Floor Statements

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Mica for introducing this resolution honoring the pilots who participate in this Federal Flight Deck Officer program. As the ranking member of the Aviation Subcommittee and a cosponsor of this resolution, I believe these volunteer pilots deserve to be honored and recognized for their continued and dedicated service.

Ten months after the tragic September 11 attacks, I and over 300 Members of this body voted to authorize volunteer commercial pilots to carry handguns. At the time, arming pilots was a controversial idea, yet the House

resolved to take any measure necessary to prevent terrorism and terrorists from ever taking over an airline again.

After almost 3\1/2\ years, we now have thousands of armed and trained pilots serving our country as Federal flight deck officers. Federal flight deck officers are a powerful deterrent to hijackers and are a vital last line of defense in the skies.

Federal flight deck officer candidates must submit to rigorous psychological screening and a background investigation, as well as completing an intense training program before they are deputized. These pilots volunteer their services and do not get paid for their initial training, which includes travel, lodging, and daily expenses.

Further, they must devote personal time and finances to maintaining their firearm proficiency and anti-terrorism skills. They do it because they are patriots. These men and women represent what is best in our national character since the founding of this country. They are citizens willing to stand up and help provide for a common defense. We should honor them.

I applaud the gentleman from Florida, the chairman of the subcommittee, for introducing this legislation; and I urge my colleagues to support it.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, as a co-chair of the Congressional Impact Aid Coalition, I rise today in strong support of the Impact Aid program.

Impact Aid provides important resources to replace lost tax dollars to school districts that include a military base, Indian land, or any type of Federal presence or activity to assist with the basic educational needs of its students. These funds improve the quality of life for our military personnel by ensuring their children receive a quality education wherever they are stationed.

Due to budget constraints, the Impact Aid program faces unique challenges. While most education programs contend with an increase in the cost per pupil each year, Impact Aid faces the additional challenge of an increasing number of military dependents within the program-- projected to dramatically increase over the next 10 years--causing the cost of fully funding Impact Aid to escalate sharply.

For example, as a result of the BRAC recommendations, over the next 4 to 5 years, the Department of Defense estimates that an additional 32,000 dependent children of military families will enter stateside public schools due to overseas base closures and realignments. Without additional funding, this tremendous increase will cause a significant change to the level of assistance to the current and future school districts serving our military children and to the services and resources the districts will be able to offer our children.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my colleagues to pay attention to the critical situation our military children are facing and the further deterioration of their educational resources and services if we do not act soon. In a time of war, it is absolutely essential that we provide the necessary resources to ensure our military dependents' educational funding will be maintained.

Mr. Chairman, today I rise in strong support of H.R. 4128, the Private Property Rights Protection Act. The bill is in response to the recent Supreme Court decision, Kelo v. City of New London, which condoned the use of eminent domain to take private property and transfer it to another private entity for the stated purpose of economic development. This decision puts all property owners at risk. In rural communities and in urban communities, our livelihood is deeply tied to the land and our belief in private property rights runs strong and deep. Landowners should not be vulnerable to the whims of a government that decides to take their land away.

I am opposed to the ruling because it threatens to make all private property subject to the highest bidder. In response to the Supreme Court decision, I am pleased to lend my support to this legislation because it protects Americans' constitutional rights and punishes those who abuse those rights.

The bill does not change state law, nor does it affect the traditional use of eminent domain for the construction of roads, military bases, hospitals, or other truly public uses. Rather, H.R. 4128 provides an effective deterrent against states using their eminent domain authority for private economic development and I urge my colleagues to support its passage.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today today to express my strong support for the resolution introduced by my colleague, Congressman Rahm Emanuel, which pays tribute to all the many men and women who have died in defense of our Nation. This week we hit a devastating milestone, marking the death of our 2000th military soldier. They gave their lives to ensure that we enjoy the principles of liberty, justice, and democracy. This resolution allows us to remember, honor, and reflect on the men and women who paid the ultimate price for their country.

