Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, let me take this opportunity to recognize the career of Lin Appling, upon his retirement from the Missouri Public Service Commission.

Mr. Appling received a B.A. from Coker College and an M.A. from Wichita State University, while serving in the U.S. Army. Mr. Appling's distinguished Army service has been recognized with the bestowing of the U.S. Army Legion of Merit Award as well as a Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam.

Since 1993, Mr. Appling has served the Missouri State government in a number of capacities, culminating with his appointment in 2004 to the Missouri Public Service Commission.

Mr. Appling has been an active member of his community through his work with the Capital City Boys & Girls Club. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at an early age, Mr. Appling has been instrumental in helping others reach their goals.

I am certain that Members of the House will join me in thanking Lin Appling for his service to his country and to the State of Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, let me take this moment to recognize my former colleague, fellow Missourian, and good friend Bill Clay. Today, I join with my colleagues in support of H.R. 5395, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 11001 Dunklin Drive in St. Louis, Missouri, as the ``William `Bill' Clay Post Office

Bill was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the very town in which he carried out his storied political career. In 1959, he was elected as a member of the St. Louis Board of Alderman, where he served until 1964, Between 1964 and 1967, Bill worked as a real estate broker and later as a labor coordinator. He also worked for the union of St. Louis city employees and then with a Steamfitters Union.

In 1968, Mr. Clay was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and he proudly served the residents of Missouri's First Congressional District for 32 years. Throughout his years in office, Bill became known as a champion of social justice and a true pioneer for civil rights. He was a co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus and Chairman of the House Committee on the Post Office and Civil Service. He was always a truly delightful colleague and I am proud to have served with him as a fellow Missouri Congressman. I must also say, Mr. Speaker, that I am also so very honored to serve with Bill's son, Lacy, who was elected to represent the First District upon Bill's retirement.

Naming a St. Louis post office after Bill Clay is an outstanding way to pay tribute to an outstanding public servant and a true pioneer in American politics. I urge the House to honor Bill for his years of public service and his commitment to his community by supporting H.R. 5395.

Madam Speaker, let me take this opportunity to pay tribute to Wayne Taylor, Master Chief Musician of the United States Navy Band. Mr. Taylor is retiring on March 21, 2008, after a distinguished career as the lead singer for the U.S. Navy Band's premiere country-bluegrass group, Country Current.

Wayne joined the Navy for his first enlistment in 1974 and was assigned to the Aviation rating. He auditioned and was accepted into the Navy Music Program and received orders to the School of Music at Little Creek, Virginia. Upon graduating he reported for duty with the Seventh Fleet Band in Yokosuka, Japan, as lead vocalist and guitarist with the ``Orient Express'' Rock Band. He was stationed onboard the USS Oklahoma City. Throughout his 2 years in Japan, he traveled to many Asian countries on 13 different ships. Wayne was honorably discharged in 1978 as a Musician 3rd Class.

When Wayne decided to re-enlist in the Navy in 1987, he auditioned for Country Current and has spent the last 20 years and 7 months as their lead singer. Country Current has performed in 49 of the 50 states, for four U.S. Presidents, three times at the Grand Ole Opry, for the ``Nashville Now'' show, Good Morning America, the Today Show, Wheeling Jamboree and Richmond Barn Dance. As a member of the Country Current Duo, he has performed at 13 Army-Navy football games and for distinguished military and civilian officials around Washington. Taylor sang the National Anthem to over 100,000 patrons at the Charlotte 600 NASCAR Race in Charlotte, NC, and at Comisky Park for a Chicago White Sox baseball game.

Wayne and his wife, Marrie, have two children; Wayne Coleman Taylor, Jr. (former Marine) and Terra Lee Ann Taylor, a Hospital Corpsman presently stationed in Earle, NJ. I am sure Members of the House will join me in thanking Wayne Coleman for his service to our country and for sharing his love of music with people throughout the world.

Madam Speaker, let me take this opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of Tom and Christie Butler of Lexington, Missouri. Together, the Butlers have contributed over 100 years of outstanding service to the Boy Scouts of America. Their contributions to the young people of Missouri have helped them learn leadership skills and self- confidence that will last a lifetime.

Tom has been involved with the Boy Scouts for the past 56 years and earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1961. Christie earned the Gold Bar Award from the Girl Scouts of America and became the first female to serve as scoutmaster in the Big Muddy District of the Heart of America Boy Scout Council. Both serve their district by serving as a resource for Scoutmasters, providing training to fellow adult leaders, and attending meetings of different area troops.

