Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and pay tribute to Ken Smith, who is retiring from the Santa Rosa County School Board after 28 years of service. Mr. Smith's dedication to his community and the education of its children is profound and commendable.

Mr. Smith was born in Bagdad, Florida. He first got active in the school system in Santa Rosa County when he volunteered at his children's schools as a PTA member. After serving as PTA President at Oakhurst Elementary, he was elected to his first term on the Santa Rosa County School Board in 1978. He is currently the second longest serving School Board member in the State of Florida, having served with 17 Board Members and 3 Superintendents. He has held the positions of Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board 7 times each.

Through the years, Mr. Smith has served on several Board committees, most notably the Vocational Committee, working with the State to acquire the Locklin Technical Center, the first and only vocational center located in Santa Rosa County. He has also been active in the Lions Club, Optimist Club, and the Ferris Hill Baptist Church.

Mr. Smith's effort to better Santa Rosa County schools is admirable. His devotion to the education of the children of his community is inspirational. I congratulate him on his accomplishments and his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for bringing this bill to the floor today.

Included in H.R. 6314 is a provision to extend, through December 31, 2007, a program that provides government markers for veterans who are buried in a private cemetery.

The current five-year authority, which was effective for deaths that occurred as of September 11, 2001, expires on December 31st of this year.

Prior to this authority, if a veteran was buried at a private cemetery and the family purchased a private headstone, the veteran was ineligible for a government marker.

I want to recognize Representative Nancy Johnson, who has been championing this cause for over 5 years.

I appreciate her working with my Subcommittee to ensure that veterans and their families continue to have access to symbolic expressions of remembrance.

Mr. Speaker, as the 109th Congress comes to an end, I want to recognize Representative Jeb Bradley, the Vice Chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, and Ms. Shelley Berkley, the ranking member, for their active participation on the Subcommittee. We accomplished quite a bit over the past 2 years and I thank them both.

I also want to thank the Subcommittee staffs on both sides of the aisle--Paige McManus, Chris McNamee, and Mary Ellen McCarthy.

Finally, on behalf of the Subcommittee, I commend Chairman Buyer and Ranking Member Evans for their bipartisan leadership of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill before us.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 2562, as amended, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2006. The House passed a similar measure, H.R. 4843, on July 26, 2006 by a vote of 408-0.

Each year since 1976, Congress has provided a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to the benefits provided to our Nation's disabled veterans and their survivors.

The purpose of the annual COLA is to ensure that Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) cash benefits retain their purchasing power and are not eroded by inflation.

The House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees are following their longstanding practice of setting the COLA by reference to the yet-to- be-determined Social Security increase.

In February 2006, the Administration projected a 2.6 percent increase; as of May 2006, the Congressional Budget Office is projecting the COLA to be 2.2 percent. However, it may be higher or lower depending on changes in the Consumer Price Index. The exact percentage will be calculated in the next few weeks and the COLA will go into effect on December 1, 2006.

As Chairman Buyer indicated, this is one of the more important pieces of legislation the Veterans' Committee brings to the floor each year, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first aircraft landing at the South Pole by Lieutenant Commander Conrad ``Gus'' Shinn.

Over 60 years ago, Gus became a pilot with the United States Navy and several years later began testing landing ``skis'' for aircraft to facilitate polar exploration. It was development of these skis through his testing and evaluation that not only allowed the establishment and support of large field stations in the interiors of Greenland and Antarctica but also the aerial mapping of over 200,000 square miles of unexplored polar territory. Gus's leadership was instrumental in developing a system to maintain these field stations and their research efforts.

No one had set foot at the South Pole since 1912, so it was even more remarkable that the next person to set foot in that unforgiving climate would do so by airplane. When Gus completed the first successful landing at the South Pole, he established his position not only as one of the foremost polar explorers but also one of the foremost pilots. His knowledge of polar exploration was considered to be on par with other famous figures such as Admiral Byrd and Lincoln Ellsworth. So highly regarded was his expertise in both aviation and polar exploration that he led the next four ``Deep Freeze'' missions that also landed at the South Pole. It was these missions, along with two other flights, that Gus participated in that allowed the materials and manpower to be flown in to build the United States base that remains at the South Pole today.

LCDR Shinn retired from the Navy in 1963, a legend in his field. National Geographic highlighted his party's efforts in 1957, but it is

difficult at best to fully do justice to the headway he made in exploring unknown parts of the world. Today, both he and the original plane he flew reside in my district in Northwest Florida, and I am proud to have him as a contributor to the area's rich heritage of aviation history.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to commemorate the vast contribution of LCDR Conrad ``Gus'' Shinn to polar exploration and the 50th anniversary of his successful landing at the South Pole.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of renaming the Palafox Street Post Office in Pensacola, Florida, the Vincent J. Whibbs Post Office. This post office will honor a great man who gave his all to the betterment of Pensacola.

