Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it is an honor for me to rise today in recognition of Dr. John Richard and Mrs. Mabel Warren on the occasion of their 60th wedding anniversary.

Dick and Mabel Warren first met in 1948 as students at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. Dick Warren served his country faithfully in World War II as an Army Signal Corpsman during the France and German invasions. After returning home, he began his studies at Stetson, where he was the founding President of the school's Lambda Chi Fraternity chapter. He graduated in 1949 with a bachelor of arts in French. Mabel first attended Mount Berry College in Georgia, and then moved to Stetson after two years, where she met her future husband. She graduated from Stetson with a bachelor of arts in Elementary Education.

Teaching has always been a part of the Warrens' lives, and both Dick and Mabel went on to earn master's degrees in the field of education. In 1973, Dr. and Mrs. Warren settled in Niceville, Florida where they have remained ever since. Dr. Warren became part of the faculty of Okaloosa Walton Community College, now known as Northwest Florida State College, where he retired as Dean of Humanities in 1997. Mrs. Warren taught elementary education for 34 years and spent the last 21 years of her teaching career at Longwood Elementary School in Shalimar, Florida. Both Dick and Mabel continue to be an active part of the Northwest Florida community, giving their time and service to others.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am proud to recognize Mr. and Mrs. Warren on their 60th wedding anniversary. My wife Vicki and I would like to wish all the best to Dick and Mabel, as well as their children, Barbara, Richard, and Mary Jane, and their nine grandchildren. They are truly an outstanding family from the First District of Florida.

Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

I stand in vigorous support of my request for a Gulf Range Mobile Instrumentation Capability. This capability will convey enormous long- term benefits and provide weapons systems in a cost effective manner on time.

District Introduction

For those of you that don't know, I represent the First District of Florida, which is home to Eglin Air Force Base, Air Force Special Operations Command, Naval Air Stations Pensacola and Whiting Field, Corry Station, which hosts the Center for Information Dominance and is the proud future home of the Joint Strike Fighter.

Argument/Justification

The project fufills a critical need. Specifically at Eglin Air Force Base, the 46th Range Group has a need for a capability for remote test, collection, storage and relay of various types of data. This capability can be accomplished with a Gulf Range Mobile Instrumentation Capability. This capability is needed to support test events which occur over large geographic areas on both land and sea. Examples of this testing includes Live, Virtual, Constructive test events, large footprint weapons testing, Directed Energy testing, and hypersonic testing.

This capability does not exist because there is a shortfall across this nation in both adequate range space and instrumentation to realistically test today's long-range stand-off weapons. This problem is expanding with the enhanced performance of weapons in development. The Eglin range remains one of the only locations to test these weapons over its enormous land and water area. The instrumentation shortfalls can and should be addressed today. This project would develop mobile data acquisition capabilities to address the need for cost efficient operations involving remote areas with multiple ranges across the nation. As a simple example, extending a datalink, much like a wireless network, over 150 nautical miles into the Gulf would greatly support test operations. Test professionals need this capability and it will help ensure that our defense test and evaluation capabilities field cost-effective systems.

Developmental test and evaluation brings new capabilities to the battlefield and saves lives. I have had the opportunity to watch some of the magnificent testing conducted on the Eglin range. The 46th Test Wing completed testing last year on the small diameter

bomb and it is now being employed for F-15E Strike Eagles in Afghanistan because it offers unique low-collateral damage capability. This testing could be expedited and improved with the instrumentation capability we are discussing now. Future weapons testing includes Tomahawk, Joint Direct Attack Munition, Non-Line of Sight-Launch System, and continued testing of the Small Diameter Bomb. These programs will all benefit from increased safety, shorter tests, and a better product. In the end, this will convey benefits to Military activities across the nation, as we eventually link geographically separate ranges.

The T&E infrastructure, whether administered by a military service or by a Defense Department entity, continues to be a target for budget cuts year after year. In a recent letter I sent to the Secretary of Defense, and the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, I questioned why the 2010 funding for Test and Evaluation is $57.9 million below last year's level and noted that such a lack of funding could negatively impact numerous critical Department of Defense programs.