The Butlers believe strongly in the values and lessons learned from scouting. Throughout the years, the Boy Scouts have remained one of America's finest organizations in helping young people learn both practical skills and life lessons. Thanks to the work and dedication of people like Tom and Christie Butler, many more young people will have the opportunity to be involved in Scouting.

As an Eagle Scout myself, I understand the impact leaders such as the Butlers have in guiding America's youth. I hope Members of the House will join me in honoring and thanking the Butlers for their work with the Boy Scouts.

Mr. Chairman, let me take this means to congratulate Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt, also a senior and well-respected member of the House Armed Services Committee, for crafting a strong, balanced budget for fiscal year 2009. I am pleased to support this bill that would provide for a strong national defense, would put our country on a path to budget surpluses in 2012, would promote tax relief for middle-class American families, and would invest in programs that have been priorities for those living in rural Missouri.

On defense, the House Budget Resolution would prioritize resources to restore military readiness that has been worn down by repeated deployments and more than 6 years of war. The resolution would reject TRICARE fee increases, provide funding to continue addressing problems such as those identified at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and would call for enhanced pay and benefits to improve the quality of life of our troops and their families.

On rural affairs, the House Budget Resolution would bolster commodity support, agricultural research, and animal and plant inspection programs. It would assume sufficient resources for the Farm Bill, which provides Missouri farmers with a secure economic safety. It would also set aside critical funds for rural development, for food and nutrition programs, and for conservation.

Also important to Fourth District residents are commitments in the House Budget Resolution to infrastructure improvements, to local police and firefighters, to the health care needs of Missouri's senior citizens and low-income children, to education, and to our cherished veterans.

The resolution would provide immediate and long-term relief from the alternative minimum tax and provide for additional middle-class tax relief and enhanced economic equity through tax policies. And, importantly, it would adhere to the ``pay-as-you-go'' rule adopted by House Democrats early in 2007. That rule requires new entitlement spending or revenue reductions to be offset so the budget remains in balance.

On behalf of the rural Missourians I am privileged to represent, I am pleased to support Chairman Spratt's work product.

Madam Speaker, let me take this opportunity to publicly recognize the contributions of Business Executives for National Security (BENS). Founded in 1982 by business executive and entrepreneur Stanley A. Weiss, BENS is guided by the simple notion that America's security is everybody's business. BENS has become a highly respected national, nonpartisan organization of senior executives dedicated to enhancing our national security using the successful models of the private sector.

The innovative business-government partnerships that BENS has fostered over the past two decades are uniquely positioned to help meet the new challenges of the 21st century. BENS is expanding these public- private partnerships into all aspects of homeland security--tracking terrorists' financial assets, securing the Nation's ports, and preparing State and local governments to deal with catastrophic events or terrorist attacks.

Business Executives for National Security has provided decades of distinguished service to the Nation through a variety of programs. These include advocating for a more modern and agile fighting force, safeguarding and destroying nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons in the former Soviet Union, and creating innovative partnerships around the country in which civic-minded companies volunteer their assets and employees to assist local and

state governments in responding quickly and efficiently during an emergency or terrorist attack.

Madam Speaker, I know the Members of the House will join me in commending Business Executives for National Security for their commitment in support of our national security interests.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of LTC Donald S. Lopez, a military aviation pioneer and decorated hero who recently passed away at the age of 84.

Colonel Lopez was born on July 15, 1923, in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from the Air Force Institute of Technology with a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering and a master's degree in aeronautics from the California Institute of Technology.

In preparation for World War II, Colonel Lopez enlisted and received his pilot's license in 1943. He was promptly sent to China and served with many veterans of the legendary American Flying Tigers, flying 101 missions and recording five victories, qualifying him to be recognized as an ``ace.''

Upon his return from China, Colonel Lopez was an Air Force test pilot for 6 years and went on to fly F-86s in Korea. During the next 6 years, he taught aeronautics at the Air Force Academy. During his military career, Colonel Lopez earned the Silver Star, two awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross, and three awards of the Air Medal.

Following his retirement from the Air Force in 1964, Colonel Lopez worked as a systems engineer on the Apollo-Saturn Launch Vehicle and the Skylab Orbital Workshop.

Colonel Lopez joined the Smithsonian in 1972 and was instrumental in planning the National Air and Space Museum. He served as deputy director of the museum from 1983 until 1990 and returned to the position in 1996.

I had the honor of meeting with Colonel Lopez while preparing to lead a congressional delegation to China last August. Colonel Lopez provided me with valuable insight into the experiences of the American Flying Tigers who worked with the Chinese military during World War II and the courageous pilots who flew supplies to them over the treacherous Hump Route from India at great peril.

