Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Betsey Flack on her admission to the Georgia Bar. After years of hard work and dedication to her studies, Ms. Flack will now begin pursuing a career in the legal field.

Ms. Flack attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as an undergraduate. During her time at UNC, Ms. Flack was active in campus activities and academic life. Upon graduation from UNC, Ms. Flack enrolled in classes at the Mercer University School of Law to pursue her Juris Doctor degree.

She completed this program in the spring of this year, and successfully passed the bar exam soon after graduation.

As a Member of Congress, I have seen first-hand how the law can be used as a force for good. I look forward to following the career of Ms. Flack, as she uses her knowledge and expertise in the law to serve others and to pursue legal and social justice.

I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Ms. Betsey Flack.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 2262, the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act, which will reform the General Mining Law of 1872 and provide a fair return to the American taxpayer of publicly owned minerals on Federal lands.

By charging a royalty for publicly owned minerals, the American taxpayer will no longer have to bear the cost of reclaiming and restoring abandoned hardrock mines. H.R. 2262 will

assure that future mines operate in a manner that conserves the environment and our valuable natural resources, including fish and wildlife habitats.

H.R. 2262 addresses the financial needs of our Nation. By charging a royalty fee on existing and future mining operations, along with filing and maintenance fees, the Congressional Budget Office has determined this legislation would reduce our country's deficit, which has spiraled out of control under the current administration.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues today to update the 1872 Mining Law for the 21st century and vote for this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, November 1, I was unable to vote on rollcall votes Nos. 1030, 1031, 1032, and 1033 due to a prior commitment in my district. Had I been present I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall votes Nos. 1030, 1031 and 1032, and ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 1033.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1483, Celebrating America's Act of 2007, to amend the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 to extend authorizations of certain natural heritage areas, including the Blue Ridge Natural Heritage Area, and for other purposes.

The mission of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area is to protect, preserve, interpret, and develop the unique natural, historical, and cultural resources of western North Carolina for the benefit of present and future generations, and in so doing to stimulate improved economic opportunity in the region.

This bill extends authorization of the existing Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, a landscape full of superlatives: the highest mountain, Mount Mitchell; deepest gorge, Linville Gorge; and highest waterfall, Whitewater Falls in the eastern United States; the oldest river in North America, the New River; and the two most visited National Park lands in the country, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The region is home to the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians who continue to preserve many facets of traditional Cherokee culture.

I am especially pleased that this legislation extends and increases authorization of funds for the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area and

others, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation and support enhancing our natural and cultural heritage for future generations.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate everyone and thank everyone who took part in this year's Longest Yard Classic; although the game didn't quite go like we had expected it to go. It was 28-0. Zero is something I've come to know pretty well during my Washington days with the Redskins. We knew quite well about that zero.

Quarterback rating did not go up during that game. I will say that we had some great wide receivers. Every one offensively who got in the game got a chance to catch the football, which was great.

I do want to say and congratulate the Capitol Hill Police, not only for their great win over the Members of Congress, but for what they do when they sacrifice their lives every single day of their lives.

We were able to see firsthand how actually across the aisle we can work together, Democrats and Republicans, 7 a.m. practices. No one showed up late, almost never.

Ken Harvey and John Booty from the NFL came down and helped coach us, and we have special thanks to them and to all the participants, all the Members who played and to the Members who came out to watch us.

I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, my friend.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to House Resolution 746, providing for consideration of H.R. 3773, the RESTORE Act of 2007. While I support many of the provisions of the underlying bill, I remain concerned that this bill is silent on the issue of carrier liability.

This rule provides no opportunity to amend the bill to address this important issue. In my view that is a mistake, and one which I hope will be dealt with before the legislation is sent to the President for his signature.

The failure of this House to address the issue of carrier liability may have significant long term implications for our future ability to protect our citizens. I encourage my colleagues to consider the incentives the legislation creates and find a constructive way to deal with the carrier liability issue.

Therefore, while I do intend to support the underlying legislation when faced with an up or down decision later today, I oppose this closed rule, and urge the leadership of both Houses of Congress to work together during the conference process to address this issue. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this closed rule.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 327, the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act, which will expand suicide-prevention services to our nation's veterans.

Joshua Omvig was an Army Reservist who committed suicide in 2005 after serving his

Nation in Iraq. My thoughts and prayers are with the family of this fallen hero, who have responded to this tragedy by championing efforts to improve mental health care for returning war veterans.

It is widely understood that suicide among veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious and pressing problem facing our veterans' community. Our Nation's men and women returning from service abroad deserve the highest quality care that this Nation can provide, including access to top quality mental health programs.