Over the course of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, my district alone has lost 11 soldiers: PFC Matthew Bush, SPC William Dusenbery, CPT John Tipton, SGT Christopher A Wagener, LCpl Drew M. Uhles, SGT Benjamin K. Smith, LCpl Aaron C. Pickering, Cpl Matthew A Wyatt, PFC Wyatt D. Eisenhauer, SPC. Brian M. Romines, and SSG George T. Alexander, Jr. Further, in my district, Jack Montague, a civilian KBR employee for the Halliburton Corporation, died while working in Iraq. Today and every day, we honor their memories and their families who bear the heaviest burden of our freedom. They are not simply statistics; these fallen soldiers were dads, brothers, sons, neighbors, and community leaders. While the grief and pain may not have faded, I hope it is comforting for them to know that their fallen heroes are loved, honored, and respected for their service to our country.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in support of this resolution honoring our fallen soldiers and pray for peace.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Jerry L. Reppert, who recently was appointed as president of the National Newspaper Association.

The National Newspaper Association, created in 1885, represents owners, publishers and editors of America's community newspapers and is the largest newspaper association in the United States, currently having more than 3,200 members. As President of the NNA, Mr. Reppert will be responsible for protecting, promoting and enhancing America's community newspapers.

Prior to election as President, Mr. Reppert held several other positions within NNA, including Vice President, State Chairman, Regional Director and Government Affairs Director. In addition, Mr. Reppert has made important contributions to the newspaper publishing business in Southern Illinois, having served as president of the Southern Illinois Editorial Association and the Illinois Press Association, where he played a pivotal role in establishing the Illinois Press Foundation, the fund-raising arm of the Illinois Press Association. He continues to serve as the foundation's President to this day.

Jerry L. Reppert first began his career in managing newspapers by becoming editor of the Gazette-Democrat, a community newspaper run by his family, based in Anna, Illinois. Mr. Reppert greatly expanded the small, weekly newspaper into Reppert Publications, which published weekly newspapers throughout Southern Illinois, including the Cairo Citizen in Cairo, the Navigator-Journal and Prairie Post in Grayville and Albion, the Tri-County Record in Dongola. Reppert Publications also published numerous specialty publications, several of which have received honors by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Illinois Governor's Conference on Tourism.

In addition to his pursuits in publishing, Mr. Reppert has also been successful in many other enterprises. He is a founder of Anna-Jonesboro Cable TV and constructed a cable television system for it. In 1971 he opened his own furniture company: Reppert Office Furniture. He also served 20 years in the United States Navy Reserve and attained the rank of lieutenant commander.

Mr. Reppert and his wife, Dianne, have two daughters and two grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in an expression of congratulations to Mr. Jerry Reppert for his election to lead the National Newspaper Association and offer our best wishes during his tenure as President.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 1786, legislation to authorize emergency grants for airports damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This important legislation gives the Secretary of Transportation authority to use millions of dollars in existing federal grant funds to make emergency repairs at airports in the Gulf Coast region damaged by the hurricanes. The bill also permits grant funding to cover emergency operating costs incurred as a result of the devastating hurricanes by these airports.

To get the local economy and jobs improving and moving again, fully functional airports are needed. S. 1786 will restore these airports by making the necessary funds available to immediately begin repairing and refurbishing the airport infrastructure to help restore passenger and commercial air traffic throughout the Gulf region.

I recently visited the Gulf Coast region and saw the devastation and destruction Hurricanes Katrina and Rita left in their wake firsthand. I listened to state and local officials describe their immediate infrastructure needs and this legislation would provide some resources to address their airport needs. Those affected by these hurricanes should be commended as they continue to display tremendous courage and persistence.

Madam Speaker, this legislation is an important step toward economic recovery of the entire Gulf Coast region and towards restoring these airports to their full operational capacity as soon as possible. I ask my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation.

Madam Chairman, I rise today in opposition to the rule for H.R. 250, the Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness Act of 2005. We had an opportunity today to address key manufacturing competitiveness and innovation issues, but instead the bill before us is simply a narrow reauthorization bill that eliminates funding for the Advanced Technology Program, ATP. Democrats tried to broaden this narrow manufacturing bill by bringing eight manufacturing amendments to the Rules Committee. Unfortunately, the Republican-crafted rule blocks the four of the eight Democratic amendments. I am disappointed that this bill does so little to achieve its stated goal of addressing the long term problems facing our Nation's manufacturers.

