Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I commend the committee's work in regard to the funding levels that are here before us in this Veterans Administration and Military Quality of Life appropriation bill.

I am pleased to be here in support of this legislation, but I do have an amendment. My amendment would transfer $125 million from veterans health administration accounts to the medical services account, and the purpose of doing so is to increase the amount of mileage reimbursement that disabled veterans receive for travel for medical services.

Currently, and, in fact, since 1978, our veterans have received 11 cents per mile. One would think that to be a misstatement on our part. I think it's very hard to believe that since 1978 we have not increased that reimbursement rate.

Because of funding constraints and priorities, I'm not asking that it be increased to what most of us would think is appropriate. Amendments have been offered in support on this House floor that have been demonstrated for the 48\1/2\ cents allowed by IRS regulations.

On the floor today is the gentleman from Georgia who offered an amendment that passed unanimously by voice vote earlier this session that would increase the rate, authorize the increased rate to 48\1/2\ cents. My amendment today appropriates the money, provides the money necessary to double the mileage reimbursement rate for disabled veterans from 11 cents per mile to 22 cents per mile.

A reasonable reimbursement rate is awfully important. This bill, in my opinion, goes a long way toward increasing the likelihood that veterans will have access to medical care and services that they so desperately need and so sincerely desire and deserve.

Those of us, however, who come from places in which it's a long distance to receive that service, to receive those benefits, are very concerned that there are people who are slipping through the cracks, as we have heard in other instances, within the VA system, because they cannot afford to make the trip to see the physician, to be seen at the hospital, to receive the services that they are entitled to.

I represent a district approximately the size of the State of Illinois. There is no VA hospital within the district. So my veterans must travel significant distances in order to receive care and treatment, and we know what has occurred in regard to the cost of travel with gas prices where they are today, as compared to where they were in 1978 when 11 cents per mile was established.

This concept is supported by our veterans service organization. I am a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. I have chaired the health care subcommittee. This has been an issue we have dealt with for a long time, and I have seen amendments offered in previously years often stuck on a point of order or for me to withdraw them.

Today, I think it's important that we move forward, particularly at a time when we were increasing the amount of money available within the VA funding stream. If we don't do it now, when will we do it? I offered this amendment, a similar amendment, in 2003, and most years since. It's always going to be next year.

With the levels of funding that are provided for in the underlying appropriation bill, it seems important for us, to me, for us not to sidestep this issue for another year.

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

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the comments offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards). I will have to admit to him that my amendment is not unintentional, and so his assumption that the offset that I'm providing is an unintentional offering on my part is not true. I'm aware of where the money comes from and still believe that this is a high priority. And, in fact, this bill, the medical administration account, receives a 14\1/2\ percent, $458 million, increase over last year's funding levels, and $193 million more than the President requested in fiscal year 2008. And, in fact, our authorizing committee, both the minority and majority views, accepted those, the President's recommendation, as our suggested funding levels.

So again, in searching year after year for a place from which this money can come, it is not without concern that we have chosen these accounts. But this is the year in which there is a 14.5 percent increase in those funds. And even if my amendment would be adopted, it would still allow for a 10.6 percent increase in those administrative accounts.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the citizens of Tipton, Kansas for continuing efforts to sustain and revitalize their community.

Most communities in rural America would like to see future generations return home and keep alive its way of life. Tipton residents are no different. They want to provide the next generation the opportunity to continue the quality rural lifestyle the previous generation afforded them. The difference is that this community knows its future is in its hands. So they have volunteered these hands to construct what is needed to attract and retain the youth who, too often, leave for the ``city.''

In the summer of 2003, the parents and students of Tipton were faced with the impending consolidation of their elementary school--leaving the students with up to a 20 mile bus drive and the town with one less way to attract and retain businesses and the families they employ. Although the long drive would be taxing on the students and parents, convenience wasn't the catalyst for the action that was about to take place that summer. Mayor Adrian Arnoldy was among those who knew what losing the school would mean to Tipton. He told me, ``Our parents faced the prospect of their children being enrolled in three different schools in three different towns. Losing our elementary school was not an option because we knew that as schools leave communities, so go the communities themselves.''

Thinking ahead about the future effects of losing the elementary school, the town voted to create its own school--the Tipton Christian School, a private K-6 facility. Those committed hands of Tipton's residents worked together and completed the new school in less than two months with all volunteer labor. Private donations funded the cost of the new facility and continue to finance school operations to date. The construction and funding of a new school in 41 days is just one example of how this community stands up against the prevailing winds of consolidation and urbanization plaguing rural America. I can only imagine that the residents of Tipton will make sure this school succeeds in the same way Tipton Catholic Senior High School has since 1919.