H.R. 327 directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to take a comprehensive approach to combating the negative long-term effects of

I thank the distinguished gentleman.

Madam Speaker, every night when we sit down, we talk to our children, we say our prayers, my wife and I, we thank God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us, some of those blessings that we don't even recognize so much every single day, like having health care for our children. But there are children and parents every day for whom that is a constant reminder.

And here we have questions about what is important, how many children will it be. My children, age three and six, they talk about and they pray that God will bless all children. We talk about, across the aisle, I am pro-life. My distinguished colleagues across the aisle talk about being pro-life. It is time they start being pro-life today and start by overriding this veto.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Patience Ann Davis on her admission to the North Carolina Bar. After years of hard work and dedication to her studies, Ms. Davis will now begin pursuing a career in the legal field.

Ms. Davis attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as an undergraduate. During her time at UNC, Ms. Davis was active in campus activities and academic life. Upon graduation from UNC, Ms. Davis enrolled in classes at the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University to pursue her Juris Doctor degree.

She completed this program in the spring of this year, and successfully passed the bar exam soon after graduation.

As a Member of Congress, I have seen firsthand how the law can be used as a force for good. I look forward to following the career of Ms. Davis, as she uses her knowledge and expertise in the law to serve others and to pursue legal and social justice.

I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Ms. Patience Ann Davis.

Madam Speaker, I rise to welcome World War II veterans from my home district to Washington, DC. I am honored to welcome these members of the Greatest Generation to Washington to visit the National World War II Memorial.

For the past year Honor Air of Henderson and Buncombe counties has provided trips free of charge for World War II Veterans to ensure that they would have an opportunity to see the memorial which honors their service to our nation, and remembers their comrades in arms who never made it home. I would like to offer my sincere gratitude to the dedicated volunteers of Honor Air for making these trips possible.

World War II was a defining moment for our country during the 20th Century. The men and women who served in uniform during that war dedicated their lives and spirit to guiding our Nation through some of its most trying hours. On behalf of all the residents of North Carolina's 11th District, I offer our deepest appreciation.

The National World War II Memorial was opened to the public in May of 2004, and has been visited by millions of visitors. Built to honor the 16 million Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, and Merchant Mariners who served our Nation during World War II, the National World War II Memorial serves as a reminder of their sacrifice and service to the American people. I am thankful that we have finally found a permanent memorial here in the Nation's capital to honor their service.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the exceptional service of a most distinguished constituent, William Murdock. Mr. Murdock serves as Executive Director of the Eblen Charities and Eblen Center for Social Enterprise, an Asheville-based non-profit organization that assists low-income children, adults, and families battling illnesses and disabilities.

Mr. Murdock is a graduate of Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College, Mars Hill College, Duke University, and the Harvard Business School. Along with his work at Eblen Charities, Mr. Murdock lectures at Duke University and has been named an outstanding scholar in social enterprise by the International Biographical Centre of Cambridge, England.

Growing up in Asheville, North Carolina, Mr. Murdock developed a passion for wrestling which he pursued as a student-athlete and then as a high school coach. He is widely regarded as one of wrestling's preeminent historians and was most recently honored as the first recipient of the Lou Thesz World Heavyweight Championship Award. The award recognizes an individual connected with wrestling who has ``taken the skills, courage and mental toughness that are the essentials of the sport and has applied those characteristics to the realm of public service.'' In nearly two decades of service at the Eblen Charities, Mr. Murdock has done that and more.

Under his leadership, Eblen Charities has grown from a two-person partnership that assisted 300 families in 1991 to a world-class organization that served 65,000 in 2006. Mr. Murdock currently oversees roughly 60 programs designed to help families in western North Carolina secure health care coverage, low-cost prescription drugs, heating and cooling for their homes, and other life essentials. In so doing, Mr. Murdock delivers hope in trying times and the wherewithal to meet whatever challenges might lie ahead.

His example serves to remind us that a single individual, armed with compassion, ingenuity, and resolve, can do extraordinary things. I am honored to represent Mr. Murdock in the United States Congress, and I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding his outstanding work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember one of our Nation's darkest days, and one of its finest hours.

None of us will ever forget the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Nor will we ever forget the images of firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians, and other first responders placing themselves in harm's way at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. We will never forget the passengers of United Flight 93, whose heroism may well have saved the United States Capitol. We will never forget the way this Nation joined in prayer and determination in the days which followed. And we will never forget the outpouring of support from our friends throughout the world.