Congress must confront that we are in a manufacturing crisis. The U.S. manufacturing sector is facing a crisis--since 2001 we have lost 2.8 million manufacturing jobs. In the first three months of this year, we have lost another 24,000 manufacturing jobs. I am very concerned about the issue of off-shoring of our professional manufacturing jobs. We have to get a handle on this problem and we need sufficient and accurate data to make sound policy decisions. Once we understand the problem, we can then develop policies to address it. An effective way to do that is, in fact, to mandate a study to report back to the Congress within a nine-month period so that we, in fact, can take a look at the number of jobs that have been lost and the ramifications as well as the other areas that the Secretary would be looking at. Given the crisis facing our manufacturing sector, I have asked Congress to work with the administration to address the issue of off-shoring, by studying its effects and implications. To date, Congress still does not have the data to do an analysis of off-shoring trends. If we are serious about making America more competitive and maintaining high- skilled jobs in the U.S., we first have to understand the real impact of job outsourcing. Manufacturing plays a crucial role in the growth and health of the U.S. economy. It is an industry that helped build the great country we have today and we need to work together to get a handle on this serious problem facing our manufacturing base.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Vic Modeer upon his retirement from the Illinois Department of Transportation, IDOT. For the past 20 years, Vic Modeer has served with utmost distinction at the IDOT.

After graduating from the Louisiana State University and receiving a masters in civil engineering from Purdue University, Vic worked in the private sector for a contractor and consultants prior to his employment at IDOT. Once at IDOT, he worked his way up from various positions within the Division of Highways to eventually become the director of Highways and chief engineer. IDOT's Division of Highways is a vast organization with over 5,000 employees, a $490 million operating budget, and a $4.5 billion construction budget.

While serving as the district engineer and as director of Highways, Vic was instrumental in overseeing many important highway projects in my congressional district and across the entire State of Illinois. As director of Highways, he helped lead IDOT to be the first State department of transportation in the Nation to meet and become certified under the process and quality management standards of the International Organization of Standardization, ISO 9001:2000. This is indicative of the dedication Vic and his staff have shown for professionalism, product quality, public accountability, and customer satisfaction.

Vic met the challenges of budget constraints and significant staff reductions during his tenure as director with a typical can-do attitude. He reorganized the division, improved communications, engineered process efficiencies to make up for lost work force, and employed innovative management and training methods to maintain productivity and continue delivering the highway program as promised, with no reduction in service, despite the loss of nearly 20 percent of his staff to early retirement and other attrition between 2002 and 2005.

Mr. Modeer's participation in numerous professional organizations, including the AASHTO Standing Committee on Highways and the Task Force with Transportation Security, his service as a Navy veteran from Desert Storm serving in Saudi Arabia with the Seabees as an officer in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps, his long list of publicized articles regarding geotechnical engineering as well as teaching numerous engineering classes at Louisiana State University and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville exemplify the strength of his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in offering congratulations and gratitude for his long and successful career at the IDOT. Vic Modeer's meritorious service to Illinois and to our country will have a lasting legacy not only in steel and concrete, but his true legacy will be with the people who served with him and the lives he has helped and touched. I wish him well and hope he continues to achieve happiness, health and success in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Reverend C. Dale Edwards, of the O'Fallon Assembly of God, in O'Fallon, Illinois, on the occasion of his 50th Anniversary of pastoral service.

C. Dale Edwards was born in New City, Illinois, a community just southeast of the State Capitol of Springfield. During his early years on the farm and later, when the family moved to the nearby town of Edinburg, his mother always made sure the family faithfully attended the Gospel Tabernacle in Edinburg. During those early days at the Gospel Tabernacle, Reverend Edwards first realized his calling when, as a teenager, he was invited by Pastor Best to preach on occasion.

An accident in an elevator shaft left Reverend Edwards with a badly damaged foot that looked as if it was going to require amputation. Through the intervention of a family friend, Reverend Edwards attended a revival meeting where his foot was healed. This experience, coupled with his preaching at the Gospel Tabernacle, spurred Reverend Edwards to apply to North Central Bible College in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

While at NCBC, Reverend Edwards became youth pastor in Hopkins, Minnesota in 1955, thus beginning the 50 years of pastoral ministry that we commemorate today.

After building congregations in Minnesota, South Dakota and Rock Island, Illinois, Reverend Edwards became the Senior Pastor of First Assembly of God in Granite City, Illinois where he served from 1974 through 1991. For the next six years, Reverend Edwards served as the Executive Secretary/Treasurer of the Illinois District Assemblies of God, where he oversaw the credentialing of all Assembly of God ministers in Illinois. In this capacity, he also served as chairman of the Illinois District 75th Anniversary Celebration.