In 1978, Vince Whibbs was appointed to a 2-year term as mayor of Pensacola but did such a great job that he ended up serving through June of 1991. Mayor Whibbs was Pensacola's longest-serving mayor and even after he left the position in 1991 he maintained the title of mayor emeritus.

Friendly, outgoing, and charming, Vince had a love for Pensacola that was overshadowed only by his love of God, country, and family. He was constantly giving back to the community though his involvement in local organizations including the Chamber of Commerce, the Pensacola chapter of the Navy League, the Fiesta of Five Flags, the United Way, Rotary Club International, Junior Achievement and Project Alert.

Mayor Whibbs loved to personally welcome dignitaries to Pensacola and greeted all who came with a rapid-fire delivery: ``On behalf of our elected City Council, those 10 masterful men who manage our magnificent municipality; and on behalf of the chairman of our county commission and his four commissioners who constantly deal with the changing, challenging conditions of our county; and on behalf of our wonderful people who populate the Northwest Florida area, it is my privilege and pleasure as mayor to welcome you to Pensacola, the western gate to the Sunshine State, where thousands live the way millions wish they could, where the warmth of our community comes not only from God's good sunshine, but from the hearts of the people who live here. Welcome to Pensacola, America's first place city and the place where America began.''

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Whibbs was a friend of Pensacola, a friend of the military and a personal friend of mine. His enthusiasm was contagious, his integrity inspiring.

Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to recognize Chief Petty Officer Phillip P. White's retirement on September 1, 2006, from the U.S. Navy. Chief White proudly held the line among the brave sailors of the U.S. Navy for more than two decades.

On a daily basis he diligently worked for the betterment of the Florida Gulf Coast region. While an active duty sailor he participated in naval operations that assisted in locating and identifying numerous historic shipwrecks in the Pensacola Bay area. In the wake of the tragic hurricanes of last year, Chief White valiantly returned to active duty status to lend his brawn to the recovery effort.

On behalf of a grateful nation, I extend my deep appreciation to Phillip Paul White for his service to Florida and our country. My best wishes on a happy retirement, and continued success, Chief.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 479, which creates a new Coastal Barriers Resources Map, removing the Old Miller Place Subdivision from the Otherwise Protected Area. I would like to thank Mr. Pombo and the Resources Committee for their hard work and commitment to this bill.

I will provide a little bit of background for my colleagues: Old Miller Place has been privately owned since the 1890s. The Miller family homesteaded it in 1903. The first residence was built in 1981 and the fourth was completed in 1985. Six lots remained unbuilt by 1990 because they were purchased for future retirement homes by their respective owners. In 2006, they lay bare as they await restoration of their right to build.

Old Miller Place was platted and developed in 1979, 6 years before the State of Florida's land acquisition program joined Grayton Beach State Park with the southern and eastern boundaries of Old Miller Place in 1985. In 1990, a layer of Federal protection was overlaid on part of Grayton Beach State Park when Congress expanded the Coastal Barrier Resources System to include areas known as ``Otherwise Protected Areas (OPA).'' In the case of Unit FL-95P, the otherwise protected area is Grayton Beach State Park. At the time of its creation in 1990, OPA Unit FL-95P included only about half of the 2,238 acres of Grayton Beach State Park and the entire 6.4 acre private-property subdivision known as the Old Miller Place.

Mr. Speaker, on paper this bill is a technical correction, but for the property owners in Old Miller Place Subdivision this bill means greater opportunity and freedom. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 479.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 7 years that SSG Claire Buffington has served in the United States Marine Corps.

Coming to the United States from Scotland, Great Britain, Staff Sergeant Buffington is a true patriot who has significantly contributed to the defense of our Nation. Staff Sergeant Buffington enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in June 1999, and was assigned to the Fourth Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Center, Parris Island, SC. She graduated as company honor graduate and received a meritorious promotion to the rank of private first class. She subsequently attended Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger, NC, and Supply School at Camp Johnson, NC.

Private First Class Buffington's first assignment was to the Second Marine Division's Supply section at Camp Lejeune, where she served as a supply clerk. She was promoted to the rank of lance corporal and then transferred to the Second Marine Division Headquarters Battalion supply section where she served as a supply clerk and platoon sergeant. During this assignment, she earned meritorious promotion to the rank of corporal in July 2001, completed Corporal's Leadership Course, and then earned meritorious promotion to sergeant in November 2001. Sergeant Buffington also graduated from the Marine Corps Marksmanship Instructor's Course and served as pistol and rifle requalification coach for Headquarters Battalion, 2d Marine Division.

