Floor Statements

Madam Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Chairman Sensenbrenner) for his leadership in this area and for bringing this bill to the floor.

I rise today in support of this bipartisan bill, H.R. 1279, the Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act of 2005. And in the limited time that I have, I just want to raise three points. The first point is that throughout the debate today, you will hear two different worlds described about gangs. One world they will describe in gangs will be talking about antisocial behavior and fist fights. If you think that is what we are concerned about with gangs, then we should not be here today at all talking about this bill.

But the true world, when you talk about gangs, are that you are having a rise in gangs in the United States where today, as we debate this bill, there are between 750,000 and 850,000 gang members within our borders. If it was a foreign army, it would be the sixth largest army in the world. And these are the acts in the real gang world: machete attacks, witness intimidation, extortion, murder of Federal agents, rape, cutting off arms, fingers and individuals' heads.

So the second point is, why can we not just deal with these acts with current State laws? Well, this chart shows just one member of one gang and all of the activities that he had in traveling around the United States. Today, these gangs have become national and international in scope; and if we want to truly deal with gangs, there is only one way to do it: you have got to bring down the gang networks and the gang leaders. And this bill will do that.

Now, our friends who are opposed to this bill say let us just deal with it crime by crime and individual by individual. And that works if it is just an individual committing a crime, because once you get that person and put them in jail, the crime stops. But when you are talking about gangs, when you deal with just one crime from a lower-tier person in that gang and you get that person and prosecute him, 20 different acts were never caught. And when you get that one person from a gang and it is an organized effort, 20 more spring up in their place.

We need a system to bring together teams of Federal, State, and local law enforcement so that we can go after that network and bring them down. And I would just ask you to look at a single situation where local or State law enforcement has been able to reach up to these national and international gangs and bring down the gang network.

The other thing that I want to say that you will see today, and we heard it earlier, and I was absolutely shocked when I heard it, but the opponents of this bill literally said on the floor earlier this morning that giving arts and crafts to criminal gang members who committed violent crimes would do more than the provisions of this bill, which is to lock them up and to empower law enforcement to go after them.

And I want to just say, because you hear a lot of talk about people who met with a group of students here, or maybe a group of people over here, this is a list that the chairman read out earlier of virtually every major law enforcement organization in the United States who supports the provisions of this bill and realizes if we do not pass this bill and bring down the gang networks, you might as well put a big billboard out that says, ``Coming soon to a neighborhood near you,'' because that is what is going to happen with the rapid rise of these gangs.

And I hope that this House will stand up today, will vote to give law enforcement the tools they need, and that we will go after these networks and bring them down.

Mr. Chairman, I just wish today that we would hear the same passion for the victims of gang crimes as we have heard on the other side for those who commit violent gang crimes. You know, we have heard a lot about the cost of locking up violent gang criminals. But I have not heard a whole lot about the cost of leaving them in our neighborhoods to create more crimes and leave repeated paths of victims.

We just heard about common sense. Well, let me tell you about common sense. Common sense is that you are not going to stop these violent gang criminals by giving them a Popsicle and a hug. You stop them by getting them off the streets.

Let us make it clear that we do not believe there is any socially redeeming value for belonging to a violent criminal gang. What mandatory sentences do is they set out clearly a policy that we say, if you are going to belong to

one of these gangs, you take the consequences; that if you commit one of these gang crimes, you are going to pay a price. You cannot just roll the dice.

Now, our opponents will tell you it is already illegal to do some of these acts. They miss the point. Our whole purpose is to keep those acts from being committed in the first place by getting rid of the gang networks. They believe, they have argued here the way you do that is by giving arts and crafts to members of these violent gangs. We just respectfully disagree.

We believe that the way you do it is by bringing down the criminal gang networks and the criminal gang leaders. Mandatory sentences do that by giving those individuals who commit gang crimes a choice. They can either spend a long time in jail, or they can help us bring down the networks that are praying on our communities.