Reverend Edwards and his wife, Dottie, currently reside in O'Fallon, Illinois where they serve as Senior Pastors at O'Fallon Assembly of God. Reverend Edwards and Dottie have four children, all serving the Lord.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in an expression of appreciation to Reverend Edwards for his 50 years of dedicated ministry and to wish him the very best in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to express my support for this critical funding to address the enormous needs that exist along the Gulf Coast following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. I also want to express my heartfelt condolences to the victims, both living and dead, of this storm. While this country has encountered many natural disasters, few in memory have produced the scenes of destruction and human need that we are seeing daily from the region. This $10 billion we are approving today is what I expect to be a very small portion of the actual cost of the rescue and evacuation efforts in New Orleans and the gulf area, and is a first step in a process that could take years to complete. I commend Speaker Hastert and Leader Pelosi for acting quickly to pass this legislation.

As we always do, the people of the United States are rallying to support their fellow citizens during this time of crisis. I want to thank all of the volunteers that are heading to the region and all of the people around the country that have reached into their pocketbooks or in some other way are sending aid. This help is essential and greatly appreciated.

While there are questions being asked about why it has taken so long to get food and water to those who are stranded, now is not the time to point fingers or assign blame. There will be plenty of time to assess the government's response after the rescue and evacuation process has been completed. Let's get the job done and then make the necessary assessment.

Another painful effect of the storm is the steep rise in gasoline prices. Increased prices are hammering working families with little to no relief in sight. The Federal Government can do very little other than releasing the oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and prosecuting price gouging. It comes down to supply and demand. Demand remains high and the supply has been significantly reduced by Hurricane Katrina. We must continue to work diligently to repair the oil platforms and refineries that have been damaged, and Congress will-- with the state attorneys general--keep a close eye on any potential price gouging.

Mr. Speaker, I again want to thank the leadership of the House for considering this legislation during this special session today. I know that we will continue to work on a bipartisan basis to fully address the needs of the communities that have been so horribly afflicted by Hurricane Katrina.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 Conference Report. Completion of this energy bill is yet another step forward in our struggle for energy security and independence. A reliable and affordable energy supply is crucial to America's economic vitality, security, and quality of life.

While this final conference report is not perfect, we continue to make progress towards promoting energy conservation and efficiency; increasing the use of all domestic energy resources, including coal; improving energy infrastructure; and promoting the development of advanced energy technologies.

The combustion of fossil fuels is essential to our energy policy and must continue to be a part of a balanced energy plan for this country. Coal is absolutely critical to our nation's economic health and global competitiveness. Coal accounts for more than 50 percent of U.S. electricity generation, far ahead of nuclear power, natural gas, hydroelectric power, petroleum and other sources. There is no present alternative to coal to meet our energy needs. New and improved technologies hold the promise of far greater emissions reductions and increased efficiency.

Clean coal provisions are included in the final conference report that would assist in burning coal more efficiently and cleanly. These clean coal technology initiatives encourage the development of new technologies for cleaner, higher efficiency coal combustion in new and established plants with the hope of achieving a healthier environment while maintaining jobs. Specifically, the conference agreement includes a $1.8 billion authorization for the Secretary of Energy to carry out the Clean Coal Power Initiative, which will provide funding to those projects that can demonstrate advanced coal-based power generating technologies that achieve significant reductions in emissions. Further, the bill authorizes $1.14 billion for coal research and development. I fought hard for robust funding for coal within the fossil energy research and development budget and I was glad to see they were included in the final version.

Additionally, I authored two provisions which were retained in the final conference report and greatly benefit Southern Illinois. First, I secured $75 million to create a program to develop advanced technologies to remove carbon dioxide from coal emissions and permanently sequester it below ground. Illinois is one of the leading states when it comes to research on carbon sequestration and Southern Illinois is listed as one of the prime spots for carbon sequestration, which is one of the technologies the FutureGen project is designed to use. Second, the bill authorizes the Clean Coal Centers of Excellence. Under this provision, the Secretary of Energy will award competitive, merit-based grants to universities that show the greatest potential for advancing new clean coal technologies. Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), which I represent, continues to be a leader in clean coal technology research, doing extensive work at its Coal Research Center. With funding and collaborative support from industry and government, SIUC has conducted long-term projects relating to surface mine reclamation, mine subsidence, coal desulfurization, coal characterization and combustion, coal residue management and utilization, coal market modeling, and environmental policy. Faculty, staff, and students in fields as diverse as engineering, science, business, education, law, and agriculture have contributed to the University's international reputation in coal research. The past two energy conference reports named Southern Illinois University as a ``Clean Coal Center of Excellence'' and the school is well-positioned to be a potential recipient of the award again this year. It is a testament to SIUC's high caliber research program that it was also named as a university to study and commercially deploy transportation fuel technology using Illinois coal. Finally, I am pleased this legislation promotes clean fuels by providing tax incentives for clean coal technology. This will greater enhance our ability to use Illinois basin coal.

