Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it is an honor for me to rise today to recognize several members of my district who have given their time in support of Congressional Award program.

Since 1979, the Congressional Award program has encouraged young people around the Nation to learn about their community, their government and themselves. Taking part in the program, young men and women ages 14 through 23 challenge themselves to accomplish established goals in voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and an expedition. Participants earn bronze, silver and gold medals based on their levels of achievement. This is a non-competitive, highly individualized program allowing all young people, whether fit or disabled, affluent or disadvantaged, to get involved.

Within Florida's First District, I have had the unparalleled support of the Congressional Award Council, most recently led by Martha Krehely. This council is one of only four chartered in the nation and has been a backbone in nurturing the program over the last decade. Mrs. Krehely, along with her husband Don, Ann Ball, Jacqualine Young, Margaret Restucher, James Sheffer, Lamar Smith, Thomas Gilliam, Honor Bell, Henry Giles and Jeff Weeks, have selflessly devoted hundreds of hours over the years to young men and women working to achieve their goals. Through their efforts the program has grown so that over 120 young adults are currently participating.

Their tireless commitment led to dozens of participants earning their bronze, silver and gold medals. As several members move on to other challenges, we can all be grateful for the strength and character they helped foster in the lives of our future leaders.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am proud to recognize the First Congressional District's Congressional Award Council and wish them continued success in all their endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

Madam Speaker, ``They tried and that was important,'' said Colonel Thomas Schaefer, the U.S. Embassy defense attache and one of hostages. ``It is tragic 8 men died, but it is important America had the courage to attempt the rescue.''

It was 90 young men who volunteered to go to the desert, and 9 of them never made it home. The oldest, 35; the youngest, 21. Between them, they left 13 children. Captain Harold Lewis has 2 children, Dr. Jim Lewis, now on the medical staff at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, and Kimberly Lewis, who joined the Coast Guard. Captain Lynn McIntosh has 3 children, Scott, Stewart and Mark, who is currently enrolled in Lincoln Memorial University, Tennessee. Sergeant John Harvey has 2 children, Lauren and John. Tech Sergeant Joel Mayo has 4 children, Douglas, Joel, Jr., Brett, and Kurt, who also served in the Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1998. Finally, Staff Sergeant Dewey Johnson has 2 children, Wesley and Lee Ann.

One of those who died was Air Force Tech Sergeant Joel C Mayo. He was 34. He was from Bonifay, Florida in my district near Hurlburt Field.

Sergeant Mayo, the flight engineer on EC-130, performed his fire control duties so others might escape, until it was too late for him to save his own life. He died while trying to rescue his pilot, Captain Lewis.

One of his comrades and good friends, retired Master Sergeant Taco Sanchez, had this to say about his friend Sergeant Mayo: ``I talked to him that night. It is important people understand. Joel had no idea he was going to give his life that night. But if you told him that he was going to die, he still would've gone.''

Not only did he die a true hero. But his death gave life to what we now know today as Special Operations Command and the Air Force Special Operations Command.

The Air Force personnel who died were members of the 8th Special Operations Squadron based at Hurlburt Field. At Desert One the 8th SOS was given its motto: ``The Guts to Try.'' The patch of the 15th SOS has 5 burning fires, representing the 5 Air Force personnel who lost their lives. The men who died have not and never will be forgotten.

To all the families we say this: If your loved ones had not died that fateful day, the enormity of the task of integrating the military at the time might not have been realized. The urgency of the situation might not have been fully understood and the creation of the truly Joint Special Operations Command could have been delayed for a number of years, resulting in who knows how many further U.S. causalities.

Of course, this does not bring them back to us, and nothing can replace the emptiness where they once were. Hopefully, time has done all that it can in that regard, but you should know that every citizen of this country owes a special debt of gratitude to your husbands, brothers, sons, fathers, cousins, and comrades who died on that day.

Can you imagine if we had not had the capabilities of Special Operations Command after September 11? We would have still pursued and destroyed the enemy, but who knows how many more American lives would have been lost if we had only had conventional forces to rely on.

Cailin Mayo is one of Joel's grandchildren. She is old enough now to understand our grandfather's sacrifice. It is to her and all the other grandchildren of those eight men that I say this: do not ever forget the sacrifices of your grandfathers. Know that they are all with God and that they will forever look down upon and continue to protect each of you.

Retired Master Sergeant Sanchez's words about his friend Joel Mayo capture the essence of every man on this mission. They were a brave, courageous group of men attempting the impossible for a noble and a worthy cause. They were Marines and airmen, but they came together for one purpose, and that was to rescue Americans, and as Americans, they died together in the desert. They had the guts to try.

