Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable North Carolinian. On December 12, 2008, Captain Vanesa Gilbert became the first woman in Henderson County history to have completed FBI Academy training.

According to Henderson County Sheriff Rick Davis, only six local law enforcement officers, including Gilbert, have completed the intensive 11-week course at the academy in Quantico, Virginia. ``Captain Gilbert is a superior leader by any measure,'' he said. ``The FBI National Academy is the highest academic achievement in law enforcement. It is very challenging academically as well as physically. It was clear our agency and the county would benefit greatly by sending her.''

While Captain Gilbert admitted that she was nervous when she arrived at the Marine base, she excelled during the course and ultimately completed a three-mile obstacle course called ``the yellow brick road.'' For finishing the course, Gilbert received a plaque with a yellow brick on it and the dates she attended the academy.

Gilbert grew up in Hendersonville and graduated from Edneyville High School in 1992. In August of 1992, she moved to Greensboro to attain a two-year degree in law enforcement. In December of 1994, Gilbert completed her basic law enforcement training and moved back to Henderson County to work for the Sheriff's Office. At the Henderson County Sheriff's office, she worked as the Civil Process Secretary before being promoted to Corporal, and later to Lieutenant of the Civil Process division.

Upon completion of the FBI Academy Training, Gilbert was promoted to Captain of the Detention Center, courthouse security and the ICE program. Sheriff Rick Davis says of Gilbert, ``She is recognized by the whole department as a highly qualified thoughtful leader with exceptionally high standards. Don't let her size and charm fool you; if anyone fails to meet her work ethics, they will have awaken a giant they can't handle.''

It is with great respect and gratitude that I commend Captain Vanesa Gilbert for her great accomplishment and for her ongoing service to Henderson County. She serves as a role model for all women and girls who aspire to careers in law enforcement. Her dedication and hard work are an inspiration to all.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the sterling career of Colonel Jim Ayers of McDowell County. Colonel Ayers is retiring on September 1, 2009 from the United States Air Force after 26 years of dedicated service.

Colonel Ayers, a graduate of the University of North Carolina, was commissioned in 1983 through the ROTC program. He has served his country through a variety of assignments in acquisitions, mobility operations, and doctrine development. Colonel Ayers is a Command Pilot with more than 3,500 flight hours in the C-141, KC-10, and C-32. As an operational commander, he led the First Airlift Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base where his unit was responsible for the transportation of the Vice-President, First Lady, Members of Congress and senior cabinet officials. He also helped shape our military's doctrine and policy while serving as an analyst at the Headquarters Air Force Doctrine Center and as a research staff member at the Institute for Defense Analyses. Most recently, Colonel Ayers led the Washington Operations section of United States Joint Forces Command.

Colonel Ayers has admirably served his country without question or reservation and, in doing so, has set standards of honor, respect, duty and country for his fellow soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. On behalf of myself and my constituents, I extend to Colonel Jim Ayers my gratitude, deep appreciation and well wishes for a good retirement.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank my friend and brother in Christ, Pastor Bruce Frank, for opening the House of Representatives in prayer today.

Bruce Frank is the senior pastor at my church, Biltmore Baptist Church in Arden, North Carolina, where he provides spiritual guidance and inspiration for over 6,000 members.

Pastor Frank was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and grew up in Oklahoma and Texas. He and his wife, Lori, have two sons, Tyler and Conner. Before being called to our church, he served as pastor at Baptist churches both in Houston and Humble, Texas.

Pastor Frank has brought a renewed sense of spirit and purpose to my church and its congregants since he joined us in 2008. I am grateful that he was able to grace us with the same spirit and purpose as he led us in prayer this morning.

Pastor Frank, we love you.

Mr. Chairman, I want to commend you for your hard work, and although we may disagree on legislation, I want to commend you for your hard work in the prevention of smoking and trying to get children off smoking as well.

So, Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the commonsense amendment proposed by the gentleman from Indiana. And I strongly oppose the underlying bill.

Putting a dangerous, overworked FDA in charge of tobacco is a threat to public safety. Last year, the FDA commissioner testified that he had serious concerns that this bill could undermine the public health role of the FDA. And the FDA Science Board said the FDA's inability to keep up with scientific advancements means that Americans' lives will be at risk.

What are these risks? Well, let me talk about three areas that just happened last year.

