Floor Statements

You sure did, Judge. I want to thank you for bringing this up. It's just not who these folks are that we don't know; it's what they step on. I look at this as sort of the fourth or the stealth branch of government.

I came here, I know all my colleagues here, certainly the freshmen, we came knowing that we have a serious responsibility to fulfill on the different committees of jurisdiction that we're appointed to. I bring up just one example, the car czar, and what has happened to the auto industry in this country.

As I could tell, I expected when we had these issues, that we have a committee, I believe it's called Energy and Commerce, that would have dealt with the issues surrounding that industry. And yet everything that has happened in the car industry, of firing an executive from a private organization, to taking over ownership of General Motors, to dictating winners and losers in terms of the auto dealerships, all directed under the leadership of a czar.

Frankly, I know that that's the responsibility of Congress. We have a responsibility to approach that carefully and judiciously and make those types of decisions. The Constitution provided us that authority and that responsibility, and the czars are just stepping all over the Constitution.

I thank my good friend from Illinois for yielding and thank him for coordinating this time tonight when we truly do talk about our most important ally, a friend that we have and a good democratic friend in a very dangerous part of the world in the Jewish State of Israel.

It was a privilege to be able to visit the country of Israel and to go with other colleagues, to go there with an open mind and to be able to sit down and to visit and talk face to face with the President of Israel, with the Prime Minister of Israel, to meet with the military, to go into the West Bank and sit down with the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority and to look at the defense issues that Israel lives with each day and has since the beginning of that democratic nation; to visit all the borders on all sides of Israel and to look out into, whether it was Jordan

or Syria or Lebanon, places where, at one time or different times during their short history where missiles rained from and mortars came down on men, women and children in that State of Israel. It's a country that is very familiar and lives every day where defense is on their mind, and a strong defense.

In particular, it was striking to me when we were in the southern part of Israel, and we were overlooking the Gaza Strip. All the borders are being relatively peaceful right now, but at the Gaza Strip and just outside of this small farming community of Sderot where we looked and the leaders of Israel chose, in a goodwill, good-faith offer of peace, gave up what I thought looked like a pretty good piece of real estate that sat along the Mediterranean Sea, and that was the Gaza Strip.

They moved the citizens of Israel out of there, and relocated them into other parts of Israel in the hopes of obtaining a lasting peace and long peace with the Palestinians; and in exchange, what they received is about 3,000 missiles and mortars that came raining down on them.

I think the most striking conversation I had--and I know my good friend was there--was with a young mom of a 9-year-old, and she had grown up in that farming community. Her grandparents lived there. Her parents lived there. She lived her entire life there, and she lived through that time when those missiles rained. She talked about how--and we saw as we were driving in to Sderot bus stations that looked a little unusual but that was because they were designed also as bomb shelters. We saw the playground, which had a great piece of equipment sitting in it. My kids are grown now, but my boys would have loved it. It looked like a giant caterpillar and kind of weaved around. But to look closer, it actually was a bomb shelter for children that they would run to whenever a missile was launched and would soon be landing.

Now from the time the siren sounds in Israel, they have about 20 seconds until that missile lands and explodes. That young mom I think put it so striking for me. Her words I hear over and over again in my mind, Imagine yourself, you are a parent, and you are driving down the road. That siren sounds, and you've got 20 seconds to get to safety. You've got two children. They're both strapped in car seats in the back seat. Which one do you pick?

I think we take for granted our safety and security in this country. We certainly have had our attacks here. We've been relatively safe since 2001 because of the measures that were taken by President Bush and by the Congress at that point, and we have not experienced another attack on our soil in those 8 years. But we certainly have issues that I look forward to talking about further tonight in terms of future threats to not just our country but to the country of Israel. And I thank my good friend for yielding.

Will the gentleman yield for a question? Actually, both of my colleagues.

When we were there, we had an opportunity to visit a number of the settlements, and I have been distressed that our President, President Obama, has been almost dictating that Israel give up part of its sovereign nation, these settlements. We were there. We walked them. We saw the strategic location of them.

I wanted to get your impressions of what your thoughts were. Should Israel give in to that direction and give up its sovereign land, those settlements that it has today?

If the gentleman will yield.

It struck me that many of those settlements are in strategic locations. They're high ground from which terrorists, the Palestinians, lobbed missiles and rockets onto the men, women, and children of Israel. And those were taken as a part of the war in 1948, and frankly, they're extremely important areas to hold on to.