Mr. Chairman, I hope we will reject this amendment and will pass the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

I thought I had heard everything this morning, Mr. Speaker, when, in the debate, we heard the opponents of this bill say that they felt that they could fight violent gang crime better by using arts and crafts than they could by locking up violent criminals, but I am shocked now that they are even bringing in Iraq.

If you look, Mr. Speaker, the Department of Justice, I am sure, is going to investigate the matters that are in this motion to recommit. There has not been a shred of evidence or testimony in any subcommittee or full committee about this bill related to anything in this motion to recommit. We have not heard a single discussion on it on the floor today. We have heard one poison pill after another to try to stop us from going after violent criminal gangs. There have even been amendments to try to offer loans to gang members, to give housing to violent gang members.

Mr. Speaker, it is time we stopped playing games with this bill and we pass it and go on to try to deal with these violent gangs. I want to remind the House that the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Organizations, the National Sheriffs Association, the Major County Sheriffs Association, the Law Enforcement Alliance of America, National Troopers Coalition, Federal Criminal Investigators Association, California Gang Investigators Association, National Latino Peace Officers Association, the New Orleans District Attorney, the Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, and 63 chiefs of major police departments around the country support the bill as it is. I hope we will defeat the motion to recommit and pass H.R. 1279.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mr. Donnie R. Wheeler, General Manager of the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) in Virginia Beach, VA. Mr. Wheeler is an exceptional leader and public steward dedicated to the Nation's and Virginia's environment and public health. It is a great pleasure to congratulate Mr. Wheeler on becoming the first President of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), formerly the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA). No one could be more deserving of this leadership position.

A graduate of Virginia Tech, Mr. Wheeler was employed by the Virginia State Water Control Board for seven years before joining HRSD in 1974. Mr. Wheeler's distinguished career with HRSD--a nationally recognized regional wastewater treatment utility, which serves 17 cities and counties covering 3,100 square miles of southeast Virginia--has spanned three decades. Under his management, HRSD has been honored with a host of awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is recognized as a state innovator for initiatives such as Virginia's first municipal water reuse project.

On May 2, 2005, the members of NACWA elected Mr. Wheeler to be the president of the Association stemming from his exemplary commitment and dedication to the clean-water community.

With Mr. Wheeler as President, NACWA will no doubt be the leading advocate for responsible national policies that advance clean

water and a healthy environment. Simply stated, when I hear the term ``environmentalist'', I think of public servants like Donnie first. This is because Donnie's contributions to his profession, his community, and to Virginia are numerous.

Mr. Wheeler is a founder of the Virginia Association of Municipal Wastewater Agencies (VAMWA) and served as its president for six years. His career achievements have earned the respect of his colleagues at the local, state and national levels, resulting in awards from the Virginia Water Environment Association (VWEA) and Environment Virginia. Mr. Wheeler has also served as an Adjunct Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering at Old Dominion University.

Again, it is with great pleasure that I congratulate Donnie on becoming President of NACWA. I am certain the Association will continue to flourish under his able leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of a statement by Rabbi Israel Zoberman, spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Chaverim in Virginia Beach, Virginia in recognition of the hope of peace created by recent Middle East developments.

I have been witness to remarkable developments in the

Middle East with far-reaching implications, giving that

volatile and violent region and the world at large renewed

hope for peaceful transformation following four and a half

years of the bloody Second Intifada now formally ended.

As a member of the Rabbinical Council of ARZA, the

Association of The Reform Zionists of America, serving the

million and a half Jews of Reform Judaism, our delegation was

at Israel's Knesset when German President Horst Kohler

accompanied by Israeli President Moshe Katzav entered to

address the parliamentary body on the 40th anniversary of

Israeli-German diplomatic relations. Sixty years since the

death camps' liberation it was still too trying for a few of

Israel's elected representatives to hear the language used by

the Holocaust's perpetrators though Germany has become

Israel's close friend.

