Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 322) expressing the Sense of Congress regarding the contribution of the USO to the morale and welfare of our servicemen and women of our armed forces and their families, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution currently under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, the United Service Organizations, established on February 4 of 1941, has become a national treasure. In every war and every theater of operation since World War II where Americans have been deployed, the USO has been there to entertain and to increase the morale and welfare of the men and women in the military and their families. As the chairman of the USO Caucus it is my pleasure to bring this resolution to the floor today.

When the organization was formed, the military was expanding rapidly for the impending conflict. Between 1940 and 1944 the size of our military grew from 50,000 to over 12 million. At its high point during the Second World War the USO had over 3,000 clubs and 1.5 million volunteers to provide services to military personnel. On the entertainment side, the U.S. provided 428,521 shows and performances. To put this figure into perspective around the world, the USO would do sometimes 700 shows a day. It estimates that over 7,000 entertainers were sent overseas to entertain our troops.

Today, USO facilities are visited over 5 million times a year; and although the USO does have a paid staff, the bulk of the service that they provide is through 12,000 volunteers who donate over 450,000 hours annually.

In 2005, the USO sent out over 50 celebrity entertainment tours. Almost

200,000 servicemembers in some 30 countries were visited by these tours. The USO has distributed over 750,000 care packages to deploying servicemembers, and last year they had three care package stuffing parts right here on Capitol Hill for troops deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. I have helped stuff packages myself, as have many other Members of Congress and their staff. We have to date stuffed and sent 12,000 care packages. My goal is to increase that number to 20,000 a year. It is the least that we as Members of Congress can do.

H. Con. Res. 322 will recognize the thousands of men and women, mostly volunteers, who have made the USO possible, for without them the USO would not be half of what it is.

Every time I have the opportunity to go overseas to Iraq, Afghanistan, to Bosnia and other areas of operation around the world, the men and women tell me all the time, send us more USO shows.

Send us more of those USO care packages. To me, Mr. Speaker, that says that our USO continues to be the single most important morale booster to our men and women serving overseas. From the Second World War to Iraq, the USO has been there and is there today, and we are here for the men and women of the USO.

God bless them and the incredible work that they do.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), a gentleman who has three sons serving in our Armed Forces today, one of whom returned from service in Iraq last year.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it is an honor for me to rise today to recognize Naval Hospital Pensacola in my district for being named the best mid-sized Department of Defense hospital in the nation for patient satisfaction.

Last month, the 2006 annual TRICARE conference focused on Department of Defense health facilities that excel in providing healthcare to active service members, retirees, and their families, and I am proud to know that those who so bravely serve our country can come to Northwest Florida for quality healthcare.

I also want to commend Naval Hospital Pensacola's Commanding Officer, Captain Matt Nathan, for leading the hospital over the last 2 years and ensuring that his staff deliver the best services possible to those in need. This award reflects as much on the staff that oversee the day-to- day operation of the hospital, including patient care and follow-up. Naval Hospital Pensacola has long been a top provider of customer satisfaction because of this outstanding staff, and I am proud to see them along with Captain Nathan take the hospital to the number one spot.

I am confident that all of those who work at Naval Hospital Pensacola will continue to strive toward the best healthcare for our active and retired service members and their families well into the future. It is this kind of health care that should serve as a model for how we should take care of those who dedicate their lives toward the freedom of this great Nation and the rest of the world.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am proud to recognize Naval Hospital Pensacola as being the top medium-sized Department of Defense hospital in our Nation, and I wish them great success down the road.

Mr. Speaker, this week I attended the funeral of SSgt Daniel Clay. Sergeant Clay was from my district and one of ten Marines killed by an IED in Fallujah, Iraq on December 1, 2005.

Dan's father, Bud Clay, shared with me a letter his son wrote to his loved ones before he was killed. Accompanying his son's letter was a letter Bud had written to President Bush. Mr. Clay asked me to take this to Congress and share with you so that we could all see Dan's final thoughts and wishes.

May God Bless SSgt Daniel Clay, his family, our veterans, our troops, and the United States of America.

Mom, Dad, Kristie, Jodie, Kimberly, Robert, Katy, Richard,

and my Lisa: Boy do I love each and every one of you. This

letter being read means that I have been deemed worthy of

being with Christ. With MaMa Jo, MaMa Clay, Jennifer . . .

all those we have been without for our time during the race.