I kind of think of the--as I think about our President, President Obama, dictating onto the Israeli nation that they should give up the space, it's a little bit like somebody coming to us and saying, okay, now you need to give back New Mexico, California, and Nevada to the sovereign nation of Mexico. We wouldn't stand for that. I would certainly hope that the sovereign nation of Israel would not stand for that as well.

Yes.

I thank the gentleman. I certainly thank you for naming those pieces of legislation. They are extremely important. They do have the large support of this entire Chamber.

I would ask the Speaker support that bill and to bring that bill to the floor so that we can do the right thing by this most important ally that we have in the Middle East and would serve the needs. I think what you have talked about tonight really most recently addresses the most immediate threat in Israel and I think the most immediate threat to the United States, and that is the situation in Iran.

Mr. Speaker, Iran has recently revealed the development of a secret nuclear facility. And Iran's admission of the operations of a secret nuclear facility is a serious problem and a serious threat. While this new revelation is alarming, it's not unexpected. Iran has deceived the world time and time again. And any attempts to assure the world that their nuclear program is peaceful should be seen for what it is, and that is just another lie.

Now, Mr. Speaker, it's time to impose meaningful sanctions on the Iranian Government. We have legislation that has been drafted and introduced and has the support of the majority Members of this Chamber. We must not continue a foreign policy that extends a hand of cooperation to our enemies while they continue dangerous acts of deception. If the nuclear facility was designed for civilian purposes, we have to ask, why did Iran conceal its existence?

We must impose meaningful sanctions on the threat that endangers the safety of American citizens and America's allies. Now, the confirmation of this secret nuclear facility is troubling, especially to me at a time just days after the Obama administration announced plans to abandon the placement of a missile defense system in the Czech Republic and Poland and all because Russia was not happy with the idea. Only 1 year since Russia invaded Georgia and 70 years to the day since the Soviet Union invaded Poland, the administration has announced the dismantling of one our most important missile defense systems at the expense of our allies.

Mr. Speaker, the abandonment of the European missile defense site, which could have protected the homeland of the United States against Iranian long-range missiles, is unacceptable. As I was talking with one of the Chairs of our missile defense caucus in this body, he described to me that there are plans for a better system to be put in place.

However, that new missile defense program will not be operational until 2018 or 2020. And while we do have other missile defense shields in place that will remain, he described it like this: it's like trying to bring down an airplane with a baseball. He supposed it could be possible, but it's a one-in-a-million chance. When you think of intercontinental ballistic missiles that travel the speed of 10,000 miles per hour, to me it's unacceptable at this point in time in our history when we have threats that sometimes come from other countries, such as Iran, sometimes from terrorists that hold no national identity, and it's alarming to me that we are taking down this missile defense program.

Please.

I also want to thank my good friend from Illinois and my good friend from Louisiana for being here tonight on this important topic.

I mean, the Constitution, when we were sworn in which seems like a lifetime ago back in January, we placed our hand on the Bible, raised our hand, and we swore to uphold and defend that Constitution. And within that, one of the first responsibilities is for common defense. That's the first, and I think the most responsibility that we have as Members of Congress is our safety and security, and certainly, this issue is one that is all about safety and security.

Frankly, history shows, and we know, that a strong defense is a strong deterrent. We want peace. We pray for peace. I long for a day when the whole world is at peace, but we know that we need a strong defense in order to serve as a deterrent to achieve peace. And I'm hopeful that we will see the day that--and I believe it was the President of Israel, Shimon Peres, who said he longs for a day when rising out of the desert we see buildings and not missiles and that we know the economic impact and that we have peace that we can also cherish.

So I thank Mr. Schock for coordinating this evening.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 491, a resolution encouraging each institution of higher education in the country to seek membership in the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges, or SOC, Consortium.

The SOC Consortium was created in 1972 to provide educational assistance to servicemembers who had trouble completing their postsecondary education due to their frequent moves.

Today, more than 1,800 colleges and universities are a member of this important consortium with operational partnership between the Department of Defense and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

All institutions that join the consortium must agree to have military-friendly policies on campus. Generally, these institutions agree to things like reasonable transfer of credit policies, providing credit for military training and experience, and providing credit for at least one nationally recognized testing program like the college- level examination program.

The consortium also assists institutions and students in following new policy changes that may benefit servicemembers or veterans. Committee Republicans have long been supportive of ensuring that America's servicemen and -women are easily able to accomplish their goal of achieving a postsecondary education degree.