During a period when small towns throughout the country have experienced the shuttered doors of a main street no longer able to keep customers in the shops, efforts like these have helped Tipton maintain an active business community. Hollerich Construction is an example of a business matching the commitment made by residents. The company has expanded its presence in Tipton, along with Great Plains Manufacturing who recently doubled the size of its agricultural equipment manufacturing plant.

Tipton residents have shown character, determination and the high value they place on family, friends and neighbors. It is their hope that these ideals will be an example to some of the troubled boys at the recently opened Tipton Academy, housed in the closed elementary school building. Boys who come to the academy are there to experience a different setting, a positive one. One way to do that is to have the boys involved in the community. They contributed to the construction of a kitchen, eating and serving area in the new community building that Tipton residents use for all sorts of community events and celebrations.

For rural communities to survive and prosper, citizens must be willing to create their own opportunities for success. Ongoing efforts to revitalize Tipton are an example of how hard work, vision and involvement can create just such an opportunity. Citizens throughout Kansas are working together to enhance the quality of life in their communities. Tipton is a developing success story that demonstrates how teamwork and creative thinking can make a positive difference in rural America.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in opposition to the irresponsible immigration bill being considered in the Senate. As I travel around the big first congressional district in Kansas, the number one issue Kansans want to talk about is immigration. Across my home State and across the Nation, illegal immigration affects all aspects of life in our communities. Schools must deal with educating growing numbers of students who speak little or no English. Hospital emergency rooms grow even more crowded. Law enforcement work overtime to keep neighborhoods safe.

While our immigration process is broken and needs dramatic overhaul, the legislation currently being debated in the Senate is not the answer. The Senate proposal is public policy at its worst. I oppose the Senate legislation. As I have said since this debate began, the first priority must be to restore the integrity of our borders. Without secure borders, the laws dealing with citizenship and worker permits are irrelevant.

In addition to protecting the border, we also need a fair and efficient immigration agency that encourages compliance with our laws so that those who wish to come to the United States legally are able to do so in a timely and appropriate manner.

I am more than willing to work with my colleagues to craft legislation that truly will address this country's immigration issue, but the compromise legislation pending in the Senate only exacerbates the problem.

Madam Speaker, Kansas was once known for being part of the Wild West. Widespread lawlessness allowed for cattle rustlers and wild cowboys in towns like Abilene and Dodge City. Our great state also has a history of lawmen known for settling issues with a personalized style of law enforcement. Sheriffs Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickok faced threats from individuals bent on destroying a peaceful way of life. The retiring Director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation is part of this storied tradition of making Kansas a state where families can pursue a way of life envied by others. Today, Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Larry Welch's service as a leader and innovator in law enforcement.

Director Welch and I share a similar academic background. We both received a bachelor's degree and a law degree from the University of Kansas. Director Welch though, went on to serve his country in a noble profession. Where did I go wrong, becoming a lawyer then a banker and then a politician? In 1961, he was appointed as a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. For 25 years, his tireless commitment to justice led him around the country. Before returning to Kansas, he served in FBI assignments in Knoxville, Tennessee; Washington, DC; Miami, Florida; West Palm Beach, Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico; San Antonio, Texas; and McAllen, Texas.

During his lengthy service with the FBI, Director Welch was charged with supervising all FBI operations in Kansas. After his time with the FBI, he began work as associate director at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center. While at the training center he was promoted to Director and provided leadership in this position for nearly 5 years before he accepted the appointment by Attorney General Robert Stephan as director of the KBI. He was reappointed KBI director by Attorney General Carla Stovall in 1995 and by Attorney General Phill Kline in 2003.

Director Welch has been a strong advocate in the fight against methamphetamine and its devastating impact on communities across Kansas. He recognized the significant harm and damage this poison inflicts on families and has made combating the manufacture and use of meth a priority of the KBI under his administration. Seizures of meth labs have drastically decreased in our state during the past several years. This can only be attributed to the effectiveness of law enforcement in Kansas making the production of meth an extremely risky business. The humble and relentless man that Director Welch is, could be seen when he quickly responded to compliments of the KBI's many lab seizures by explaining that meth is still coming in from foreign sources and that there was still much work to be done to protect Kansans from this destructive drug.

