Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the long history of service that Minnie Jones has given to the Asheville area in civil rights and equal housing opportunities for the past forty years. Ms. Jones was recently awarded North Carolina's ``Order of the Long Leaf Pine,'' one of the state's highest civilian awards which has also been bestowed upon Maya Angelou, Billy Graham, and Charles Kuralt. She has also been recognized with the Buncombe County Democratic Woman of the Year award, the One Youth At A Time 2010 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award, the NAACP's Eighth Annual Sophie Dixon and Grace Dorn Leadership Award, as well as being the namesake and co-founder of the Minnie Jones Family Health Center in Asheville.

As a young woman, Ms. Jones moved to Asheville bringing experience working with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in voting registration drives throughout the Deep South. She continued to involve herself in Civil Rights in Asheville, becoming the first person to successfully integrate the Pisgah View Apartments. She went on to become the first president of the Pisgah View Residents Association and a tireless advocate for those residents. Ms. Jones also began the program for after-school education in this community.

Ms. Jones remains a vibrant force in the Asheville community to this day. She is a Deaconess of St. Paul Baptist Church. She is a life member of the NAACP, and a member of the Executive Committee of its Asheville Branch. She still teaches in her after school program at Pisgah View and continues her own education by taking courses at UNC- Asheville.

I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the singular impact that Minnie Jones has had on the civil rights movement in Asheville. Her tireless and effective advocacy has established her as a champion for all people and a constant voice for the voiceless.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Chief Judge Danny Davis for his twenty six years of service as the Chief District Court Judge of the 30th Judicial District in Western North Carolina. During his thirty one years of experience in the courtroom Judge Davis distinguished himself as a superior legal mind, as well as a patient, restrained, and fair jurist.

In the eyes of Judge Davis, an effective judge must listen to both sides of an argument and form a sound legal opinion based on fact, while also maintaining a courteous and respectful demeanor. Holding true to his words, Judge Davis is best known for his fairness and sound reasoning.

Judge Davis has always strived to improve society, leaving his community better than he found it. Throughout his career, Davis has exemplified the highest standard of legal excellence, maintaining the strongest sense of character while reaching a consensus.

Madam Speaker, I congratulate Judge Davis on his retirement. He has exemplified real leadership in his ability to ensure that the utmost fairness is in our nation's judicial system. It is truly an honor to recognize him for his many years of service and dedication to Western North Carolina, and I urge my colleagues to support this remarkable jurist.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Gladys McDaniel for her dedication to the City of Asheville, North Carolina and to congratulate her on her retirement after 32 years of service to the Asheville Police Department. Her dedication to philanthropy and her community is evident as she has participated in nearly every community event Asheville has had to offer for the last 3 decades.

Ms. McDaniel has come to be known as the ``heart'' of the Asheville police department. Serving as the gatekeeper of the department, her attention to detail and tireless efforts have touched almost everyone who has interacted with the Asheville police department. Police Chief Bill Hogan recalls how Ms. McDaniel's ``organizational and historical knowledge helped to get his feet on the ground'' when he joined the department 6 years ago.

In addition to her full time job as a public servant, Ms. McDaniel has taken an unofficial position as a full time volunteer in the Asheville community. From helping to organize the nationally recognized Bele Chere festival to donning costumes to entertain children, no job has ever been too big or too small for Ms. McDaniel. For the past 30 years she has played an integral role in the planning and orchestration of the Bele Chere festival. A proven problem solver, she is the key force behind the scenes. In addition to her efforts at the Bele Chere festival, Ms. McDaniel organizes two blood drives every year, coordinates events for the Special Olympics, and assists with the annual Asheville film festival.

Along with her tremendous commitment to the Asheville Police Department and the Asheville community, Ms. McDaniel has always shown remarkable commitment and devotion to her country and family. Ms. McDaniel spent 4 years in the Army Reserves, and 2 years as an inactive ready-reservist, while raising two gentlemen. A devoted mother of two, Ms. McDaniel describes herself as ``[thriving] on nurturing both her family and community.'' Madam Speaker, I urge my fellow colleagues to honor and thank Ms. Gladys McDaniel for her tireless devotion to her family, country, and community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor SGT Donald ``Rocky'' Edgerton of Murphy, North Carolina, for his valiant service in the United States Army. After September 11th, Sergeant Edgerton's profound sense of duty for his country moved him to join the Army.