In June 2003, Sergeant Buffington was assigned to the House Liaison Office, Office of Legislative Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps, as the administrative clerk, and was promoted to staff sergeant on February 12, 2006. In her current capacity, Staff Sergeant Buffington has faithfully served the 435 members of the 106th, 107th, 108th and 109th Congresses as a member of the Marine Corps' House of Representatives Liaison Office. Staff Sergeant Buffington has been responsible for directing and organizing many congressional and staff delegations around the world, as well as numerous congressional events on Capitol Hill. Her attention to detail in every event she participates has made a positive impact on the relationship between the Congress and the Marine Corps.

Mr. Speaker, few can match the dedication and Esprit de Corps that Claire Buffington has shown over her 7 years of service to Corps and country. I wish Claire and her husband Tony continued success in their future endeavors. Many thanks Staff Sergeant Buffington, our Nation has benefited from your outstanding leadership

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize and pay tribute to Commander William ``Bo'' Stewart, United States Navy, on the occasion of his retirement from active duty. I commend Commander Stewart for his 21 years of faithful and selfless service to the United States Navy, and I salute him for his dedication to protecting freedom, ensuring liberty and defending the principles of this country.

A 1983 Citadel graduate, Commander Stewart joined the Navy in 1985. In addition to earning a Masters' Degree in Business Management from Troy State, his formal military education included Aviation Officer Candidate School, where he earned his ``Wings of Gold'' as a Naval Aviator, SH-3H ``Sea King'' training and UH-1N training at HC-16.

In 1987 Commander Stewart reported to San Diego, CA for his first assignment with Helicopter Squadron Fourteen, the ``Chargers.'' After completing his tour aboard the USS Ranger with the ``Chargers,'' Commander Stewart was stationed at NAS Whiting Field for his first shore tour as a flight instructor for Helicopter Training Squadron Eight. In 1993, he returned to sea duty aboard the USS Nassau serving as the Assistant Air Officer and Aircraft Handling Officer, deploying to Haiti and the Adriatic Sea. Following this assignment, he was ordered back to shore in Jacksonville, FL where he served as the Officer in Charge of the Surface Rescue Swimmer School and as an instructor pilot in the SH-3H and SH-60F/H at Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron One (HS-1), the ``Sea Horses.''

Commander Stewart returned to sea in 1997 joining Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Five, the ``Night Dippers,'' as the Maintenance Officer, deploying from USS John C. Stennis and USS John F. Kennedy. In 1999, Commander Stewart went to the Naval Personnel Command where he served as Deputy Director and Director of Restricted Line and Staff Corps Distribution and Special Placement Division. In February of 2003, Commander Stewart assumed his final post as Executive Officer of Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL.

Commander Stewart's personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal (five awards), and the Navy Achievement Medal, along with other personal and unit citations. During his naval career, Commander Stewart accumulated over 4,000 hours of flight time in the following airframes: SH-60F/H, SH-3H/D, UH-1, TH-57, and T-34C.

Mr. Speaker, Commander Stewart answered the call to duty with an unmatched determination. Through his honorable service he gave so much to Pensacola, our Navy, and our Nation. He will be missed by the United States Navy, but he leaves a great legacy behind for future generations to follow.

Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 407, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, the provisions in title two originated in the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

Section 201 would allow tribal governments to participate in the State Cemetery Grants Program to establish, expand, and improve veterans' cemeteries on trust lands.

The Department of Veterans Affairs' State Cemetery Grants Program was established in 1978 to complement VA's National Cemetery system. VA will pay for the construction costs, and states are responsible for providing the land and ongoing operating and maintenance expenses.

There are currently 60 state cemeteries and two under construction, and states are planning to open 18 new state veterans' cemeteries between 2007 and 2010.

Owing to the success of the State Cemetery Grants Program, Congress made it permanent in Public Law 108-183. However, tribal governments are not considered eligible for these cemetery grants. This section will provide Native American veterans the opportunity to be buried in a veterans' cemetery on trust land.

Madam Speaker, I'd like to thank Representative Tom Udall, a member of the Subcommittee, for bringing this issue to our attention so we could include it in the bill under consideration today.

Section 202 would make permanent the Secretary's authority to furnish a government marker for veterans interred in a marked grave at a private cemetery, as well as offering a headstone in lieu of a marker, if requested by the family. The headstone or marker would be placed on the grave, or as close to it as practicable.

The current five-year authority, which was effective for deaths that occurred as of September 11, 2001, expires on December 31st of this year. Prior to this authority, if a veteran was buried at a private cemetery and the family purchased a private headstone, the veteran was ineligible for a government marker.

We would also expand the benefit to include veterans who died between November 1, 1990 and September 10, 2001.

I want to recognize Representative Nancy Johnson, who has been championing this cause for over five years. I appreciate her working with the Subcommittee to ensure that veterans and their families continue to have access to symbolic expressions of remembrance.

Finally, section 203 would authorize the Secretary to permit the placement of a memorial headstone or marker in a national cemetery when a child's remains are unavailable for burial.