The Higher Education Opportunity Act passed last Congress included a number of new initiatives for servicemembers and veterans. The bill required the Secretary of Education to provide a Web site that should serve as a one-stop shop for servicemembers to access information about all education benefits.

This bill also included a program to provide funds to institutions to develop on-campus centers that will help servicemembers navigate everything from course registration to educational benefits to help pay for college. These programs will help ensure that these students receive all of the information they need without having to navigate through all the red tape.

I recognize that many institutions already have military-friendly policies in place whether or not they are a part of this consortium. Through this resolution, we are encouraging even more institutions to review their policies and to think about whether there is more that they could give back to those who are fighting for America's freedom.

I certainly want to congratulate my colleague Mr. Adler for introducing this important resolution. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I thank my good friend for sponsoring this resolution. I am certainly proud as a member of the Education and Labor Committee to support this resolution as well. I think, to me, more importantly, as the father of a United States soldier, thank you for this resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 684, a resolution recognizing and honoring Howard University School of Law's 140th anniversary of legacy and social justice and its continued commitment to the training of capable and compassionate legal practitioners and scholars.

Howard University was chartered by Congress as a private university in Washington, D.C., in 1867. The law school at Howard opened its doors to its first six students in 1869. By the end of the first year, the law school had enrolled a total of 22 students. The first students graduated from Howard University School of Law on February 3, 1871. The American Bar Association accredited the school in 1931. Today, Howard University School of Law graduates approximately 185 students with either a juris doctorate or a master of law degree. Students attending Howard come from all over the United States and the globe.

Howard University School of Law has had a history of promoting social and civil change. In fact, it has an impressive lineup of alumni that were key figures in American history, including former Representative John Mercer Langston, the first African American Member of the House of Representatives; Charlotte E. Ray, the first African American woman to practice law in the District of Columbia; and Thurgood Marshall, a former Justice of the United States Supreme Court and lead litigator in the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education.

I congratulate Howard School of Law on 140 years of academic success and wish them luck as they continue to inspire the country's next generation.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I don't believe I have any additional speakers on this bill, so I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise today in support of House Resolution 696, acknowledging and congratulating Western Wyoming Community College in southwest Wyoming on the occasion of its 50th anniversary of service to the students and citizens of Wyoming.

Western Wyoming Community College was established in 1959. Through the efforts of a citizens' committee, a campaign began, an election was held, and the college in the original district was created. Through the support of the community, the campus has been expanded several times since it was originally built in 1966. Student numbers have increased from 40 in 1959 to over 5,000 in 2002.

Western Wyoming Community College has grown almost every year and is now one of the seven community colleges that serve the State of Wyoming. The main campus is located in Rock Springs, Wyoming, and, together with an extended campus located in Green River, comprises the fourth-largest population center in Wyoming.

WWCC offers a variety of educational services to the community. They offer 2-year transfer programs for students pursuing a baccalaureate, 2-year occupational degrees, and a number of occupational certificate programs. The college has programs in humanities and fine arts; social science; science and mathematics; business; technology and industry; and health science.

Western's mission statement reflects the dedication to education that has led WWCC to become the successful institution it is today. Of the 293 first-time, full-time students that enrolled in WWCC in 2005, 72 percent graduated or went on to other higher education institutions by 2008.

The mission of WWCC is to provide access to postsecondary educational opportunities by offering broad, comprehensive programs in academic as well as vocational technical subjects. Committed to quality and success, Western encourages flexibility, innovation, and active learning for students, faculty, and staff.

Western Wyoming Community College celebrates the 50th anniversary of their founding this month. For 50 years, WWCC has provided a quality education to the people of their community, allowing them to further their careers and better their lives.

I thank Representative Lummis of Wyoming for introducing this resolution. I congratulate Western Wyoming Community College. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Lummis).

Mr. Speaker, having no additional speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of House Resolution 455, congratulating the Wichita State University men's and women's bowling teams for winning the 2009 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Bowling National Championship.

Wichita State University began as Fairmount College, a private congressional school, in 1895. Wichita State University changed its name and officially entered the State system of higher education on July 1, 1964. And today WSU offers more than 60 undergraduate degree programs in more than 200 areas of study in six undergraduate colleges.

The university is an NCAA Division I institution, and fields teams in tennis, cross-country, basketball, track, golf, crew, bowling, men's baseball, and women's volleyball and softball. The name for WSU's athletic teams is the Shockers. The name reflects the University's heritage. Early students earned money by shocking, or harvesting, wheat in nearby fields. The WSU Shockers have excelled at many sports over the years, but bowling has recently become one of WSU's most successful athletic teams.

