Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairman from Wisconsin.

Mr. Speaker, pardon my immodesty. I believe that this bill has been thoroughly and consistently examined, but I don't think there has been a committee other than the House Judiciary Committee, I don't think there has been a subcommittee, other than the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, that has worked any more diligently than have we.

Now, the chairman used the words vulnerable and vulnerability in his opening statement. We are indeed, we were on 9/11, we are today. But as the chairman furthermore pointed out, much misleading and inaccurate information has been associated and directed to the PATRIOT Act. I used this example on the floor earlier, Mr. Speaker. A constituent of mine came to me all upset, concerned about the PATRIOT Act.

We must get rid of the PATRIOT Act, he said to me. I said to him, give me an example how it has adversely affected you. He said, I can't do it. I said, give me an example of how it has adversely affected anyone you know. I can't do it, he replied. I further said, give me an example where any third party has been adversely affected. Again he came up short.

This is the misleading information that has convinced many people across our land that it is no good. In this era of instant and universal communications, if a piece of legislation is as bad as my constituents thought it was, surely he would have some evidence as to some information to indicate to me why the bill is so onerous.

Granted, the bill expanded the parameters of law enforcement, but not to the detriment of law-abiding citizens.

After 9/11, I made the statement that my most pressing fear is that the next attack will come by water at ports and/or harbors, the very issue that plagues us today with the ports issue. We are indeed still vulnerable, but we are not as vulnerable as we were on 9/11, and part of that security must be directly related to the PATRIOT Act. We are not invincible, by any means; but we are more secure, we are more protected than we were then, because I think we now fully appreciate the enemy, the terrorism that hangs heavy over our heads; and I think the PATRIOT Act, Madam Speaker, will serve a good purpose to that end.

I again thank the chairman for having yielded time to me, and I thank him for his leadership as we have pursued this effort in the past several months.

Mr. Speaker, when someone thinks sports and the Sixth District of North Carolina, most thoughts turn toward basketball, baseball and auto racing. I think it is safe to say that not many people would immediately leap to speed skating on ice. That's no longer the case, however, thanks to Joey Cheek of Greensboro. The Sixth District is now the speed skating capital of the world because Joey Cheek captured the gold medal in the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, by winning the 500 meter long-track speed skating event.

Proving he is a true champion in every sense of the word, immediately after he won the gold medal, Joey Cheek announced he was donating the $25,000 he won from the U.S. Olympic Committee to refugee relief efforts in Africa. As reported in today's edition of the Greensboro News & Record, Joey said his thoughts are turning back to North Carolina. ``I am really excited about going home,'' the News & Record reported. ``Honestly, it doesn't even feel real. I'm so thrilled and so happy. But it doesn't seem to make sense. It's like it happened to someone else, and I'm just happy to sort of receive the good will for it. I'm just really excited and looking forward to the next couple of days to maybe realizing I'm an Olympic champion, will be forever, which is the coolest part of it.''

Cheek is scheduled to compete in the 1,000 and 1,500 meter events next. In fact, the 1,000 meter race is considered to be Joey's strongest event, so there may be more Olympic hardware coming his way. Four years ago, he won the bronze medal in the Salt Lake City Olympics in the 1,000 meter race, so this gold medal is not at all surprising to those who follow the sport. Joey Cheek has been a skater since he was eight years old and used to skate in roller rinks in Greensboro. At 15, he switched to the ice and it's been a straight line to the winner's podium in Turin.

Joey's mother is in Turin to witness family history first-hand, while his father is following from his home office in Winston-Salem. Once all of the racing is completed, Joey hopes to return to Greensboro where he plans to obtain a law degree and practice law in North Carolina. Whatever he decides to do, as he has shown both on and off the ice in Italy, Joey Cheek will be a champion and the Sixth District of North Carolina is proud to call him one of our own.

Mr. Speaker, Thomasville High School, located in the Sixth District of North Carolina, is known as a football powerhouse in our state. The Bulldogs have captured two straight high school football championships and six overall. In fact, the school is renowned for its entire athletic program. Last year, the school won three state titles, two for men's and women's basketball and one for the football team. Now it can add another state championship trophy in its overflowing display case--the men's soccer team won the school's first-ever title in that sport. On November 19, 2005, the Bulldogs soccer team defeated Manteo 4-3 in sudden-death overtime at the SAS Soccer complex in Cary, North Carolina.