If feasible, VA would be authorized to add a memorial inscription to a veteran's headstone rather than providing a separate marker for the minor child.

Currently, VA may provide a memorial headstone or marker for a veteran, spouse, or surviving spouse when remains are unavailable.

However, if a spouse and child die at the same time and in the same manner, and the remains for neither are available, a veteran cannot receive a memorial headstone honoring the child. This section would correct an inequity in current law. Since 2002, VA has received three such requests.

I want to thank Ms. Berkley, the other members of the Subcommittee, and staff on both sides of the aisle for their work on the provisions incorporated in title two of the amendment. I also thank Chairman Buyer, Ranking Member Evans, and Acting Ranking Member Filner for their continued leadership.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3082, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for me to rise today to extend my congratulations to Pastor Glyn Lowery, Jr. for serving as the pastor to Pace Assembly of God in my district for 36 years.

At the young age of 20, Glyn Lowery became the pastor at Pace Assembly of God. Pastor Lowery, better known as Brother Glyn, greatly contributed to the growth of Pace Assembly of God by overseeing the construction of a 1000-seat sanctuary just two years after taking over the congregation. Under Brother Glyn's guidance, Pace Assembly of God has expanded their outreach programs to over 250 ministries. With his leadership, they have built churches throughout Europe, Russia, the Philippines, and South America. Their goal is to establish missionary projects in every country.

In Pace, the church has undergone great expansion. What was once a block building has become a flourishing community with a Family Life Center that houses a basketball court, gymnasium, 25 classrooms, a fellowship hall, kitchen, and resource room. Brother Glyn has also taken on leadership roles in the church community at large, serving as the Assistant Superintendent of the West Florida District of the Assemblies of God and briefly taking over as the District Superintendent after the unexpected death of his predecessor.

Through his journey, Brother Glyn has been supported and aided by Jan Lowery, his wife of 35 years. Together they have worked diligently to create outreach programs to help families live more Godly lives. When they saw that children in the Pace community needed rides to Sunday school, they took the initiative to drive them to church. Together they envisioned bringing children and adults to church in busloads and through their Bus Ministry, this vision has become a reality.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to a man who could serve as a role model to us all. A deep sense of personal devotion to a congregation for 36 years is something to truly be admired, and I am thankful for his dedication to the Pace of Assembly of God.

Mr. Speaker, on America's birthday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il thought it was wise to fire six ballistic missiles. The international community condemned these launches, and Kim Jong Il responded by firing an additional missile on July 5.

Having been to North Korea in 2003, I can tell you that their government does nothing for its people and uses blackmail as its primary foreign policy tool. Kim Jong Il and some of our opponents on the other side of the aisle believe that if North Korea fires missiles that it should be rewarded with direct talks and various forms of assistance. I don't believe in blackmail or rewarding bad behavior.

As President Bush has said recently about Kim Jong Il, he can verifiably get rid of his weapons programs, stop testing rockets, and there is a way forward to help his people. The choice is his to make.

Our military and intelligence professionals, along with our allies in this region, will continue to keep a close watch on North Korea. I have confidence in their abilities.

But let us not forget the 37,000 servicemembers and their families currently stationed in South Korea. I thank them for what they do and wish them continued safety in such close proximity to a despotic and unstable self-appointed leader.

Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for me to rise today to extend my congratulations to First United Methodist Church of Pace on the opening of their new sanctuary.

First United Methodist Church of Pace was founded in 1955 and has since grown to be a vital part of the Santa Rosa County community. The congregation began meeting in a single room of a cement block shop. The church has grown in many ways, most recently with the addition of their new sanctuary. In 1992 a building committee was formed to look into the possibility of expanding First United Methodist Church of Pace's facilities. With the financial and spiritual support of the congregation this vision has now become a reality.

From their humble beginning over 50 years ago, First United Methodist Church of Pace has blossomed into a thriving place of worship.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations to First United Methodist Church of Pace on the opening of their new sanctuary. The dedication of the congregation to their church should be commended, and I am pleased to have First United Methodist Church of Pace in my district.

Mr. Chairman, right now our country is facing an energy crisis. I believe that H.R. 4761 is a great first step to freeing our country from the powerful grips of foreign energy reliance. This bill also makes a powerful statement about the value we place on our military by preventing drilling east of the Military Mission Line, thus providing our military with the tools and resources it needs for defense training.

Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld has said, areas east of the military mission line are ``specially critical to DoD due to the number and diversity of military testing and training activities conducted there now, and those planned for the future.''

I want to thank Chairman Pombo and Congressman Young of Florida for their strong support of this legislation and the military training area that this bill will protect. Continuing to provide adequate training facilities for our military shows not only support for our troops but also sends a message to our enemies that we are serious about winning this war and that our priorities are where they should be.