God bless them, their families and these United States.

Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

I thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal) for yielding. I thank my colleague and good friend, the chairman, for allowing this time.

As co-chair of the Congressional POW/MIA Caucus I appreciate the leadership of the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal) on this issue.

The POW-MIA Caucus recognizes that policy coordination and cooperation must include not only congressional oversight but also a continued strong working relationship with nongovernmental organizations such as those you have talked about, the National League of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia, the Organization of Korea/Cold War Families of Missing.

It is the members of these organizations and others like them who stand to gain the most by the implementation of government policy. The elimination of nongovernmental organization participation in this process would impede progress, and the caucus supports the leadership of the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal) on this issue and looks forward to working with the Defense POW/Missing Persons Office, the committees of jurisdiction, and these organizations to ensure that our shared goals are met.

Mr. Deal of Georgia. I thank the chairman of the subcommittee, and I look forward to working with him on this issue in conference.

Amendment Offered by Ms. Pelosi

Mr. Speaker, talk of bipartisanship in legislating real solutions for the American people must have been just that; talk. The 109th Congress commenced just 6 months ago, and some Members on the other side of the aisle are still scheming on how to derail practical solutions for reforming Social Security.

One promising proposal, the creation of personal retirement accounts, has already been taken off the table by the Democrats before genuine debate has even begun. I believe that younger workers should have the opportunity to plan for a higher retirement income than that which the current system would allow. Workers retiring after about 2042 can only expect to receive about 73 percent or less of what they are being promised today.

I hear from my constituents daily about broken promises by our government. Personal accounts are a perfect example of a way we can give the American public control of their hard-earned income and avoid broken promises to its people.

Mr. Speaker, it is only fair to working Americans that we have true debate on Social Security reform before tossing out so-called partisan ideas.

Mr. Chairman on rollcall No. 251, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, as I listen to the national debate on Social Security reform, I am left wondering why no one is talking about America's greatest principles, and that is property rights.

I get letters, e-mails, and phone calls every day from my constituents demanding that I do not take away their guaranteed Social Security benefits. That leads me to believe that our Nation's citizens may not understand that they really have no legal right to their Social Security benefits.

The Supreme Court ruled in Flemming v. Nestor that there is no legal right to Social Security benefits. In the eyes of the Court, it is deemed a tax-and-spend program in which Congress can change the rules regarding eligibility at any time, and it has many times over in past years. That is how our current system works.

Mr. Speaker, it is time for reform. It is time to give American taxpayers back their personal property rights. Personal accounts would give workers true legal property rights to their contributions and their benefits. They could not be raided to pay for other programs. Personal accounts are the ultimate lockbox.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to continue to shine the light on the need for reform of our Social Security. On Monday, an editorial ran in The Washington Post which criticized the Democratic leadership for not having or supporting a plan for Social Security reform. The editorial also hammered the plan offered by Democrat Robert Wexler as a lopsided quick fix, calling the proposal both unbalanced and inadequate. They say the plan would merely raise payroll taxes and would fail to provide long-term relief. Further, the proposal shows little or no benefit for workers under the age of 55.

One solution which could help improve Social Security and provide long-term relief is through personal retirement accounts. Giving Americans the option of putting a portion of their payroll taxes into small personal accounts is a more balanced and better solution to the Social Security problem. Quick fixes, such as the one proposed by Robert Wexler, will only pass the problem of Social Security to younger generations.

Madam Speaker, our children and grandchildren deserve the best, including a Social Security program which provides generational fairness. And clearly Americans are hearing this clarion call. In fact, a recent Fox News poll showed that 84 percent of workers age 18 to 55 would support having the option of personal accounts.

Madam Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 2528--The Military Quality of Life and Veterans' Affairs Appropriations Act for Fiscal year 2006. Let me begin by commending the gentleman from New York, Mr. Walsh, for his work on this important bill.

I'd like to comment briefly on an issue that is important to me as the Chairman of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee on the Veterans' Affairs Committee--the National Shrine Commitment. As you may know, pursuant to Public Law 106-117 the Department of Veterans Affairs entered into a contract to assess the state of VA's national cemeteries. That study identified

$279 million of needed repairs and maintenance. While the President requested $14.4 million to fund this initiative, the Veterans' Affairs Committee, in its views and estimates letter to the Budget Committee, recommended an additional $45.6 million in minor construction funding to begin a 5-year plan to fully fund needed repairs and maintenance.