``It's just an unbelievable feeling,'' third-year head coach Robert Yates told The Thomasville Times. ``Just to make the playoffs, and then to get to the state championship game, and then to win it like that in sudden-death overtime, it's hard to describe.'' The player who was a team leader all year--Walter Cruz--came through again in the sudden- death overtime period to score the game-winning goal. Cruz, who earned the Most Valuable Player award for the game, told The Thomasville Times, ``I can't explain the things that I feel. We made history in Thomasville High School soccer.''

Joining Cruz in the history-making march to the title were teammates Rogaciano Augilar, Danny Alvarado, Adam Beasley, Eder Calva, Miguel Chavez, Adrian Hidalgo, Ji Soo Noh, Joel Ramirez, Roman Ramos, Jose Rios, Edberg Rodriguez, Yefrey Salazar, Victor Sanchez, Daniel Sandoval, Eloi Solis, Joel Torres, Zach Upton, Lazaro Vazquez, Marco Villa, and Rich Weaver.

Congratulations to head coach Yates, his assistant coach Martin Stanich and community volunteer George Solis, athletic director Woody Huneycutt, principal Dirk Gurley, the faculty, staff, students, parents, and fans of Thomasville High School on the first-ever soccer championship in school history. Thomasville has proved that in addition to football and basketball, the Bulldogs are tops in soccer, too.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that the tradition of football excellence continues at a high school in the Sixth District of North Carolina that is known throughout our State as a football powerhouse. For the second year in a row, and for the sixth time in school history, Thomasville High School has captured a North Carolina high school football championship. In addition, while the rest of the country wonders if the NFL's Colts can match the 1972 Dolphins perfect, unbeaten season, I am also pleased to note that Thomasville completed its second, perfect 16-0 football season. In fact, perfect, unbeaten seasons have only been accomplished twice since they began playing high school football in North Carolina in 1927. The other school to do it: Thomasville High School in 1995.

Thomasville captured its second straight State football championship on December 10, 2005, when the Bulldogs defeated Wallace-Rose Hill 21- 20 at Wake Forest University's Groves Stadium. The one-point victory was a case of deja vu for Thomasville because last year the Bulldogs defeated Wallace-Rose Hill 15-14. ``These one-point wins are tough on your nerves,'' Thomasville coach Benjie Brown told the High Point Enterprise. ``I don't feel any different. Those kids last year earned it just as much as these kids did. I'm happy for both groups.''

We are pleased to recognize all the members of the Thomasville football team who contributed to this perfect championship season. Members of the squad included Najee Brown, Jeremy McKiver, Cory Tobin, Willie Green, Showron Stukes, Bradley Watkins, E.J. Abrams-Ward, Justin Moore, Chris Woods, Khiry Billie, Richard McLendon, Darrius Little, Scott Hines, Quan Warley, Alex Rodriquez, Shawndarian Sanders, Rashad Whitaker, Quan Sanders, Chris Webber, E.J. McCormick, Jaquan Mouzone, Brad Wilkes, Bud Ray, Terrance Pearson, Dujuan Ingram, Lawerence Jackson, Brandon Johnson, Mertez Wilson, Demagio Lawson, Brandon Moss, Jamall Steele, Lorenzo Cannon, Kendarius Cox, Jerrell Wilson, Antonio Royal, Courtney Henry, Ari Foust, Xavier Wallace, Quentin Long, Preston Atwood, Robert Benjamin, Tommy Green, Cornelius Davis, Ji Soo Noh, Trey Ray, Quinton Lindsey, Evander Davis, Dustin Gloor, Willie Cannon, and Michael Byrd.

The players would be the first to tell you that they wouldn't have been able to achieve all that they did without the strong support of the coaching and support staffs. Starting with head coach Benjie Brown, the Bulldogs were ably coached by Stan Baranowski, Allen Brown, Roger Bryant, Sam Captain, Phillip Johnson, Danny Medlin, Matt Pugh, Brandon Staton, and Nick Sweitzer. The community coaches who assisted included Vince Brown, Ed Courtney, Kemp Harvey, and Don Osborne. The middle school coach was Eric Rader. The other valuable members of the Bulldog championship squad included team doctors David Williams and Rob Williams, trainers Kenny Coker and Charles Crowell, statistician Barry Tucker, film crew members Travis Leanord, Wade Loflin, Casey Medlin, and Adam Oakley, gym maintenance staffer Bill Moore, and team managers Keyshawn Green, Ryan Hanner, Jason Hicks, Luke Williams, and Antwon Simon.

