Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, 2,000 years ago Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, marking the beginning of a week that throughout history and the world over has signified the sanctity of human life. Tonight we are here on Palm Sunday to afford the greatest presumption of life possible under our United States Constitution to a woman who has never truly been afforded representation and whose wishes are truly unknown.

This is not about the sanctity of the Schiavo marriage. That is a matter between Terri and Michael. Mr. Schiavo has got some answering to do himself. Any insinuation otherwise is clear hypocrisy and nothing more. And this is not about congressional interference into a family issue. I agree that it should be a family issue.

The problem is Terri's parents want her to live, and Terri's husband wants her to die. And Terri did not use a living will to tell us what she would want. So before an irreversible decision is made, her country must afford her the due process to which she is entitled under the 14th amendment of our Constitution. That means that the State of Florida may not starve Terri to death unless every legal resource to prevent it has been taken. Death by starvation, as we have already heard tonight, is lengthy and incredibly painful. And Terri Schiavo can feel pain. The bill that we are going to pass is going to give her due process before she is sentenced to die in this painful manner.

Convicted serial killers and other death row inmates are afforded Federal review in their cases. The Constitution confers upon this Congress the power to effect the authority on the Federal courts to conduct this kind of review, and that is what I hope we do here tonight. It is square within our powers, it respects the separation between the legislative and the judicial branches, and it holds to the principles of federalism.

There is going to be hollow rhetoric in this Chamber tonight about the need for investigations and about reviewing facts before acting and about attempts to politicize religious beliefs. But where were these arguments last Wednesday night when we passed a bill for Terri unanimously under voice vote? And where were these arguments Friday afternoon when Judge Greer ignored a congressional subpoena designed to allow us the chance to get more information?

The Supreme Court has stated that the authority to subpoena is an ``indispensable ingredient'' of Congress' legislative power. Judge Greer's Friday order expressly disregards that authority, and he should be held in contempt of this body. Like Michael Schiavo, the Judge has some answering to do.

We have a woman who hasn't had food or drink in over two days. We made efforts in the ordinary course of legislative business to afford Terri Schiavo her constitutional rights, and they were rejected. Now, we are left with no choice but to implement extraordinary means in the middle of the night.

Whether you're using morality, or religion, or the Golden Rule, or legal analysis to guide your decision, at the root of all this is a living, breathing American citizen who has been deprived of her rights. This measure will correct that, so I urge all my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and say farewell to an outstanding Naval Officer, Captain Kevin P. Miller, as he prepares to retire upon completion of 24 years of distinguished service. It is a privilege for me to honor his achievements and commend him for his devotion to the Navy and our great Nation. Captain Miller was commissioned as an Ensign in the United Sates Navy in 1981 and subsequently reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola for flight training in November of that year. In August 1983 he had earned the prestigious designation of a Naval Aviator.

Upon completion of A-7E Corsair II replacement pilot training, he reported to the ``Marauders'' of VA-82 completing two deployments to the Mediterranean Sea and one mini-deployment to the Norwegian Sea in USS Nimitz (CVN-68). In October 1987 Captain Miller joined the ``Gladiators'' of VFA-106, where he served with great distinction as Training Landing Signal Officer and Carrier Qualification Phase Head.

In October 1990, as a result of his superb leadership, Captain Miller was directed to serve on the staff of Commander, Carrier Air Wing Seven embarked in USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) where he made enormously successful deployments in Ike to the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, Arabian Gulf, and Norwegian Sea. Assuming greater responsibilities with each passing assignment, he then reported to the ``Wildcats'' of VFA- 131 where he served in four different department head billets culminating in an embarked tour in USS George Washington (CVN-73) during her Maiden Deployment in 1994. His personal contributions led to VFA-131 earning the Estocin Award as the Navy's top strike-fighter squadron and recognition from the Chief of Naval Operations for an unmatched safety record.

After serving ashore on the staff of Commander, First Air Force/ Continental NORAD Region at Tyndall Air Force Base he once again reported for duty afloat to the ``Gunslingers'' of VFA-105 aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) assuming command of the squadron in September 1998. He deployed two months later aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65S), participating in combat during Operations Desert Fox and Southern Watch. Following his command tour he earned a Masters Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and served on the CNO's staff as Strike Warfare Policy Officer. With many successful sea and shore tours behind him, Captain Miller culminated his career in the Navy's Office of Legislative Affairs as a highly effective liaison with Congress on important matters affecting Naval Aviation.