Five senators, including Senator Martinez and Senator Nelson, recently sent a letter to Chairman Inouye and Senator Cochran identifying two Test and Evaluation budget shortfalls in the FY2010 Budget. In fact, Congress created the Director of Test Resource Management in 2003 and in conjunction with the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, the DTRMC is supposed to be afforded the opportunity to certify each military service's budget every year before it is submitted to Congress. Due to the new Administration and different budget submission timelines, the DTRMC was not able to certify the services' budgets for the Fiscal Year 2010 submission. In the wake of acquisition reform, the Administration must fund areas that contribute to long-term cost savings.

I am looking forward to seeing the contributions of the Gulf Range Mobile Instrumentation Capability to future weapon systems. This capability is a critical need because a shortage exists across the nation of adequate instrumentation systems. However, investments in test and evaluation infrastructure provide magnified benefits because they affect so many weapon systems. The right test resources provide weapon systems on time, in a cost-effective manner.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Miss Ruth Alberta Runyan upon the occasion of her 100th birthday. Miss Runyan has spent a lifetime serving others, and it is a privilege to recognize her today.

Miss Runyan was born on September 10, 1909 in Escambia County, Florida and has lived there ever since. She has resided at her current permanent address in the East Hill neighborhood for 85 years. As an eight year old child, she sold the newspaper ``Grit'' for five cents. She used the money to buy war bonds during World War I, and later used this savings to pay for her college education. In 1931, Ruth graduated from the Florida State College for Women, now known as Florida State University.

Ruth's life was spent serving others. She was a teacher in Escambia County for over forty years. She started her teaching career at the Eliza Jane Wilson School and spent fifteen years there and later also spent over fifteen years teaching elementary students at Oliver J. Semmes School in Pensacola.

Madam Speaker, Ruth Runyan is an admirable woman who has spent a lifetime reaching for her dreams and helping others achieve theirs. My wife Vicki and I wish her all the best for her future.

Mr. Speaker, over the last few weeks, my office has been flooded with letters, faxes, phone calls, and e-mails from all types of citizens throughout northwest Florida. The messages all say the same thing: stop the government takeover of our health care system.

Now, the majority party's proposed legislation costs over $1 trillion. It would increase the deficit by $240 billion. It would actually raise the cost of health care for an American family.

Mr. Speaker, this is not the way to reform the American health care system. Americans want more choices for health care, not fewer choices. They want to choose the doctors they see and when they want to see them, and they don't want their medical decisions made by a faceless bureaucrat here in Washington, D.C. Floridians are not willing to have their health care rationed, and they do not want the government takeover of health care that the majority in Congress is proposing.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Honorable G.J. Roark III, a community leader who is retiring after over twenty years as an Escambia County, Florida judge. Judge Roark spent his career serving Northwest Florida and our country, and I am proud to honor his dedication and service.

After graduating from the University of Mississippi in 1969, Judge Roark joined the U.S. Navy as an intelligence officer. He remained on active duty until 1973 and then went on to earn his law degree from the University of Florida in 1976. Judge Roark returned to the Navy as a reservist in 1978 while maintaining his full-time career as an attorney. In 1988, he was appointed County Judge for Escambia, where he has served since. As County Judge, he has served as the Emergency Coordinating Officer and Chair of the Court Emergency Management Group. He was also the Founder and Chair of the Escambia County Court Security Committee and served on the Escambia County Law Library Board.

In addition to his judicial duties, Judge Roark continued his service in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He has operated as a counter-intelligence officer across the world, traveling to Panama, Italy, Bahrain, and Iceland in defense of the U.S. From 1986 through 1995 he was a Naval Criminal Investigative Service Agent. Judge Roark's accomplishments as a reserve officer led to his selection as Commanding Officer of NCIS Unit 2182 in New Orleans and NCIS Unit 2010 in Pensacola. He is also the former Commanding Officer of the Defense Intelligence Agency Headquarters Unit 1482 in New Orleans. In 1999, Judge Roark's command was named Unit of the Year for Reserve Intelligence Area 3.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to recognize G.J. Roark for his lifetime of service to Northwest Florida and to the United States. The Florida judicial system will miss this admirable and principled Northwest Florida leader. My wife Vicki and I wish all the best for him and his family they embark on this next journey in their lives.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