He spent his first tour of duty in Iraq, and after serving his country for over a year, he came back with an even deeper feeling of obligation. He was then chosen to enroll in sniper school, where he earned the reputation of ``top gun'' due to his incredible accuracy with a rifle. When he was called for another tour of duty in Afghanistan, Sergeant Edgerton fearlessly welcomed the challenge even though he had to leave behind his beloved wife and young daughter.

On July 10, the day after his 33rd birthday, Sergeant Edgerton was leading his troops just north of Char Dara, Afghanistan when insurgents attacked his unit and detonated an improvised explosive device that ultimately took his life. A short while prior, Edgerton had just been nominated for a Bronze Star Medal for saving the lives of several members of his convoy during an attack.

Edgerton received various medals and accolades for his service, including the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terror Medal, the NATO Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, and two Overseas Service Ribbons. He was also awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Combat Action Badge, all posthumously.

Madam Speaker, Sergeant Edgerton embodied the most essential qualities of an American soldier. He was selfless, dedicated, and brave. He is remembered as a man who put the safety of his fellow troops before his own, and accordingly a man who has earned the unwavering respect of his peers. Through his exemplary service in Iraq and Afghanistan, SGT Donald Edgerton has brought pride to our troops, his family, and all of Western North Carolina. It is truly my honor to commemorate him and I urge my colleagues to join me today in honoring the life of SGT Donald ``Rocky'' Edgerton for the sacrifices he has made for our country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the students from the Word of Faith Christian School in the small rural community of Spindale, North Carolina. These students have produced an impressive collection of approximately 300 pieces of art depicting World War II and the legacy of the Holocaust. Their work has been displayed in several exhibitions in North Carolina. After reviewing the work, Michael Berenbaum, the Founding Director of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, stated that he ``was profoundly impressed by their quality, their diversity, their integrity and their passion. I have never seen such work from students of their age.''

From July 19 to July 22, these students will feature their work at the Christians United for Israel Summit, which is to be held at the Washington Convention Center. I would like to recognize these students and the Word of Faith Christian School for their tremendous artistic accomplishments, their dedication to the preservation of history, and for their unwavering support of Israel.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the service and accomplishments of Dr. Greg T. Mathis, Senior Pastor of Mud Creek Baptist Church of Hendersonville, North Carolina. This year, as Dr. Mathis celebrates his 30th year at Mud Creek Baptist Church, I am proud to pay tribute to his remarkable career of faith, strength, and the desire to live a fulfilling life helping others.

Serving as Senior Pastor since 1980, Dr. Mathis and his wife Deborah have helped build Mud Creek Baptist Church into a nationally recognized place of worship, with an average weekly attendance of 2700. Mud Creek Baptist Church was recently identified in a book entitled ``Excellent Protestant Congregations,'' as an excellent place to worship in America.

Dr. Mathis's good work does not stop at his own church. He regularly preaches at revivals, Bible conferences, and seminars throughout the Southern Baptist Convention. He has served as the President of the North Carolina Baptist State Convention and the North Carolina Pastors' Conference and as a member of the Executive, Resolutions, and Budget Committees of the Southern Baptist Convention. He was named as one of the most influential people in Baptist life by The Biblical Recorder, and was presented the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award by Governor James B. Hunt for his service to the state of North Carolina.

Dr. Mathis graduated from Gardner-Webb College in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and went on to graduate from the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1980 with a Master of Divinity Degree. He has been recognized with two Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degrees from Gardner-Webb University in 2001 and North Greenville University in 2010. He is a published author with several well known books, including Five Smooth Stones and The Ultimate Life.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the impressive life and career of Dr. Greg T. Mathis. It is an honor for me to recognize his accomplishments and the profound impact he has on the religious life of countless Western North Carolinians, and to wish him continued success in future years.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed from H.R. 2555. I was inadvertently added as a cosponsor.