On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we congratulate the Thomasville Bulldogs for completing its second consecutive State football championship and doing it without a loss all year. Congratulations to principal Dirk Gurley, athletic director Woody Huneycutt, the teachers, staff, students, parents, and fans of Thomasville High School for bringing football perfection to our district.

Mr. Speaker, the frigid unforgiving winds that normally blow across the Blue Ridge Mountains during the months of winter are blowing less brutally and less severely today. For on this day, these winds sweep across the campus of Appalachian State University, home of the National I-AA champions of intercollegiate football.

I attended Appalachian State, Mr. Speaker, and I know I speak for many in the Congress and many congressional staffers as well in conveying hearty congratulations and best wishes to Chancellor Peacock, Coach Moore, and the entire Appalachian community.

Mr. Speaker, I join you in enthusiastically declaring, Go Mountaineers from Appalachian State.

Mr. Speaker, on 9/11, evil terrorists, murderers, if you will, inspired and motivated by fanaticism and hatred attacked our country and nearly 3,000 innocent Americans expired. It would be a simple matter to overreact to such an attack; but our response, for the most part, Mr. Speaker, has been thorough and deliberate.

The Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security alone conducted nine hearings, coupled with two additional hearings before the full House Judiciary Committee. Other committees as well conducted hearings. So this seems to me refutes the charge that this act has been hurriedly rammed through the Congress.

I spoke earlier on this floor, Mr. Speaker, of a constituent who urged me to lead an effort to repeal the PATRIOT Act. When I asked him to cite examples where civil liberties had been abused, he could offer none. Other opponents of the act have likewise been unable to document evidence of abuses. Some have said, well, these points are irrelevant. They are not irrelevant at all, Mr. Speaker, when you are talking to people who oppose the act, but yet are unable to offer evidence to support their opposition. I think it is relevant, indeed.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I am going to touch on a point that I think many Americans have inadvertently ignored, and that is the fact that there are in excess of 360 ports in the United States and this bill provides basic and much-needed protection thereto. It is clear that our ports and harbors are significant and appealing targets for terrorist attacks. We cannot afford to leave these areas unprotected or hamstring law enforcement efforts to provide basic security against terrorists.

Mr. Speaker, I am not trying to be a Chicken Little and shouting that the sky is falling, but just because we have not been attacked subsequently since 9/11 does not indicate to me that these terrorists, I call them murderers, they are murderers, are asleep at the switch. They are continuing to plot, and we cannot turn a blind eye to them.

Is this act perfect? No. Not many acts that find their way through this Congress are perfect. But it is a piece of legislation that should be enacted, and I urge support.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts, and I want to say a word or two about the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt).

First of all, I want to thank him for having taken out this Special Order. And by the way, he was an enlisted man and a gentleman. I too was an enlisted man and, hopefully, a gentleman; but my colleague and I became good friends, Mr. Speaker, as a result of our both serving on the Committee on the Judiciary. I learned one day early in the session that he was a Coast Guard veteran, and there are not that many of us around, as you know, in the Congress, and so we became good friends. I guess ideologically he and I are probably light years apart, but that has in no way hampered our friendship.

As my colleague knows, when Mother Nature rears her ugly head and devastation results therefrom, oftentimes accusatory fingers are forthcoming: Oh, it was not my fault; it was his fault or it was her fault. But that was not the case with the Coast Guard. I think in the wake of Katrina, the Coast Guard may well have been the only entity or agency that came out of that exercise free of fault and free of blame. The Coast Guard became America's hero.

Now, as the gentleman from Massachusetts pointed out, this certainly may well have been one of our finest hours. The landing ship tanks that were manned by Coast Guardsmen in World War II has oftentimes been called America's finest hour, and of course the day-to-day search-and- rescue operations that occur as a matter of fact are no big deal. Coasties go out and rescue distressed victims. No big thing for them. It is all in a day's work. But as my colleague pointed out, when we saw those heroic rescues by the Coast Guard air arm during Katrina, it was unbelievable.

