. One might think this might be okay.

The transition that I have seen for my seniors going from Experience Works to AARP has been deplorable. At least ten of my constituents call my offices every day with complaints of verbal abuse. Imagine that. AARP abusing seniors. Some have left meetings with AARP in tears. I can only imagine how any Member in here would feel if they received calls from senior constituents claiming that AARP is abusing them. What happened is AARP has instituted new policies that seniors in my area are simply not used to. They have decided that they are going to shuffle these senior employees, who, by the way, are earning $5.15 an hour, from job to job every 6 months, without exception, and many times without any warning. Today they are working for agency X; Monday they may be working for agency Y. It seems to me as if we did not learn from the shuffle game that we played with foster children. Nobody is nourished and nobody grows when we have a shuffling process where there is no continuity.

And, by the way, it is not just the seniors that I am hearing from. Many host agencies in the district are having problems as well. One of the agencies recently said that they have ``had it with AARP.'' A gerontologist contacted me who has been working with seniors, and he said that he actually witnessed this verbal abuse of seniors by an AARP staff member. AARP is ``looking into it.'' I am sorry, but that is not enough. There is not any reason why anyone should tolerate any employee who verbally abuses seniors.

I have also been working with the Department of Labor. AARP is not doing this out of the kindness of their heart. They receive $75 million for operation of the SCSEP employment program in 27 States and in Puerto Rico. By the way, that is up from the $52 million they received last year.

In the 10 years that I served as a Florida Senator and worked with Experience Works seniors, I never had one single complaint from my constituents, nor did I ever hear of any complaints from the time that I was elected. If AARP cannot spend taxpayer dollars that they receive helping seniors and working with the host agencies, I can think of a number of groups that certainly can accomplish this goal.

In addition to this case I cited in my district, I was also dismayed to learn that there was another Medicaid scandal happening in South Florida. Between 1999 and 2000, Medicaid actually paid roughly $2 million to dead beneficiaries. Most of these funds were distributed despite the fact that the department's database had the dates of the deaths already logged in. Simple fact, we have some fraudulent providers out there who are trying to bilk the system.

Another example of the waste, obviously, is the $600,000 that we are spending this year to have a blimp fly at sporting events to promote Medicare. I do not know of one senior out there who is not very familiar with Medicare.

When we look at all these expenditures, I know of lots of veterans back home who could suggest a lot better way to spend that taxpayer money.

Waste, fraud, and abuse throughout the Federal agencies is, obviously, decades old, and Republicans led by the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle), chairman of the Committee on the Budget, and President Bush are working to eliminate the culture of waste that exists at the Federal Government. As a Republican, I will work to reduce wasteful spending in the government and to protect everyone's tax dollars.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a young hero in my Fifth Congressional District of Florida. Throughout our current situation in Iraq and our continued War on Terror we have had occasion to honor many heroes. Today I want to take the time to honor a very special young man who, just like our troops overseas, acted bravely and selflessly to protect the safety of another person.

This summer while playing outside with friends, Austin Toxen, a fifth-grader at Forest Ridge Elementary School in Citrus County, noticed smoke coming from his neighbor's home. Acting quickly and keenly, Austin ran into his own home, grabbed a fire extinguisher, asked his mother to call 911, and ran into his neighbor's home to help put out the blaze.

The fire, which started in the home's kitchen, would have almost certainly quickly spread throughout the entire structure had it not been for Austin's swift intervention. Austin was able to help contain the fire to the kitchen saving the home from burning entirely. The owner, Janeen Hall, has called Austin a hero and credits him with saving her home.

According to friends and family, Austin has remained very humble about his bravery. Though many have marveled at the fact that he had the composure to act so heroically, he says he just did the right thing.

We all know that Austin's actions truly are worthy of praise and so Mr. Speaker I ask you and my colleagues to join with me in honoring Austin Toxen today. He truly is a brave young man and a fine example of courage and selflessness.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great public servant, a charitable giver, and a selfless hero in my Fifth Congressional District, Mr. Frank Bierwiler.

Frank Bierwiler first served his community in New York for many years as a State Police Officer. Then, after a multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 1974 forced him to retire from the force, Frank Bierwiler pledged to do something good with his life.

It was a few years later, Mr. Speaker, that he moved to Florida and started Daystar Hope Center, an organization giving food, clothing, and assistance with bills to central Floridians in need.

For nearly 20 years, the center has served as an example of the power and impact of benevolence and kindness. Its doors have welcomed thousands of Floridians in need and Mr. Bierwiler's perseverance and generosity have for so long ensured that those doors stay open.