Having accumulated over 3600 flight hours and 1,000 carrier landings from the decks of 11 aircraft carriers, there is no doubting Captain Miller's courage and dedication. His superior contributions and distinguished service will have long-term benefits for both the Navy and the country he so proudly served. As Captain Miller enters his new profession I am proud to thank him for his service and wish him ``fair winds and following seas.''

Mr. Speaker, it was a pleasure to celebrate a significant milestone in WSRE-TV's history last week as they dedicated their new performance studio in honor of Paul and Jean Amos.

Public television provides valuable commercial-free educational, informational, and cultural programming for communities all across the country. Here in our own backyard, WSRE-TV does a wonderful job of fulfilling the programming needs and interests of the Emerald Coast. As a local viewer and supporter I believe they keep residents connected with the local community, the Nation, and the world in a way that no other outlet can or does.

As we celebrated the dedication of the Jean and Paul Amos performance studio, we recognized that WSRE transcends the typical operation of a public television station. Very few PBS stations around the country can accommodate their viewers within their physical structure. This performance studio is perfect to host forums and engage the public in direct participation to discuss issues important to the community. In keeping with WSRE's mission, former General Manager Allan Pizzato had the foresight to construct this facility to bring the community into WSRE, so it could truly act as a mirror reflecting the interests of the community.

Public broadcasting stations are transforming their mission in order to fulfill the niche of the community and the broadcast world. Just like the Internet is not just used for data gathering, but is now used as a telephone service, cable companies are now offering high speed Internet, and telephone companies are starting to offer cable. Just as

these service providers strive to keep up with growing demands, public television stations must do the same.

Years ago, WSRE recognized the need for change and responded quickly. PBS as an organization continues to provide the core base of educational programming and services, but WSRE-TV takes that service to another level. They understand that with cable's niche program offerings that the role of public broadcasting must become more comprehensive, expanding into community outreach programs such as reading services for the blind, educational offerings and instructional courses transmitted over multi-casted digital channels, educational outreach activities such as the national teacher training institute to provide professional development for teachers, and also services that provide resources for daycare providers to help prepare children for school.

Telecommunications is rapidly changing every day. The possibilities are truly limitless. It gives me tremendous pride, both personally and as a member of the Congressional Public Broadcasting Caucus, to know that my public television station is not only keeping up; it's going above and beyond the basic services required of it.

Under Sandy Cesaretti Ray's dynamic leadership and ingenuity, WSRE-TV continues to achieve its mission, bringing high quality services to its viewers. The panhandle is very fortunate to have had such quality leadership here over the past 35 years. Playing such an important part in the life of our community, I want to thank them for their commitment to excellence, and my sincere gratitude to the Amoses for their generous, heartfelt gift.

Mr. Speaker, we are here to honor the memory of a woman whose life may not have been rich in the years that we all hope and pray for, but who enriched the lives of so many. Tillie Fowler's career was filled with accomplishments, and hear calling was to serve all: her family, her hometown, her state, her country, and her God.

Many glowing words have been used to describe Tillie's attributes this past week: bright, charismatic, determined, gracious, thoughtful, kind, unrelenting. Every one of them is true. There have been few political careers quite like hers, but thanks to her pioneering spirit, many paths have been charted to follow.

Tillie was a woman of deep conviction. No issue mattered more greatly to her than the security of our nation. She cared deeply about our servicemembers, and she acted on that concern during her tenure of service on the House Armed Services Committee. Tillie's trademark steadfastness could be seen in her unfailing support for a well-trained and well-equipped military. One small part of her legacy can be seen in this time of challenge for our country, when we are calling upon the skill and bravery of our people in uniform. We're realizing the quality force that Tillie Fowler helped to build. All Americans are grateful to our military, and I know that all branches of the service are grateful to their faithful and advocate from the Sunshine State.