The sport of bowling originated in ancient Egypt. Bowling balls and pins were found in the tomb of an Egyptian king who died in 5200 B.C. The ancient Polynesians bowled on lanes that were 60 feet long, the same as today, and bowling was part of a religious ceremony in fourth- century Germany. British kings Edward II and Richard II banned bowling because they said people were wasting too much time playing the sport.

Bowling has been popular in America since Colonial days. The German settlers introduced ninepins, the game that evolved into today's modern tenpin sport. Today bowling is enjoyed by 95 million people in more than 90 countries worldwide.

As the most accomplished collegiate bowling program in the Nation, the Wichita State Shocker bowling teams have 18 national championship victories to their name. In the 2009 men's national championship, the Shockers and the Saginaw Valley State University squared off in a showdown between the two most successful programs in the history of collegiate bowling for the title. The Lady Shockers came through and won their second national championship in three seasons after a 2-0 sweep of Lindenwood in the championship match.

I'm honored to stand before the House today to congratulate and recognize the significant achievements of the players and the coaches whose hard work has led to the success of the Wichita State University Shockers men's and women's bowling teams as USBC Intercollegiate National Champions.

I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my good friend who's the author of this resolution, the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Tiahrt).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in sorrow over a young life lost in a tragic car accident. Shane Horner, son of Maria and G. Edward Horner of Brockway, Pennsylvania, passed away September 13 at age 18. Shane had completed his work to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, which included a project cleaning, painting and restoring the Brockway Sportsmen's Club Pavilion.

This young man had been active in his Scout troop, holding various positions, including assistant senior patrol leader, chaplain's aide, and junior assistant scoutmaster. Shane had applied to continue with his troop as an assistant scoutmaster. He was also a youth representative to the Brockway Borough Council.

Shane was a multi-sport letter winner at his high school. He was part of the 2009 District 9 boys basketball team champions, but he was also involved in the spring musicals and a member of the student council. He planned to attend Pennsylvania State University and continue on to law school.

He was a member of St. Tobias Roman Catholic Church of Brockway and was active with youth ministry. My thoughts and prayers are with the Horner family as they seek solace in their memories of a son who gave them so many reasons to be proud.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding me this time, and I offer my support to my colleague from North Carolina for the bill he has put forward.

I rise today to speak on issues of forestry, and specifically to House Resolution 81 which recognizes the importance and sustainability of the U.S. hardwoods industry.

My rural district in Pennsylvania is comprised of sprawling forest lands and the Allegheny National Forest. For generations, the economic engine of this region has been oil and gas production and the harvesting of some of the finest hardwoods in the country.

American hardwoods are valued here and around the world for their natural beauty, long life, sustainability, and many applications from furniture to flooring to musical instruments.

There are more than 100 privately owned businesses in my district. Most are family owned, whose well-being and the well-being of their employees are dependent upon the American hardwoods. More than a billion dollars in hardwoods and hardwood products are exported from the United States each year. Even with this growing market demand, the supply of hardwood resources has continued to grow as forests, both public and private, are managed for growth and harvest.

In addition to the enormous economic benefits which the timber industry has on our rural economy, timber harvesting in Pennsylvania is an essential part of forest health and management efforts. For example, when decaying timber or wood waste is removed from the forest floor, it creates a much fuller and more vibrant forest in the long run. Forest management helps to create a stronger carbon sink than an unmanaged forest.

In addition, the U.S. Forest Service spends $2 billion per year, half their

budget, fighting wildfires. I believe that better and increased management will help to reduce the regularity and severity of these all-too-frequent disasters. In short, the timber industry is an important component in forest management and health.

As a cosponsor of the legislation, House Resolution 81, I ask my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on that piece of legislation and honor an industry which benefits our economy and our forest health.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man who was an example of what was the best of what is journalism and politics. Mayor Bill Welch of State College, Pennsylvania, passed away September 4 at age 67. In 2002 Welch was named Penn State's Renaissance Man of the Year, and I believe that title may be one of the best descriptions of the man.

After his 1964 graduation from Penn State, he became a reporter for the Centre Daily Times. He went on to become news editor, managing editor, and editor. A reporter from the newspaper quoted Welch as saying: ``Commit to something greater than yourself. Do not shy away from differences. Seek them out.'' His work at the paper reflected that thought.