This is not a bad thing. It is what we hope for. The secret

it out. He lives and His promises are real! It is not faith

that supports this . . . But fact and I now am a part of the

promise. Here is notice! Wake up! All that we hope for is

Real. Not a hope. But Real.

But here is something tangible. What we have done in Iraq

is worth any sacrifice. Why? Because it was our duty. That

sounds simple. But all of us have a duty. Duty is defined as

a God given task. Without duty life is worthless. It holds no

type of fulfillment. The simple fact that our bodies are

built for work has to lead us to the conclusion that God (who

made us) put us together to do His work. His work is

different for each of us. Mom, yours was to be the glue of

our family, to be a pillar for those women (all women around

you), Dad, yours was to train and build us (like a Platoon

Sgt) to better serve Him. Kristie, Kim, Katy you are the five

team leaders who support your Squad ldrs, Jodie, Robert and

Richard. Lisa you too. You are my XO and you did a hell of a

job. You all have your duties. Be thankful that God in His

wisdom gives us work. Mine was to ensure that you did not

have to experience what it takes to protect what we have as a

family. This I am so thankful for. I know what honor is. It

is not a word to be thrown around. It has been an Honor to

protect and serve all of you. I faced death with the secure

knowledge that you would not have to. This is as close to

Christ-like I can be. That emulation is where all honor lies.

I thank you for making it worthwhile.

As a Marine this is not the last Chapter. I have the

privilege of being one who has finished the race. I have been

in the company of heroes. I now am counted among them. Never

falter! Don't hesitate to honor and support those of us who

have the honor of protecting that which is worth protecting.

Now here are my final wishes. Do not cry! To do so is to

not realize what we have placed all our hope and faith in. We

should not fear. We should not be sad. Be thankful. Be so

thankful. All we hoped for is true. Celebrate! My race is

over, my time in war zone is over. My trials are done. A

short time separates all of us from His reality. So laugh.

Enjoy the moments and your duty. God is wonderful.

I love each and every one of you.

Spread the word . . . Christ lives and He is Real.

Semper Fidelis,

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Crestview High School

Marching Band in Crestview, Florida for their remarkable performance in the 79th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The Big Red Machine, directed by David Cadle, was chosen as one of six high school bands to perform in the renowned parade. As everyone knows, Macy's saves the best for last with Santa Claus arriving in Herald Square. This holds true for marching bands as Crestview was honored to celebrate Santa's yearly anticipated arrival in to Herald Square, while millions of Americans were at home watching with excitement.

The band's dedication and hard work was apparent throughout the show. Awakening the holiday spirit in each and every one of us, they welcomed in the holiday season with warmth and joy as they performed a colorful rendition of ``We Wish You a Merry Christmas.'' Watching their smiling faces as they marched into the Square reminded me of how proud I am to represent the people of Northwest Florida.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I recognize and congratulate the Crestview High School Marching Band for their outstanding performance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1234, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2005.

This bill would provide a 4.1 percent cost-of-living adjustment to disabled veterans, surviving spouses, and other VA beneficiaries in receipt of monetary VA benefits. This is the same COLA increase provided to Social Security recipients and will apply to benefits beginning on December 1 of this year. Congress has provided these increases every fiscal year since 1976.

More than 2.6 million veterans are receiving service-connected disability compensation. These benefits are paid monthly, and range from $108 for a 10-percent disability to $2,299 for a 100-percent disability. Additional monetary benefits are available for our most severely disabled veterans, as well as those with dependents.

Spouses of veterans who died on active duty or as the result of a service-connected disability likewise are entitled to monetary compensation. Additional amounts are paid to survivors who are housebound or in need of aid and attendance, or have minor children. Currently more than 336,000 surviving spouses and children are receiving survivors' benefits.

I want to thank the subcommittee's ranking member, Ms. Berkley, as well as all the members of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, for their work this year.

I also commend Chairman Buyer and Ranking Member Evans for their leadership in bringing the bill to the floor today, as well as committee staff on both sides of the aisle for their hard work.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 1234.

Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness that I rise today to note the passing of a man whose legacy will forever be remembered. In 1970, Reverend Hollice T. Williams became the first black city councilman in Pensacola, a city in my district in Northwest Florida.

For more than twelve years, Rev. Williams served on the city council, re-elected six times to the council. However, his service to Northwest Florida extended far beyond elected office. For nearly 50 years, Rev. Williams worked at the local YMCA, eventually becoming executive director in 1969. Through his different positions at the YMCA, he became known as a man with a genuine sense of caring who fostered that sense into those with whom he came into contact.