Unfortunately, after 20 years of helping so many, the Daystar Hope Center is closing.

While it is unfortunate that the center is ceasing operations, many other charitable organizations, came into existence because of the success of the Daystar Hope Center. Frank's leadership fostered these other organizations and he always worked well with them.

I want to take this opportunity today to first commend Frank Bierwiler for his work in my district and to, second, draw attention to the extraordinary things that can happen when one determined, individual pledges himself to greatness.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and all of my colleagues in this body to join me in honoring Frank Bierwiler and offering our sincere admiration for his work, life, and accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a woman who has for many years been an outstanding businesswoman and citizen in my hometown of Brooksville, Florida. Margaret Rogers Ghiotto, known as ``Weenie'' to her close friends and family, was recently honored as a ``Great Brooksvillian'' for her work on behalf of the community.

Aside from owning and managing Rogers' Christmas House Village and the Jennings House, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, Mrs. Ghiotto has a background in education, having taught children about the environment and the value of trees for many years.

At a ceremony in city hall this week as part of Brooksville's Founders' Week Celebration, Mrs. Ghiotto was honored with a plaque, reception, and many kind words. This weekend she will be the Grand Marshal of the Brooksville Founder's Day Parade.

While this most recent honor is certainly a laudable one, it is not the first such accolade Mrs. Ghiotto has received. Over the years, she has been named the Hernando County Chamber of Commerce's ``Citizen of the Year,'' AWBA's ``Business Associate of the Year,'' and the Lions Club's ``Outstanding Citizen.'' She even has awards named after her-- the University of Florida Lambda Chi Alpha chapter gives an annual leadership award to a distinguished member, called ``The Margaret Rogers Ghiotto Award'' and the city of Brooksville honors businesses and individuals with the ``Margaret Rogers Ghiotto Beautification Award.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues in this body join me in honoring this great woman and great citizen. We should all be so lucky as to have a Margaret Rogers Ghiotto in each of our districts.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues, and in particular the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart), as a vigilante for the American taxpayer. In the 10 short months that I have been a Member of Congress, I have been appalled by the waste, fraud, and abuse that I have found to exist within the Federal Government.

As a member of the Washington Waste Watchers and of this body, I believe it is my duty to bring to the public's attention instances of fraud, waste, and abuse. It not only steals from taxpayers but also from the beneficiaries who truly need the benefits.

I have been given the honor of serving on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. In this position, I exercise oversight responsibilities over the second largest agency in the Federal Government. The VA is a laudable institution with lofty goals and worthy intentions. However, as evidenced by long wait times suffered by many veterans, not only in my district but in other districts as well, it has not always flourished under the best management practices. Again this year, the GAO placed the VA on its high-risk list for fraud, waste, and abuse. Here are but a few examples of fraud and waste that I will discuss that happened in the VA where we stood to lose over $130 million to unscrupulous felons.

They have been vulnerable to this because of poor management practices and loose accounting standards. Three VA employees, two in my home State of Florida and one in New York, embezzled nearly $1.3 million by exploiting internal weaknesses in the VA benefit program. With this money one employee purchased a Mazda Miata, a Mitsubishi 3000 GT, and two engagement rings.

After a review was conducted as a result of this crime, auditors uncovered 136 other cases of potential fraud or mishandling of veterans' benefit checks from offices in St. Pete, Florida, and St. Louis, Missouri, alone.

We need to seek out this fraud, not just believe that the solution is to raise taxes and turn our backs on fraud, waste, and abuse.

The VA has also identified approximately 7,000 possible cases of individuals who may be receiving benefits intended for deceased veterans. The VA estimates that they netted nearly $21 million over 5 years by identifying these cases. Can you imagine that they are continuing to pay for veterans who have passed away?

For more than 7 years, nearly 400 veterans actually received VA educational benefits even though they did not attend class. The veterans had a great scheme going with the instructor who falsified their attendance. Nineteen defendants have been convicted in this scheme, and the government has recouped over $4.5 million.

Lastly, the Department's Inspector General estimated that roughly 13,700 veterans have been paid about a million dollars nationwide and that the Department has no systematic method to identify these people who are prisoners. Prisoners should not be paid veterans benefits.

Here are a few recent examples of waste within the VA: the Veterans Administration keeps an excess inventory of medical supplies totalling $64 million, or 62 percent of its $132 million inventory. An example is at four pharmaceutical facilities surveyed, the Inspector General found 48 percent of the inventory was actually in excess.