In addition to the clean coal provisions, the energy conference agreement contains provisions instrumental in helping increase conservation and lowering consumption. Included in this are ethanol provisions that are used as a replacement and additive for gasoline consumption. Illinois currently produces 800 million gallons of ethanol per year. Under this legislation, ethanol use would increase, nearly doubling the current production level. The renewable fuel standard (RFS) in the bill is expected to increase the average price of corn paid to farmers 6.6 percent, or 16 cents per bushel and increase average net cash income to farmers by $3.3 billion over the next decade, or more than six percent. Increased production of ethanol will greatly benefit the agricultural industry in Southern Illinois.

Mr. Speaker, this energy bill will shape energy policy for the next decade and beyond. I

am glad coal and ethanol remain an integral part of our energy future and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and let me say that I rise in strong support of this conference report. I would like to say thank you for a job well done to the chairman of the full committee and the chairman of the conference, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), who did an outstanding job working on this legislation, as well as the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri), and the ranking member of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) and certainly the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), who has not only worked very hard in this conference but is a champion for transportation in general in the House of Representatives. Without the strong support and leadership of Chairman Young and Ranking Member Oberstar and Subcommittee Chairman Petri and Ranking Member DeFazio, we would not be here today.

Let me say that our interstate highway system is 50 years old, and 32 percent of our major roads are either in poor or mediocre condition. Twenty-nine percent of our bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, and 36 percent of the Nation's urban rail vehicles and maintenance facilities are in substandard or poor condition. This legislation is essential, for it increases investments in our roads, our bridges, and it allows States and our local communities to not only maintain but to improve their transportation system.

Despite this long process and all of the time that it has taken, let me say that we are here today to vote on what I believe is a good 5- year conference bill. H.R. 3 provides $286.4 billion over 5 years, which is a 30.32 percent increase over the last highway bill that we passed in the Congress.

I am also pleased that we were able to retain a section in this conference report for national programs of significance, otherwise known as megaprojects, in this bill. These projects are extremely important to not only our regions but also they are important to the Nation as well, and I am grateful to the chairman of the committee and also my friend, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri), and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) for including in this conference report a significant amount of money from the megaproject fund for the new Mississippi River bridge in the St. Louis region. It not only will provide relief to congestion in the region but also to the Nation.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support and to vote for this conference report.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the rule and to the bill, H.R. 5. Republicans on the Rules Committee blocked the consideration of several amendments offered by me and my colleagues to this bill. This body should have the right to openly discuss and to consider each of these amendments.

One of the amendments blocked was one I offered that is modeled after the state of California's 1975 reform laws (Proposition 103) which has been successful in leveling off insurance rates.

My amendment would require the insurance commissioner or a similar public body in each respective State to hold public hearings when an insurer proposes a rate increase in premiums for medical malpractice liability insurance that exceed 15 percent. If a State has a lower insurance rate than 15 percent, this legislation would not apply.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that the issue of rising medical malpractice insurance premiums is best handled at the state level, as 29 states, including Illinois, have passed legislation to address this problem.

However, if Congress is going to consider legislation, it should be comprehensive. H.R. 5 is not a balanced piece of legislation. Earlier this year, I supported the Class Action Fairness bill because it was a product of bipartisan input and compromise. The bill we are considering today does not contain input from Democrats and fails to take a comprehensive approach to the problem of rising medical malpractice rates.

H.R. 5 is a caps only bill. Numerous studies show that caps alone do not lower insurance rates. According to the Medical Liability Monitor, states with caps on damages have average insurance premiums that are 9.8% higher than insurance premiums in states without caps on damages.

Under H.R. 5 insurance carriers can still raise rates any amount and at any time, without justifying their rate increases. A bill that only places caps on non-economic and punitive damages but does not provide insurance reform will not solve our medical malpractice crisis today.