Requesting Member: Congressman Jeff Miller

Project Name: Peter Prince Airport Runway Hold Bays Construction

Agency/Account: FAA--Airport Improvement Program

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Santa Rosa County, FL

Address of Requesting Entity: 6495 Caroline Street, Milton, FL 32570

Description of Request: $500,000--Peter Prince Airport Runway Hold Bays Construction. This project will provide construction of aircraft hold bays on runways 18 and 36 of the Peter Prince Airport to allow incoming aircraft to safely pass outbound aircraft as they are performing run-ups. Funding for this project would provide a critical safety measure at the airport. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Consistent with the Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, I hereby certify that this request (1) is not directed to any entity or program named after a sitting Member of Congress; (2) is not intended for a ``front'' or ``pass through'' entity; and (3) meets or exceeds all statutory requirements for matching funds where applicable.

Requesting Member: Congressman Jeff Miller

Project Name: U.S. Highway 90 Capacity Improvement

Agency/Account: FHA--Surface Transportation Priorities

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Escambia County, FL

Address of Requesting Entity: 221 Palafox Place, Suite 420, Pensacola, FL 32502

Description of Request: $500,000--U.S. Highway 90 Capacity Improvement. This project will support improvement of capacity on Nine Mile Road (U.S. Highway 90) from Pine Forest Road to Highway 29 by construction of a four lane highway from a two lane highway. This project is a continuation of an existing four lane U.S. highway system. This project will improve not only capacity and level of service, but provide an alternative freight corridor to the existing interstate system. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Consistent with the Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, I hereby certify that this request (1) is not directed to any entity or program named after a sitting Member of Congress; (2) is not intended for a ``front'' or ``pass through'' entity; and (3) meets or exceeds all statutory requirements for matching funds where applicable.

Requesting Member: Congressman Jeff Miller

Project Name: PJ Adams Road Improvement, FL

Agency/Account: FHA--Transportation & Community & System Preservation

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Okaloosa County, FL

Address of Requesting Entity: 1804 Lewis Turner Blvd., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547

Description of Request: $250,000--PJ Adams Road Improvement, FL. This project will provide for the permitting, design, engineering and construction of Phase I of PJ Adams Road in Crestview, Florida. PJ Adams Road serves as a bypass around the heavily congested downtown area. Funding will provide for drastically needed widening, resurfacing and storm water improvements. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Consistent with the Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, I hereby certify that this request (1) is not directed to any entity or program named after a sitting Member of Congress; (2) is not intended for a ``front'' or ``pass through'' entity; and (3) meets or exceeds all statutory requirements for matching funds where applicable.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Captain Enrique Sadsad, who has received the 2009 Military Leader of the Year Award, given by the Association of Defense Communities. Captain Sadsad's tireless pursuit of fostering community bonds, developing defense partnerships and effectively leading the Training Air Wing Five for the Naval Air Station Whiting Field has made a lasting difference in the lives of many in my district.

Captain Sadsad effectively fulfills his military mission through superior leadership of Training Air Wing Five. His duties include coordinating fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft pilot training for Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force and pilots from over a dozen different countries. Under Captain Sadsad's direction, the Training Air Wing Five contributes to 10% of all Naval Flight hours flown world- wide. Captain Sadsad still finds the time to go above and beyond his call of duty to actively engage in the community exemplified through his involvement with numerous programs. Chief among them include; the Covenant Hospice Veteran program, American Cancer Society, Habitat for Humanity, Junior Reserve Officer Training Course, Partners-in- Education, Manna Food Bank, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and the Drug Education for Youth program.

Moreover, Captain Sadsad's successful joint venture with County and State Encroachment Partnering has resulted in the acquisition of more than 1,000 acres of conservation easements contributing to the protection of the mission at NAS Whiting Field. In addition, Captain Sadsad has sought to diligently work with resource management to oversee the preservation of several rare, threatened and endangered wildlife species as well as overseeing 2,351 acres of forestland, 317 acres of wetlands, and 742 acres in Agricultural leases.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to thank Captain Enrique Sadsad for his dedicated efforts of training our service men and women and conscientiously working to improve the community of Northwest Florida. Vicki and I send him our best wishes for continued success.