It is a shame that it took a 9/11 or a Katrina for many Americans to become personal friends with the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard was the forgotten service. It was the fifth armed forcement, but rarely was much said about it. Oftentimes, and I am sure my colleague has been addressed in this manner, as have I, where Coast Guardsmen were referred to as members of the Hooligan Navy, the shallow-water sailors.

Oftentimes, when I was on Active Duty, which seems more like the dark ages, it was not uncommon for us to become beneficiaries of Navy hand- me-downs, equipment the Navy was about to survey or to abandon, which we would warmly embrace.

Like an orphan, sure. Excellent example.

So I am very pleased, Mr. Speaker, that my colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt), took out this Special Order.

Now, this has nothing to do with Katrina, and I see our friend from New London has joined us as well, but oftentimes back home, I would appear at Veterans Day or Memorial Day services and inevitably you would hear the hymns of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Marines, but conspicuously absent was the most beautiful marching hymn of all, Semper Paratus, the Coast Guard's marching hymn.

I went to a music director once at a high school and I asked her why was ``Semper Paratus'' not played. She said, you get it for me, and I will play it next year. It was the first one played the next year. Now each time I have been since 9/11, even back home, ``Semper Paratus'' is always included in the musical renditions. Of course it always is up here, but even in the hinterland it is being done.

Mr. Speaker, I say to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt), as a fellow coastie, and as a fellow member of the Committee on the Judiciary, I thank you again for having taken out this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, this is a good time for me to say this. The enlisted rate rescue swimmer was not known when I was in the Coast Guard.

It is probably the most unsung rate in the military. The Coast Guard has long been known as the armed service that gets more done for less. I do not mean this as an indictment against our sister services, by any means, but the orphan syndrome as has been pointed out. And this is a good time to mention the Deepwater Project because the Coast Guard needs additional appropriated moneys to address the antiquated equipment, the cutters, the helicopters, the aircraft that are in dire need of replacement.

Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Speaker, this is not unlike a family reunion. The gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt) and I are former Coast Guardsmen. The gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons) represented the Academy in his district.

Let me share this with my colleagues. It has nothing to do with the recent problems in New Orleans, but it has much to do with the Coast Guard. Some years ago, I was having an evening meal in the home of a Coast Guardsman, who is the son of a former keeper at one of the lifeboat stations along the Carolina Coast. And my Coast Guardsman friend's mom, and the dad of the family had since expired, but she was almost in tears when she was recalling the decommissioning or the shutting down of the lifesaving stations along the Carolina Coast. She said it will never be the same again. The Coast Guard will never be able to function.

Well, old habits die hard, as the gentlemen knows, and, of course, the Coast Guard continues to function. What was going on was they were streamlining. They were decommissioning four or five stations, making one great support center or a group station, if you will. But the Coast Guard will indeed function well.

And this has been a very fine evening. I thank the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons) for having joined the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt). The gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt) was the lead dog. It was his idea, and I appreciate very much his having done it.

Mr. Speaker, I just want the gentleman from Massachusetts to keep in mind that the gentlewoman from the Buckeye State is an appropriator, so she can appropriate some of these monies.

Mr. Speaker, not unlike the gentleman from Wisconsin, I also appeared at the Supreme Court on 9/11 to address the judicial conference. Just as I approached the podium, the Chief Justice handed me a note which read: ``The Pentagon has been bombed.'' I thought perhaps they did not know about the World Trade Center because they had been in session the entire morning, and I said, ``No, Chief, it's the World Trade Center.'' He said, ``No, Howard, it's the Pentagon here.'' My staff, Mr. Speaker, admonishes me to this day for not having retained that piece of paper. It would have been a nice personal memento. Each time I saw the Chief after that, he or I mentioned that exchange between us.

Not unlike the gentleman from Wisconsin, I did not know the Chief that intimately, but I am very high on him. I think he was an outstanding Chief Justice. Each time I saw him, he or I mentioned that exchange between us on 9/11.