In my home in western North Carolina, young men and women answered the challenge of a nation thrown suddenly into war, as new volunteers signed up for the Armed Forces, and reservists and Guardsmen readied for deployment. In the six years which followed, these brave citizens and their families have sacrificed through multiple deployments and hazardous service in Afghanistan, Iraq, and throughout the world. Since that time, many have been wounded, and six young men from my district have made the ultimate sacrifice. The thoughts and prayers of a grateful nation will always be with them and their families.

In the years since that tragic September day, our Nation has stepped up its vigilance at home and abroad. I am proud of the efforts of our local law enforcement officials to improve training and expertise in our communities to identify potential threats and prevent any future attacks. I would also like to recognize all of those who stand guard in our Nation's intelligence and Federal law enforcement communities, and all Americans serving abroad to reduce the conditions that breed terrorism and to increase hope in distant lands.

This Congress has taken the important steps of implementing the recommendations of the 9-11 Commission and enhancing homeland security efforts, however there is still work to be done. Our ports remain vulnerable, and our borders remain porous. Hurricane Katrina exposed serious problems with our Nation's disaster response mechanisms, and it is unclear how far we have come in fixing those problems. I am committed to working with my colleagues to address these problems and ensure the safety of all Americans.

So today we remember, as we look forward. I join with all my colleagues in today in honoring the memory of those who lost their lives on September 11th, remembering those who have sacrificed defending our Nation since that day, and praying for those who continue to serve our Nation today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the hard work and dedication of the cadets and volunteers of the Asheville Division U.S. Naval Sea Cadets. The U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps program is a federally chartered youth training organization for students ages eleven to seventeen that is designed to educate young people about service in the Navy and Coast Guard both ashore and afloat.

The Asheville Division provides the young people of Western North Carolina with unparalleled opportunities to learn new skills and experience new challenges in a safe, alcohol and drug free environment. Some Cadets choose to continue to serve their country through military service, while many others go on to pursue civilian careers. Regardless of their future path, cadets benefit from the lessons learned in the program--good citizenship, self-discipline, a sense of responsibility, and leadership skills.

I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Katelyn Kassel for reaching the rank of Chief Petty Officer, the highest rank a cadet can achieve while participating in the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps Program. CPO Kassel is the first in the history of the Asheville Division to reach this honor. She is currently enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she is participating in the Army ROTC program and studying as a pre-law student.

I am extremely proud of CPO Kassel for her hard work and dedication to this program. She was a wonderful asset to the program at her high school and serves as an excellent role model to other students. I have no doubt that CPO Kassel will serve our country well in the U.S. military.

I commend each of the cadets for their service in this important program, as well as the volunteers who keep this program going, especially Commanding Officer LTJG Heath Collins and Executive Officer R. Scott Lunsford. I ask each of my colleagues to join me in congratulating the cadets and volunteers of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets in Asheville and throughout the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2874, the Veterans' Health Care Improvement Act of 2007, which will make the readjustment period easier for our troops returning from combat. It focuses on the improvement of mental health services as well as homelessness prevention.

These brave men and women in uniform have dedicated themselves to defending our freedom, and as a grateful nation we owe them whatever support we can provide to ensure that after they return home our veterans have their needs met.

This bill puts into place a number of important and timely measures to improve the care offered to veterans. It allows for readjustment counseling and mental health services provided by qualified peers. This will allow veterans to receive whatever therapy they might require to readjust to civilian life from fellow veterans who have undergone a similar process, and are best placed to offer understanding and quality care.

I am especially pleased that this legislation contains provisions addressing the needs of female veterans. It also deals with the prevention of homelessness for returning troops. The problem of homelessness is worse for the veteran community than society at large, and thus we must ensure that all programs, for both men and women, are of a high standard.

Finally, H.R. 2874 offers more support to low-income veteran families living in permanent housing. The Federal Government needs to provide more assistance to these families and the organizations that help care for them, and I am pleased that this bill offers that assistance. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation and support our troops as they return from their courageous missions.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1315, the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2007, which would expand housing assistance for disabled veterans of the United States Armed Forces.

The Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act amends title 38 of the United States Code so that specially-adaptive housing assistance can be provided to certain members of the Armed Forces who are disabled and residing temporarily in housing owned by family.

America's veterans have sacrificed in the defense and well-being of our country and should be rewarded for their bravery and compensated for their sacrifices. Therefore, we have a duty to see to it that the appropriate benefits are made available to every disabled veteran, regardless of residential status. We must remember that with nearly 30,000 troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, more young veterans are in need of disability assistance.

Mr. Speaker, this bill provides the necessary revisions that will enable more veterans to receive the special housing assistance they need. I fully support this bill and encourage others to do so as well.