I would be remiss if I did not include in a tribute to this man, any mention of the care he has shown to the law enforcement community in Kansas. His compassion is well known throughout the state. He is consistently the first to express sympathies, in person, to families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty. Many in this field of work, whether in the city police, sheriff's department, or Highway Patrol, consider Larry Welch a friend and an advisor.

Director Welch has given back to his state and country for 46 years with much of his career dedicated to making Kansas a safe and desirable place to live and visit. In the many important roles he filled in his life, he served out of a sense of duty. I join Larry Welch's many friends and admirers in thanking a great man for great service.

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

Mr. Speaker, there are thousands of veterans across this country who could benefit from additional medical care and treatment, and chiropractic care is one form of that care and treatment that we believe can be expanded to meet the health care needs of our Nation's veterans.

It's an honor for me to be here today, just a few days in advance of Memorial Day, in support of legislation that I believe will benefit those veterans.

Mr. Speaker, in the year 2002, I joined my colleagues in an effort to see that chiropractic care became a significant component of the VA health care delivery system, and we have made progress in that regard. And that program has been implemented, but as the chairman indicated, as the gentleman from California indicated, it's only available in a small number of hospitals across the country.

This legislation takes what was a very good idea in 2002 and 2003 and expands it to make certain that, over time, all veterans in this country can access chiropractic care.

A recent VA study indicates that the demand for attention to back pain is only increasing, and we know that chiropractic care can address those issues. Numerous studies have demonstrated that chiropractic care is an effective therapy and would be an effective approach to low back pain, spasms, and other maladies suffered by not only all Americans but by our veterans in particular.

And so, Mr. Speaker, this is a piece of legislation that I think will benefit all veterans across the country, widely supported by those veterans service organizations who speak here in our Nation's Capitol on behalf of veterans. The Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Vietnam Veterans of America, AMVETS, and the Paralyzed Veterans of America all speak in favor of passage H.R. 1470.

Mr. Speaker, I come from a congressional district in which access to health care is a huge issue for all of my citizens. Long distances to travel, attraction of health care providers to rural communities is a challenging task and the more we can expand the number of providers, the type of care that can be provided, the more likely it is that veterans who live in my district and rural America will have access to that care.

So, Mr. Speaker, I'm here on behalf of the veterans of America. I'm here on behalf of members of the Veterans' Affairs Committee to urge my colleagues to approve H.R. 1470, the Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act.

I thank the gentleman from California for his encouragement of the passage of this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would ask the balance of my time? How much time is remaining?

Mr. Speaker, I yield 15 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer), former chairman of the committee and the ranking member.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

General Leave

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

Mr. Speaker, to the gentleman from Maryland, I'm very grateful for his support and for his help in bringing this legislation to the House floor today.

I rise in support of H. Res. 400, which I introduced along with my fellow colleagues from Kansas. It does express the sympathy of the House of Representatives for the loss of life and the tremendous property damage to a community in my district of a population of about 1,500.

The tornado occurred at about 10 p.m. on Friday evening, May 4, now a little more than 2 weeks ago. It was an F-5 tornado, one of the most powerful tornados to strike the United States in more than 8 years. It was fortunate that the people of Greensburg had a 20-minute warning, that the National Weather Service performed its function. An emergency was declared, and people had 20 minutes to try to save their families' lives and to move to safety.

My guess is that that 20 minutes went by in a flash. Mr. Speaker, while 20 minutes may go by in a flash, I'm sure that the 2 minutes that the tornado was on the ground went by very, very slowly. It was an eternity. In that 20 minutes of warning, people did what they could do. In that 2 minutes, at least the buildings of the community were destroyed; 205-mile-an-hour winds can do great damage.

Mr. Speaker, we in Kansas are accustomed from time to time to tornados, but never have I seen the devastation and destruction that occurs to one community. The losses are significant. Certainly our prayers and support are with the families of those 10 individuals who died that night, but 95 percent of the town is gone. There is no high school. There is no grade school. There is no city hall. There is no hospital. There is no library. The entire business district, six or seven blocks of a business district in the county seat town, not a business remains.

Sixty-three people were injured, and while faced with such destruction, I've been to Greensburg seven times in the last 2 weeks, I have seen nothing but the sense of spirit about rebuilding lives. You can stand in front of a home that is totally destroyed and listen to the people there sorting through the rubble, trying to find something of value, and when you have a conversation with them, it doesn't take long before a smile appears on their face and they talk about how things could be worse than they are, how we're better off than our neighbors, how we'll get through this.