Mr. Speaker, Americans all over this country are asking: Where are the jobs? We've been promised jobs over and over by the Obama administration and by the majority in this Congress, but unemployment numbers continue to rise.

When the President took office, 11.5 million people were unemployed. Six months later, that number now stands at 14.5 million Americans who are unemployed and who are looking for work. Where are the jobs?

In February, when the majority rammed through a $1 trillion stimulus bill with zero input from my Republican colleagues, Americans were promised that unemployment would remain at 8 percent. Five months later, unemployment is at 9.6 percent and is climbing. In my home State of Florida, that number is 10.6 percent, the highest it has been in three decades. Where are the jobs?

The stimulus bill is not working, and despite what Vice President Biden says, we can't borrow and spend our way out of this recession. Instead of spending trillions of dollars on failed programs and on misled policies, we need to focus on lowering taxes on small businesses and on families. Again, where are the jobs?

Madam Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise today in recognition of the service of Colonel Gary L. Plumb, Commander of the 46th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Colonel Plumb retires today after 27 years of humble service to this great Nation in the United States Air Force, and I am proud to recognize his vast contributions to national security.

Colonel Plumb grew up in Loveland, Colorado. After graduating from Thompson Valley High School, he joined the Air Force and accepted an appointment at the United States Air Force Academy. He graduated from the Academy with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering and received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force on 2 June, 1982.

After earning his wings and graduating number one in his Pilot Instructor Training Class, Colonel Plumb began his flying career as an instructor pilot at Reese AFB, Texas. Upon graduating Lead-in Fighter Training, Colonel Plumb flew the F-16 while assigned to the 496th Fighter Squadron at Hahn Air Base, Germany. A graduate of the United States Air Force Test Pilot School, he then flew experimental test missions in the F-16 and F-4 while assigned to the 39th Flight Test Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. From there, he attended Air Command and Staff College and then received an assignment to the F-16 System Program Office in Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio where he was Chief of F-16 Combat Capability Development.

Identified as a proven leader, Air Force leadership selected him to command one of the most important squadrons in the Air Force, the 411th Flight Test Squadron. After taking command of the 411th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards AFB, he led developmental flight test for the Air Force's newest fighter, the F/A-22. The Colonel was then selected to attend the prestigious Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, DC. Following this assignment Colonel Plumb was selected for a joint assignment where he was assigned to the Joint Warfighting Center, Joint Forces Command, Suffolk, Virginia. The Colonel has commanded at the flight, squadron and group level. He is a Command Pilot who has accumulated over 3,400 flight hours in over 30 different aircraft.

Colonel Gary L. Plumb is currently the Commander, 46th Test Wing, Air Armament Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. With over 4,200 military, civilian, and contractor personnel, the Test Wing's primary mission is developmental testing and evaluation of conventional munitions, command and control systems, egress systems, and navigation and guidance systems. The Test Wing manages 26 modified test aircraft; 185,500 square miles of land and water test ranges, plus facilities in six different states. His leadership as the Commander of the 46th Test Wing will ensure the Eglin range complex, a national resource, remains productive and vibrant for years to come. The weapon systems tested in Northwest Florida today maintain U.S. military superiority, provide the equipment and resources for the men and woman serving this Nation to accomplish their missions, and keep them safe.

He is married to the former Robin Church, and together they have three children--U.S. Air Force Captain Jacquelyn Perr; U.S. Army 2d Lieutenant Daniel Plumb; and U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Alexander Plumb.

During his 27 years in the military, he spent almost 8 years serving the Air Force in the First Congressional District of Florida. His tireless work has benefited our community enormously. I'm pleased to hear we will continue to profit from his leadership in the Northwest Florida community as he retires in Niceville.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am proud to recognize Colonel Plumb for his excellent leadership and extraordinary service to the United States Air Force. His contributions to national security will continue to benefit the Nation. From all the constituents of Florida's First Congressional District, I would like to congratulate him on his retirement and wish him well in his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies request.

