Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I have a concern, it is a deep concern, dealing with the conference between the House and the Senate on the defense bill. You see, immediately upon passage of the bill in the Senate, the conferees were appointed. We passed our bill here in the House a good number of months ago, and, as of yet, we have had no official conferees appointed to meet with the Senate.

Despite that, we are holding informal panel discussions with the Senate trying to resolve a number of issues, but it would certainly help for us to be legal and have the conferees appointed so we can stand in the shoes of the House of Representatives properly.

I have had no explanation from anyone regarding this. It is something I do not understand, and I am not by myself. Others do not understand it.

I would like very much for the appointment of the conferees to come just as quick as possible, so we can officially act and officially make decisions on behalf of the House regarding national security.

Mr. Speaker, Missouri State Representative James T. Seigfreid, a dedicated public servant, will be leaving the Missouri House of Representatives. He is retiring after eight years of serving the people of the 26th district.

After graduating from Warrensburg High School in 1963, he attended Central Missouri State University where he received Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1972. He served in the United States Navy from 1968 to 1974.

During his tenure, Mr. Seigfreid had many legislative accomplishments, one of which was the passage of an election reform bill. He also worked tirelessly for the improvement of Missouri's state roads.

In addition to his dedication to public service, Jim is a member of the First Christian Church of Marshall, the State Corn Husking Committee, Marshall Chamber of Commerce, Optimist Club, and Saline County Unit, American Cancer Society.

Mr. Speaker, Jim Seigfreid has served the people of the 26th District for eight years. As he prepares for the next stage in his life, I am certain that my colleagues will join me in wishing him all the best.

Mr. Speaker, Missouri State Representative D.J. Davis is retiring at the end of the year. He has served the people of the 122nd district since 1996.

A graduate of North Andrew High School in Rosendale, Missouri, Representative Davis graduated with a bachelor of science degree in secondary education from Northwest Missouri State University in 1962 and a master's degree in secondary administration in 1970. Before serving in the Missouri House of Representatives, Representative. Davis worked in the field of education for more than 30 years. He retired as the principal of Odessa High School in Odessa, Missouri.

As an educator, Representative Davis was recognized for his contributions to the field. He received the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals Silver Service Award in 1991 for 25 years as a secondary school principal. Additionally, he received awards from the Lafayette County Farm Bureau, the Mighty MO 4-H Club, the Missouri Association for Career and Technical Education and the AARP.

Mr. Speaker, whether as an educator or a legislator, Representative Davis has worked on behalf of others and is truly a role model for young Missourians. He has made important contributions to both fields. I know my fellow Members of the House will join me in thanking him for his many years of service and in wishing him all the best in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, a distinguished career in the Missouri House of Representatives will soon end. Representative Bill Ransdall will be retiring at the end of the year.

Rep. Ransdall was elected to the Waynesville City Council in 1978. He dedicated the next 18 years to serving the people of Waynesville, taking the position of Mayor Pro Tem in 1982. He then was elected Mayor, a position he held from 1988 through 1996.

The people of the 148th district first elected Rep. Ransdall to the Missouri House in 1996 and reelected him to the maximum four terms allowed under state term limits laws. His leadership was recognized in the legislature and he was elected to the post of Assistant Minority Floor Leader. His advice and counsel have been sought in the legislature and in the administration on the complex issues of the state budget and legislative procedure.

In addition to his legislative work, he has a record of service and leadership in the community--including the United Methodist Church, Association of the United States Army, Masonic Lodge No. 375 AF and AM, Abou Ben Adhem, Scottish Rite, Sojourners, Committee of Fifty, Missouri Cattlemens Association, Farm Bureau, Ducks Unlimited, and the National Wild Turkey Federation. He also has been a successful businessman and farmer.

Rep. Ransdall has earned the respect of many throughout his district and the state. He received of the Outstanding Civilian Award with Medal by the Department of the Army. He also has been recognized as Legislator of the Year by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, earned the Legislative Recognition award from the Missouri Association for Career and Technical Education, and received the Missouri Vocational Special Needs Association Distinguished Service for Community Involvement Award.

His tireless work on behalf of his constituents created many opportunities for economic expansion in the 148th district and beyond. He has been an effective advocate for his neighbors in their issues with the state agencies in Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, Representative Ransdall's dedication to public service is an example to us all. He has devoted many years of his life to taking care of the needs of others. I am sure the other Members of the House will join me in thanking my friend Bill for his hard work and in wishing him and his wife, Pat, all the best in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that Don Arth of Malta Bend, Missouri, will soon retire from the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council and the Missouri Corn Growers Association Board. Let me take this means to pay tribute to this outstanding American who has contributed much to Missouri agriculture, especially the corn growers of our State.