Yet this historic opportunity, the first for a German

president on an official state visit with the German flag

decorating Jerusalem's streets, is an appreciated lesson that

peace can follow a painful past. It also alerts us that fears

and vulnerabilities simmer just below the surface, mindful of

the global rise in anti-Semitism and the apprehension

concerning ultimate Arab intentions. In our discussions with

Knesset members of both the coalition and opposition, we were

exposed to Israel's vibrant democracy that hopefully will

spread throughout the Middle East.

Equally significant was to watch Secretary of State

Condoleezza Rice's motorcade speed through Israel's Capital.

Her poignant presence so closely following her installation

in office was a clear signal to all concerned that the United

States led by President George W. Bush placed the settlement

of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict high on its agenda of

concerns, to enabling both sides to reach that elusive peace

which involves the traumatic disengagement from Gaza and

parts of the West Bank along with further trying concessions

for the two long-embattled peoples. Chairman Abu Mazen's

immediate and fateful challenge is to prevail upon militant

Palestinians to end the terrorism of suicide bombings and

rocket launchings that might derail progress as in the past.

However, Jewish extremists pose danger of their own,

recalling Prime Minister Rabin's 1995 assassination.

I was glued to Israeli T.V. as the Sharon Summit with Prime

Minister Sharon, Chairman Abu Mazen, President Mubarak and

King Abdullah gathered with evident determination to break

through the vicious cycle of death and despair. Both Sharon

and Abu Mazen vowed to immediately cease all military

operations with Egypt and Jordan committing to returning

their ambassadors to Israel. When Sharon heartfeltedly spoke

these unforgettable words, ``to kindle for all the region's

nations a first light of hope,'' I whispered my own ``Amen.''

Our warm meeting in Tel-Aviv with American Ambassador

Daniel Kurtzer was an illuminating experience, as we were

briefed by a Middle East expert on the arena's shifting

dynamics. He expressed cautious optimism following Arafat's

departure, the one who was the stalling obstacle at Camp

David 2000 and beyond. We toured various segments of the

``security barrier,'' and in Jerusalem we were guided by

Colonel (Res.) Danny Terza, the project's head administrator

for the Ministry of Defense who has been responsible for its

complex erection in a city with multi religious and ethnic

layers that he successfully dialogued with to avoid hard

feelings. The cement part of the fence, only 4.5 percent of

it, is designed to be dismantled when called upon. Its

purpose of blocking terrorist infiltrations has proved itself

over ninety percent.

We held a memorial service in the Nahalal cemetery of the

Jesreel valley for Israel's first astronaut, Ilan Ramon, who

perished along with his heroic fellow crew members of the

Columbia shuttle two years ago. Ilan, who participated as a

pilot in 1981 in destroying Iraq's nuclear facility and whose

mother survived Auschwitz, will remain an enduring symbol of

courage and creativity. Our group of rabbis also paid respect

at the Abukasis home in the town of Sderot, who lost their

seventeen year old daughter Ella, an exemplary young woman,

in a rocket attack on January 15 from neighboring Gaza. The

heroic high school senior was killed while she saved the life

of her wounded ten year old brother Tamir, protecting him

with her own body.

Let the day come soon when the children of both parties to

the tragic conflict will grow up to fulfill their soaring

dreams. After all, it is their birthright and the best

guarantee for lasting peace.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Bennett College and its President Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole, on the occasion of her appearance before the Tidewater Alumnae Chapter for its annual White Breakfast on March 19, 2005.

Bennett College is an historically black college and university founded in 1873 in Greensboro, North Carolina through the inspiration of newly emancipated slaves. Instruction was first held in the basement of St. Matthew's United Methodist Church until the Freedmen's Aid and Southern Education Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church assumed responsibility for support of the school in 1874. Through a $10,000 gift from philanthropist Lyman Bennett the school was able to prosper and grow, and the school was renamed in his honor. In 1926, the school was reorganized as a college for women, a role that it continues to serve today. In 1989, Bennett College had the distinction of having First Lady Barbara Bush as its commencement speaker.