It is necessary that Congress ensure our national cemeteries are maintained in a manner that pays proper tribute to our fallen veterans. Funding the National Shrine Commitment achieves that end. I look forward to working with Chairman Walsh to see if we can find the necessary resources to fund the National Shrine Commitment.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

We hear a lot of conversation today here on the floor about national security and not depending upon foreign sources of oil and gas. Let me just say that this particular issue is in fact a national security issue.

Most of the focus we hear, obviously, is on the potential environmental impacts and impacts on tourism and all of the environmental things we enjoy along our coasts in Florida and in California. But let me just say that the biggest impact that could happen with oil and natural gas, drilling or exploration in the eastern Gulf of Mexico is a potential to harm our ability to test and evaluate all of the Air Force weaponry that is used around the globe.

In fact, let me read a quote to you. ``Wilbert Patterson, Brigadier General, United States Air Force, June of 2000. We are deeply concerned over the construction of any oil or gas structures that could impact on our critical test programs performed by the Air Armament Center at Eglin Air Force Base.''

This is an issue of national security. We have to be able to test in the Gulf ranges and this drilling will harm that testing.

I thank my good friend for yielding time.

Mr. Chairman, obviously we are here tonight to talk about just a commonsense issue in regards to this blending issue. I, in fact, have been involved in the construction of and the management of wastewater treatment plants. Blending is used obviously in very high water times and I think that that is an issue that we have heard raised tonight. We are not in any way trying to stop the issue of blending during the storm season, but the fact of the matter is, in 2003 there were more than 18,000 closings or advisories around the United States and that was 5,000 more than ever at any time before. These closings were due to fecal coliform increases in bacterial levels outside of the norm.

The fact of the matter is it does not take a medical degree to understand that this is a health issue for our families and our children that are out there that are actually swimming sometimes in this waste. In fact, we are looking at the blending of untreated solid free waste with treated sewage. The Clean Water Act already allows for that blending to take place.

As the gentleman from Michigan says, we are not trying to change the last resort issue. What we are trying to do is to set up an issue where we cannot have these wastewater treatment plants continue to dump more less treated or smaller treated wastewater into our waterways.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to offer a personal explanation of the reason I missed rollcall votes Nos. 176-178 on May 17, 2005. These were votes on amendments to H.R. 2360 The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill for FY 06. due to personal circumstances I was detained until after these votes had concluded.

If present, I would have voted rollcall Vote No. 176, the Menendez Amendment ``no''; rollcall Vote No. 177, the Tancredo Amendment ``aye''; rollcall Vote No. 178, the Meeks (NY) Amendment, ``no.''

Amendment Offered by Mr. Obey

Mr. Speaker, I was saddened to learn recently of the passing of Mr. George Poole, a distinguished senior manager with the Department of Veterans Affairs' Insurance Service. VA's Insurance Service has long been recognized as one of the finest-managed organizations within the federal government, due in no small measure to Mr. Poole and his commitment to our servicemembers, veterans, and their survivors.

Few Americans can match George's years of devoted service to country. He began his public career by serving in the United States Air Force from 1964 through 1968. Following his honorable discharge, he received bachelor and law degrees, taking full advantage of the VA-administered GI Bill. Who can doubt that his military service and studies made possible by the GI Bill inspired him to pursue a career dedicated to helping fellow veterans. This dedication translated into a distinguished 28-year career with the VA's Insurance Service, where he served from 1977 until his death April 27th.

While it is difficult to highlight just one of his many accomplishments, surely his creation and development of the Insurance Service's ``Special Outreach'' effort warrants particular mention. This outreach involves matching insurance participation and disability reports from various sources to identify recently separated, seriously injured veterans who have not taken advantage of VA's life insurance programs. Based on the efforts of George and his staff, over $96 million in insurance proceeds have been provided to veterans' survivors. Few among us have had such a dramatic and positive impact on the lives of so many others.

Mr. Poole was always available to provide invaluable research, data, and program explanations to the members and staff of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs--often on short notice. As such, his expertise and professional manner were essential to the Committee when crafting bipartisan legislation.

Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, the subcommittee with jurisdiction over VA's insurance programs, I extend my sincere condolences to Mr. Poole's wife, Denise; his two sons, Todd and Corey; his granddaughter, Madeline; and his equally dedicated coworkers at the VA Regional Office and Insurance Center in Philadelphia.

I rise today to recognize Gulf Islands National Seashore for receiving a grant from the National Park Foundation and Unilever.

Unilever's Recycling at Work competitive grants program funds enhancement projects such as seating, boardwalks, overlooks, pullouts and educational/interpretive displays using sustainable lumber throughout the National Park System. The projects highlight the environmental leadership of the National Park Service in demonstrating how people may live more lightly on the land through the use of sustainable materials and techniques.