And so, Mr. Speaker, in what is truly a time of devastation, it's also truly a

time of hope. And what we saw in Kansas that night and every day since reaffirms my belief in the value of caring for your family, love and compassion for your neighbor, that your community matters, and a sense that together we can get through this.

I'm proud, Mr. Speaker, to see the tremendous support that comes from across the country. Many Members of the House of Representatives have stopped to visit with me. Many ambassadors and Presidents of foreign countries have sent notes of condolences and concern. And I appreciate that President Bush came to Greensburg, Kansas, last Wednesday and spent 4 hours commiserating with the people of that community.

There is a sense in America that we're all in this together, and in this case the sense is more than just a feeling. It's been a reality.

An example, the nearby community of Haviland, population about 450, the grocery store there was open last Sunday. It's a typical grocery store in a small town. My guess is it makes no money. It's more of a community service than it is a business. It has the old wooden floors and the tin ceiling that is very traditional, very common in communities I represent. And I watched as the owner of the grocery store stood behind the counter, and people brought groceries to the counter and placed them there, ready to pay, and he would ask the question, ``Where are you from?'' And if the answer was, Greensburg, his answer was, ``No charge.''

We've seen this exhibited time and time again by friends and family, but even as important as that, we've seen it demonstrated time and time again by people who know no one in Greensburg, Kansas.

So, Mr. Speaker, the tragedy was tremendous, the destruction was great, but in reality, people have the faith in their future and are willing to take the steps necessary to see that their community is rebuilt and that their children and grandchildren have a future in Greensburg.

So, Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the resolution commending these people of Greensburg, Kansas, for their spirit, their bravery, their compassion, their love for friends and family, and I also say thank you to the Members of the House of Representatives and to Americans around the country who also have taken the steps to make sure that good things happen in the future of Greensburg.

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

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

Beside me I have a photograph of Greensburg, Kansas, taken shortly after the tornado that perhaps gives Members of the House of Representatives and really America a sense of the extent of the destruction.

And there are Members of Congress, I suppose, who come from places different than the middle of America, and let me describe Greensburg, Kansas, to you.

Greensburg, Kansas, is a community of about 1,500 people. It's the county seat town of Kiowa County. It is the hub of activity for that county. It's in many ways a typical community that I represent. Its downtown consists of four or five blocks on both sides of the street of businesses, the hardware store, a drugstore, a grocery store. There's the seats of government, the city hall, the library, the hospital, the courthouse.

Mr. Speaker, it's a community in which people have lived there, in many instances, for four and five generations, and it's a community that welcomes newcomers. In fact, that's the plea of every Kansas community: We'd like to grow and see some prosperity, see new people in our town.

And so this is a community that has a combination of people who are senior citizens and young folks, a community that has folks who have lived there generation after generation, generally involved in agriculture, farming and ranching; but it's also a community that embraces new ideas and new people, a look toward the future. It's a community that has numerous churches, and yet today, as we talk about Greensburg, those structures, those buildings are gone.

But in many ways, what's happened in Greensburg only reinforces who the people who call Greensburg home are. The fact that the buildings are gone is something they will live with. In fact, their response was how quickly can we get back into town so we can begin the process of rebuilding our homes, our businesses and our lives.

On Saturday, I was in Greensburg for high school graduation. As I indicated, Greensburg is a town of about 1,500 people. Twenty-five seniors from Greensburg High School graduated on Saturday morning. Graduation was held under a tent on the golf course, the golf course because it's the only place in town that has no debris and rubble. Population 1,500, there were 1,800 people at graduation. They were there to tell the students, congratulations and best wishes.

They were also there to reinforce the importance of community, that life revolves around what goes on in the town, and life revolves around its future based upon its young people. Once again we saw the demonstration of how friends and family and neighbors and people who don't even know anybody in Greensburg came together in one more instance to make certain that there was love and compassion and care and concern demonstrated for the people of this community. I am so grateful again for the opportunity to represent the people of a community like Greensburg, Kansas.

The question particularly by the national media has been, Congressman, do you believe they will rebuild their community? I can tell you that effort is ongoing today, and it began on Saturday, Saturday morning the day after the tornado, and it continues each and every moment.

The city administrator, the mayor, the sheriff, the police chief, the county commissioners, the city council members all lost their homes. Yet Saturday morning, they were all gathered there to try to restore the services for electricity and gas and power and water to

the community. They lost everything, but yet, as community leaders, they were there.