For over 130 years, Bennett College has served the needs of the African American community in North Carolina and its surrounding area. Since 1930, Bennett College has graduated over 5,000 women, many serving in the education profession. My home city of Chesapeake, Virginia has been particularly reliant on the service of Bennett College alumnae as career teachers in the Chesapeake Public School System. I am grateful to Bennett College for this contribution to my congressional district.

In 2002, the esteemed Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole became the 14th president of Bennett College. Her career as a college university professor and administrator spans over three decades. In 1987, she made history as the first African American woman to serve as president of Spelman College. In 2004, she made history again as the first African American woman to serve as chair of the board of the United Way of America. I am proud to have her visit my district and applaud the Tidewater Alumnae Chapter of Bennett College for bringing her to Virginia on the occasion of their annual White Breakfast.

The Tidewater Alumnae Chapter has distinguished itself in southeastern Virginia through its contribution to the community. Among their members are many present and former teachers of the Chesapeake Public School System. Their professional contribution to my district is significant, and I thank them for their accomplishments on the occasion of their annual White Breakfast.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Bennett College, Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole and the Tidewater Alumnae Chapter of Bennett College for their record of service and contribution to our Nation and to my district. It is truly my honor and privilege to recognize Bennett College, Dr. Cole and the Tidewater

Alumnae Chapter in the United States House of Representatives on this day.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the REAL ID Act, and I thank the chairman for his courage and hard work on this vital measure.

Over a decade ago, the ability of Ramzi Yousef, the mastermind behind the 1993 World Trade Center bombing to be granted asylum and to move freely in the country should have signaled that something was terribly wrong with our system. It did not, and 8 years later, 19 terrorists collectively carrying a total of 63 valid U.S. driver's licenses, boarded planes to finish Yousef's work.

It is now over 3 years since that tragic September 11th. Today, we are considering a vital piece of legislation to address three key failures of current security policy. First, the REAL ID Act mandates standards to obtain driver's licenses; second, it tightens our Nation's asylum laws, which easily allow suspected terrorists into our Nation; and finally, it addresses the need to secure our borders.

These concepts are not rocket science. The need for these reforms has been reiterated over and over, and in expert testimony, in anecdotal evidence from security professionals, in scholarly research and in evidence presented from our Nation's justice and military personnel. But the fact of the matter is, the most compelling reason to pass this bill is just plain old common sense.

We can not repeat enough what the 9/11 Commission said: ``For terrorists, travel documents are as important as weapons.'' They are right. They also said, ``It is elemental to border security to know who is coming into the country.''

Today, more than 9 million people have entered the United States outside the legal immigration system. The security chain protecting America is only as good as its weakest link. It does not take a congressman or a national security expert to tell you this. Most Americans know that despite the rhetoric we hear against this bill, as long as we ignore the need for border security, we place them and their families at risk.

I strongly urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the REAL ID Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember my dear friend, Margaret Brothers.

Margaret was a loving wife to David, mother to Jessica and Gray, and servant of God, but to me she was first and foremost a trusted and loving friend. If I can convey but one overriding memory of Margaret, it is that she was always there for my wife Shirley and myself and for our family from the earliest days onward. As I embarked on my career in law, she was by my side. As I began my career in public service, she continued to serve in my law office and made the transition to my congressional office after my special election in 2001. During my legal career and in each of my campaigns, Margaret was always near, encouraging me and strengthening me with her God given abilities to comfort and guide.

Although her time with us was all too brief, I have a great sense of comfort knowing that she directly changed the lives of all she touched for the better both in and out of the office. Always the servant, Margaret worked tirelessly for the citizens of the 4th Congressional District of Virginia. Even when her own strength was diminishing and her own personal needs were increasing, Margaret fought to overcome her physical obstacles to be with her coworkers and to concentrate on serving others in need.

I will always remember her graceful presence, calm manner, warm smile, and joyful laugh, the qualities that enabled her to touch so many. Her witness to others has unquestionably impacted countless people who were fortunate enough to know her. Margaret's faith was a beacon of light shining out of the darkness to those in need searching to find their way. Her ability to touch the souls of others and show them the light was her calling and I thank God that she was a part of my life. While Margaret's loss to our office family and to me personally will be considerable, her never faltering faith and commitment to her Lord and Savior will continue to inspire all who knew her and serve as an inspiration and example to the next generation who must pick up her mission and carry it forward.