Last summer, 1,400 people were sickened by peppers from Mexico, but we shut down the entire tomato industry. Just last month, more than 100 people become sick because of salmonella and alfalfa sprouts. And in January, more than 500 people became sick because of salmonella from Peanut Corporation of America. Amazingly enough, this plant had never been inspected even after Canada rejected a shipment of peanuts. That's right. The FDA is overworked. We have to rely on the Canadians to inspect our food now.

Instead of putting our food and drug supply at greater risk, let's deal with the underage smoking head on. This amendment does that by putting more resources into prevention and harm-reduction programs that have helped reduce youth smoking by over 50 percent for the last 10 years.

Let's pass this amendment so that we can keep our kids safe from cigarettes and keep our children safe with the food that they eat.

I ask my colleagues to support the passage of the Buyer amendment.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Centennial of the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, or HCLT, and to recognize the contributions which the HCLT has made to the Western North Carolina community, and especially land conservation efforts, over the past 100 years. The HCLT works to preserve the natural areas, scenic beauty, and green spaces of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau for the enjoyment and benefit of the public.

The HCLT has been in operation since 1883, though known then as the Highlands Improvement Association. The first land purchase was effectuated in 1909. This initial purchase was for 56 acres of land on the Summit of Satulah Mountain, overlooking the town of Highlands, for $100.

The HCLT is the oldest land trust in North Carolina and one of the oldest in the United States. The trust protects over 1,700 acres in Western North Carolina. Included in the protected lands are two sites of particularly significant historical importance. The Hill property in Horse Cove is significant for its role during the Trail of Tears. The site was used as a holding area for Native Americans before they began the treacherous trip to Oklahoma, leaving their native homes and villages behind. The second site, the Warren Property, was an original land grant from the first pioneer to the area, Barak Norton. The unique property was featured in the October 2008 issue of ``Southern Living Magazine'' for the breath-taking vistas.

Among the more recent endeavors of the HCLT are various educational and philanthropic projects. The HCLT raised more than $450,000 to purchase a property to be used as a park in the town of Highlands, North Carolina. They also preserve properties which protect rare and endangered species of plants and trees, included in this is the original Satulah Mountain land. Satulah Mountain is home to many species of endangered plants and wildflowers which are studied by university students from all over the world. In conjunction with these efforts the HCLT strives to remain active in the community through the Mountain Retreat, an 80 acre conservation easement used for many Elderhostel programs, focusing on Appalachian culture, music, and heritage.

Madam Speaker, the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust has made an indelible contribution to land preservation in Western North Carolina and I commend them for their continuing dedication to both conservation and community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Kay Yow, one of the highest-achieving college basketball coaches in the history of the sport. One of only six Division I head women's basketball coaches to achieve 700 career victories, Coach Yow led the women's basketball team at North Carolina State University from 1975 to 2009. She continued her winning coaching career even as she faced a 22- year battle with breast cancer.

In 1975, Yow was hired as the head coach of the women's basketball program at NC State as well as the head coach of both the softball and volleyball teams and the coordinator of women's sports. A female leader amidst a mostly male coaching staff, Yow found immediate success as she took her first squad to the Women's National Invitation Tournament and completed the season with a 19-7 record. Since then, Yow has coached some of the nation's most well known players, including WNBA All-Stars like Andrea Stinson, Chasity Melvin (NC State's all-time leading scorer), Genia Beasley, and current Assistant Coach, Trena Trice-Hill.

Yow is part of an elite group of eight Olympic coaches chosen to lead USA Basketball in the pursuit of an Olympic gold medal in women's basketball. Yow served as an Assistant Coach on the 1984 gold medal- winning coaching staff and three more gold medal-winning teams, including the 1979 World University Games, the 1983 Pan American Games, and the 1984 R. Williams Jones Cup. Yow also was part of the 1983 World Championship club that earned a silver medal.

She served as Head Coach of the 1988 gold medal-winning Olympic team in Seoul, Korea as well as the gold medal winners at the 1981 World University Games, the 1986 Goodwill Games and the 1986 World Championship Games. She was the first coach to win two Olympic gold medals since women's basketball was first included in the Olympics in 1976.

In April of 2008, Coach Yow received the Mildred ``Babe'' Zaharias Didrikson Courage Award from the United States Sports Academy, recognizing her achievements in the face of serious personal challenges. Yow missed 16 games during the 2007 season to receive treatment for the cancer that was first diagnosed in 1987. Upon her return to the team in 2007, she led the Wolfpack on an inspirational run to the ACC Championship game and to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament.