In Northwest Florida, Gulf Islands National Seashore is proud to be a part of this program. As a result of the generous grant, the park will construct the only accessible nature trail on the seashore. This trail will be a universal design boardwalk made of recyclable materials which will not only enhance the visitors' experience, but will also protect the fragile underbrush of the forest.

Mr. Speaker, this grant, in conjunction with the Florida National Trails Association's hard work and manpower, will greatly benefit all those who visit Northwest Florida's scenic wonders. I, along with Northwest Florida, am very appreciative of Unilever's generosity.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it is an honor for me to rise today to recognize the 100th Anniversary of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

There is little doubt that, without certified public accountants, the area of financial reporting would be a quagmire. Financial statements would be meaningless as everyone would strive to show favorable results without worrying much about honesty or accuracy. For these reasons, I am grateful that the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants has worked diligently over the past 100 years to work with CPAs throughout my state and ensure that the profession of public accounting remains safe and stable for 100 years more.

The FICPA has been instrumental in bringing the first accountancy law to my home state of Florida 100 years ago, and since then has worked diligently to bring the highest sense of professionalism to all areas of accounting. The Institute has also been a key supporter of legislation to require an ethics course for all Certified Public Accountants in addition to working closely with universities to provide aspiring CPAs the skills and education they will need to succeed, even going so far as to establish a foundation. Thanks to the FICPA, CPAs in the state of Florida also are required by law to take continuing education courses, further ensuring that citizens receive high-quality accounting services from well educated professionals.

The FICPA has not only focused on helping qualified accountants, but has also worked hard to prevent unqualified accountants from providing low-quality, unethical services to the citizens of Florida through an unlicensed accounting awareness campaign. Steps such as this have helped guarantee that CPAs in Florida will provide the quality service that the public deserves, and that Floridians can rest

assured that their financial reporting will be of the caliber they are entitled to.

With the continued help of their Chief Executive Officer Buddy Turman, I am confident that the FICP A will continue to build upon its legacy from the last 100 years and allow the profession of accounting to maintain its prominent role in our society. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am proud to recognize the 100th Anniversary of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to bring to the attention of all the members of this Congress some good news and some bad news. First, the bad news; Lieutenant Colonel McGivern will no longer be serving the U.S. Congress as the Deputy Director of the Air Force's Congressional Liaison Office on Capitol Hill. He's retiring after 23 years of exceptionally patriotic and honorable service in the United States Air Force. The good news is that he's going to enjoy a well-earned retirement from military duty while pursuing a new civilian career. We are certain his infectious, ``we're the Air Force, we can do anything'' attitude, will uplift any organization he comes in contact with. Unfortunately for us, as nearly every member of this body knows who has traveled with'' Slug,'' we are losing one of the best liaison officers we've ever had. He is one of those unique military members who knows and understands the intricacies of Congress and the complexities of overseas travel to often-hostile environments.

During the past 23 years, Lieutenant Colonel McGivern has served in the Air Force with honor and distinction. He's a master navigator/ weapons officer with over 2,300 hours. He flew over 100 combat hours in Southwest Asia and was the operations officer of an F-15E squadron at Seymour Johnson AFB, NC. As a result of his operational expertise and consummate professional he was twice selected to work in the congressional arena for the USAF.

As we all know, we are engaged in a war different than those we have fought in the past. The war on terrorism is often a war of individuals and not a war of massed forces on a battle line. Lieutenant Colonel McGivern has contributed greatly to our success in this global war on terrorism by his individual attention and counsel to members of the U.S. Congress during trips to Iraq and Afghanistan. His insightful comments and professional skill has, on numerous occasions, been the difference between a safe and productive trip to visit our troops in the field. He's treated everyone of us like we were family and we couldn't appreciate it more. Despite the conflict and the natural frictions that develop in such an atmosphere, the relationship between the Congress and our military services has never been better. I attribute much of this to the unquestioned judgment and integrity of individual officers up and down the line--officers like LTC Rick McGivern. Whether it was responding to a constituent inquiry, providing information about force modernization or escorting our delegations to all corners of the world, we could count on the Air Force and it's congressional affairs officers to respond quickly, accurately and courteously.

As LTC Rick ``Slug'' McGivern departs from his active duty service to the United States Air Force and the Nation, we the members of the U.S. House of Representatives on behalf of all of our constituents, the citizens of this great nation, wish him the fondest farewell and deepest thanks for a job well done and mission complete.