I don't believe that Tillie ever once took her office or her consitutents for granted. She were sincerely grateful for the chance to serve, and we saw that gratitude every day in her work ethic. Rarely has this body seen a Member who studies so tirelessly that with which she was responsible. Legislative Council once told her staff that they'd never seen a Member pore so intently over draft bill text! But this was indicative of the life of steady, consistent, and unfailing effort that she led on behalf of Jacksonville and the state of Florida. She was the embodiment of the Teddy Roosevelt quote that she favored repeating. ``Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.''

And to watch Tillie serve her fellow man, from her days in the Nixon White House to the halls of Congress, between and beyond, one might have thought she found even the smallest task worth doing, and that she believed she'd won that prize. Yes, she was a lady of firsts; first woman to serve as President of the Jacksonville City Council; amongst the first handful of female colleagues on the Armed Services Committee; the highest ranking woman in Congress within just six years of arriving--in this institution built on seniority and tenure of service. And her groundbreaking achievements continued as she accepted and executed great responsibility at the behest of Secretary Rumsfeld. But as Tillie Fowler walked with giants, she never lost the common touch.

That may perhaps be her greatest legacy to us all. Even as she balanced her many duties, Tillie found the time to pay tribute to our Pages from the House floor. Because of the deep, personal interest she took in the lines of her staff, they remained extremely loyal, staying with her for many years.

It's evident that her attention to detail transcended paper and pencil; Tillie offered tremendous attention to the details of people's lives. Last week's Jacksonville Times-Union guestbook is a testament; everyone from Secretary of the Navy Gordon England, to those who checked her out at the supermarket, remembered Tillie's humaneness and genuine interest. One Jacksonville resident said, ``Mrs. Fowler . . . obtained information on my father's WWII service for which I will always be grateful. When she left office she made sure that the process was completed by her successor. While she impacted this nation in so many positive ways, her attention to the details of one small request gives her a special place in the hearts of my family.''

We can take a lesson from this. And our contribution to Tillie's legacy should be to continue her work here in Congress. Her remarks at the 1995 National Prayer breakfast can guide us:

For a Member of Congress, Washington can be a dangerous

place, not because of crime, although that exists, but

because every day we face the possibility of losing our

perspective, of becoming tangled in the snares of business,

partisanship and self-importance that lie all around us and

which distract us from remembering why we are here. . . . In

the mist of all the sound and fury it is very easy and very

human to get carried away by some personal or partisan agenda

and forget about the importance of actually accomplishing

something constructive on behalf of the people who sent us to

Washington.

It is statements like this that reflect why Tillie will be remembered not just as a conscientious public servant, but also as a human being who was unfailingly courteous and had a kind word for everyone she ever met. Regardless of party or point of view, we will always remember her with fondness and respect.

Tillie Fowler managed to fit an extraordinary amount of living and human impact in sixty-two years. She was a beloved wife, mother, sister, friend, and American patriot. Her name will live on in American history, and in the memory of all who were privileged to know her. While we mourn her passing, we take comfort in knowing that another chapter has just begun, and that this chapter will be far longer than the days she spent on this Earth.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer a personal explanation of the reason I missed rollcall votes Nos. 31-32 on February 15, 2005. These were suspension votes on H. Con. Res. 25 and H.R. 324. Due to inclement weather conditions, my travel to Washington, DC was not completed until following the conclusion of votes this evening.

I respectfully request that it be entered into the Congressional Record that if present, I would have voted rollcall vote No. 31, Recognizing the contributions of the ``Greensboro Four'' to the civil rights movement ``aye''; rollcall vote No. 32, the Arthur Stacey Mastrapa Post Office Building Designation Act ``aye.''

I thank my good friend for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of equal campus access for our military recruiters.

Recently, a group calling itself Freedom For Academic and Institutional Rights, FAIR, has decided that they disagree with what our military stands for; and, because of this, they have decided that the military no longer deserves access to our Nation's institutions of higher learning. They claim that granting military recruiters equal access to campuses would promote only a pro-military viewpoint and a pro-military recruiting message.

This is simply not true. The government is not asking campuses across America to endorse the war on terror, the President's policy or anything to do with the military. All we are asking for is that the military be afforded the exact same access as other organizations to the student body. That is it. That is all. Those who argue that giving equal access somehow constitutes an endorsement of the military are just plain wrong. Does giving equal access to other groups mean that each institution agrees with every idea that that organization may have? Of course not. I really think it is ridiculous to argue that point, but FAIR is arguing just that.