Cancer took the life of Coach Kay Yow on January 24, 2009. Throughout her life, Coach Yow sacrificed to continuously be a mentor and friend to her players and make them the best players they could be. Madame Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing remorse at the passing of one of North Carolina's greatest coaches, a woman who was one of the most admired and respected coaches on the national and international scenes. Her perseverance and dedication in the face of a deadly battle with cancer is an inspiration to us all.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the memory of LCpl Jessie Adam Cassada of Hendersonville, NC. Cassada, only 19 years of age, was killed in combat during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan on the sixth of January, 2009. Lance Corporal Cassada gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect our country. He demonstrated patriotism and true courage beyond his years.

Since childhood, Jessie Cassada wanted to follow the example set by his stepfather and stepbrother to become a Marine. He joined the United States Marine Corps after graduating from East Henderson High School in 2007. He was deployed to Afghanistan from Camp Lejune for a 6- to 7- month tour of duty in November 2008 with the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. Official accounts said he was supporting combat operations in the Helmand province prior to his death.

Cassada's awards include the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

He leaves behind his mother, Patricia Cassada, and stepfather, Carroll London, as well as two sisters. I offer my sincere condolences to them and the rest of his family and friends. They are in my thoughts and prayers.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing remorse at to the passing of LCpl Jessie Cassada, as well as never-ending gratitude for the servicemen and women who sacrifice so much to protect our Nation and ensure our freedom. The short life of LCpl Jessie Cassada serves as an inspiration for us all of true patriotism, dedication and courage.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Robert H. Christy, Jr., on his impending retirement. He has faithfully and effectively served as the Buncombe County Clerk of Superior Court for the past 18 years and will retire on December 31, 2008.

Since his initial swearing in on September 1, 1990, Bob Christy has overseen the court system during a time of tremendous growth. During that time, his office has grown from 47 employees to 65. Criminal and civil court filings have more than doubled during his tenure. Previously practicing law in the community, Christy's experience as an assistant clerk of court to J. Ray Ellingburg for 7 years prepared him well for the clerkship.

As Clerk of Court, Christy managed Buncombe County's District Court and Superior Court, an operation that entails approximately $25 million in annual revenue. Beyond monetary responsibilities, Christy supervised record-keeping in the local courts for all civil actions, special proceedings, court minutes, liens and other actions.

Mr. Christy found opportunity in the clerkship to express his great compassion for the elderly, the bereaved, and the struggling of Buncombe County. Over the past 18 years, the Clerk of Court has handled such delicate matters as juvenile crime, adoption, domestic violence, and issues of wills and estates. Christy operated the clerk's office with an open door policy in which he counseled on legal matters but also strove to alleviate the emotional concerns of those in need.

As a public servant, Christy had a great passion and respect for the office that he held. During his tenure, he served as president of the North Carolina Clerks Association, overseeing the executive committee in decisionmaking that in turn affected 10,000 clerks in the 100 counties across the state. He served on the Governor's Crime Commission and the boards of the North Carolina Courts Commission and the North Carolina Credit Union. He worked closely with the bar association in the county and is known for having strong relationships with area attorneys.

In his private life as well, he is known for activism and involvement. The Democratic Party in Buncombe County has honored Christy with several awards. He is an active member of Central United Methodist Church. In retirement, Christy will be returning to private legal practice with his long-time friend, Asheville attorney Jack Stewart.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Mr. Robert Christy today, to thank him for his tremendous service to the community, and to wish him well in his retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Jeff Miller, a small business owner and son of a World War II veteran from Hendersonville, North Carolina. Mr. Miller is one of the founders of Honor Air, which enables hundreds of World War II veterans the chance to travel to Washington, DC to see the National

World War II Memorial that was built to honor the 16 million Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, and Merchant Mariners who served our Nation during World War II.

