Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on House Administration be discharged from further consideration of the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 40) providing for the appointment of Michael Lynton as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the McKeon amendment before us that authorizes the administration to arm and train vetted moderate Syrian rebels in their fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL. This amendment also contains strong reporting requirements that the administration must follow to fulfill Congress' oversight authority.

ISIL has made territorial gains militarily in Iraq and Syria and announced the establishment of a caliphate in areas under its control. They have terrorized and killed members of minority groups, including Christians in northern Iraq, and have invaded Kurdish-controlled regions.

Minority groups are not the only victims being targeted. ISIL is also targeting Muslims. Last, but certainly not least, ISIL has beheaded two American journalists and a British aid worker. This type of radical, evil behavior must be wiped off the face of the Earth.

This amendment ensures that ISIL is not only confronted kinetically in Iraq but also in Syria. Providing the means for rebel groups to aggressively attack ISIL in Syria denies them sanctuary just across the Iraqi border, as is the case with the Taliban on the Afghanistan- Pakistan border.

An armed and trained Syrian rebel force, with assistance from the U.S. and partner nations, will open up a northern front to attack ISIL. Iraqi security forces and the Kurdish Peshmerga will be the claws in the south to squeeze this radical group. American airpower will no doubt be a force multiplier for these indigenous ground forces.

Mr. Speaker, there is only one country in the world willing and able to build a coalition of nations that includes Arab countries to defeat this radical threat, and that nation is the United States of America. The United States has an obligation to lead and respond whenever the innocent are being massacred.

Our enemies should never underestimate our resolve. Yes, we may argue and disagree on many issues; but, when it comes to protecting America, our allies, and our interests, we are united. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on House Administration be discharged from further consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 106) authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for a ceremony to award Congressional Gold Medals in honor of the men and women who perished as a result of the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 294, I inadvertently voted ``yea,'' I intended to vote ``nay.''

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 37) authorizing the use of the rotunda of the United States Capitol in commemoration of the Shimon Peres Congressional Gold Medal ceremony.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the Senate concurrent resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Senate concurrent resolution permitting the use of the rotunda of the United States Capitol in commemoration of the Shimon Peres Congressional Gold Medal ceremony.

The presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal is a physical recognition given by Congress to express our Nation's highest appreciation for an individual's distinguished achievements and contributions. The man we rise to discuss today is one who has many significant achievements and who holds a lifelong extraordinary record of public service.

Israeli President Shimon Peres was born in Poland in 1923, in a town which is now a part of Belarus. To escape the persecution of the Jewish people there at the time, he and his family immigrated to Palestine in 1934. There, Peres took up his calling for public service, and in 1947, he joined the Zionist Party, led by David Ben Gurion.

Once Israel achieved its independence in 1948, Peres was appointed to the head of Israel's navy and rose to become the Minister of Defense. Peres went on to serve in several high-level positions in the cabinet of Israel's government.

His career spans more than 70 years, including serving as Prime Minister twice and, now, as President of Israel. Throughout his career, he has been an integral hand in guiding his nation into the future.

His long career is marked by numerous events where Peres exercised his determination for peace. In 1993, Peres participated in secret negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis, which are known as the Oslo Accords, an agreement that was designed to reconcile both Israelis and Palestinians.

The next year, he was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his role serving as lead negotiator for Israel, while he served as Foreign Minister during these negotiations.

Peres is a statesman who has dedicated most of his life to the service of others. He has worked for the betterment of his nation where he lives, and he has taken seriously the calling and responsibilities of what it means to be a member on the world stage.

This was no more apparent than earlier this month, when Peres joined Pope Francis and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in praying for peace at the Vatican and offered his own invocation:

Without peace, we are not complete. We have yet to achieve

this mission of humanity. Even when peace seems distant, we

must pursue it to bring it closer.

The United States has a longstanding and close relationship with the people

of Israel. Israel is our friend and closest ally in the Middle East. Through President Peres' leadership, this relationship and our international cooperation has only deepened and persevered.

Our two nations stand shoulder to shoulder when it comes to our commitments towards the pursuit of peace, democracy, liberty, and the furthering of human rights.

Later this month, on June 26, the Congress will meet together to honor this man--a man who has set an example of courage and perseverance for us all--and award him with the Congressional Gold Medal. It is fitting to present him with Congress' most prestigious award as a sign of our deep respect and admiration.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would add that, throughout Israeli President Peres' Presidency and decades of service, he has stood as the Israeli people's unifying figure and upholder of the nation's moral compass. No one could have embodied those attributes more fully than Peres.