If I could describe him very briefly, I would say a man blessed with supreme intellect; a warm, cordial demeanor; an outstanding Chief Justice; an outstanding jurist; an outstanding citizen; an outstanding gentleman. He will indeed be missed. I join with my colleagues in extending our sincere condolences to the family of this great man.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel).

Mr. Speaker, weeks ago I said that CAFTA was neither as good nor as bad as its respective proponents contend. At that time I also said whether I vote for or against CAFTA, I will inevitably disappoint many of my constituents. It is that controversial, Mr. Speaker, in my district.

I told President Bush that my late mom was a textile worker. She sewed pockets in overalls. And when textile workers, specifically female workers, plead with me to vote against CAFTA, I said to the President, it is my mama talking to me, and I cannot turn a deaf ear to those pleas.

Now these workers, Mr. Speaker, may know virtually nothing about CAFTA, but their perception is that it is bad for them, it threatens their jobs.

Now, many Members tonight who normally support trade agreements will for some reason, perhaps valid or otherwise, vote no tonight, and that is likely unfortunate because it goes away from their normal voting pattern. And I am confident that there is much good as well as much bad inevitably. I have talked to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw) about it. Some people are going to be hurt, some people are going to benefit, not unlike other trade agreements that have come before us on this floor in years previous.

I usually vote against trade agreements. Tonight will be no exception, and I will do so.

I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) for having yielded me time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 308) supporting the goals of National Marina Day and urging marinas continue providing environmentally friendly gateways to boating.

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

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 308 was introduced by the distinguished gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks) and cosponsored by the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Wamp).

This resolution recognizes August 13, 2005, as National Marina Day. This resolution acknowledges the significant contributions that marinas provide to so many of our local waterfront communities.

There are over 12,000 marinas, Mr. Speaker, in the United States, and these facilities serve as a place where people who share a passion for the water can come together to enjoy our Nation's oceans, lakes and rivers. Marinas also serve as stewards of the environment and actively seek to protect the waterways that surround them.

Many Members of this body represent districts in which recreational boating plays an important role in the lives of many of our constituents, and marinas provide an easy access point for citizens who wish to enjoy our Nation's coasts and waterways.

This resolution highlights the importance of marinas and their role in promoting recreational boating and in connecting people to the water. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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

I thank the gentleman from California.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, about 9 or 10 months ago, a constituent of mine approached me back home and he said, Howard, we have got to get rid of this PATRIOT Act. I said, give me one example of how the PATRIOT Act has adversely affected you. He said, well, I cannot do that. I said, give me an example of how the PATRIOT Act has adversely affected anyone known to you. He said, well, I cannot do it. I said, you are not helping me.

I am afraid, Mr. Speaker, that this is how the PATRIOT Act has been portrayed: Accusations of compromising our freedoms, but virtually no hard facts or evidence to support these accusations. And at the conclusion of our conversation, my constituent said to me, well, I guess maybe I have heard wrong information. I said, well, if you cannot come forward with anything other than just rank hearsay that is unsupported, I am going to have to embrace your conclusion.

The Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security hosted nine public hearings. The full House Committee on the Judiciary, furthermore, hosted three public hearings. Now, this is one dozen public hearings, Mr. Speaker, where the PATRIOT Act was the beneficiary or the target of an exhaustive, deliberate examination, in detail.

Are we thoroughly and completely safe today? No. Are we safer today than we were prior to 9/11? Unquestionably.

One of those reasons, Mr. Speaker, in my opinion, is the presence of the PATRIOT Act. The PATRIOT Act has indeed broadened the parameters through which and under which law enforcement and public safety officers are allowed to work.

Compromising freedoms? No evidence of it. The hearings indicated no abuse on the part of the Federal Government, the U.S. Government, to protect us. I have the fear that one of these days these evil people driven by fanaticism

will attack us again, but they have not since 9/11; and I think for that we should all be very thankful, and I think for that we should attribute some of that to the presence of the PATRIOT Act.

I urge the passage of this rule, Mr. Speaker. Again I thank the gentleman from Georgia for having yielded time to me.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for yielding me this time.

Mr. Chairman, I will reiterate what has been previously said this date about the PATRIOT Act, and I do so for emphasis.