With the strong belief that everything good in his life is because of these courageous veterans, Mr. Miller began a campaign to send every World War II veteran from Henderson County to Washington, DC to see the memorial, which opened in 2004. World War II veterans who had not already been to the memorial and had physical or financial limitations were offered the chance to take the trip. The community came together to raise the money to fund the project. Many community groups, businesses and individuals contributed to this project, allowing these brave veterans to travel to Washington to see the memorial that was built in their honor. Mr. Miller, the Honor Air volunteers and contributors have all given something back to those for whom the debt can never be repaid. By the time it makes its last flight, 625 veterans from Hendersonville, NC will have made the Honor Air trip.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in expressing my appreciation and admiration for Jeff Miller, who made it possible for so many of our veterans to have the opportunity to see the National World War II Memorial.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of SSG Wayne Carringer of Robbinsville, North Carolina, a courageous and highly decorated World War II veteran who was held for almost 3\1/ 2\ years as a prisoner of war.

Staff Sergeant Carringer enlisted in the Army in September 1939. He survived what has become known as the Bataan Death March, the march from Mariveles to San Fernando where the soldiers, already malnourished and weak, were brutally tortured or killed by the Japanese.

At the end of the march, the soldiers were transported to Camp O'Dell, which Staff Sergeant Carringer has described as a death factory. He was placed into the Zero Ward, the building where the Japanese put the soldiers that were expected to die. Eventually, he was moved to work in the Japanese coal mines, where he endured starvation, malnutrition, torture, beatings, solitary confinement, malaria, and slave labor. His weight plummeted to what he estimated was 80 to 85 pounds. After living as a prisoner of war for almost 3\1/2\ years, he emerged from captivity after the end of the war to find that the government had declared him dead in 1943. Staff Sergeant Carringer attributes his survival of the horrendous experience to his faith in God, and said that the experience increased his appreciation for his country and in his fellow man.

Every day we enjoy freedoms made possible by this heroic man and the thousands of other members of our military who have risked or given their lives to protect us, to ensure that the United States remains the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the bravery and sacrifice of SSG Wayne Carringer, and to thank him for defending and preserving the freedoms that each of us enjoys today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Staff Sergeant Wayne Carringer of Robbinsville, North Carolina, a courageous and highly decorated World War II veteran who was held for almost three and a half years as a prisoner of war.

Staff Sgt. Carringer enlisted in the Army in September of 1939. He survived what has become known as the Bataan Death March, the march from Mariveles to San Fernando where the soldiers, already malnourished and weak, were brutally tortured or killed by the Japanese.

At the end of the march, the soldiers were transported to Camp O'Dell, which Staff Sgt. Carringer has described as a death factory. He was placed into the Zero Ward, the building where the Japanese put the soldiers that were expected to die. Eventually, he was moved to work in the Japanese coal mines, where he endured starvation, malnutrition, torture, beatings, solitary confinement, malaria and slave labor. His weight plummeted to what he estimated was 80 to 85 pounds. After living as a prisoner of war for almost three and a half years, he emerged from captivity after the end of the war to find that the government had declared him dead in 1943. Staff Sgt. Carringer attributes his survival of the horrendous experience to his faith in God, and said that the experience increased his appreciation for his country and in his fellow man.

Every day we enjoy freedoms made possible by this heroic man and the thousands of other members of our military who have risked or given their lives to protect us, to ensure that the United States remains the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the bravery and sacrifice of Staff Sgt. Wayne Carringer, and to thank him for defending and preserving the freedoms that each of us enjoys today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong support for H.R. 5335, the Trail of Tears Documentation Act. As a co-sponsor of this legislation, I feel that it is imperative that Congress make it a priority to protect and preserve these historic routes.

H.R. 5335 amends the National Trails System Act to provide for the inclusion of new trail segments, land components, and campsites associated with the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.

The Trail of Tears was a significant and shameful chapter in American history. In 1838-1839, the U.S. Government forcibly removed Cherokee Indians from their ancestral homelands in western North Carolina and other parts of the southeastern United States and resettled them in Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River. Over 15,000 Cherokees were systematically rounded up from their homes and forced to travel by foot, horseback, boat, and wagon across the southern U.S. to Indian Territory. More than 1,000 people died from exposure, illness, and exhaustion during the roundup and removal.

I am proud to have grown up alongside the Qualla Boundary in western North Carolina, home to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The EBCI are descended from the Cherokee who resisted removal by taking to their ancestral mountains, where they still live to this day and keep alive the traditions and values of their forefathers.

The Trail of Tears Act designated two primary travel routes, the northern land route and the water routes. This amendment specifically adds other significant routes that were used by the Cherokee during the resettlement. These include: the Bell and Benge routes, the land components of the water routes, the routes from the roundup forts and camps in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, and the related campsites located along the routes and land components.