My friend, Dennis McKinney, the Democrat leader of the House of Representatives of the State of Kansas, announced on Sunday, a week ago, ``I have already hired the contractor to rebuild the house on the same foundation where I lived before the tornado, because leaders have to be leaders.'' Again, we see the determination of people.

What I answered to the national media who asked me if they think Greensburg will be rebuilt, I don't know a lot of people in other communities, but I know the people of Greensburg, Kansas. In Kansas and in Greensburg, Kansas, we all have a place we love. It's called ``home.''

There is a great attraction to make certain that we do everything in this Congress, that the Federal Government responds appropriately to help the folks of Greensburg. I can tell you that the love of home is sufficient, that the people of Greensburg, Kansas, are rebuilding today.

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

I thank the gentleman from Maryland. He has touched me by his personal interest, not only in this resolution, but in his awareness and concern for the people of Greensburg, Kansas.

Mr. Speaker, once again, it's good to see in this House of Representatives where people from across the country recognize the value of working together to see that good happens.

I also wish to express my appreciation to all the volunteers from across the country. Sunday, the two Sundays since the tornado, collection plates have been passed in our churches, the prayers have been said. The Red Cross has arrived, the Salvation Army is there, the National Guard, our soldiers away from home, again, helping in time of need. Our law enforcement officers from across the State and FEMA have performed admirably in this very difficult circumstance.

I am pleased by the spirit exhibited today by the gentleman from Maryland and look forward to that spirit continuing as we work to rebuild Greensburg and all of America.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleague from Maryland in honoring the men and women who served in the United States Merchant Marine, and H. Res. 413 does just that. It recognizes the important role the Merchant Marine plays in ensuring our national security and strengthening our national economy.

The 465 U.S.-flag oceangoing commercial vessels and the approximately 69,000 men and women that comprise the U.S. Merchant Marine provide critical services to the United States, the transportation of maritime commerce to and from U.S. ports and their support for our armed services in times of national emergency.

It's appropriate that we do this today. This is National Maritime Day, which was designated by Congress to pay tribute to the merchant mariners, both current and past, and recognize their faithful service to the United States of America. Since 1933, the Nation has celebrated and commemorated the service of the merchant mariners on May 22 each year.

I, too, commend the resolution sponsored by my friend and colleague from California (Mr. Filner) for introducing this legislation. I join him in urging all Members to support this bill and the United States Merchant Marine.

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

I yield back the balance of my time.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to be on the House floor today to raise a significant concern I have with the budget proposal that will be before the House of Representatives this week before its final passage.

At the moment, as we speak here on the House floor, Republican and Democrat members of the House Agriculture Committee are gathered in the House Agriculture Committee room to talk about a plan for a new 2002 farm bill. As we gather together, it's a wonderful thing that those of us who care about the farmers and ranchers of the country, who care about the environmental and conservation needs, who care about the food and nutrition needs of Americans, have decided we want to craft a farm bill together. We want to work side-by-side to reach the right priorities within the farm bill.

The problem is the budget priorities established under this budget are inadequate to provide a safety net for the farmers of America. There is a ruse going on here. The budget provides for a $20 billion reserve fund that the farm bill can access in the process of developing a new farm bill, but only if we cut spending someplace else, or we raise taxes.

So we are sitting in the Agriculture Committee trying to determine how do we meet the needs of the agriculture producers and the consumers of America, how do we meet the land and environmental and conservation needs of the people of our cities and our countryside, and we are going to try to determine that in a vacuum that suggests there is actually $20 billion in the budget that's not there.

It is simply a gimmick to allow us to try to write a farm bill to appeal to all the variety of interests that care about the outcome of this farm bill debate. But the money is not available.

For too long we have had the gimmicks in the budgetary process. To me,

this is one of the biggest I have seen in my time in Congress in which we pretend there is a fund to draft farm bill legislation.

The farmers of America, certainly the farmers of Kansas, struggle today. We are in perhaps the beginning of an end of a 6-year drought. Commodity prices are higher. The last farm bill, 2002 farm bill, spent $18 billion less than was expected. But do we get the advantage of that in agriculture spending? The answer is no. It's taken away from us because commodity prices at the moment are higher than they were. But we know, in agriculture, we know the laws of supply and demand and economic rules that govern our economy, that the result of higher commodity prices is lower commodity prices.

So as we draft a farm bill, we are going to pretend there's money there to meet the safety net needs of farmers when it's not there. Commodity prices will be lower. That's a natural result of higher commodity prices.