It is in everyone's interest to ensure that young people receive information, including military options, so they can make informed choices about their future after they finish their education. Just because a school disagrees with a career in the military, does that give them the right to deny information about that particular career to someone who might want to sign up? Is it right to deny access because you disagree with what someone says? How is that in keeping with the first amendment to the Constitution?

The position that FAIR and others have taken is nothing more than thinly veiled hypocrisy. They are masking their obvious hatred of our Nation's military by hiding behind the first amendment. I think it is wrong. I am not going to sit idly by while this so-called FAIR group trashes our military.

The Constitution in article 1, section 8, states that Congress shall have the power to raise and support armies, provide and maintain a navy and make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces. It does not say that activist judges and institutions of higher education have the right to prevent Congress from going about its duty to raise and support the Armed Forces of these United States.

Were the members of the FAIR not aware that we were at war and that a state of national emergency has existed in this country since September 11 of 2001? I am sure they are happy to enjoy the rights afforded to them by the first amendment, but who allows them those rights? Perhaps they should reread the old Poem to a Soldier:

``It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.

``It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

``It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us freedom to demonstrate.

``It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag and whose coffin is draped by the flag who allows the protester to burn the flag.''

I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution to ensure that the military of these United States continues to have equal access to our Nation's finest young men and women.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my thanks to Amanda Conley for her faithful and selfless dedication to our country.

On a daily basis, we are reminded of the tremendous costs that freedom often requires. Throughout the history of the United States of America, men, woman and families have given their all to further our constitutional hopes and dreams.

For 36 years, Amanda Conley has tirelessly supported the men of her family. Born on-base the daughter of a Navy Chaplain, Mrs. Conley grew up in the midst of great men and women that served and protected our Nation from enemies both foreign and domestic. Through three deployments to the Mediterranean and a year-long assignment to the jungles of Vietnam, as well as countless assignments to various destinations, Mrs. Conley endured what seemed like endless separation from her father.

As her father's service in the Navy came to an end, Mrs. Conley re- dedicated her support to the United States military by becoming a Navy wife. She endured the same sporadic deployments and nights alone as had marked her childhood, including a tour in the Persian Gulf and 6 years as a single mother while her husband Steve was assigned to recruiting duty.

Every day United States servicemen and women serve with fervency and zeal due in large part to the continued support of their spouses and loved ones. Troop morale stems from the loyal and endless efforts and sacrifices of their loved ones on the homefront, those who benefit from freedom each day because of what their husbands, wives, daughters and sons contribute through their service.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, we are humbled by and appreciative to men and women like Mrs. Amanda Conley, who are willing to sacrifice and support those that they love to ensure the future of our great Nation.

To military spouses and families everywhere, thank you. We owe you a heartfelt debt of gratitude.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Bonnie Jones on her retirement as the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections.

A fixture in Escambia County politics, Bonnie Jones was appointed Escambia County Supervisor of Elections by Governor Lawton Chiles on August 1, 1994 to fill the vacancy of Mr. Joe Oldmixon. Mrs. Jones was officially elected on November 8, 1994 and was re-elected without opposition in 1996 and 2000.

Born and raised in Pensacola, Florida, Bonnie gained employment with the Elections office at the young age of eighteen. Her love of democracy and Northwest Florida lead the way to her involvement with other community organizations, such as the Rotary Club of Pensacola, the Board of Directors and Secretary for the Ronald McDonald House, the Woodham High School Advisory Board, and the Pensacola Pen Wheels. Currently she is a member of the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections, the Elections Center Professional Education Program, the Pensacola North Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Woman's Board of the Baptist Health Care Foundation.

With a partisan atmosphere surrounding the 2000 elections, Bonnie was a fair and steadfast public servant in Escambia County. She was diligent in ensuring every vote was counted, including the large number of military absentee ballots arriving from overseas. Her foresight and wise choice to use the optical scan prior to the 2000 Elections prevented problems in the county with dimpled and hanging chads, which other Floridians experienced.