Requesting Member: Congressman Jeff Miller

Project Name: Hometown Heroes Reach Out and Raise Hope

Account: Department of Labor

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL

Address of Requesting Entity: 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, Florida, 32514

Description of Request: $450,000--Hometown Heroes Reach Out and Raise Hope. I requested these funds to provide combat-wounded veterans the opportunity to earn a Master of Social Work degree which will enable them to work in the veteran's hospitals, mental health programs, substance abuse treatment programs, and hospitals. Combat-wounded veterans and veterans with service related disabilities are well suited for this work because of their own life experiences. They will assume vital professional roles in the community and will enjoy a satisfying lifelong professional career helping others. Program funding will be utilized to administer the program, recruit program participants from military rehabilitation hospitals, and pay for educational accommodations each participant will need to participate in the program based on his/her unique disabilities. I certify that this project does not have a direct and foreseeable effect on the pecuniary interest of my spouse or me. Consistent with the Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, I hereby certify that this request (1) is not directed to any entity or program named after a sitting Member of Congress; (2) is not intended for a ``front'' or ``pass through'' entity; and (3) meets or exceeds all statutory requirements for matching funds where applicable.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies request.

Requesting Member: Congressman Jeff Miller

Project Name: Pensacola Incentive--Based Model for Healthcare Transformation

Account: Department of Health and Human Services

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL

Address of Requesting Entity: 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, Florida, 32514

Description of Request: $400,000--Pensacola Incentive-Based Model for Healthcare Transformation. This project will provide funds to pilot and evaluate alternative incentive structures (e.g., cost reduction, direct payment, etc.) to encourage participation of doctors and other providers in Health Information Technology (HIT) networks. HIT seeks to minimize costs by sharing information. But then what incentives will encourage doctors to use HIT and abandon the more lucrative procedure- based system? The proposed project will determine the best strategies to increase adoption and use rates. Advances in HIT will improve the quality of life and economic potential via better health care outcomes and reduced health care expenditures. The lessons from this pilot program are transferrable nationally. The research design will compare different incentive structures in terms of ease of use, provider awareness, use rates, and efficacy in outcomes. I certify that this project does not have a direct and foreseeable effect on the pecuniary interest of my spouse or me. Consistent with the Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, I hereby certify that this request (1) is not directed to any entity or program named after a sitting Member of Congress; (2) is not intended for a ``front'' or ``pass through'' entity; and (3) meets or exceeds all statutory requirements for matching funds where applicable.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Energy and Water request.

Requesting Member: Congressman Jeff Miller

Project Name: Adaptive Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Technology for Infrastructure Protection

Account: Department of Energy--Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition

Address of Requesting Entity: 40 South Alcaniz Street, Pensacola, Florida, 32502

Description of Request: $750,000--Adaptive Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Technology for Infrastructure Protection. I requested these funds to develop a system-centric defense infrastructure for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems that will greatly improve their intrinsic resilience to environmental effects and malicious attacks. The proposed defense mechanism will be part of the communications infrastructure of the SCADA system and, without modifying the monitoring and control protocols, will introduce system diversity which will increase reliability and resilience preventing a local compromise from becoming a threat to the whole infrastructure or causing cascading failure. I certify that this project does not have a direct and foreseeable effect on the pecuniary interest of my spouse or me. Consistent with the Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, I hereby certify that this request (1) is not directed to any entity or program named after a sitting Member of Congress; (2) is not intended for a ``front'' or ``pass through'' entity; and (3) meets or exceeds all statutory requirements for matching funds where applicable.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Financial Services and General Government request.