Conservation environmental needs will be greater. Food stamps and nutrition programs will need to be funded. Yet, this budget fails to meet those needs. Even the administration's proposal had a better offer for American agriculture than the Democrat-passed budget on the House floor today.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, there is talk about higher commodity prices for our farmers, but very few people talk about the purpose of the farm bill, which is to provide a safety net when the cost of production to produce the crop is higher than the commodity price that the farmer receives. Yes, commodity prices are higher this year than they were last year or the year before, but let me remind people of this body what has happened to the input costs that a farmer, in fact, all Americans, face.

Agriculture is an energy dependent business, with the increasing cost of fuel, fertilizer and natural gas, the price, the cost of producing agricultural commodities in this country has skyrocketed since the 2002 farm bill. Yet the budget that we are presented with today will allow us to do less for farmers, not more.

I rise just to raise serious objection to the budget, and to make my colleagues aware, as we work together in a bipartisan fashion in the Agriculture Committee, to craft a farm bill, the parameters that have been laid out by the budget make that process almost impossible to accomplish.

I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding me the time. Again, I rise to oppose this budget and its failure to meet the agricultural, environmental and food safety needs of Americans.

I thank the distinguished gentleman from California for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in support, strong support, of the legislation that is before us this evening. In fact, my number one agriculture priority for 2007 is the passage of legislation similar to what we are addressing this evening.

We are going to deal with the farm bill later this year, but the reality is that many farmers in America and certainly the farmers I know in Kansas will not be around to take advantage of the provisions of the 2007 farm bill, absent some kind of assistance, due to no fault of their own.

In Kansas, we have struggled through five and six years of drought followed by this year's December 31, 2006, winter storms that caused 44 of Kansas' 105 counties to be declared natural disasters, followed by a winter freeze, three nights in April in which the temperatures were in the teens and much of what we thought was going to be a wonderful wheat harvest is now destroyed due to the cold weather. And as you have all seen most recently here just a few nights ago, tornadoes, hail and floods have now affected this part as well as the rest of the State of Kansas.

So, Mr. Speaker, if we care about an agricultural economy, this disaster assistance is so important. The average age of a farmer today in Kansas is 59 years old. There is almost no next generation. If we want young family farmers, we have got to make certain that the economic opportunities are there.

People will look to crop insurance. It doesn't work in the circumstances that we are talking about, multiyear disasters. Many crops, including livestock, are not covered. And we look to the farm bill. It is there for purposes of when the price of the commodity that the farmer sells is lower than the cost of production. So it is only through this type of agricultural assistance that we can see our farmers through from day to day.

If you care about life in rural America, if you care about the future of farmers, if you care about the future of the communities they live in, this is an important piece of legislation. In fact, you don't have to be a farmer to gain benefits from agriculture disaster. This is about whether or not in rural America we have people who shop on our Main Streets, whether or not we have kids in our schools.

So, Mr. Speaker, this is an important piece of legislation, and I ask my colleagues, both Republicans and Democrats, to support this legislation.

I thank the majority for allowing it to be brought to the floor tonight.

I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for yielding time, and I thank the Speaker this evening for recognizing me.

Mr. Speaker, 20 minutes can go by in a flash; 2 minutes seems like an eternity. Last Friday night, Greensburg, Kansas, was struck by a devastating tornado. With 20 minutes' warning, I am sure the people of Greensburg did everything possible to protect their homes, their lives, to gather their loved ones, to find the basement, to seek the shelter. Twenty minutes is an awfully short period of time to try to save your life.

Two minutes, the time that it takes for the tornado 1\1/2\ miles wide, winds blowing 207 miles an hour, 2 minutes it takes to destroy a community.

The losses last Friday night in Greensburg, Kansas, are significant. The photograph I have with me demonstrates the look of a town, a county seat town of Kiowa County, Kansas, population about 1,500. In many ways, a typical Kansas community; in many ways, a typical small town in rural America.

Mr. Speaker, I have been in Greensburg, Kansas, for the last 3 days. And perhaps what I see is typical, but what I see is heroics. From the moment the tornado struck, the people of Greensburg arose to the occasion, and every moment since then, their lives have been devoted toward making certain that people are okay, seeking recovery of their loved ones and their property, and trying to make certain that everyone is found and that life is preserved.