The Reverend Hollice Williams was also known in areas of the community as he continuously addressed civic issues for the black community as well as the faith-based community. His love for God was readily apparent in

his conduct for individuals and groups. He put in long hours for youth groups throughout the area, sang in the choir at Emanuel Baptist Church, and was the pastor at Mount Lily Baptist Church for nearly ten years at the end of his working career. While suffering a stroke two years ago may have slowed the Reverend's activities, the lessons he had instilled and the inspiration he had brought to those around him continued to thrive.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family of Reverend Williams. They, along with their community, have suffered a great loss. Reverend Hollice T. Williams served as a model for so many, and I am confident that many will remember him fondly and model their actions in life on what he showed them through his life.

Mr. Speaker, Marine Corporal Jonathan ``J.R.'' Spears, was lost to us in Iraq on October 23.

He was a proud Marine and an exceptionally fine man who joined the greatest military service in the world.

I had the solemn honor of attending Corporal Spears funeral today and meeting his incredible family and friends. I now know how blessed they are to have known such a fine man. His parents, Timothy and Marie and his sisters Jennifer and Jessica display courage, dignity and strength that is moving and inspirational. I wish I could have known him as they did as he seemed like a truly amazing person.

J.R. used to work in a sandwich shop and he selflessly gave a portion of each pay check he received to buy food for the homeless. While playing football in high school he got up to 265 pounds. In order to fulfill one of his life dreams, joining the Marines, he had to lose nearly eighty pounds, which he did.

He was a young man who, by the time of his death at 21, had already planned out his life. He wanted to go to college after leaving the Marines Corps and then go on to be an FBI or Secret Service Agent. I know very few young people who have their life plan set by the time they reach 30, let alone 21. J.R. was a driven man who knew what he wanted and made it happen.

A stanza in the Marine Hymn written over a century ago says: ``If the Army and the Navy ever gaze on Heaven's scenes, they will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines.'' I know that J.R. is up in heaven guarding the streets for all of us. I am certain he has been welcomed with God's saving grace.

His sacrifice is a solemn reminder to us of the risks that all of our men and women in uniform make every day to keep us safe.

I know that our Marine Corps will hold him in their hearts forever, as will we all.

May God bless Corporal Spears, his family and all of our men and women in uniform.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer a personal explanation of the reason I missed rollcall votes Nos. 559, 560, and 561 on November 2, 2005. It was suspension

votes on H.R. 1606, the Online Freedom of Speech Act, H.R. 4061, the V.A. Information Technology Management Improvement Act, and H.R. 1691, the John H. Bradley Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic Designation.

Mr. Speaker, President Reagan once said, ``We don't have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven't taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much.'' I wish others would heed his words and begin exercising more fiscal constraint.

We should start with our own paychecks and truly lead the American people by actions and not words.

I have introduced a bill--Rescind the Congressional Pay Raise Act, which rescinds Members' salaries back to last year's pay level. We cannot, in good conscience, entitle ourselves to more money while others continue to willingly make sacrifices for the sake of our Nation's future.

Mr. Speaker, now is the critical time for Congress to step up to the plate and do what is necessary to control this spending gone awry. Let us start with ourselves.

Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for me to rise today to recognize Cherry Fitch, Florida's High School Principal of the Year. For over 30 years Mrs. Fitch has served Gulf Breeze High School, improving students' lives working as both a teacher and an administrator.

She began her career at Gulf Breeze High School in 1970 as an English teacher and 27 years of dedication later she became the principal. She is an excellent principal, concerned not only with the academic wellbeing of her students but their social success as well. Although Mrs. Fitch left the classroom, she remained deeply involved in her students' lives.

There is no doubt that Cherry Fitch has positively influenced thousands of students during her time at Gulf Breeze High School. Her love of community and school has been apparent throughout her career. It is fitting that in her last year at Gulf Breeze High School that Mrs. Fitch is recognized with this great honor for all her dedication. Under her leadership, Gulf Breeze High School has been the recipient of numerous accolades including being named an A+ school for the past 4 years.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to an educator who could serve as a role model to us all. Over three decades of service to education is something to truly be admired, and I am thankful for her commitment to Gulf Breeze High School.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer a personal explanation of the reason I missed roll call Vote No. 508 on September 29, 2005. It was a suspension vote on H. Con. Res. 178, of which I am a cosponsor. Due to circumstances, I could not make it to the floor for this vote.