Mr. Chair, there are valid concerns that the DISCLOSE Act, H.R. 5175, could unconstitutionally hinder the free speech of certain long-standing, member-driven organizations that have historically acted in good faith. In an effort to fix this, I filed an amendment with the House Rules Committee to exempt any 501(c)(4) organization that meets certain criteria from the Disclose Act's reporting and disclosure requirements.

A modified version of my amendment was included as part of Representative Brady's ``manager's amendment'' made in order by the Rules Committee. The manager's amendment creates a special class of exempt 501(c)(4) organizations to which the reporting and disclosure provisions of H.R. 5175 do not apply.

These ``exempt 501(c)(4) organizations'' would need to:

Be a 501(c)(4) organization for each of the past 10 years;

Have at least 500,000 dues-paying members;

Have at least one dues-paying member in each of the 50 states;

Receives no more than 15 percent of its annual revenue from corporations, excluding revenue from commercial transactions occurring in the ordinary course of business;

Not use any funds received from corporations for electioneering communications.

The organization's CEO would need to certify to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) that it meets these qualifications. To protect individuals rights of freedom of speech the FEC would not be allowed to require any donor lists, or financial or membership information of any kind from organizations seeking exemption. Such compelled disclosure to the FEC would raise serious First Amendment questions.

There is no question that we need to prevent enormous amounts of corporate and foreign money from flooding campaigns without transparency, and to prevent illegitimate shadow organizations from cropping up and overpowering the voice of Americans. However, many organizations exist solely to give individuals with common interests a voice in the political process. This narrowly tailored exemption for this special class of exempt 501(c)(4) organizations is necessary to achieve the compelling government interest that non-profit membership organizations funded largely by individuals be allowed to speak freely in the political arena. Long-standing, member-driven, non-profit organizations are at the heart of the First Amendment's protections of political speech and association and are distinct from for-profit corporations, just as media corporations are distinct from other for- profit corporations.

Including this exemption for exempt 501(c)(4) organizations is critical to passage and enactment of H.R. 5175. Were a court to try and sever the exemption from the bill and leave the remainder of its provisions intact, it would violate the clear intent of Congress. We need to ensure that these long-standing, non-profit membership organizations funded largely by individuals can continue to speak freely on behalf of their members.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Floyd Carson Frisbee of Iron Duff, North Carolina for his valiant service in the United States Army. From March 1951 to March 1953, Mr. Frisbee fought bravely on the Korean peninsula in order to protect the sovereignty of South Korea, and the freedom of its people.

Mr. Frisbee received numerous medals for his service in Korea, including the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, CIB, Combat, Medal, Occupation Medal, and the 50th Anniversary Medal. These medals represent the courage and commitment that Mr. Frisbee exhibited during his service in the 1st Cavalry Division.

After his service in the military, Floyd Frisbee continued to display his strong personal character as well as a commitment to provide for his family through 19 years of hard work at the Dayton Rubber plant. Since his retirement Mr. Frisbee has maintained a strong attachment to the Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute and has preached at various churches in the community.

Madam Speaker, Floyd Carson Frisbee provided an exemplary service for the people of our great country through his service in the Korean War. His dedication and commitment to the United States is truly a source of pride to Western North Carolina. I urge my colleagues to join me today in honoring Floyd Carson Frisbee for his valiant service in the military and the sacrifices he has made for our Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the basketball team of the Nantahala School in Macon County, North Carolina. The team had an exceptional season, finishing with a record of 23-7 and an appearance in the regional semi-final game.

Their season would be considered impressive for a team from any school, but this team comes from remarkable circumstances. There are only 36 students in the school, 18 of which are men. Over half the eligible students play on the basketball team. From one of the smallest schools in the State of North Carolina, this group of young men was able to hold their own against teams from much larger schools.

Making their success less probable, the school graduated some excellent basketball players last year, retiring three jerseys. The class of 2009 accounted for over 3,000 career points. Fortunately, this year's seniors--Jordan West, Wesley Holden, Josh Griffith, Jerrod Crosby, and Woody Passmore--were equally impressive in fulfilling their leadership roles.