Today, I salute a woman who has dedicated her life to ensuring liberty and defending the principles of this country. Her exemplary service has guaranteed that the United States will continue to prosper as the world's greatest democracy.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to congratulate Bonnie Jones on her retirement and wish her many more years of success and happiness.

Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for me to rise today in recognition of Adanto D'Amore, a patriot who served his country with distinction.

Born in Italy, Dr. D'Amore came to the United States in 1919 as a young child knowing no English. Realizing the importance of education, Adanto went on to graduate from Ohio State Medical School at the age of 23.

Adanto joined the U.S. Army in 1938 and shortly thereafter became the second U.S. doctor to earn his parachute wings in the First Provisional Parachute Battalion. Transferring to the Army Air Corps in 1940, he became a flight surgeon and went on to serve his country during time of war in the Philippines.

In 1942, Dr. D'Amore was taken prisoner by Japanese troops and forced to participate in the infamous Bataan Death March. Nearly 25 percent of the allied troops did not survive. Many of these soldiers that were fortunate enough to live were then forced onto death ships to Japan. A great number more of the allied troops died on these ships, some from oppressive living conditions and some from ships that sunk during the voyage.

Beaten by his captors like so many others, Dr. D'Amore was also forced to use his medical skills to treat the same captors who tormented him and his fellow prisoners-of war. He used his skills as best as he could to obtain provisions for the other prisoners. His help no doubt helped many to survive a long and miserable time in the POW camp. Over three years later, Dr. D'Amore was liberated from a work camp near Mount Fuji at the end of World War II.

Adanto's service to the medical community continues today. He met his wife Helen, an army flight nurse, upon his return home to the United States, and together they raised three children through many military postings. In 1964, he and his family arrived at Eglin Air Force Base in Northwest Florida, where he retired several years later. Retirement from the military did not mean retirement from medical service, however. Dr. D'Amore went on to work for a county health department, run an entire county hospital system, and open up a private practice.

Today, Dr. D'Amore works with the Bridgeway Center, Inc., Crisis Stabilization Unit and the Detoxification Unit. Despite being over 70 years old, he still arrives at work seven days a week, rain or shine, to provide care to those who might not otherwise receive proper care. People who feel shunned by society can take comfort in the fact that Dr. Adanto D'Amore brings compassion to them and provides hope for their future.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to commend Dr. Adanto D'Amore for heroically living a patriotic duty, risking his own life to help those who believed like he did in the beauty of freedom.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Judge Colie Nichols, Jr., on his retirement from the Santa Rosa County Courthouse.

Colie Nichols was born in Graceville, Florida on February 5, 1935 to the proud parents Colie, Sr. and Gladys Nichols. In 1955, he married Freida King and had three children, Rod, Stan, and Garth. After earning his Bachelor's of Science degree at Florida State University in 1959, Colie went on to become a probation and parole supervisor for the next eight years.

In 1973 Governor Reuben Askew appointed Colie Nichols for County Judge, and for the last thirty years Judge Nichols has been a fixture on the bench. Since 1982 he has been re-elected without opposition and now a state age limitation for judges is forcing the 69-year-old to retire this year.

His retirement is the ending of an era, an era in which any profession could be a means into the judicial sector. Judge Nichols was not an attorney, yet excelled at providing justice for all in his courtroom.

Even though Judge Nichols was busy as an overseer of justice, he also remained active in his community. He was a member of the Governor's Advisory Committee on Criminal Justice, a member of Alcoholism Rehabilitation Advisory Subcouncil, First Vice-President of the Florida Conference of County Judges, President of the Milton Lions Club, President of the United Way of Santa Rosa County, and many other educational and community centered organizations.

Today, I salute a man who has dedicated his life to protecting freedom, ensuring liberty, and defending the principles of this country. His exemplary service has guaranteed that the United States will continue to prosper as the world's greatest nation.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to congratulate Judge Colie Nichols, Jr. on his retirement and wish him many more years of success and happiness.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish a happy birthday to one of Northwest Florida's true patriarchs, Clarence Edward Stanford, Sr., who celebrated his 80th birthday on November 13, 2004.

Ed Stanford has led a distinguished life beginning with his service to the U.S. Armed Forces in World War II. After his tour of duty Ed moved to Pensacola in 1953 and has continued to share his patriotism with the citizens of Northwest Florida. In 1961, Ed successfully developed a million dollar general insurance agency, where he worked full-time until his retirement in 1979.