As he ends his term as President, our Nation joins his in thanking him for his honorable service and his unfailing humanitarian efforts.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary life of Joni Eareckson Tada.

When Joni was 17 years old, she was just like any other high school graduate. She was thrilled to be on the brink of college, and she was excited to spend a summer swimming in the nearby Chesapeake Bay.

With high school behind her, she was ready to really begin her life. She was not prepared, however, to have her fourth cervical vertebrae crushed in a terrible accident, an accident which would render her a paralyzed quadriplegic and shatter her mobility and independence forever.

Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened. On July 30, 1967, while diving with her sister, Joni misjudged the depth of the water and snapped her neck at the bottom of the water. She lost all movement in her hands and legs and was rushed, motionless, to the hospital.

Joni spent many grueling months there and often thought about killing herself. She thought her life was not worth living, and she didn't want to be a burden on her loved ones.

``There were many nights I would wrench my head back and forth on the pillow, hoping to break my neck up at a higher level. I wanted to die,'' Joni later said.

There were times she even asked her friends to help her commit suicide. She was desperate to end her life; but despite her intense depression, despite her intense physical suffering, it was during this time that Joni turned to her Christian faith and began to search for new purpose in her tragedy.

She studied her Bible, leaned on her friends and family, and prayed for guidance, until she realized, almost overnight, that while she would never be able to walk again, she could choose to live through her disability. The Lord could use her to inspire and encourage others.

So she resolved, ``One night, lying there in the hospital, I said, `God, if I can't die, please show me how to live.' ''

I am glad to say, Mr. Speaker, that she has lived well, is one of the most inspirational figures I know, and has touched so many lives with her incredible story. Let me briefly outline some of her many accomplishments and undertakings.

During a 2-year rehabilitation period after she left the hospital, Joni learned how to hold a paintbrush using her teeth. She labored away at this skill and often struggled, until she mastered the technique. Today, her artwork is prized around the world and is just one of the many ways she has provided inspiration.

In 1979, she founded Joni and Friends, a Christian ministry dedicated to serving the disabled community around the world. It partners with local churches to provide resources and support for thousands of families afflicted by disabilities. In fact, her organization has served families in 47 countries and, in 2006, opened a new facility in the United States.

Just a few weeks ago, I had the pleasure to meet and talk with Joni about her ministry and was privileged to introduce her before she spoke at Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi.

The ministry does such incredible work. And let me tell you, I don't think she has any plans of slowing down.

In addition to all this, she has somehow found time to publish over 50 books, many of which are critically acclaimed and rank on bestseller lists. Her radio show, ``Joni and Friends,'' is broadcast in over 1,000 outlets and, in 2002, won the Radio Program of the Year award from the National Religious Broadcasters Association.

Joni has even helped us get things done here in Washington. She has represented the disabled on numerous government committees and was instrumental in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. And she continues to help.

As for awards, her list is very long. She is the recipient of the Victory Award from the National Rehabilitation Hospital, the Golden Word Award from the International Bible Society, and the Courage Award from the Courage Rehabilitation Center. She is a member of the Christian Booksellers Association's Hall of Honor and is a recipient of the William Wilberforce Award.

Joni holds honorary degrees from Westminster Theological Seminary, Biola University, Indiana Wesleyan University, Columbia International University, Lancaster Bible College, Gordon College, and Western Maryland College.

As I said, she is quite the achiever. And how does she really do it? Well, you know, Mr. Speaker, I think something that C.S. Lewis once said helps to answer that. He said:

If you read history, you will find that the people who did

most for the present world were precisely those who thought

most of the next. It is since people have largely ceased to

think of the other world that they have become so ineffective

in this world.

I think Joni understands this. Her mind is truly set on another place. Her life has been extraordinary.

So, again, on behalf of the House of Representatives, I would like to recognize and celebrate the life of Joni Eareckson Tada, a courageous woman who truly knows how to live.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on House Administration be discharged from further consideration of the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 28) providing for the appointment of John Fahey as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on House Administration be discharged from further consideration of the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 29) providing for the appointment of Risa Lavizzo-Mourey as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 2 p.m. on Friday, February 14, 2014.

Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a concurrent resolution and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a concurrent resolution and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great American hero, Specialist Terry K.D. ``Dantez'' Gordon, who was among six U.S. soldiers who passed away due to wounds suffered when their Black Hawk UH-60 helicopter went down in Afghanistan's Zabul region on December 17, 2013.

Specialist Gordon was born in Shubuta, Mississippi, on September 21, 1991. After graduating from Quitman High School, Gordon enlisted in the Army in the summer of 2011, fulfilling his basic training requirements at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He then went on to complete his advanced individual training at Fort Lee, Virginia, where he became a generator mechanic.

Dantez was assigned to Echo Troop, 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, Fort Riley, Kansas. He was later trained as a door gunner and attached to Bravo Company, 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment. There, Specialist Gordon was tasked with firing and maintaining manually directed armament during missions, protecting the helicopters' crew members and passengers throughout the deployment to Afghanistan.

Dantez Gordon loved helicopters. He knew very early on that he was meant for the Army because that is where he could fly in a Black Hawk.

His family said they were surprised at first that he wasn't going into the Marine Corps like his father, but it became quite apparent that his interests were centered in going up in a helicopter. His family members were nervous, yet they realized that he loved what he was doing and he was not afraid.

Dantez loved his family, his friends and his country. He was fortunate in that he loved what he was assigned to do, and he would talk about it any chance he got when he came home on leave with anyone who would listen.

Specialist Gordon is remembered by those closest to him as always being happy, especially when he was outdoors or playing baseball. He was a practical joker, and he loved to make people laugh.

His family and his community saw him as an all-around, very devoted, humble, smart, and respectable young man who lost his life way too soon. He lost his life fighting for our families and for our country, and for this, our country, and particularly, the State of Mississippi, will be forever grateful.

``Like ripples in the water,'' his aunt said, ``Dantez Gordon affected people he may have never even met,'' adding that the world is a better place because he was there.

In an article that described the moment when Specialist Gordon's flag-draped coffin was taken off the plane at Key Field in Meridian, Mississippi, on his final journey home, a family member observed: ``As they unloaded him off the plane, the sun peeked through the cloudy gray sky, and as they put him into the hearse, the clouds closed back up.'' It was as if the sky opened up to pay its final respects to its beloved native Mississippi son.

Specialist Gordon's awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Ribbon, the Afghan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge and the Aviation Badge.

Specialist Gordon was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star by executive order for meritorious service from August 13, 2013, until December 17, 2013, upon which no greater honor can be demonstrated than by this ultimate sacrifice. He will always be remembered for these actions.

Dantez Gordon is survived by his parents, Terry W. Gordon of Pachuta, Mississippi, and Sabina R. Edwards of Shubuta, Mississippi; as well as his sister, Terruna Gordon; stepfather, David Edwards; and two half brothers, David Edwards and William Edwards.

I was so moved at his funeral service to see what was really a celebration of his life.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to leave you with a quote from Dantez's father: ``Dantez was my hero long before joining the military, but now he's America's hero.''

How true that statement is. Dantez's love for his country and his dedication to protecting our freedoms took him from Shubuta, Mississippi, to Afghanistan. Christ said in John 15:13: ``Greater love hath no man than he that give his life for another.''

For his courage and final sacrifice, he will never be forgotten. Thank you for this opportunity to place focus on a true American hero.

First of all, I want to thank Congressman Peter Welch for his hard work on this bill, and I certainly thank Leader Eric Cantor and Congressman Tom Cole.

Mr. Speaker, creating a lifetime of hope and opportunity for our most vulnerable kids is more important than subsidizing weeklong political pep rallies for the Democratic and Republican parties. This is why the House must advance H.R. 2019, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, a bill that pays for children's medical research with the $126 million that the Federal Government currently sets aside for political conventions.

On November 14, 2013, I had the privilege to meet in Leader Cantor's office with Ellyn and Mark Miller. I watched them struggle to come up with the words to express their grief, which I saw become steadfast determination to do something special for Gabriella by allowing this bill to be named after their precious daughter. I am wearing the yellow ``Smashing Walnuts'' bracelet that they gave me that day. I have watched numerous videos of Gabriella in which she has made moving and profound statements, such as, ``Once you get cancer, you kinda gotta be all grown up,'' and ``Sometimes you have to stop talking and start doing.''