Mr. Speaker, 2 minutes did a lot of damage to a community; and yet in every conversation I had with the citizens of Greensburg, ultimately at least a small smile would come upon their face because they were able to count the blessings that they had despite the tornado. They were able to talk about the next opportunity they have to rebuild their lives, the people's whose lives were saved, the people whose lives are here today.

Mr. Speaker, this community has lost its entire housing structure. I walked through Greensburg for about 45 minutes on Saturday, a town that I represented as a State senator and now as a Member of Congress, and I found one home in that 45 minutes that I thought would be habitable.

The downtown business district is gone. You know, especially, Mr. Speaker, how difficult it is to preserve and enhance a business district in rural communities.

This is a community that has a business district maybe of six or seven

blocks, both sides of the street. But every business destroyed. Gone is the city hall. Gone is the high school. Gone is the grade school. Gone is the hospital. Gone is the library.

This community faces many challenges, Mr. Speaker. But in each and every instance, not only have the citizens of that community arose to the occasion, not only have the citizens of that community done everything they could to save lives and protect property; but now already they talk of, how do we rebuild our hometown?

I spent a little time with the national media who are covering this story in Greensburg, Kansas, and my guess is Greensburg, Kansas, is probably a foreign country to many of them. And their question is, as they look across the rubble that's demonstrated in this photograph is, Congressman, can you really believe that this community has a future; that they will be around 2 years from now, 5 years from now, a decade from now? And the answer is yes.

I don't know a lot about lots of other communities in the country. But I know about the people of Greensburg, Kansas, and they will make every effort to see that their community survives and prospers, and that their children and grandchildren have a future there. You know, there's a special place we all call, it's called home. And everybody wants to live where it's home. And so, as the folks of Greensburg try to pick up their lives, rebuild their homes, re-establish the businesses, recreate a community, they just want Greensburg to be home again.

And so tonight I rise to commend them for their spirit, acknowledge their bravery, speak about their compassion and love for their friends and family and neighbors. And I especially want to talk about the city officials, the mayor, Lonnie McCollum, the city manager, Steve Hewett.

Perhaps people don't realize that the people who are there today trying to restore the electricity, the water, the sewer, the telephone service, the power, they, too, lost everything. So as the city officials have gone back to work trying to restore the basic needs of a community, they face the challenges of not having a home, vehicles destroyed, families living outside the community.

And Mr. Speaker, in addition to the city officials and the people of Greensburg, the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Heart to Heart, church groups, hundreds and thousands of people across the country on Sunday said their prayers for the people of Greensburg, Kansas. Offering plates were passed. The community of Haviland, a small town much smaller than the community of Greensburg, 15 miles down the road, the grocery store open on Sunday. I was there. I watched as the owner of the grocery store, no small task to keep a grocery store in Haviland, Kansas, alive and well, but I watched as customers placed groceries on the counter. And the grocery store owner said, where are you from? And the answer was, Greensburg. No charge.

That's the community that people call home in Kansas and many places across the country. And it's that effort that we are seeing today in which people come to the aid and rescue of their friends and neighbors and people they don't even know to make certain that good happens in a very difficult and challenging time.

And we are pleased with the National Guard. We are pleased with the services we have with surrounding communities and their law enforcement, emergency preparedness. And FEMA has arrived on the spot almost from day one, almost from the first moment the tornado struck.

I just got off the phone with the National Weather Service in Dodge City, Kansas. 20 minutes is not very long. But that 20 minutes, because of the efforts of the folks forecasting the weather that night, saved lives.

And I would ask that Kansans and Americans tonight again say their prayers for the people of Greensburg, that they recognize that we in America, no matter where the challenge or difficulty lies, we are in it together. And I would ask that, throughout the course of time, that the contributions be collected, the efforts be made to restore the community and that all Americans share in that process.

The people of Greensburg ought to be reassured that we, in Congress, we, as the Federal Government, will do everything within our power to assist them in their efforts. We want to reassure them that the future is theirs, and we're here to help.

And the role that we play as a Federal Government, the role that all the agencies who have arrived to provide assistance is important. But the reality is that Greensburg, Kansas, has a future because the people who call Greensburg home want to ensure that future comes tomorrow, next year and for another generation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to pay tribute to a community back home.

I'd yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

I thank the gentleman and appreciate the words of encouragement, the phone calls, the letters and the conversations I have had with my colleagues from across the country who, like you, express their care and concern for the people of Kansas.

I'd be happy to yield to you.