Our visit to Kunming, China for a memorial ceremony and meeting with Chinese World War II veterans was an unforgettable and powerful reminder of the extraordinary service provided to our country by patriots such as Colonel Lopez.

Madam Speaker, Colonel Lopez served our Nation with the utmost dedication and is a true American hero. I know the Members of the House will join me in extending heartfelt condolences to Glindal Lopez; their two children, Don and Joy; and Laura, his granddaughter.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas, the chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, and a very valuable senior member of our committee, the Armed Services Committee.

I rise in strong support of H.R. 2082. This bill makes us safer from terrorists and other adversaries in a number of ways: the bill makes critical investments in human intelligence, counter-terrorism operations, counter-proliferation, counter-intelligence, analysis and language skills.

In addition, Chairman Reyes' conference report includes a provision which requires that all interrogations conducted by intelligence agents and contractors comply with the Army Field Manual on Interrogation. Our military already has raised its standards.

Since September 2006, all interrogations which are conducted by the men and women in uniform are conducted by non-military personnel on a detainee who is otherwise in custody of the U.S. military and must provide and must abide by the Army Field Manual. The manual specifically prohibits eight interrogation techniques, including waterboarding. Waterboarding is the technique which originated during the Spanish Inquisition and makes the person who is being interrogated feel as though he is drowning.

One of the wisest of our Founding Fathers, Ben Franklin, once told us: ``Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.'' But that's where we find ourselves on this issue.

All of the very senior civilians in the administration continue to waffle on whether waterboarding continues and constitutes torture or cruel and inhumane or degrading treatment. Our military has stood up against this widely condemned practice. Our military understands the impact of the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Our military also appreciates that approved interrogation techniques that are not cruel and inhumane or degrading have provided valuable intelligence which has helped captured terrorist kingpins and foiled terrorist attacks against our country as well as our allies. The sooner that we reclaim our moral authority in the world by clearly articulating which techniques we find to be abhorrent, regardless of the nationality of the interrogator, the sooner we can better protect our homeland and our folks in uniform who are in harm's way.

I strongly encourage all of my colleagues in this body on both sides of the aisle to strengthen our national security by supporting this very fine bill.

Madam Speaker, let me take this means to pay tribute to VADM Frank Day McMullen, Jr. A native of Kansas City, MO, he bravely served our country for 36 years in the United States Navy. Vice Admiral McMullen passed away on January 2, 2008.

Frank McMullen graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1947. He received his post-graduate degree from The George Washington University. He also attended the National War College and served as deputy assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Atomic Energy. Vice Admiral McMullen's extraordinary career led him to command one diesel electric and two nuclear powered submarines, the Submarine Squadron in the Holy Loch, Scotland, the Submarine Fortilla in New London, CT, and the Submarine Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet, in Pearl Harbor, HI.

Vice Admiral McMullen was very fortunate to have the love and understanding of his family who encouraged him, even when he left home to serve on lengthy deployments. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, who passed away in November 2002, and his daughter Christine, who passed away in March 1994.

Vice Admiral McMullen truly loved his work and was very proud of his service to our country. I hope Members of the House will join me in honoring this outstanding Missourian, an extraordinary naval officer, and a wonderful husband, father, and friend.

Madam Speaker, I certainly thank the gentleman for yielding and giving me this opportunity.

It goes without saying that the United States Postal Service has an historic reputation for excellence and unyielding dedication to the people of our Nation. ``Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these carriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds'' are the words engraved on the outside of the James A. Farley Post Office Building in New York City. Every day, thousands of postal employees proudly wear the uniform of the United States Postal Service with the understanding of the enormity of this commitment.

Today, Madam Speaker, I stand before the House in support of H.R. 4166, a bill I introduced to pay tribute to the life of one of those public servants, Mr. Steven W. Allee of Stoutland, Missouri, and a rural mail carrier for the citizens of Lebanon, Missouri.

Since 1989, Mr. Steve Allee held a full-time position as a rural carrier at the Lebanon, Missouri, Post Office. He was a dedicated employee, a loving family man to his wife Debbie, his children and his grandchildren, a member of the Buffalo Prairie Baptist Church, and a friend to many.

Tragically, Madam Speaker, on August 20, 2007, Mr. Allee was killed in the line of duty when his vehicle was swept away by floodwaters in rural Lebanon. This flash flood was unprecedented in its magnitude. As Mr. Allee completed his route, he approached a country bridge under which a typically dry creekbed usually lies. However, on this day, the rapidly falling rainwater had overtaken the bridge. When Mr. Allee attempted to cross, his vehicle was swept away.