The first point I want to emphasize is the assurance that the House Committee on the Judiciary and the Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Subcommittee did not give the PATRIOT Act a mere wink and a nod. We, in fact, hosted 12 public hearings; three before the full committee, nine before our subcommittee. It was exhaustive, it was deliberate, it was thorough. So this matter was not accelerated and rushed through by any means, as some people seem to believe.

I mentioned during the rule debate earlier, Mr. Chairman, about a constituent of mine who complained about the PATRIOT Act but he had no specifics. He said he had heard it was bad, but he could give me no specifics where in any way civil liberties had been compromised or abused.

There has been some talk about sunsetting provisions of the act; 216 and 206 will, in fact, be sunsetted. But in these two instances, Mr. Chairman, there was no evidence of abuse or any violation at all, but these two were sunsetted because, among the other sections in the act, these two seemed to attract most of the controversy. So these are the two that stood out controversially but, I reiterate, still no evidence of abuse.

I think we in the Committee on the Judiciary have done a thorough job of exhausting and deliberating a very, very important act, and I believe that one reason why we have not been attacked subsequently from 9/11 is because of the presence of the PATRIOT Act. We expanded the provisions under which law enforcement and public safety officers must operate and must stay within, and as a result we are better for it.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from California for yielding me time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment to reduce crime and terrorism at America's seaports. This amendment is long overdue and reflects the hard work and dedication of my colleagues, the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff), the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Forbes) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns) to an issue of critical importance to our Nation's safety. I want to thank all of them for their effort to this end.

The amendment that we are offering today will protect our seaports by controlling access to seaports on sensitive areas, providing additional authority to the Coast Guard to investigate vessels, prohibiting use of dangerous weapons or explosives on a passenger vessel, protecting Coast Guard navigational aides on waterways, prohibiting transportation of dangerous materials by potential terrorists, prohibiting destruction or interference with vessels or maritime facilities, increasing penalties for illegal foreign shipments on vessels, increasing penalties for noncompliance with manifest requirements, increasing criminal penalties for stowaways on vessels, and, finally, increasing penalties for bribery of port security authorities and officials.

These measures are much-needed and long overdue. Again, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff), the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Forbes), and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns).

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to modify the amendment with the modification at the desk.

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

A ``Dear Colleague'' went out today, and I will share it with my colleagues. It says: ``The Coble amendment attacks tribal sovereignty. The Coble amendment reverses two statutes of Federal Indian policy. Oppose the Coble amendment.''

Well, oftentimes in this body, Mr. Chairman, we engage in semantical wars, and I disagree with the choice of these words; but in any event, we have resolved the differences.

Mr. Chairman, I urge the support of the modified amendment before us to strengthen the Contraband Cigarette Trafficking Act, commonly known as CCTA. Why should this provision be included in the PATRIOT Act, one may ask? Criminal organizations, including terrorist groups, are using contraband cigarettes to fund their organizations. The scam is relatively easy and extremely lucrative. The criminals purchase cigarettes in a State with a low excise tax and then transport them to a high-tax State to sell. Many times they even counterfeit the tax stamps to ensure that the cigarettes appear legitimate. Criminals can make as much as $30 per carton for relatively little effort and risk.

A scheme that was uncovered illustrates the magnitude of this problem. In 2003, a group of Hezbollah operatives were convicted of buying cigarettes in my home State of North Carolina and selling them in Michigan. They were using the proceeds of their operation to fund the activities of Hezbollah. Law enforcement authorities across the Nation believe these types of smuggling operations are a fast-growing problem.

Mr. Chairman, my amendment would enhance the provisions of the CCTA to enable law enforcement to prosecute more of these schemes. First, the amendment would lower the threshold requirements for a violation of the CCTA from 60,000 to 10,000 cigarettes. It would apply the CCTA to smokeless tobacco as well, and impose reporting requirements on those engaging in delivery sales of more than 10,000 cigarettes, or 500 cans of packages of smokeless tobacco within a period of 1 month. Finally, it would authorize State and local governments and certain persons holding Federal tobacco permits to bring causes of action against violators of the CCTA.

We must do everything we can to choke off this source of funding for criminal organizations which, in turn, subsidize terrorist organizations; and I urge adoption of the amendment.

I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor).

Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

I thank the gentleman from Virginia for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I will just say that I look forward to working with the chairman of the full committee and the ranking member, as well as the ranking member of the subcommittee to resolve any other issues that may remain in conference.

Mr. Speaker, two-thirds of our population lives a sedentary lifestyle with poor dietary habits that regularly include ``super-sized'' meals. Such poor habits are particularly prevalent in our Nation's rural areas, including many of the North Carolina communities that I represent. These habits are increasing among older Americans. As a result, many rural Americans suffer from heart disease, diabetes and stroke. My home State of North Carolina ranks 12th in the United States for increased aging population and, according to a national report, 41st in overall health. According to this same report, individuals aged 50+ are the least healthy.

More than 20 years of research shows that inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle are more significant in the effect on health than genetic factors. The good news is that even minimal activity can significantly extend life. Regular physical activity promotes physical and psychological wellbeing; increases energy levels; helps older adults become stronger and maintain independence; reduces the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and colon cancer; and helps those with chronic disease manage their conditions better.

To help my constituents in the 6th District of North Carolina, FirstHealth of the Carolinas, a health care system in Pinehurst, North Carolina, implemented Active for Life, a research-based program that teaches mid-life and older adults how to change their behavior and incorporate physical activity into their everyday life. This program, a part of a national effort to get older Americans moving, has measurable results. Fewer than a quarter of the participants reported being fairly active at the beginning of the program. After completing the 20-week Active for Life program, a remarkable 81 percent reported that they are active most of the days of the week. By doing so, they meet the Surgeon General's recommendation and, more importantly, they lead healthier lives. Participants report that they think differently about health and look for opportunities to be active. A man from Pinehurst was able to avoid medications when his blood pressure became under control during the program, while another woman from Southern Pines reduced her cane use when walking.

The results achieved by FirstHealth and at other Active for Life sites demonstrate the effectiveness of such lifestyle programs. Participation in this type of evidence-based behavior change program is good preventive medicine, and an investment in these programs will save our health care dollars down the road. We need to get creative about getting Americans, particularly older Americans active. Incentives should be incorporated into health plans for patient and provider participation, and environmental changes should be made to develop ``walkable communities.'' As a member of the United States Congress, I strongly urge decision-makers and community leaders to identify how they can take ``action''--both behind the scenes, as they determine policy, and literally on the road as they walk for their health.

Mr. Speaker, the Sixth District of North Carolina is proud to report another national championship win in men's golf. And I am proud to report the school is my alma mater. On May 12, 2005, the Guilford College men's golf team won its second NCAA Division III national championship in 4 years with a 25-stroke win over the second place Redlands at the Mission Inn Golf and Tennis Resort near Orlando, Florida. We are equally proud of Greensboro College for its third place finish. This Quaker victory margin is the seventh largest in NCAA Division III history and the largest since the 1999 tournament.

First-place efforts by golfers Colin Clark and Dave Patterson helped lead the team to a 290, 2-over-par championship win. Clark and Patterson battled for the best score of the day with the two returning to the 18th hole after regulation play for a playoff. Clark finished in first place earning him the medalist title, as well as the Outback Steakhouse Arnold Palmer Award. Clark, Patterson, and junior teammate Brant Stovall also earned First Team PING All-America recognition.

Outstanding coaching by Jack Jensen, who has completed his 29th season as Guilford's coach, also contributed to the team's success. Jensen has received his second Eaton Golf Pride NCAA Division III Coach of the Year Award from the Collegiate Golf Association. Jensen began coaching the Quakers in 1976 and built a powerhouse team which finished no lower than sixth at the NAIA tournament from 1985-1990. He has coached many award-winning golfers throughout his career including PGA Tour member Lee Porter.

Guilford's 2005 NCAA Division III national championship team consists of golfers Colin Clark, Daniel Day, Earlie Gilley, Chris Lowman, Jeff Osberg, Dave Patterson, Joseph Poplin, Brant Stovall, Matt Tipton, Blake Wagner, Steve Walton, and Spencer Witherspoon. Each member of the team played a valuable role in the team's performance throughout the season and at the tournament.

This NCAA Division III men's golf team brings honor to the golf program at Guilford College and to the Sixth District of North Carolina, We congratulate the team and Coach Jack Jensen for an outstanding season, another national championship title, and a job very well done.