Don Arth graduated from Corder High School in 1957 and worked for several years at Mason Chevrolet in Lexington, Missouri, and at Ford Motor Company in Claycomo, Missouri. With his brother Bob Arth and Uncles Lewis, John, and Frank Arth, he began farming in 1962 in the Missouri River bottoms of Waverly and Grand Pass, Missouri, an area known as White's Island. Don continues to farm these fields today with his youngest brother, Michael Arth of Grand Pass, Missouri.

Throughout his career in agriculture, Don has exhibited tremendous leadership in the corn producer community. He has served as a

board member and chairman of the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council and a board member of the Missouri Corn Growers Association. He also serves as Vice President of Mid-Missouri Energy, Inc., a producer-owned ethanol plant that is currently rising from the fields of Saline County, Missouri. Don was instrumental in reaching out to farmers throughout central Missouri to create Mid-Missouri Energy, Inc.

In addition to his positions in agriculture, Don is active in his community and is a man who cares deeply for his family. Since 1964, he has been a member of the Waverly Jaycees and since 1985 has been a member of the Waverly Lions Club, serving as president of both organizations. Don is a member of the Waverly Rural Fire Department and has served on the board for Lafayette County Regional Health Center for 12 years. Don has also served on the Carrollton Country Club board of directors and held the office of president of the board. Don is a member of St. Peter Catholic Church in Marshall, Missouri, and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Don and his late wife Donna Lieser were married in Dover, Missouri, in 1964, and have two children and three grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, through the years, I have been lucky to know Don Arth as a friend. He is truly an expert in Show-Me State agriculture and a role model for young Missourians. As he prepares to retire from these agricultural boards and to dedicate more time to his community and his family, I know that all members of the House will join me in paying tribute to this outstanding American.

Mr. Speaker, let me take this means to honor and pay tribute to Mr. Joel D. Hedenstrom who retired September 3, 2004, from the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe, Virginia, after more than 35 years of service to our Nation.

Mr. Hedenstrom served in the United States Army from 1969 until 1973 with the United States Army Military Personnel Center in Alexandria, Virginia. His military service included an assignment with the Office of the Secretary of Defense to support a study-group that established the Survivor Benefit Plan.

Following his military service, he resumed duties with the United States Military Personnel Center, in a civilian capacity. He later accepted a position with the Secretary of the Army's Chief of Legislative Liaison, where he subsequently became a team chief and carried an additional duty as the Congressional point of contact for mass casualties.

In 1988, Mr. Hedenstrom was selected to serve as Congressional Affairs Specialist for the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. Mr. Hedenstrom displayed the highest level of expertise in his field and was respected throughout the Command and the Department of the Army for his sound guidance and advice.

In recognition of his dedicated service, he was awarded the Meritorious Civilian Service Award for his outstanding performance of duties. I commend Mr. Hedenstrom for 35 years of honorable service to the Nation and the United States Army and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, a distinguished career in public service is coming to an end in the Show-Me State. Missouri State Senator James L. (Jim) Mathewson, a member of the State Senate from Sedalia, Missouri, will retire at the end of the year. He has served the people of the 21st District since 1981.

Senator Mathewson was born and raised in Warsaw, Missouri. After graduating from Warsaw public schools, he attended Redding College and then California State University at Chico.

Before being elected to the state Senate, Jim Mathewson served in the Missouri House of Representatives. The people of his district chose to send him back to the state House in 1976 and 1978. First elected to the Missouri Senate in 1980, Senator Mathewson is currently serving the people of the 21st district for his fourth term. Earning the respect of his party, Senator Mathewson was elected Majority Floor Leader of the Senate in 1984 and 1986. He earned unanimous support among his fellow senators in 1989 and was elected the President Pro Tem of the Missouri Senate. He remained in this position through 1996.

Through the years, Senator Mathewson has been successful in many impressive legislative initiatives. He is admired for his knowledge and courage. When the history of the Missouri Senate is written of this era, the name of Senator James Mathewson will have a prominent role. I am proud to call him my friend.

Mr. Speaker, I am sure the Members of the House will join me in thanking Senator Mathewson for his years of public service. I wish the Senator and his wife, Doris, all the best in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, as we return to session following a productive August among the people we represent, it is worth remembering that for the most part, the staff of the House has been here and working through the month.

I believe we do not recognize often enough those dedicated public servants, who get lumped into that antiseptic word ``staff.''