As the father of a 24-year-old son who is living with Fragile X syndrome, I understand the challenges families face in raising children with special needs, but I also recognize the value of expanded and improved medical research. While raising a child with a genetic disorder can be very difficult, for my family, it has been a blessing, especially knowing that my son, Livingston, is here today.

Mr. Speaker, Evie Horton and her cousin, Reese McDonald, who are kids from Mississippi who fight with all of their strength to overcome the struggles of spinal muscular atrophy, are two more reasons that I introduced this bill. Recent scientific research breakthroughs have also given hope to so many families, but in order for clinical trials and other advancements to meet their full potential, additional Federal research must be directed to pediatric research.

Mr. Speaker, Members of both parties have an opportunity to demonstrate the priorities of this body. Will it be research for our most vulnerable kids or will lawmakers vote to continue funding political party conventions at the taxpayers' expense?

I have listened to how this has been described by the other side. It has been called a joke, a ruse, a fraud, not credible, window dressing, smoke and mirrors, and their referring to Republicans supporting sequestration, I guess, means that it has been forgotten by our friends on the other side of the aisle that 95 Members of the Democratic Party voted in favor of sequestration.

Mr. Speaker, let's get our priorities straight. Let's vote ``yes'' on the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act.

National Fragile X Foundation,

Walnut Creek, CA, June 12, 2013

ATTN: Scot Malvaney, Policy Director.

Representative Gregg Harper,

Cannon Building, Washington, DC.

Dear Representative Harper: Confirming our earlier

conversations with your office, the National Fragile X

Foundation indeed agrees that additional research is needed

to find the cures for fragile x syndrome, autism spectrum

disorder, childhood cancer, and many other diseases impacting

children.

We are therefore pleased to add our support to The Kids

First Research Act (H.R. 2019) that you recently introduced

with Representative Tom Cole.

As you well know, Fragile x syndrome is one of the

conditions for which a cure (or targeted treatments) exist

right around the corner.

We wholeheartedly support this critical research initiative

which seeks both to identify much needed additional funding

for the NIH and to promote collaborations and collaborative

spending across related conditions like fragile x syndrome

and autism.

Thank you for your leadership on this important issue.

Jeffrey Cohen, JD,

Director, Government Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the craftsmanship of George Berry, Sr.

George's life has been dedicated to woodcarving. This interest began at a young age and developed into a lifelong pursuit. His artwork displays a passion for nature, particularly the wildlife of Mississippi.

George has not only been committed to his art, but also to sharing his gifts through teaching. He has become an important fixture within the local art community in Mississippi, and he has been recognized both within this community and outside of it with several distinguished awards. Through his passion for art and education, George Berry, Sr. has made a tremendous impact on many Mississippians and others throughout this country.

George was born in Vinita, Oklahoma; and at the age of 6, George was taught woodcarving by his father. He moved to Mississippi in 1972 to teach industrial arts at the Piney Woods School, a historically African American boarding school located in Rankin County, Mississippi. A year later, he became a charter member of the Craftsmen's Guild of Mississippi, a program created to promote folk art within the State.

After retiring from Piney Woods in 1984, George Berry has dedicated a majority of his time to woodcarving. Even so, he continues to spend a great deal of his time teaching others. George teaches weekly classes for the Mississippi Craftsmen's Guild and frequently instructs students at the Allison Wells School of Arts and Crafts in Canton, Mississippi. Additionally, he has taught at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina.

George Berry's preference in style is reflected in his large body of work. His realistic depictions of nature are the constant theme in his artwork. In particular, many of his wood pieces represent Mississippi wildlife with works such as catfish, deer, and hunting dogs. Beautiful sculptures of leaves and birds are other staples of his artwork. His skillful craft is a demonstration of the grace and rustic beauty that is found in nature.

This Mississippi craftsman has been recognized with many awards and honors. George Berry received a Folk Artist Fellowship from the Mississippi Arts Commission in 1999. In 2002, he was presented with the prestigious Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts. The Craftsmen's Guild of Mississippi awarded him with their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. On October 18 of this year, I had the privilege of speaking at the celebration of the opening of the George Berry, Sr. Gallery of the Craftsmen's Guild of Mississippi, joining hundreds of family and friends in honoring George.

In addition to these awards, George Berry's work has been on display at several major festivals, including the Mississippi Arts Festival, Festival USA on the Strand, the Festival of Pennsylvania Folklife Bicentennial, and the Mississippi pavilion at the world's fair. His carved wood sculptures are on exhibit in a number of museums, including the Old Capital Museum in Jackson, Mississippi, and the Museum of Natural Science.