Mr. Speaker, one thing that both sides of the aisle, I think, can agree on today is that we should not be here today debating this amendment. I was thinking as I was sitting here, if we could go back in time to the days when they were laying the very foundation of this building that we are in today and we could ask the individuals laying that foundation, people walking the streets in D.C., what is the definition in America of marriage, they would have looked at us in bewilderment and they would have said without question, it is the relationship between one man and one woman.

Mr. Speaker, if I had dared to tell them that there would come a day when I would stand in this Chamber and people would point their finger at me and they would yell and they would scream and they would call me names because I dared to stand up here to defend that definition of marriage, they would have been just awestruck.

Mr. Speaker, our friends on the other side of the aisle always talk about representing the people in this country; but when their definition of marriage was challenged, 78 percent of them in Louisiana stood up and said that they believed that marriage should be between a man and a woman; 71 percent of them stood up in Missouri; 70 percent in Nebraska; 69 percent in Hawaii; 61 percent in California.

Mr. Speaker, what we are facing today is an assault by a few individuals on that basic traditional definition of marriage between a man and a woman. The problem we had is that when this Congress stood up with the people in this country and said we want to protect that definition for you and they passed the Defense of Marriage Act, they realized that that act is currently under attack in Nebraska alone where 70 percent of the voters amended the Nebraska constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman, that is being attacked and trying to be overturned now.

Mr. Speaker, before our subcommittees we have heard testimony after testimony by leading scholars of the courts that tell us that when that act comes before the courts, it will be declared unconstitutional, not because that was the original Constitution but because of the way a few handful of judges are interpreting that Constitution today.

Mr. Speaker, the question for us is very simple. There are some of our friends who say that the protection of marriage is not worth amending the Constitution. I think it is worth that, Mr. Speaker; and I hope we will pass this amendment so we can stand with all the people across this country who believe very strongly that marriage should be between a man and a woman for the protection of the children in that marriage.

Mr. Chairman, right above the Chair's head today are four words, ``In God We Trust''; and time after time in this country, we have seen in times of storm or war or illness the American people have embraced those words and believed in them very strongly.

That is why 2 years ago, shortly after the release of the Ninth Circuit Court's decision that ``under God'' was to be struck from the Pledge of Allegiance, Newsweek published a poll finding 87 percent of Americans supported the inclusion of the phrase ``under God'' in the pledge.

Nevertheless, the few, but articulate, supporters of the court, waving U.S. flags and calling themselves one of the last groups in America facing unrestrained bigotry, marched on the Mall to protest what they said was increasing infringement of religion in government affairs.

Staging their first Godless Americans March on Washington, the demonstrators cheered and waved signs that expressed disapproval of religion. Their signs read: ``God Is a Fairy Tale,'' ``Keep Your Gods Out of Our Schools,'' and ``Al Qaeda is a Faith-Based Initiative.'' According to the New York Times, Dr. Michael Newdow touted that he planned to ``ferret out all insidious uses of religion in daily life. Why should I be made to feel like an outsider?'' he asked.

Mr. Chairman, Dr. Newdow and the two judges in California were right on one thing: atheists are outsiders in America. But they are not outsiders because, as they claim, the beliefs of others are being forced upon them, but instead, because they, unlike the vast majority of Americans, are attempting to create an environment where their beliefs are paramount over the beliefs of others.

Like every other American, atheists have the right not to recite the Pledge, not to attend church, and not to engage in any other practice of which they disapprove. They do not, however, have the right to impose their atheism on the vast majority of Americans whose beliefs now and historically have defined America as a religious Nation. Indeed, the concept of the separation of church and State was not born to establish freedom from religion, but to establish freedom for religion.