Among the staff of the House are leading experts in their fields, prize winners, men and women noted in their own right for achievements both professional and prosaic. Many know far more in their fields of expertise than any Member of Congress ever will. And yet they bite their lips and say ``Yes, sir,'' when we hear their counsel yet choose to go another way.

Perhaps the greatest tribute to the selflessness of the staff is the fact that almost any one of them could leave this place tomorrow for jobs with better pay, better recognition, and much better hours, yet their dedication to the common weal binds them to this House. And we Members all wind up looking the better for it.

Fortunately, while we may not say ``thank you'' often enough, others sometimes take up the slack. And so it is with Debra Wada, a member of the Armed Services Committee staff.

Debra handles matters concerning military personnel for the committee, and does so with zeal and knowledge and grace. She is always looking out for the common soldier. Millions of Americans in uniform owe the improvement of their pay and benefits to Debra and her foresight and dedication. I trust her guidance, and even more admire the energy with which she works and lives.

I am not alone in that sentiment. Not long ago, Debra was recognized by the National Guard Association of the United States, who presented her with their Militia Award. In their words, she was selected ``for her exceptional dedication and effort to improve the status, welfare and professionalism of the enlisted members of the National Guard of the United States.'' That is indeed an honorable achievement, particularly at a time when military personnel are working so hard on our behalf.

While the Association did not formally recognize the effervescent personality that suffuses her work and brings joy to those around her, I have no doubt that those qualities played a role in her selection as well.

Debra has overcome a great obstacle to get where she is today; she was formerly employed in the other body of Congress. I compliment her on surmounting this challenge.

Mr. Speaker, people wonder how Members of Congress can vote one minute on education, the next on health, the next on defense, and understand so many issues in enough depth to make good decisions. The answer is that we are all fortunate to be surrounded by an ocean of talent. People like Debra Wada make our job possible. I salute her not only for her award, but for the unrecognized work that she and other staff professionals perform all year round.

Mr. Speaker, it is with deep sadness that I inform the House of the death of Judge H.A. Kelso of Nevada, Missouri. He was 92.

H.A. Kelso was born on September 6, 1911, in Alma, Nebraska, a son of John W. and Mariam Belle Hereford. He attended SMSU, then known as Springfield Teacher's College and the University of Colorado in Boulder. He received a Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree in 1937 from the University of Arkansas.

In 1938, he came to Nevada, Missouri, and was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Vernon County. During World War II, he served in the United States Army as Tech Sergeant with the Judge Advocate's Office.

In 1948, he was elected to the post of Probate/Magistrate Judge and Acting Juvenile Judge. Governor John Dalton appointed Judge Kelso to the bench as Judge of the 28th Judicial Circuit. He served in this position until his retirement in 1976. During his tenure, he also was an Honorary Colonel on Govenor John Dalton's staff.

Judge Kelso was a member of the United Methodist Chuch of Nevada and served there

as a Sunday School teacher. Also, he was a member of Ducks Unlimited, Vernon County Bar Association and the Missouri Bar Association. Judge Kelso was a charter member of the Nevada Jaycees, served on the steering committee for the Nevada Centennial Celebration and was a leader in the Boy Scouts. He dedicated himself to conservation and was voted Farmer-Sportsman of the Year in 1966.

Mr. Speaker, Judge H.A. Kelso will be missed by all who knew him. I know the Members of the House will join me in extending heartfelt condolences to his family, his wife Doradee and his three daughters, Maridee Kelso Devore, Constance Kelso Beaver and Sylvia Kelso Tucker.

Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness that I inform the House of Representatives of the passing of my friend, The Honorable Harry Wiggins of Kansas City, Missouri. He was 71.

Harry, a son of Dr. John and Helen Murphy Wiggins, was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 1, 1932. He spent the entirety of his life in Kansas City, attending grade and high schools and then Rockhurst College. Harry achieved many honors while at Rockhurst. He was elected the president of the student body. He joined Alpha Delta Gamma fraternity and was president of his chapter and then national president three times. When he was a senior he was chosen to be a member and served as president of the university chapter of Alpha Sigma Nu, the National Jesuit honor society. He also was selected for Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. After he graduated from Rockhurst College with an AB, he was awarded a three year scholarship to attend law school at St. Louis University.

From 1957 to 1959, Harry served in the United States Army as a legal advisor to the 2nd United States Army Missile Command at Fort Hood, Texas. Upon his discharge, he received a Certificate of Achievement for Distinguished Service.