He went on to run for borough councilman and was elected mayor in 1994. He wore a signature panama hat and carried humor, intelligence, selflessness, and goodwill to everything he tried. Welch ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination for mayor in this year's primary and won the Republican nomination through write-ins. That probably sums up his command of politics.

At a time when parties are polarized, Welch was a man of the people. And he will be missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address an issue that Americans from the time of our Founders found fundamental in the forming of our country. That issue is the freedom of prayer as it relates to that right as defined under our Constitution in Amendment 1, ``Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.''

Tomorrow, in the State of Florida, two men, including the Pace High School principal and athletic director, face criminal contempt charges for prayer offered at a fieldhouse luncheon for private contributors in which no students were present.

The right to practice religion is among the most fundamental of the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. While this right is guaranteed through our Constitution under the legislative authority and responsibility of the legislative branch, it was the judicial branch and judges, I would argue, without constitutional authority, legislating from the bench, that imposed an unconstitutional infringement on the rights of teachers, administrators, and students to free exercise of their religion.

This outrageous action was driven by a lawsuit filed by the ACLU against the Santa Rosa County School District, claiming that some teachers and administrators were endorsing religion in their schools. The school district entered into an agreement without any legal argument that prohibited prayer at all school-sponsored events and even prohibited all employees from engaging in prayer. Prohibited individuals from praying.

Principal Franklin Lay and Athletic Director Robert Freeman offered a prayer. The prayer was offered innocently, without intent to violate the order, and they didn't do it to take a stand against the order. They did not realize the order applied to them in such a way--a prayer before a meal at an event with private contributors in which no students were present.

The U.S. District Court initiated criminal contempt proceedings and the

two men face potentially fines, jail time, and loss of their retirement benefits for exercising a right guaranteed under the Constitution.

Mr. Speaker, this is wrong. I stand with Principal Lay and Athletic Director Freeman to their right granted under our Constitution in Amendment 1 to freely exercise their religion and specifically to pray.

Mr. Speaker, I pray that we return to a time when our constitutional right to pray is honored, recognized, and, at the very least, not criminalized.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 737, a resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week should be established.

I want to thank the gentleman from Arizona, Mr. Grijalva, for introducing this resolution. Mr. Grijalva recognizes the important role that HSIs play for all postsecondary students, especially minority students.

HSIs and their student body are very diverse. The community of HSIs includes 2-year and 4-year institutions and public and private institutions. In 2007, 46 percent of students enrolled in HSIs were Hispanics, and the remaining 44 percent were a diverse mix of students from various ethnicities and backgrounds. Even with this diversity of the student body, geographical location and population served, the principal missions of all of these institutions is to provide a quality education.

HSIs deserve recognition for the contribution they make to the education community and the Nation. While comprising less than 10 percent of the Nation's institutions of higher education, HSIs educate over two-thirds of Hispanic students enrolled in colleges and universities. Most HSIs do not have access to the resources or endowment income that other institutions can draw

on. However, they are still successful in their effort to provide a high-quality education, often to some of our most disadvantaged students.

We have consistently worked to improve the Nation's support for Hispanic-Serving Institutions. Just last Congress, the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the reauthorization bill for the Higher Education Act, included a provision that created a new program designed to allow these institutions to improve their graduate and professional programs. We also provided more flexibility to HSIs through broadening their uses of Title V funds to include activities like the development of articulation agreements, the development of distance learning technologies, and providing additional financial literacy counseling to students and families.

It is important that we recognize the contributions of HSIs and their graduates by celebrating HSI Week. The number of HSIs increases every year. From 2006 to 2007, 13 new institutions qualified as an HSI. These institutions provide an ever-increasing number of students with a high- quality education and leadership skills for the future, and they deserve recognition for such.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise today in support of House Resolution 6, recognizing the significant contributions that coaches make in the lives of children who participate in organized sports and supporting the goals and the ideals of National Coaches Appreciation Week.

Coaches make a lasting impression on America's young people. I bet that almost every Member in this Chamber could name at least one coach that has had a profound impact on their lives and encouraged them to become the person that they are today. This resolution brings national attention to the contributions of coaches and recognizes the time and energy that they dedicate to the athletic and moral development of children. In addition, National

Coaches Week aims to encourage more adults to give their time to coaching, enabling more children to benefit from participation in organized sports.