Repeatedly and overwhelmingly, our legislative bodies, our civic leaders, our historical heritage and, most importantly, the people of the United States of America have affirmed the two words ``under God'' and their entirely proper presence in our system of government. This week, over 2 years after two judges in California imposed their will upon a Nation, I urge my colleagues to reclaim this court's abuse of power and, in passing the Pledge Protection Act, reaffirm that we are, indeed, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Dr. Charles R. Drew, pioneer in the field of medicine, professor of surgery, and innovator of the modern blood bank.

Dr. Drew, born 1904 in Washington, D.C., excelled academically. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Amherst College, Medical Doctorate and Master of Surgery degrees from McGill University, and a Doctor of Science in Medicine degree from Columbia University.

Dr. Drew was an outstanding athlete, starring in football and track at Dunbar High School and Amherst College. He received the Thomas W. Ashley Memorial Trophy for being the football team's most valuable player and achieved honorable mention All-American honors in football. He became an all-time leading scorer in intercollegiate track while attending McGill Medical College.

As a surgeon and specialist in blood research, in 1940 Dr. Drew organized the massive Blood for Britain project, in which blood plasma was separated, collected, and stored to aid the wounded in World War II. The following year he became director for the national American Red Cross program for blood procurement.

Dr. Drew is credited with organizing the concept of the blood bank. Dr. Drew pioneered the use of blood plasma for transfusion due to the longer life of blood with the plasma removed. Prior to his studies, blood could only be stored for seven days. Dr. Drew developed ``bloodmobile'' trucks with refrigeration units to collect and carry plasma, increasing the shelf life of blood. His blood bank in the Presbyterian Hospital in New York served as one of the models for the widespread system of blood banks used by the American Red Cross today. Countless lives were saved thanks to Dr. Drew's efforts in blood research and plasma separation.

Dr. Drew served as Professor of Surgery at Howard University and Chief Surgeon of its teaching and clinical facility, Freedmen's Hospital. There he trained America's first generation of black surgeons.

Dr. Drew was inducted into the Alpha Psi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity while attending Amherst College. While on the faculty of Howard University, he collaborated in the writing and composition of the fraternity's hymn, ``Omega Dear.''

Dr. Drew succeeded in each phase of his life being an outstanding example of African-American achievement. He left behind a legacy of life saving techniques.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Dr. Charles R. Drew for his pioneering achievements in blood research; his commitment to Howard University, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and his community; and for the many contributions he has made to our nation. It is truly an honor and a privilege to recognize Dr. Charles R. Drew in the United States House of Representatives on this day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember a true public servant, a man of God and a trusted and loved friend to many, the Reverend Dr. John L. Ashby.

Reverend Ashby dedicated his life to serving others. He first answered the call to service as a young man when he proudly entered the U.S. Army during the Korean war. He later attended and graduated from Norfolk State University, from the United Christian College as valedictorian with a bachelor of theology degree and from the Baltimore Bible College with a doctorate of divinity degree.

Reverend Ashby served on numerous state and local boards, commissions, and associations throughout his life, and continued to challenge the status quo and strived to improve the lives of his fellow man. To Reverend Ashby there was no mountain too high and no challenge too overwhelming; he knew no strangers and cared for everyone. In addition to caring for his church family, Reverend Ashby was also a loving father.

While Reverend Ashby's journey with us has ended, I know that his legacy of selfless service will continue to shine as an example to future generations of how one man can make a profound difference.

Mr. Speaker, several days before Christmas, the phone rang at Angel Flight, and the voice on the other end of the line said she only had 4 weeks to live. Her only hope was receiving an experimental drug treatment in San Antonio, but with a mountain of medical bills, she could not afford the flight.

A few minutes later, an urgent e-mail would go out. Responses would come back in, and within a few hours, a pilot would be located. The patient would be flown to San Antonio for treatment. And upon arrival, a car would be waiting to drive her to the hospital. She would never see a bill for any of her transportation.

Angel Flight is a nonprofit organization that offers free, long- distance transportation for medical care and removes the financial burden from patients. Its volunteer pilots are stockbrokers, realtors, private businessmen, retired Air Force pilots, commercial pilots, lawyers and doctors and others.