I am a proud co-sponsor of this bill, and I commend Congressman Zach Wamp for introducing this legislation and fighting to ensure its passage in the 110th Congress. I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring the memory of all of the Cherokee who suffered during the removal on the Trail of Tears.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 2,000 committed and dedicated volunteers who advise, educate and inspire over 4,000 Boy Scouts in Western North Carolina.

The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated on February 8, 1910, chartered by Congress in 1916, and organized in Western North Carolina as the Daniel Boone Council since 1920. The Boy Scouts of America strives to develop good traits of character in young people and to instill in them values of good citizenship. The Boy Scouts program is available to all youth regardless of race, religion, or socioeconomic level.

The Daniel Boone Council of Western North Carolina serves 4,088 youth in 14 counties through 173 Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, Venturing Crews, Sea Scout Ships, and Explorer Posts.

The youth are supported by 2,000 dedicated volunteer leaders who recruit, raise funds, serve on the executive board and committees, and educate and inspire the youth of the program. The Scouting volunteers report that their involvement with the Boy Scouts has raised their environmental awareness, aided them in ethical and moral decision- making, and helped them become better parents and citizens. The benefits to the volunteers, however, are slight in comparison to the life altering experiences that their work provides to the Scouts.

The Boy Scouts of America has designated 2008 as the ``Year of the Volunteer'' to honor the volunteers who serve across the Nation. In Western North Carolina, the Daniel Boone Council has set apart September 13 as their special day to honor their volunteers through a Volunteer Recognition Banquet. It is my hope, however, that we continue to honor the tremendous contributions of the Daniel Boone

Council's 2000 volunteers throughout 2008 and for years and decades to come.

It is with great respect and gratitude that I commend these dedicated and committed volunteers. I am honored to be able to stand with the Daniel Boone Council in recognizing their hard work and service.

I thank the gentleman from Texas.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition of this legislation. I don't smoke, and I never have. I'm a father of two small children. You won't find a bigger opponent of tobacco use in this Congress.

I have a great deal of respect for Chairmen Waxman, Dingell and Pallone. I respect their hard work, and I share the dedication they have to reducing smoking, especially among teenagers. But giving FDA approval to tobacco is not the answer.

The FDA Commissioner testified that he has ``serious concerns that this bill will undermine the public health role of FDA.'' And the FDA Science Board said that ``FDA's inability to keep up with scientific advancements means that American lives are at risk.''

The FDA is dangerously overworked. Recently, the FDA shut down the entire domestic tomato industry. We've had listeria in frozen strawberries, E. coli in spinach and lettuce.

Salmonella in peanut butter, and poison in pet foods.

Now, I have a lot of respect for the men and women who work at the FDA, but I clearly feel that they are overworked and overburdened and have so much on their plate. We should listen to the people that are working at the FDA. We should not pile more work upon them. This bill is hazardous to your health, whether you smoke or not.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the memory of Margaret Lois Pryor Queen. Born 86 years ago in Henderson County, North Carolina, Lois Queen was a tireless advocate throughout her life for children in western North Carolina.

In 1942, Lois Queen graduated from Western Carolina Teachers College as the first female majoring in physical education. Throughout the 1950's and 1960's, she worked as a schoolteacher and an elementary school principal in North Carolina and Fairfax County, Virginia. She earned a master's degree in education from American University in 1969, while serving as a school principal.

In 1972, Queen was instrumental in the creation of the Southwestern Child Development Commission, a nonprofit agency designed to coordinate and generate community resources to support high quality child care services, including developmental day care, in the westernmost seven counties of North Carolina. Queen became the director of the Southwestern Child Development Commission in 1972. The organization now has a staff of over 300, and serves more than 2,000 children per month.

In the 1980's, Lois Queen continued to advocate for children as the chair of the North Carolina Day Care Commission. Even during her retirement, she served on the boards of the Southwestern Child Development Commission and REACH of Haywood County.

Lois Queen leaves behind 5 children and many grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. I offer my sincere condolences to them. They are in my thoughts and prayers. I would also like to offer my gratitude to those who follow the legacy of Lois Queen, and work with the Southwestern Child Development Commission to advocate each day on behalf of the children of western North Carolina.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing remorse at to the passing of Lois Queen. Her life was an example of service and advocacy for all of us to follow.