Today, I urge the House of Representatives to honor this man for his public service and his commitment to his community. Let us pay our respects to his personal and postal family by designating the facility, the United States Postal Service located at 701 East Copeland Drive in Lebanon, Missouri, as the Steve W. Allee Carrier Annex.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and let me take this opportunity to congratulate the gentlelady from Kansas (Mrs. Boyda) for paying tribute to the Kansas University football program. It is impressive.

But I would yield to the gentleman from Iowa if he would answer a few questions.

I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to ask you if you know of the outcome of the

Missouri University Tigers football team when they played the Kansas Jayhawks on November 24, 2007.

Would you be interested in knowing that the Missouri Tigers defeated the Kansas Jayhawks 36-28 on November 24, 2007?

And would you also be interested in knowing that the Missouri Tigers finished fourth on the national Associated Press poll to Kansas' number 7 on the Associated Press poll?

I thank you.

I certainly thank the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great admiration for a remarkable Missourian that I support this concurrent resolution. This measure was introduced by Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, which honors the life of my late friend, Margaret Truman Daniel.

Margaret was a loving daughter, wife, mother, an accomplished vocalist, journalist and author. She was filled with the unique Truman spirit, and personified the plainspoken, no-nonsense nature of so many Show-Me-State residents. The qualities that defined Margaret as a person were instilled by her parents, President Harry S Truman and his wife, Bess. Throughout her life, Harry and Bess provided a steady hand and unfailing support and

love which allowed Margaret to flourish

But Missouri itself played a meaningful role in Margaret's life. She was always a proud Missourian. On one occasion, she returned to Independence and spoke about Missouri's influence on her. She stated, ``Even till today, I feel it in my bones. Although I have now spent much more of my life in Washington and New York than in Missouri, it is Missouri that has molded my character, my conduct, my sentiments, and yes, my prejudices; Missouri and its people, its customs, its attitudes, and its habits. These are ingrained in me.'' She added, speaking of her many Missourian artifacts and pictures in her home, ``So you see that on every hand I'm reminded of my Missouri, Jackson County, Independence heritage. I couldn't forget it even if I wanted to.''

Through the years, I had the great pleasure of working with Margaret on several occasions that honored her father's life. Her efforts gave added meaning to President Truman's legacy. Margaret was gracious, intelligent, wise, witty, and spirited. Truly her father's daughter. I was pleased that our paths crossed, as they did, during her lifetime.

She will long be remembered as an inspiration to those who knew her and to all Missourians. I was honored to call Margaret Truman Daniel my friend.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Jill Thompson. Mrs. Thompson, a registered nurse, was administrator of the Lafayette County, Missouri, Health Department. Sadly, Mrs. Thompson lost her fight with cancer on January 26, 2008.

Mrs. Thompson was an employee at the Lafayette County Health Department for 29 years. She also served two terms as the rural health department representative from the Northwest District on the Partnership Council, was president of the Missouri Association of Public Health Agencies, and served on the board of the West Central Missouri Area Health Education Center. She is fondly remembered by her colleagues as someone who was incredibly dedicated to public health and passionate about serving her community.

Further recognizing her commitment to public health, Mrs. Thompson was a founding member of the Sounds of the Heart organization, which raised money to place automated external defibrillators in locations throughout the community. She was also a member of the Cancer Assistance Relief organization. This organization provides cancer patients with rides to doctors' appointments and hospitals.

Friends and family will never forget her warm personality, dedication, and intelligence. Mrs. Thompson is survived by her husband Larry, three children, and two grandchildren. I'm sure Members of the House will join me in paying tribute to the life of Jill Thompson for her vision and leadership in the field of public health in the State of Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I announce to the House that Margaret Truman Daniel, the daughter of our 33rd President, Harry S. Truman, passed away today.

As the daughter of a Jackson County judge, a United States Senator from Missouri, a Vice President and President, Margaret Truman grew up in politics. She was a good friend, and I know others in this House who knew her considered her a friend as well.

Margaret was an accomplished woman in her own right, but she also revered her father's memory. In this very Chamber in 1984 a Joint Session of Congress was convened to honor the 100th anniversary of President Truman's birth. As chairman of that event, I worked with Margaret closely and was grateful for her participation as a speaker.

I also had the honor of being with Margaret on the first day that the Truman Home in Independence, Missouri, was opened to the public as a museum in the National Park Service system. I will never forget watching her sign the guest book in her own home that day.

Margaret Truman Daniel was a great American and, as an independent- minded woman, was truly her father's daughter.

I know my colleagues join me in expressing this body's deepest condolences to the family of Margaret Truman Daniel, including her three surviving sons, Clifton, Harrison, and Thomas.

Madam Speaker, I send to the desk a privileged concurrent resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.