Every year, on their free time, these pilots fly over 10,000 patients nationwide. Some pilots fly one or two mercy flights a year. Others may fly as many as 50 flights. All are flown at the pilot's expense.

Angel Flight is just one organization involved in nonprofit public- benefit flying. Last year, volunteer pilot organizations provided long- distance, no-cost transportation for over 40,000 patients and their escorts in times of special need. Other organizations flew missions ranging from environmental observation to organ transportation. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, significant quantities of blood and blood products were transported by volunteer pilots.

In the last several years, however, in part due to the fear of litigation, yearly insurance once available for $1,000 has skyrocketed to more than $25,000 a year even though there was no evidence presented to the Judiciary Committee of any negligence committed by any of these pilots or their organizations. Not only are talented volunteers afraid of flying mercy flights for fear of being sued, most of the organization's nonflying staff cannot afford liability protection.

Mr. Speaker, today, we consider legislation to address this serious problem sponsored by my colleague from Virginia (Mr. Schrock). H.R. 1084 will create specific liability protection for nonprofit volunteer pilot organizations flying for the public's benefit. It will ensure that, when these pilots take to the skies, the only thing on their mind is getting that patient to the treatment they need. And ultimately, it will encourage others to join them in this network of charity.

Without H.R. 1084, the Volunteer Pilot Organization Protection Act, we risk that these charitable organizations will no longer be able to provide their important services, and tens of thousands of people who benefit from their work will be unable to obtain the medical care they desperately need.

Equally important, without this and other vital legislation aimed at curbing lawsuit abuse, we risk the possibility that America's abundant tradition of generosity and charity will be undermined by a few who use the judicial system for the wrong purposes. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 1084 to keep these committed volunteers in our skies and keep America's spirit of generosity flying high.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Major General Terry E. Juskowiak, Commanding General of the United States Army Combined Arms Support Command and Fort Lee, for his loyal service to the United States and Virginia's Fourth District.

Major General Juskowiak's dedication and loyalty to the advancement of our district and the nation as a whole is to be commended.

Major General Juskowiak's devotion to duty has reflected the highest standards of the militarily profession through a number of command and staff positions. He served with the 82nd Airborne Division as a member of the division staff and participated in Operation Just Cause in Panama. He went on to command the 407th Supply and Transport Battalion (Airborne), 82nd Airborne Division during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He also served as Commander of the Division Support Command, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) in Fort Drum, New York. He deployed to Haiti for Operation Uphold Democracy. He also participated in an eight-month rotation to the Bosnian Theater as the Assistant Division Commander for Support with the NATO Stabilizing Force for Operation Joint Endeavor/Guard. In 1998, Major General Juskowiak served as the Commanding General of CJTF-Kuwait during Operation Desert Fox. In 2000, he earned the position of Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics at Headquarters, United States Army Forces Command. He then went on to additionally take on the responsibility of Commanding General of the Combined Arms Support Command and Fort Lee. His military education is extensive and includes the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Major General Juskowiak also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Citadel and a Masters degree of Science in Contract and Acquisition Management from the Florida Institute of Technology.

Major General Juskowiak's awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with OLC, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with Silver Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with OLC, the Army Achievement Medal, Master Parachutist Wings, the Ranger tab, the Parachute Rigger Badge, the General Staff Identification Badge, the Australian, the Canadian, the Greek and the Israeli parachute badges.

Major General Juskowiak has shown tremendous commitment and devotion to his country. Today we recognize him for his unwavering patriotism and dedication to both his profession and the American people.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Major General Terry E. Juskowiak.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Colonel Joel C. Bradshaw III, United States Air Force, for his loyal service to the United States and Virginia's Fourth District.

Colonel Joel C. Bradshaw's dedication and loyalty to the advancement of our district and the Nation as a whole, after 29 years of service in the Air Force, is to be commended.