Requesting Member: Congressman Jeff Miller

Project Name: Turnaround Business Assistance Program (TBAP)

Account: Small Business Administration

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL

Address of Requesting Entity: 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, Florida 32514

Description of Request: $262,000--Turnaround Business Assistance Program (TBAP). I requested these funds to provide small business management and technical intensive care via the Florida Small Business Development Center Network's statewide professional counselor programs. This will be a teamed approach beginning with current business assessments and long-term technical assistance to halt the acceleration of and turnaround small businesses in default and/or closure positioning with the Small Business Administration and/or other lender institution loan program funds. According to the Small Business Administration and ADP, small business goods producers lost 80,000 jobs and service provider small businesses lost 201,000 jobs nationally in December 2008. These figures are higher than normal and with continuing economic downturn, business closings, rising defaults on loans, and a national lack of access to capital, overall small business failure rates and defaults will spiral out of control. At any given time, approximately 20-30 percent of all companies are in need of turnaround assistance. I certify that this project does not have a direct and foreseeable effect on the pecuniary interest of my spouse or me. Consistent with the Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, I hereby certify that this request (1) is not directed to any entity or program named after a sitting Member of Congress; (2) is not intended for a ``front'' or ``pass through'' entity; and (3) meets or exceeds all statutory requirements for matching funds where applicable.

Madam Speaker, it is a great honor for me to rise today to extend congratulations to the Frank and Melinda Lowry family for being selected the 2009 Santa Rosa County Outstanding Farm Family.

Frank is the youngest of 14 children and is a third generation farmer. His dad was a row-crop farmer, had a dairy, and a herd of beef cattle. Frank took over the farm from his oldest brother Clifton and has been farming for the past 40 years. Today the Lowrys raise a variety of produce and row crops on 800

acres. This year's crops include vegetables, corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and peanuts.

Frank and his wife, Melinda, contribute their success on the farm to their six children who are instrumental in the operation of and activity on the farm. They have three sons: Jeremy, Ryan, and Jacob, and three daughters: Lindsey, Candice Gilbreath and Tabatha Hawthorne. Jeremy and wife, Araon, have three children: Eli, Layna, and Bailey. Candice and husband, Drek, have two children: Kade and Kaylee. Tabatha and husband, Jeff, have a daughter, Presley.

Frank and Melinda are very proud of their children for all their hard work and thankful for all the blessings they have received.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to offer my sincere commendation to a family's tireless work, their dedication to family, faith and trade. They are a role model family for all of us. A deep sense of civic contribution and values has been instilled through all the generations of the Lowry family. It is my hope that this family's tradition continues for many more generations.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Charles Carlan, a northwest Florida community leader and businessman who is retiring after over 40 years of professional engineering and consulting. Mr. Carlan spent his life serving others, and I am proud to honor his dedication and service.

Born in DeFuniak Springs, Florida, Charles has been an integral part of the Northwest Florida community ever since. He graduated from Walton High School and went on to play baseball at Auburn University. After a brief stint in professional baseball with the Milwaukee Braves, Charles earned his Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Auburn in 1960. He began his career as a professional engineer, where he served in a variety of capacities over the years. His professional history includes working as City Engineer for the City of Pensacola, Maintenance Engineer of the Florida Department of Transportation, and Staff Director of the Florida Senate Transportation Committee. As President of CarlanKillam Consulting Group, Charles grew the firm to become one of the largest engineering firms in Northwest Florida. After being acquired by Hatch Mott MacDonald in 2001, Charles remained at his firm until his retirement.

Although widely known for his commercial ventures, Charles' business success pales in comparison to his outstanding service to the local community. He has served as Treasurer of the University of West Florida Foundation, President of the Pensacola Junior College Foundation, and Chairman of the Administrative Board of the First United Methodist Church. Charles has actively promoted the engineering profession by working as President of the Florida Engineering Society and the Professional Surveyors of Florida. The Florida Institute of Consulting Engineers recognized this dedication to his field and awarded him with the Governor A.W. Gilchrist Award for Outstanding Service to the Engineering Profession and Community. In one of Charles' most remarkable service achievements, he has attained 20 years of perfect attendance at the Pensacola Five Flags Rotary Club.

The list of Mr. Carlan's accomplishments extends far beyond what is noted here, but they all highlight his devotion to improving the lives of those around him and to bettering his community through service.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to honor Charles Carlan for his lifetime of service to Northwest Florida. My wife Vicki and I wish all the best for Charles and his wife, Carol, as they embark on this latest journey in their lives.