The team's final game against Hendersonville High School in the regional semifinals was a testament to their perseverance. Trailing at one point by 16 points, it seemed the odds were against them. Still, the team played with everything they had. With 43 seconds remaining, Jordan West gave Nantahala the lead. Hendersonville managed to pull back ahead, but Nantahala fell only three points short of playing in the regional finals for a spot in the North Carolina State championship game.

Some of the team achieved special recognition for their outstanding seasons. Wesley Holden averaged 13 points per game and was selected to play in the Blue-White all-star game. Josh Griffith, averaging 18 points per game, was selected to play in the Blue-White all-star game and the regional all-tournament team. Coach Josh Taylor and Assistant Coach Tom Dillard have created a strong program, and I doubt this is the last we have heard from this small school in the mountains.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the impressive Nantahala School basketball team for their accomplishments and wishing them continued success in future years.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Cecil Groves for his 40 years o service in higher education and to congratulate him on his retirement after 13 years as president of Southwestern Community College in Sylva, North Carolina. Under his leadership, Southwestern experienced significant expansion, serving as a catalyst for further growth throughout the region.

Dr. Groves received his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Texas. His first job was as the president of Delgado College in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dr. Groves was able to lead Delgado College to national accreditation in the midst of the turmoil of desegregation. Seven years later, he became President of Austin Community College in Austin, Texas. In a city dominated by a major research university, Dr. Groves created a model of the community college as a stepping stone to enrollment at a four-year university. He grew Austin Community College into a 16,000 student campus, creating jobs and allowing students a pathway to achieve their dreams.

After working at Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado Springs, Colorado and serving as Provost of Texas State Technical Colleges System, Dr. Groves moved to the mountains of Western North Carolina to become the president of Southwestern Community College. He would transform this small school with a strong sense of community into one of the best community colleges in the nation.

During his tenure, Southwestern Community College opened a new campus in Macon County, North Carolina and graduated the largest class in its history. Dr. Groves instituted a new technology platform for delivering education to students, offering Internet learning without sacrificing a sense of community. He encouraged teachers who found their most effective teaching method to continue to succeed, and he pushed those who struggled to continue to work toward becoming better teachers. Most importantly, he was widely loved by the faculty, staff, and students.

Even those in Western North Carolina who are not directly a part of the Southwestern Community College family benefited from Dr. Groves' tenure. One of his biggest contributions to the region was the creation of the Balsam West FiberNET. After an attempt to convert the school's Interactive Television system to digital proved too costly, Dr. Groves began investigating a regional broadband system. Southwestern Community College helped bring together Drake Enterprises and the Eastern Band of the Cherokee to form Balsam West FiberNET. This private, for-profit partnership constructed a 300-mile broadband ring, benefiting both Southwestern Community College and the entire mountain community.

Outside of his duties as president, Dr. Groves has taken an active interest in community development--on a regional, state, and national level. He served as an appointed advisor to governors in two states and testified in

front of Congress. As a founding member of the National Coalition for Advanced Manufacturing, a part of the National Association of Manufacturers, and the National Coalition for Advanced Technology Centers, Dr. Groves has helped modernize U.S. manufacturing and education technology. He has also been active in successfully recruiting several companies to conduct business in the regions where he worked.

Dr. Groves is now retiring and moving closer to two of his children. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to rise with me to thank Dr. Groves for his many years of invaluable service to both Southwestern Community College and the broader mountain community of Western North Carolina.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the past, present, and future members of the production of Unto These Hills. An outdoor dramatic rendering of the history of the Cherokee people, the play is nearing the 60th anniversary of its opening night.

The show has achieved remarkable success, selling over 6 million tickets since its opening on July 1, 1950. It is the second longest continuously running outdoor drama in the United States, behind only The Lost Colony, which is performed in Manteo, North Carolina. Over sixty years, countless skilled actors and actresses have taken part in the performances. Among them are some who have reached the heights of fame, including Morgan Freeman and Michael Rosenbaum.

For 60 years, Unto These Hills has provided entertainment and education for visitors to historic and scenic Cherokee. The format is especially effective for the many school groups that visit Cherokee; the dramatic rendering passes important lessons of history on to future generations.