Those who really know Ed have elected him President of the Pensacola Kiwanis Club, Christian Business Men's Committee, his local PTA, the Easter Seal Society of Northwest Florida, the Independent Insurance Agent of Pensacola, and the Industrial Toastmasters. He also served as a Commissioner to the NW Florida Housing Authority, as a Trustee to Florida Baptist Children's Home, served on the Board of Directors for the Waterfront Rescue Mission, and on the Board of Missions for Southern Baptist of Florida. As an active member of the community, Ed earned the respect of citizens and had a new found love for Northwest Florida.

In addition to giving of himself and his time in the interest of the greater good, Ed served 12 years on the Escambia County School Board, for 2 years as Vice-Chairman and 2 years as Chairman. As a school board member, Ed gave over a thousand motivational talks to Escambia County students. During his last 10 years in office, he visited every sixth grade class in the county. The students listened and responded to his lessons of achievement. Ed's sense of humor and ability to motivate young people made these visits a true success.

During his distinguished career, Ed has received a number of recognitions for service to his community. He was honored with the 1988 ``God in Government'' award, and in the same year also received a special award from the Escambia Search and Rescue for 10 years of fund raising. Additionally, the Parent Teacher Association of six local schools honored him in 1988 with a PTA lifetime Membership award. He continues to serve his community by sitting on the Board of Directors of the West Florida Blood Bank and on the Board for the Foundation for Excellence in Education. Ed is deserving of these awards because of his dedication, hard work, and positive attitude he brings to everyone he meets.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the U.S. Congress, I extend to this special man warm birthday greetings and wishes of many more to come. I offer my sincere thanks for all he has done for Northwest Florida.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a sad but rejoicing heart that I speak today about an extraordinary woman, Andre Marie Crooke Dyar, who was taken to her eternal home in Heaven on October 8, 2004.

I became friends with Andre when I first ran for State Representative in 1998. She was one of the most loyal people I knew. I am a better person for knowing Andre and the world is a better place because of her life.

Andre had a special love for children both born and in the womb. For a number of years she worked in the neonatal intensive care nursery at Sacred Heart Hospital, helping premature newborn babies get a non- compromised start in life. Continuing to have a positive influence on children's lives, Andre could always be found volunteering at Sunday school on Wednesday nights and at Vacation Bible School during the summer.

From the moment the law allowed the taking of innocent life, Andre's faith in God incited her passion for politics. Her first political campaign was in 1976, helping Ronald Reagan move from the California Governor's Mansion to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, her disabling disease made the 2002 elections her last.

In our local community of Northwest Florida, Andre was active in numerous civic organizations, from participating as an active member to Chairman of the Board. She spent many hours serving on the Board of the Northwest Florida Water Management District, the Escambia County Republican Executive Committee, the Center for Independent Living, and Escambia Federated Republican Women's Club. Last year, the Federated Women's Club presented Andre with an Honorary Lifetime Membership award, the first of its kind ever presented.

Andre was overflowing with life and had the drive and dedication to move a mountain despite her physical challenges. The vast majority of people would have given up and turned resentful, but she kept going and always wanted to do something more, to help somebody else.

May God rest her soul and continue to bless her family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the organizations, businesses, and people who helped the residents of Northwest Florida get back on their feet during Hurricane Ivan's aftermath.

The panhandle of Florida was dealt a difficult hand, as Ivan left no life untouched. Undoubtedly once again, Northwest Floridians have proven their strength during times of devastating destruction and loss.

Returning to our homes to assess the damage, we were reassured that we were not alone and help was on the way. Gulf Power, Escambia River Electric Cooperative, local radio stations and newspapers, the Red Cross, FEMA, Army Corps of Engineers, and the Small Business Administration assisted almost everyone in the community in a variety of ways; from supplying ice, water, and food, to emotional support, the spread of information and monetary funds in the effort to help rebuild. Thanks to these folks, I'm happy to report that the lights are coming back on, bridges are mended, roofs are tarped, businesses are reopening, and naval aviators are training.