I respectfully request that it be entered into the Congressional Record that if present, I would have voted rollcall vote No. 508, recognizing the need to pursue research into the causes, treatment, and an eventual cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, supporting the goals and ideals of National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week, ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for me to rise today to recognize the 100th anniversary of Wallace Baptist Church in my district. Through several locations and many pastors, the church has continuously provided a place of worship for the people of northwest Florida.

Originally founded as the New Smyrna Baptist Church, a small congregation first met in Bagdad, Florida, in 1905. For nearly 40 years, the church met in that location, constantly adding new members to their congregation and establishing a reputation as a house where all were welcome.

The original 40 years added many people to the original congregation, and recognizing the need for more land, a group of 32 people in 1942 began meeting a short distance away in the Wallace Schoolhouse. The land had been donated to them by a local family interested in seeing the local community prosper. Less than a year later, the church had its own building constructed and continued to use the pulpit from their first building. The pulpit still exists to this day, though it is no longer used. In addition, wood from the original building was used for construction of the new podium, instilling a physical sense of tradition that the church carries with it as it continues into the future.

Approximately 20 years later, now under the name of Wallace Baptist Church, a larger auditorium was constructed to accommodate the increasing size of the church's membership. The previous building, adjacent to the auditorium, remained in use as a meeting place for Sunday School. A few years later, recognizing their long-term stability and consistent growth both in congregation size as well as services offered, the church voted to incorporate as Wallace Baptist Church.

The church continued to add facilities over the next several decades as it continued to flourish, so I much so that in 2003 the more than 300 members of the church saw the pressing need for a larger main sanctuary and voted to have one built. The groundbreaking on the new site occurred earlier this year. Under the present leadership of Rev. Lee Botts and having already shown consistent growth, I am confident that the church and its mission will continue to be recognized by many as a great place to worship, continuing to serve the community well into the future.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the U.S. Congress, I am proud of the success of Wallace Baptist Church over the last 100 years and look forward to its next century of service.

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

I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert), the cosponsor of this legislation, and all the rest of the cosponsors for their support of this amendment. I want to thank all of my colleagues who joined in this debate today, and I think that it is important that we adopt this substitute.

Earlier the gentleman from California (Mr. Cardoza) got up on the floor, and he was upset that somebody had said that the underlying bill would eviscerate the Endangered Species Act. Yesterday, that statement would have been true. He had a right to be upset. But today when the manager's amendment was offered and was accepted, the Endangered Species Act was eviscerated and let me tell you why: Because the bill, prior to that amendment, contained this language: The term to jeopardize the continued existence means, with respect to any agency action, that action reasonably that would be expected to significantly impede directly or indirectly the conservation long-term of the species in the wild. That language was struck in the manager's amendment when you struck on page 4, strike lines 3 through 11 and redesignate.

The point is this, there is now no statutory protection in law if this bill is passed for the protection of this species because there is no standard of jeopardy. That was not true last night, it was not true this morning, but it is true this afternoon. You can shake your head until the cows come home. The fact of the matter is, that is what took place in this amendment. So the evisceration is now complete because there is no standard in the bill for jeopardy.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is important that we accept this amendment,

this bipartisan substitute, because this is our last best chance to hold on to what this Nation holds dear, and that is the protection and the diversity of the species that inhabit this Nation, and the effort that we have made as a Nation to make sure that our actions and governmental actions, and the actions of others, do not destroy and bring to extinction these species.

Those protections that we have provided since the inception of this act when the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) and others were here to support it, those protections have served this Nation well. We have a chance today to have a commonsense reform of that effort. Yes, this act should be changed; it is 30 years old, and we are about to do that with this substitute, because we provide the balance for the protection of these species and the protection of the landowners. What we do not do is what they do in the underlying bill; that, if a landowner has a proposal and a notion of how he might want to use his or her land, the Secretary then has to make a determination of whether or not a take might be possible.

No take is required. The Secretary makes no scientific study, makes no scientific investigation, just makes a determination. Does the landowner sue on that? Does the government sue to protect themselves? Then, if the Secretary says so, the landowner is compensated no longer by fair appraisals, because appraisals only bind the Secretary, they do not bind the landowner. Pretty soon, the U.S. Attorney is going to have to go in to protect the treasury of the United States because, as the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk) pointed out, this is a new entitlement with direct spending. That is why the Bush administration says that it will generate new litigation, further divert agency resources, and have significant budgetary impact, because that is what they have done.