George has been featured in many national and regional publications, such as Southern Living and Mississippi Outdoors. These many accolades are a testament to this gifted artist.

So again, on behalf of the House of Representatives, I would like to congratulate and recognize Mr. George Berry, Sr. on his achievements as both an artist and as a teacher. For more than 50 years, George has used his God-given gift as a skillful craftsman to make beautiful pieces of art. Today, he continues to graciously share his knowledge and skill with many others.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Colonel Franklin E. Chalk, Commander, 186th Air Refueling Wing, Key Field Air National Guard Base, in Meridian, Mississippi, for his 35 years of faithful service to our country.

A native of Meridian, Mississippi, Colonel Chalk attended Meridian Community College and received an Associate of Arts Degree in Accounting in 1974. After enlisting in the Mississippi Air National Guard and completing Undergraduate Navigator Training, he attended Mississippi State University--Meridian where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting in 1984. Colonel Chalk received a Masters of Commercial Aviation from Delta State University on Dec. 14, 2002.

Colonel Chalk received his commission through the Academy of Military Science, Knoxville, Tennessee on Nov. 16, 1978. After commissioning, he attended Undergraduate Navigator Training, Mather Air Force Base, California, which he completed on Nov. 17, 1979. On Dec. 27, 1979, he graduated from Tactical Navigation Training at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina.

Colonel Chalk served as the 153rd Air Refueling Squadron Detachment Commander while deployed in support of Operation Phoenix Duke II, Rhein Main Air Base, Germany, flying numerous air refueling missions over former Soviet Bloc countries. He also served as Detachment Commander for Operation Deliberate Forge, Operation Joint Forge, Istres, France and Operation Northern Viking, Keflavik, Iceland. Colonel Chalk was activated Oct. 17, 2001, deploying as Commander, 341 EARS, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He has served as the Commander of the 478th Expeditionary Operations Squadron, Manta, Ecuador, the 506th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and Viking South, Bahia Blanca, Argentina in support of the 2005 Summit of the Americas.

His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with one device; Air Medal; Aerial Achievement Medal; Air Force Commendation Medal with two devices; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two devices; Combat Readiness Medal with two devices; National Defense Service Medal with one device; Kosovo Campaign Medal with two devices; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Service Medal with one device; Humanitarian Service Medal; Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short; Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border; Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with four devices; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one device; Air Force Training Ribbon; Mississippi Magnolia Cross; Mississippi Magnolia Medal; Mississippi War Medal with one device; Mississippi Emergency Service Medal.

Prior to achieving the position of Commander, Colonel Chalk served as Vice Commander, 186th ARW. Other military assignments include Squadron Navigator, Chief of Standardizations and Evaluations, Training Officer, Air Operations Officer, Squadron Commander, and Operations Group Commander.

As Commander, of the 186th Aerial Refueling Wing, Colonel Chalk distinguished himself by navigating the base through some of the most tumultuous times Key Field Air National Guard Station had seen since its inception in 1939. Due to a realignment of mission in the Base Realignment and Closure Round of 2005, Key Field lost its aerial refueling mission. When the last KC-135 refueling aircraft left in 2011, Key Field performed numerous different missions on behalf of the United States of America on numerous different platforms. Of particular note, Colonel Chalk's leadership in the establishment of the MC-12W Project Liberty program significantly bolstered the Department of Defense intelligence gathering capabilities, directly contributing to the demise of countless enemy combatants and the safe return of American ground forces. Colonel Chalk also oversaw the standup of the C-27J Joint Cargo Aircraft program, and was instrumental in Key Field's designation as the C-27J Flying Training Unit for the United States Air Force. Ultimately in 2012, under Colonel Chalk's command, Key Field, the birthplace of aerial refueling, saw the return of the KC-135R aerial refueling mission.

Since coming to Congress in 2009, I have personally worked with Colonel Chalk to ensure Key Field was home to an enduring flying mission. I am pleased to say that under his leadership, the base has received that flying mission and is well positioned to play an integral role in the peace and security of this nation for many years to come.

I wish Colonel Franklin E. Chalk Godspeed as he retires and enters this next phase of his life. On behalf of the Congress and the United States of America, I thank Colonel Chalk for his commitment, sacrifice, and contribution to this great nation in protecting it and our way of life.