Colonel Joel C. Bradshaw's devotion to duty has reflected the highest standards of the military profession through a number of command and staff positions. He has commanded a civil engineer squadron, and served in a range of civil engineering positions at base level, major command and the Air Staff. At the start of his career, he began as Project Officer and Test Director on the Air Force Weapons Laboratory in New Mexico. Later on in his career, he went on to become Deputy Director of Environment Programs at Headquarters Tactical Air Command, at Langley AFB, VA. He also served as Base Civil Engineer (Commander) at the Sembach Air Base in Germany. He returned to Langley to become Deputy Chief of Programs Division for the Civil Engineer Directorate, Headquarters Air Combat Command. In 1997, Colonel Bradshaw became Command Engineer of the Eleventh Air Force at Elmendorf AFB in Alaska. In 1999, he earned the position of Chief of Air Force Programs, Office of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations, The Pentagon. Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics at Headquarters, United States Army Forces Command. He then went on to additionally take on the responsibility of Chief of Military Construction Programs, Office of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Installations and Environment), The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Colonel Bradshaw also holds a Bachelor of Sciences degree from Virginia Tech in Civil Engineering, and a Masters degree of Science in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech. Additionally, he has a Masters degree in Business Administration from New Mexico Highlands University.

Colonel Bradshaw's awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

Colonel Bradshaw has shown tremendous commitment and devotion to his country. Today we recognize him for his unwavering patriotism and dedication to both his profession and the American people.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Colonel Joel C. Bradshaw III,

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Major General Michael P. Wiedemer, Director of the Defense Commissary Agency, for his loyal service to the United States and Virginia's Fourth District.

Major General Wiedemer's dedication and loyalty to the advancement of our district and the nation as a whole is to be commended. He has played an instrumental role in overseeing the growth and preservation of the military's worldwide commissary system since he assumed command in August 2002.

Since first being commissioned in the U.S. Air Force over 30 years ago, Major General Wiedemer's devotion to duty has reflected the highest standards of the military profession. After four years of service, he served as Chief of Data Automation as part of the 347th Tactical Fighter Wing on the Moody Air Force Base in Georgia. He has served on numerous airbases throughout the United States. His military education is extensive and includes Squadron Officer School, the Air Command and Staff College, Defense Systems Management College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Major General Wiedemer also holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Masters degree in Industrial Management.

Major General Wiedemer's decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Medal, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, an Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Defense Superior Service Medal.

Major General Wiedemer has shown tremendous commitment and devotion to his country. Today we recognize him for his unwavering patriotism and dedication to both his profession and the American people.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Major General Michael P. Wiedemer.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank a true public servant, Dr. William E. ``Bill'' Ward who has given over 25 years of faithful service to the City of Chesapeake and her residents.

Mayor Ward and the City of Chesapeake have a long history together. Having resided in Chesapeake with his wife Rose since its incorporation in 1963, Mayor Ward has been instrumental in helping to shape and form one of our Nation's largest cities.

Mayor Ward has been serving his community in a variety of capacities for many decades. Those who know him best know that he is first and foremost an educator. Mayor Ward is Professor Emeritus and former Chair of the History Department at Norfolk State University, where he taught from 1973 to July of 2000. In addition, he serves on the Board of Visitors at his alma mater, Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia.

Mayor Ward's love of government and service eventually led him into public life in 1978 and he has faithfully served since that date. From 1978-1984, he served as a member of the Chesapeake City Council and served as Vice Mayor from 1984-1990. Mayor Ward is the longest serving Mayor in Chesapeake's history having served in that capacity since October 4, 1990.

During his tenure on the Chesapeake City Council , the city grew from 100,000 people to more than 210,000. Through a time of great change, Mayor Ward provided continuity of both leadership and direction.

In closing, I would be remiss if I did not recognize the Mayor's wife Rose and their children Michael and Michelle and thank them for their support and sacrifices over the years. The Ward family will continue to be among the most well-respected and much-loved members of the Chesapeake community.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Mayor Ward, for his years of dedication to Chesapeake and for his selfless service to her citizens.