That is why the substitute provides you the means by which to reform, streamline, and make more efficient the Endangered Species Act at the same time, while protecting not only the landowners, but also protecting the taxpayers of this Nation from a raid on their Treasury when, in fact, no take has taken place.

We all share the gentleman from California's concerns and beliefs that, when your land is taken, you should be reimbursed; when your land is not taken, you should not be reimbursed.

I ask support of the Boehlert/Miller substitute.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 3200) to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program, and for other purposes.

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

(Mr. MILLER of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, on July 14 of this year, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs reported H.R. 3200, the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance Enhancement Act of 2005. On July 26 of this year, the House passed the bill by a vote of 424-0.

Among other things, this bill would provide a permanent authorization for increases in maximum life insurance covered under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance Program and the Veterans Group Life Insurance Program from $250,000 to $400,000.

Public Law 109-13, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act For Defense, the Global War on Terror, and the Tsunami Relief, 2005, increased the maximum coverage to $400,000 under these programs; however, the authorization expires in just 2 days, that is, September 30.

It is my understanding that during negotiations on the supplemental that the Senate included the termination date which was approved in the conference report to afford the legislative committees of jurisdiction the opportunity to hold hearings and further consider the specifics of the emergency authorization before it was made permanent.

The increased level of coverage was requested by the President because of concerns that death benefits for survivors of servicemembers were inadequate as our Nation fights the global war on terrorism. Further, Public Law 109-13 mandated spousal consent even in cases where the couple is estranged, as long as they are still legally married. The committee does not believe providing the spouse such a ``veto'' authority over life insurance elections is good public policy. The spousal consent requirement could also result, for example, in a servicemember's spouse excluding stepchildren as beneficiaries. The government should not interfere legally in a servicemember's highly personal choices about such family matters as this.

H.R. 3200, as amended, which the Senate passed yesterday, would instead require the military service secretary concerned to provide written notification to the spouse.

In an effort to expedite the passage of this bill as amended, we concur with the Senate's decision to drop the provisions stating that in cases of an unmarried servicemember, or a servicemember who marries while on active duty, notification be made to the next of kin or new spouse as to their insurance election.

The Committee believes notification is the preferable way of ensuring that the spouse is informed about this important financial decision while preserving the individual right of the servicemember to make decisions about life insurance coverage themselves.

Finally, Public Law 109-13 also provided for a new Traumatic Injury Protection program which goes into effect on the 1st of December this year. The committee has agreed to review this proposal in the coming year after having an opportunity to monitor the existing program. As amended, H.R. 3200 does not include this provision.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, like my colleague, I would like to say thank you to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer), the chairman of the committee, and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), the ranking member, for their cooperation in this legislation. I also commend the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley), the ranking member on our subcommittee, as well as the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bradley), for working with me and drafting this compromise agreement.

I particularly want to thank those on the Senate side, Senator Craig and Senator Akaka, for ensuring that this important legislation was considered in the Senate and returned to the House to allow for final passage.

Congress has to act promptly to ensure permanent SGLI authorization is enacted before September 30, or else insurance coverage levels will revert to $250,000 on the 1st of October of this year. I do not think any Member of this body wants to see this happen.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3200, as amended.

For the benefit of my colleagues, the following is a joint explanatory statement describing the compromise agreement which we have reached with the other body.

Joint Explanatory Statement on Senate Amendments to H.R. 3200

H.R. 3200, as amended, the Servicemembers' Group Life

Insurance Enhancement Act of 2005, reflects a Compromise

Agreement reached by the House and Senate Committees on

Veterans' Affairs (the Committees) on the following bills

considered in the House and Senate during the 109th Congress:

H.R. 2046, as amended; H.R. 3200 (House Bills); and S. 1235,

as amended (Senate Bill). H.R. 2046, as amended, passed the

House on May 23, 2005; H.R. 3200 passed the House on July 26,

2005; and S. 1235, as amended, reported to the Senate on

September 21, 2005.

The Committees have prepared the following explanation of

H.R. 3200, as amended (Compromise Agreement). Differences

between the provisions contained in the Compromise Agreement

and the related provisions of H.R. 2046, as amended; H.R.

3200; and S. 1235, as amended, are noted in this document,

except for clerical corrections, conforming changes made

necessary by the Compromise Agreement, and minor drafting,

technical, and clarifying changes.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 3200.