After his discharge, he came back home to Kansas City and began to practice law. Soon he became a part of John F. Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign, serving as Kansas City's chairman for the campaign. It was during this time that he met and became good friends with Robert F. Kennedy. Once John F. Kennedy became president, Robert Kennedy became United States Attorney General and then appointed Harry as the assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. He held this position for over five years and during his tenure he handled cases involving federal grand jury probes into organized crime. During his tenure, he also prosecuted a group of liquor and prostitution cases. Then Governor Warren Hearnes appointed Harry as state supervisor of liquor control. After serving as state supervisor of liquor control from 1967 to 1970, he returned to Kansas City to run for western judge of Jackson County and won.

In 1973, Governor Kit Bond asked Harry to serve in his administration as general counsel for the Public Service Commission. After holding this post for a year, he came back to Kansas City in 1974 to run for the 10th District seat in the Missouri Senate against a two-term Republican incumbent. Harry won by 6,000 votes and would be elected six more times. After serving 28 years in the Missouri Senate, Harry retired in 2002. During his time in the Missouri Senate, he was Kansas City's first majority floor leader from 1980 to 1984. He never missed a roll call vote during his tenure--logging a total of more than 17,000 consecutive roll call votes.

Harry's legislative record is a testament to his commitment to public service. During his time in the Missouri Senate, he had many legislative accomplishments including the creation of 911 emergency calling, laws requiring DNA profiling of convicted felons, anti methamphetamine legislation that would become a national model, legislation to fund and protect the Truman Sports Complex, the establishment of the Parents as First Teachers Program, which would become a national model, and many others.

Mr. Speaker, Senator Harry Wiggins will be greatly missed by all who knew him. I know the Members of the House will join in extending heartfelt condolences to his family.

Mr. Speaker, let me take this opportunity to honor Alewel's Country Meats for their contribution in shipping more than 1,000 pounds of beef jerky to provide our Missouri National Guardsmen serving in Iraq a taste of home.

Alewel's Country Meats was started in the year 1932 by Hugo and Emil Alewel of Concordia, Missouri. Originally called Alewel Brothers, the name was later changed to Alewel's Country Meats in 1964. The plant grew to enormous size and in 1974 they expanded to Warrensburg, Missouri. My good friend, Roger Alewel, once ran Alewel's Country Meats, and his able son, Randy, now runs the company.

Alewel's Country Meats is known for their prize winning country hams, bacon, and sausage which are produced from the freshest meat of mid- Missouri. With a legacy of over 70 years, Alewel's Country Meats has become known not only for their quality meats but also for their charitable donations to rural Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, the generous contribution by Alewel's Country Meats is inspirational to all of us. I know the Members of the House will join me in paying tribute to the outstanding commitment to our service members shown by the men and women who work there.

Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that Colonel Donald R. Curtis, Jr. is retiring after a long and distinguished career.

Colonel Curtis' outstanding service to the nation has been marked by meritorious service in increasingly demanding command and staff positions in both the United States and overseas. Throughout his career, Colonel Curtis demonstrated strong, outstanding executive ability, and dedication to the spirit and mission of the United States Army.

Colonel Curtis was commissioned from the United States Military Academy in 1979. He is a graduate of Ohio State University, holding a Master of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. He also graduated from the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses School, the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the United States War College. He is a registered Professional Engineer as well.

Colonel Curtis served in command and staff positions over the past twenty-five years. He served as a platoon leader in the 902nd Engineer Company (Assault Float Bridge) at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He was commander of B Company, 44th Engineer Battalion in the Republic of Korea. Then he did a tour as Assistant Resident Engineer for the Fort Leonard Wood Resident Office, Kansas City District. He served as Battalion Operations Officer, 12th Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Division at Mannheim, Germany, and served in a joint assignment with the Defense Intelligence Agency. He was the commander of the Walla Walla District from 1996-1998, and then did a tour on the Army Staff. He now is retiring from the Army after having served his last assignment as the District Engineer for the Fort

Leonard Wood Resident Office, Kansas City District.

Colonel Curtis's awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Anny Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Humanitarian Service Medal, Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab and the Army Staff Identification Badge.

Mr. Speaker, I know the Members of the House will join me in paying tribute to Colonel Donald R. Curtis, Jr. for his exceptional commitment to the United States Army and the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, it is with deep sadness that I inform the House of the death of Colonel Edward Owsley of Fort Leonard Wood, MO.

Colonel Owsley was born on March 13, 1913, in Marshall, MO. He joined the Missouri National Guard in 1931 and was called to active duty in 1940 at Camp Robinson, AR. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry during World War II and served in the Far East Campaigns. He continued to serve after the war and retired in 1966 with the rank of Colonel.