The show is an integral part of preserving the heritage of the Cherokee people, a group integral to our mountain community. The ongoing legacy of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee is an important part of our broader mountain heritage. With a new and more accurate script, the show portrays the history of the Cherokee from the height of their power to the depths of their despair during the Trail of Tears. An accurate dramatic retelling is an important way to remember the tragedy of the Trail of Tears and help us learn from that event.

With the new script and a recently renovated theater, Unto These Hills is poised to continue to build on its impressive record of success. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues today to join me in recognizing Unto These Hills for its remarkable success and its important role in preserving and reliving such a profound moment in American history.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Stephen L. Page, Ed. D. on his June 30th retirement from his position as the Superintendent of Henderson County Schools. Dr. Page's efforts have been central to the development and success of the public school system of Western North Carolina where he has served faithfully and effectively for the past 37 years.

Before beginning his career in the public school system, Dr. Page served honorably as a First Lieutenant, Combat Executive Officer, in the United States Army. For his bravery and meritorious service during the Vietnam War, Dr. Page was awarded the Bronze Star.

Dr. Page is also actively involved in the Henderson County Community. He is a member of the Civitan Club of Hendersonville and serves as Chairman of the Civitan Foundation Board of Directors. He serves on the United Way of Henderson County Board of Directors and on the Daniel Boone Council of Boy Scouts of America. Dr. Page also served as the Honorary Chairman of the 2007 March of Dimes WalkAmerica campaign in Henderson County.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Dr. Stephen Page 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 congratulate Principal Jan King of Glenn C. Marlow Elementary School in Mills River, North Carolina on being named the 2010 Wachovia North Carolina Principal of the Year. The designation of Principal of the Year not only signifies her effectiveness as an administrator but also the respect she has earned among her students, their parents, and their teachers.

With this honor Mrs. King will be appointed to the State Superintendent's Principal's Advisory Committee and will serve a one- year term as advisor to the State Board of Education. Principal King will also be appointed to a one-year term on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Public School Forum and will chair the 2011 Wachovia Principal of the Year Selection Committee.

As a native of Jackson County and an educator in the area, Mrs. King has spent most of her life in Western North Carolina. Throughout her educational career, Jan King has set a high educational standard for herself and her peers. In 2003, Mrs. King was named Henderson County Schools' Teacher of the Year and achieved National Board Certification. Mrs. King has also been selected to speak at various events including the North Carolina Gifted Education Conference, North Carolina Social Studies Conference and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Conference. She also served as a teacher and a consultant for the Library of Congress American Memory Fellow Program.

The children of today are the leaders of our nation tomorrow. Educators like Principal King are central in providing these children the tools they need in order to be productive citizens in the future.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to congratulate Principal Jan King and to thank her for her tremendous service to the students in Western North Carolina.

Madam Speaker, I rise today, accompanied by my colleague Mr. Tanner, to honor the achievements of Johnny Majors, former football coach of the University of Tennessee.

For 16 years, from 1977-1992, the University of Tennessee enjoyed the privilege of having Coach Majors pace the sidelines of Shields-Watkins field. Throughout his many years at the University of Tennessee Coach Majors maintained a high level of success, winning three championships in arguably one of the most competitive sports leagues in the country.

As a young man, I remember the excitement surrounding Coach Majors' visit to my home town of Bryson City, North Carolina. He was seen by many in my community as the epitome of football. He came to visit me and my family to talk about the possibility of me coming to the University of Tennessee. We expected his visit to focus primarily on the game and the football program at UT. However, Coach Majors' concerns were more about the importance of a strong education, the responsibility of leading by example, and his insistence that regardless of where you might be in your life, UT alumni are always part of the UT family.

Coaches often play a vital role in raising the youth of a community. Not only do they instill values such as hard work and dedication, but can also teach young people valuable life lessons of honor and good will. Coach Johnny Majors not only bred success on the field, but encouraged his student athletes to conduct themselves with integrity and honesty. To have a man of his character coach me was a true honor and a privilege.

Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Tanner for his thoughtful statement regarding my coach and friend, Johnny Majors. I ask my colleagues join me in celebrating this great man's accomplishments, both on and off the football field. and off the football field.