As for the Panhandle's future, it's not the character of Northwest Floridians to give up hope. Our communities will continue to unite together, and rebuild our homes and businesses better and stronger. Our military infrastructure will rebuild and Pensacola will remain the Cradle of Naval Aviation. There is no other place in the world like the panhandle of Florida and the residents there recognize that there is no better place to rebuild their lives.

Mr. Speaker, I offer my sincere thanks to all those, near and far, who have given comfort and have helped the residents of Florida's panhandle rebuild their lives.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I have never been godfather of anything, so I thank him very much; and, Mr. Speaker, I do rise to express my overwhelming support of this conference report.

With the passage of this conference report tonight, the ``widows' tax'' will die. It will die a year and a half more quickly than any other SBP bill that has ever been proposed because this amendment was vigorously supported by our chairman, the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), chairman of the Subcommittee on Total Force, the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh), and defended amidst the Senate provisions with the House conferees.

This is an authorization measure of which this body can be proud. In less than 4 years from now, we will have fully restored SBP to what was promised from the beginning to America's surviving spouses. Since coming to this body, I have been working this issue, and so have many others. It has been nothing if not a team effort, and the time is right for this reform.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of people who deserve to be recognized and thanked for their efforts. Nearly 80 percent of this body has cosponsored one of my two SBP bills in this Congress. The House Armed Services staff has worked at times literally around the clock to see this effort through. My colleagues on the Committee on Armed Services and on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and a host of others have all participated in Special Order hours, press conferences, letters of support, and in town hall meetings in districts across our country.

And, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank our Republican leadership for hearing our call on the urgency and the need for this reform. And I thank our President for meeting twice with VSOs on this issue, once in the oval office and once aboard Air Force 1.

To my constituents, whose letters, calls, faxes, e-mails, and personal comments over the last 3 years have kept us motivated to realize this goal, I am proud to represent northwest Florida here in the Nation's capital, and I am thankful in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan's devastation throughout the State of Florida, I am able to bring this victory home to the Emerald Coast.

But it is not just the 3,200 survivors in my district who are one step away from seeing an increase in their monthly checks next year, Mr. Speaker. A quarter of a million military widows nationwide are part of this victory. This has been a grass-roots campaign in the truest sense, and I thank every American who has been a part of that.

Mr. Speaker, this Republican-controlled Congress has exceeded even my expectations. This is the kind of wrong we came to Washington to right, and I am proud to stand here with my chairman in full support of this measure and urge all my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman, and I rise this evening in support of H.R. 5212. I thank the chairman on behalf of the 630,000 resilient folks of Florida's Emerald Coast, home to America's first settlement, the cradle of naval aviation, the largest Air Force base in the Western Hemisphere and thousands of small business owners, farmers and military veterans. The chairman's commitment to our efforts to rebuild stronger and better than ever has not gone unnoticed and will not be forgotten.

Mr. Chairman, on September 16, Hurricane Ivan devastated northwest Florida, leaving no life untouched. It was a monstrous storm, residents locked down as they were instructed, and nearly a day before the storm began its march towards the northern Gulf coast, defenseless beaches began to feel its first blows. By midnight, rising seas, hurricane force winds and driving rain were being felt all across my congressional district.

The storm continued its rage through the night and well into the next day with its 130-mile-an-hour winds, its 16-foot storm surge, leaving damage, devastation and death in its path for hundreds of miles.

In the days following Ivan, President Bush, a host of Cabinet secretaries and under secretaries and the chairman visited my district and saw firsthand the devastation. My colleague has seen that we are a resilient people and we will bounce back.

Folks now have ice, they have food, they have water. The lights are coming back on. The bridges are being mended. Roofs are tarped and naval aviators are training once again, but we still need help.

This emergency funding measure will deliver what we need to rebuild our bases, our seashores, our bridges, our roads and our lives, and I think that this bill is just what the Federal Government should be doing to fulfill its responsibility to provide the appropriate aid as quickly as possible. From here, we will ensure that it gets into the intended hands as quickly as possible.

As for the Panhandle's future, it is not our character to give up hope. Our communities will continue to unite together. We will rebuild our military infrastructure, and Pensacola will remain the cradle of aviation. To me, there is no place in the world like the Florida Panhandle, and its residents know that there is no better place to rebuild our lives.

I thank the chairman for his efforts.