Since 1966, Colonel Owsley devoted his life to public service. He served 20 years as the executive vice president of the Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce and later as the group's ambassador. He was a former state president of the Association of the United States Army, on the board of the Community Development Corp., adviser to Lambda Chi fraternity and an Honorary Knight of St. Patrick.

Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me in offering our deepest condolences to his two daughters, Linda Clift and Pat Jordan of Rolla, MO. Let us offer our gratitude for his many years of service to the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, this is not brain surgery. I for myself will vote against this rule, because to vote otherwise would be to vote against the wonderful troops and their families. I just cannot do that.

Let me explain. At the start of fiscal year 2004, the services reported that almost half of the military families' houses were inadequate. We know that they deserve better. The Military Housing Privatization Initiative has an innovative way to address the problem, and when we started the program we made sure it would work.

I am speaking for the troops and their families, and everybody ought to listen today as we speak. Nothing is more important than those young people, those young families that we are charged with raising and supporting. It is more than having a bumper sticker on your car that says, ``Support the troops.'' Right here today by voting against this rule that does away with the opportunity for a clear shot at additional housing is most important.

So what we have to do is to allow this rule to be put back, that we have the opportunity to submit, as the committees intended to do but could not do for the year 2005, all because of the CBO scoring.

We need not go into the complexities of the rule. We need not go into how it was drafted or the point of order that many of us are fearful will be raised. It boils down to whether we support the troops, not just by a bumper sticker, but whether we support them with our votes, because they deserve it so much.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. My fellow Missourian, Mark Twain, once said, ``The more you explain it to me, the more I don't understand it.''

I have no idea why we are considering this bill, because all the majority had to do was not raise a point of order on the appropriations bill. I do not want to say this is a cynical gesture, but it is. We are considering this bill because the majority is not serious about taking care of the troops and their families. 24,000 families will do without because the other bill will have a point of order raised on it. All they had to do on the other bill, the appropriations bill, was not to raise a point of order and 24,000 military families would have their housing in 2005.

I appreciate the fact that our friends in the majority are taking the issue seriously, but it appears to me that this is going around Robin Hood's barn to do what could be simply done by not raising a point of order.

While this stand-alone bill is fine on its merits, it is going to die in the Senate. It will go nowhere. What we wanted to do was raise the privatized housing cap in the Military Construction Appropriations Act. That is legislation that the Senate cannot ignore. And all we had to do was just not raise the point of order and those young families would have their housing.

I cannot argue against the words of this measure, but we should not be deceived. This is a ruse to avoid dealing with the privatized cap on an issue in a must-do piece of legislation. The details of the cap issue have been discussed at length by others, and I raised the issue during the rule on the other appropriations bill. Let me just say that because the Committee on the Budget refused to accommodate bipartisan requests on both sides of the aisle by the Committee on Armed Services, the Defense authorization bill bowed to CBO scoring. As a result, we could not fix the problem until 2006. Consequently, 24,000 military families do without.

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

Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

I thank the gentleman for agreeing with me.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey).

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

My recollection, during the earlier debate on the rule on the appropriation bill, was that my friend and my colleague and chairman of the Committee on Armed Services, during his very eloquent speech at that time, urged the gentleman from Iowa not to raise the point of order.

So I ask this question, Mr. Speaker: In order for us to have 24,000 more family units under the privatization program, the only thing that has to happen under the appropriation bill would be for the gentleman from Iowa, the chairman of the Committee on the Budget, not to raise a point of order.

So I ask the gentleman from Iowa, will he insist on raising the point of order on the appropriation bill?

I yield to the gentleman from Iowa.

Mr. Speaker, he will insist on raising the point of order.

Mr. Speaker, we just saw 24,000 military families getting their just housing delayed for a long time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ortiz).

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

Mr. Speaker, we pride ourselves in this body, I know my chairman and I pride ourselves, in working for and supporting the troops. But supporting the troops is more than a bumper sticker. We are the one body in the United States of America that can speak, and speak with authority, and make good things happen for those families and those soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines.

I hate to turn the news on in the morning, because I hear so many Americans have either been wounded or killed or both in the far reaches of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Those St. Louis families, we are not going to take care of them. We are going to do it by insisting on a technical point of order on the appropriations bill. That is not right. So let us vote for this. I will support this suspension measure. I, of course, do so with reluctance because we could solve the problem so easily on the appropriations bill by just doing nothing.