It is widely accepted that children can benefit in numerous ways from participation in organized sports. Research has found that children who play sports, especially girls, are more often likely to have a positive body image and a higher self-esteem. They also are less likely to be overweight. Children involved in sports are less likely to take drugs or smoke, and statistics show that students who are involved in sports while in high school are more likely to experience academic success and graduate from high school.

The role of a coach can vary from a high-intensity, full-time college football coach to a parent who volunteers to coach his 4-year-old daughter's community soccer team every week. Many coaches in high school are primarily teachers of academic subjects, and many volunteer coaches have other full-time careers in addition to their coaching duties.

Approximately 42 million American children participate in organized sports every year. Each one of these children is influenced in some way by the coach or coaches who lead their team. Along with refining athletes' individual skills, coaches are responsible for instilling good sportsmanship, a competitive spirit and teamwork.

I stand in support of this resolution, recognizing the roles and contributions of America's coaches and recognizing National Coaches Appreciation Week, and I ask for my colleagues' support.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, so I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise today in support of House Resolution 459, expressing support for the designation of National Safety Month. I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Roskam of Illinois, for introducing this resolution. This resolution recognizes the work of the National Safety Council to educate our citizens about accident and injury prevention.

The National Safety Council works tirelessly through its nationwide networks to prevent accidents in the workplace, in our homes and on our roads. Founded in 1913 and congressionally chartered in 1953, the National Safety Council conducts workshops and training opportunities to help prevent both injuries and illness. These include a diverse range of issues from preventing the spread of H1N1 to making drivers more aware of the dangers of distracted driving.

This week, the council is encouraging parents to ensure proper child safety seat installation. According to the NSC's statistics, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children 2 to 12. And as adults are buckling in children, the council reminds them to use their seat belts as well.

Many injuries are preventible and constant vigilance in our daily activity will go a long way to reduce the risk. I rise today to commend the National Safety Council for its dedication to the important task of raising awareness of accident and injury prevention, and I urge the passage of H. Res. 459, commending the council's service to the Nation. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

Having no additional speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today and am proud to do so in support of House Concurrent Resolution 59, supporting the goals and ideals of senior caregiving. I also want to take the opportunity to thank my colleague from Nebraska (Mr. Terry) for introducing this resolution.

According to the Administration on Aging, the number of people age 65 and older was 37.9 million in 2007, an increase of 3.8 million since 1997. The population of those 65 and older is projected to increase from 40 million in 2010 to 55 million in 2020. The number of those 85 and older is projected to increase from 4.2 million in the year 2000 to 6.6 million in the year 2020.

In the United States today, it's estimated that 4.5 million people have Alzheimer's disease, and this number is expected to increase to between 11.3 million and 16 million by 2050. Seventy percent of people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias live at home and need assistance to perform normal daily activities.

Today, a quarter of all seniors need some level of assistance with their daily activities, and according to the Administration on Aging, persons reaching age 65 have an average life expectancy of an additional 19 years.

Caregiving for these individuals takes many forms. Caregivers may be full- or part time, live with their loved one, or provide care from a distance. Caregiving ranges from simple help such as shopping to conducting medical procedures.

There are an estimated 44 million adults in the United States providing care to adult relatives or friends. The longer a senior is able to provide for his or her own care, the less burden is placed on our public systems. Caregivers keep individuals out of institutions and help them live out their lives in familiar surroundings and with dignity. It is appropriate that we take a few minutes today to honor these individuals who give so much of themselves to provide care for our aging population.

I stand in support of this resolution recognizing the profession of senior caregiving and supporting the private home care industry, and I ask for my colleagues' support.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise Pennsylvania National Guardsmen who just arrived home after serving 8 months in Iraq. Members of the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team's First Battalion 112th Infantry have arrived at Ft. Dix, New Jersey. Some 1,500 U.S. flags will line their route, along with countless yellow ribbons placed by Pennsylvanians who want to show their thanks.

The soldiers come from Crawford County and from the cities of Bradford and Ridgway. Earlier, guardsmen from the 2nd 112th Regiment Infantry Regiment from Bellefonte and Lewistown came home.

The brigade operated in 800 square miles that was home to 900,000 Iraqis. They captured some 80 hidden supply dumps, causing severe shortages and disrupting enemy operations.

As these men and women are reunited with their families, we realize the sacrifices they have made. The child's birth that they missed, the report cards, the joys of a sports milestone, they can't replace those lost moments. But we can pause and stop and say thank you, and God bless and welcome home.