The VA medical supply procurement practices are also questionable because very often they pay more for medical supplies than the market price, and here is an example of that. During a 6-month period, seven out of 10 VA medical centers that purchased standard powder-free surgical gloves failed to use the established FFS contractor and overpaid an open-market vendor by 28 percent. This error in disposable gloves alone cost the taxpayers $34,000.

As evidenced by these instances of fraud and abuse which are only the tip of the iceberg within the VA and other Federal agencies, it is imperative that the culture in Washington change.

Instead of the knee jerk reaction to raise taxes to fund programs or to create mandatory spending entitlements (the answer favored by Democrats) we must look into the wasteful spending practices the result from unchecked bureaucracy!

It is my deepest hope that by highlighting these abuses and bringing them to the attention of the American taxpayer, the VA will continue to take corrective action under the leadership of Sec. Principi and respect that the money that they are spending is the people's money. Not their own.

Waste, fraud, and abuse throughout the federal government is decades old, and Republicans--led by Budget Chairman Nussle and Speaker Hastert--are working to eliminate the culture of waste that has existed in the federal government.

As a Republican, I will work to reduce wasteful spending in the government and protect your tax dollars.

Mr. Chairman, if we go out and we go back to our Districts and talk to the constituents, what they are saying is while our school districts have to apply for loans to build schools, it is only fair that the people of Iraq will eventually pay back to the American public part of this as a loan. The Pence amendment says grant first, loan next.

We have to remember that this is a very oil rich country, and they will someday be able to repay us. I think we owe it to our taxpayers to show some responsibility and some accountability here and to support the Pence amendment. Remember, loan second, grant first.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speaker in favor of H.R. 1442, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Visitor Center Act.

I am very proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation which authorizes the design and construction of a visitors center to enhance the experience of visitors to the Vietnam Memorial. I will not ever forget the impact that the wall had on me when it was first commemorated in 1982. At that time the sacrifices made by American soldiers, Marines, Navy, and Air Force in Vietnam were so fresh on everyone's conscience. However, as years pass, the Vietnam War becomes the subject of a history text book rather than a reality of life.

The sacrifices made by Vietnam veterans must not simply fade into the past. We owe much more to the soldiers who answered the call to duty and who sacrificed for our freedom. Today, most of the visitors to the wall were not alive during the Vietnam era. Many do not fully understanding the message on the wall. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Visitors Center will ensure that Americans now and also future generations will learn and understand the true history of the Vietnam War.

I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo) for his leadership on this matter so that we can continue to honor the sacrifices made by our many brave Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this important bipartisan legislation, the Syrian Accountability Act. It will authorize new sanctions against Syria until it meets certain conditions.

Although the Department of State lists Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism, fewer sanctions apply to this country than to any other nation on this list. We know that Syria provides a safe haven and support to several terrorist groups including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, to name only a few.

Secretary Rumsfeld has asserted that bus loads of Syrian fighters entered Iraq with thousands of dollars and leaflets offering rewards for dead American soldiers.

Syria deserves the same sanctions and loss of diplomatic relations as any other nation that sponsors terrorism overseas or against Americans. It is absolutely critical that this renegade nation be held accountable for its actions once and for all.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill which the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) proudly sponsors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great public servant, a charitable giver, and a selfless hero in my Fifth Congressional District, Mr. Frank Bierwiler.

Frank Bierwiler first served his community in New York for many years as a State Police Officer. Then, after a multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 1974 forced him to retire from the force, Frank Bierwiler pledged to do something good with his life.

It was a few years later, Mr. Speaker that he moved to Florida and started DayStar Hope Center, an organization giving food, clothing, and assistance with bills to central Floridians in need.

For nearly 20 years, the center has served as an example of the power and impact of benevolence and kindness. Its doors have welcomed thousands of Floridians in need and Mr. Bierwiler's perseverance and generosity have for so long ensured that those doors stay open.

Unfortunately, after 20 years of helping so many, the DayStar Hope Center is closing.

While it is unfortunate that the center is ceasing operations, many other charitable organizations, came into existence because of the success of the DayStar Hope Center. Frank's leadership fostered these other organizations and he always worked well with them.

I want to take this opportunity today to first commend Frank Bierwiler for his work in my district and to, second, draw attention to the extraordinary things can happen when one determined, individual pledges himself to greatness.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and all of my colleagues in this body to join me in honoring Frank Bierwiler and offering our sincere admiration for his work, life and accomplishments.