The insurance industry has been very clear: passing caps on non- economic damages will not result in reduced medical practice premiums. A recent study by the National Council of Insurance Commissioners revealed that medical malpractice carriers in Illinois raised their rates 13% last year, despite the fact that their direct losses only increased 3%.

Serious reform of the insurance industry must be part of any attempt to bring the cost of medical malpractice premiums down.

The material previously referred to by Mr. Hastings of Florida is as follows:

Previous Question for H. Res. 385 H.R. 5--Medical Malpractice

(``HEALTH'' Act)

In the resolution strike ``and (2)'' and insert the

following

``(2) the amendment printed in Section 2 of this resolution

if offered by Representative Emanuel of Illinois or

Representative Berry of Arkansas or a designee, which shall

be in order without intervention of any point of order or

demand for division of the question, shall be considered as

read, and shall be separately debatable for 60 minutes

equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an

opponent; and (3)''

At the end of the resolution add the following new section:

``Sec. 3. The amendment by Representative Emanuel of

Illinois and Representative Berry of Arkansas referred to in

Section 1 is as follows:

``Strike section 7(c)''.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Southern Illinois Airport for being awarded the General Aviation Airport of the Year for 2005 by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Southern Illinois Airport is located between Carbondale and Murphysboro, Illinois and is among the busiest airports in the state, with 120,000 takeoffs and landings each year. In addition to the private and business customers who use the airport on a daily basis, Southern Illinois Airport is also home to the Aviation Management and Flight programs for Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

The airport is designed to accommodate aircraft from the smallest propeller airplanes to

the small jets used in business fleets. Its proximity to the commercial, recreational and educational facilities of Southern Illinois make it convenient for the private or business traveler.

Location alone is not responsible for the success of Southern Illinois Airport. Airport Manager Gary Shafer and approximately 200 full and part-time employees have earned, through their hard work and commitment to excellence, not only the General Aviation Airport of the Year Award for 2005, but the continued respect and confidence of the flying public. This marks the fourth time that Southern Illinois Airport has been the recipient of this prestigious award, the second highest number among all the airports in the state of Illinois.

Southern Illinois Airport, like most general aviation airports, relies on federal funding assistance to maintain and improve their facilities. I was pleased to announce a Department of Transportation grant in April of this year for removal of obstructions to runway approaches. Recognizing the impact of this facility on the regional transportation network as well as the local economy, I have worked with my colleagues to secure funding for other projects in recent years. These projects have included; rehabilitating the primary runway and resurfacing another runway, replacing taxiway lighting, upgrading the snow removal fleet, purchase of an aircraft firefighting vehicle and acquiring land in the runway approach. These improvements help to ensure the safety of those people who fly in and out of Southern Illinois Airport on a daily basis.

Under the leadership of Airport Manager Gary Shafer, Southern Illinois Airport has been successful in recent years that have been difficult for the aviation industry in general and particularly for general aviation airports operating in rural areas. At my request, Mr. Shafer testified before the Aviation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. In that testimony, he addressed the role of general aviation airports and the need for continued federal support.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Airport Manager Gary Shafer, the Commissioners and staff of Southern Illinois Airport for this very well-deserved award.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3070 and ask my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Chairman, I want to commend Chairman Boehlert and Ranking Member Gordon for producing a thoughtful and balanced authorization for NASA. In addition, I want to thank Subcommittee Chairman Calvert and also Ranking Subcommittee Member Udall.

NASA not only inspires the imagination of our people through its space exploration programs, it funds important research and development work in aeronautics, communications, and Earth sciences. The work of NASA maintains our preeminence in engineering and sciences. As we have heard so often over the years, NASA's work lays the foundation for the creation of new industries and new products that improve our daily lives.

Mr. Chairman, I intended to offer an amendment today to ensure that NASA would spend U.S. tax dollars here in the United States. We may not be able to stop major corporations here in the United States from outsourcing jobs, but we should be able to assure the American people that their tax money, whenever possible, stays here in the United States. When NASA spends tax money on contracts, goods and services, they should spend that money here in the United States whenever possible. And when NASA enters into contracts with contractors and subcontractors, they should be able to assure the Congress and the American people that those contractors that are hired will spend the money here in the United States for goods, services and for employees.

I have been assured by the committee leadership that that is their goal as well and I intend to work with them to accomplish this goal. Let me again commend the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert) for their leadership, and I appreciate their cooperation in working with me on this matter. Therefore, I will not be offering the amendment today.