I thank so much the gentleman from North Dakota who, I know, like the gentleman from Pennsylvania, understands that rural America is a special place, and the place called home, in this case a place called Greensburg, Kansas, matters a lot, not only in the future of that community, but in the future of a way that we try to preserve here, a way of life that matters, I think, to all of America.

Again, I express my appreciation to my colleagues for their support. I remind the folks of Greensburg, Kansas, that we'll be an ally. I thank those who have worked so hard to this point to see that there is an opportunity for a future.

And tonight I especially say my prayers for the family members of those whose families lost their lives. Ten people died in the tornado on Friday night.

Life is a very precious thing, and we offer our prayers. We seek the support of all as we try to rebuild Greensburg, Kansas. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1025, the Lower Republican River Basin Study Act. I would like to thank Chairman Rahall and the Resources Committee for helping to bring this legislation before the House today.

The timing of this legislation is significant, not only for farmers in Kansas who have dealt with successive years of drought and decreased water supplies, but because the respective states have already appropriated funds for the current fiscal year to conduct the feasibility study authorized by this legislation.

H.R. 1025 is a product of the Republican River Compact Settlement. That settlement resulted from litigation filed by the State of Kansas against the States of Nebraska and Colorado in 1998 because required amounts of water were not reaching Kansas under the Republican River Compact terms. In 2003, the Republican River Compact Settlement brought that litigation to an end.

The Settlement was signed not only by the party States, but also administration officials and was subsequently approved by the United States Supreme Court in 2003. As part of that Settlement, the Parties agreed to have the Secretary of the Interior conduct a study to determine the feasibility of implementing water supply and conservation projects in the Republican River Basin below Harlan Reservoir. In accordance with the Settlement Agreement, H.R. 1025 provides that the cost of the study will be shared between the Federal Government and the States of Kansas and Nebraska.

As of today, the States have done their part under the settlement agreement. In fact, my home State of Kansas has already appropriated funds for the current fiscal year. I also understand that Mr. Smith's State of Nebraska has done the same.

Mr. Speaker, all that remains is for the Federal Government to meet its obligation under the settlement agreement. The feasibility study is desperately needed to increase water availability and encourage more efficient water use and delivery systems.

The Lower Republican Basin has a history of periodic droughts and water shortages. The upper third of the Kansas Bostwick Irrigation District, which lies above Lovewell Reservoir, received limited water allocations in 2003 and no water allocations in 2004 and 2005.

Producers in the lower two-thirds of the Kansas Bostwick Irrigation District have also experienced water shortages since 2003. Irrigators in this portion of the District have only received half of the base supply they were supposed to receive. The project facilities in the Lower Republican River Basin are over 50 years old. Changed hydrological conditions and aging facilities require better utilization of limited water supplies.

Mr. Speaker, the feasibility study authorized by H.R. 1025 is not only necessary to ensure the states remain in compliance with an interstate compact, but also to ensure the economic viability of the rural communities that rely on delivery of a consistent supply of water, and I urge Members to approve this legislation.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to express my respect and admiration for a man who has devoted his life to serving God and the lives of others--Reverend Bill Miller of Hays, Kansas. The time has come to recognize this man who has touched the lives of countless Kansans and only recently retired from his post as Hospital Chaplain at Hays Medical Center.

Reverend Miller began his position at Hays Medical Center at the age of 73. With his wife Carolyn so often at his side, he remained there for 11 years. It was only this past December that he decided to retire due to health concerns.

During his tenure at Hays Medical Center, Rev. Miller delivered daily devotionals entitled ``A Moment with God'' to patients and associates both personally and through a telephone prayer line. In order to share these with others, the publication rights for these messages were given to the Hays Medical Center Foundation. They were then compiled into the book, ``The World My Father Made.''

It came as a surprise to no one when Rev. Miller's book sold out within a few months. According to the Hays Medical Center Foundation, this prompted a reprint to meet the ``overwhelming call for his book.'' One can only imagine how many lives he has touched through print.

According to Hays Medical Center Foundation Executive Director Bob Lowen, Rev. Miller ``is the Rock of Gibraltar.'' ``He's known now to second and third generations of families. He baptized kids and did whatever. Now many of those kids are parents and grandparents.''

While Rev. Miller has truly been ``The Rock'' for so many folks, it is his wife and Carolyn who has provided solidity and inspiration in his own life. Not only has Carolyn been his soul mate, but she has given of her own time as a Hays Medical Center volunteer.

Rev. Miller's history of service to others extends back several decades. He attended both Garrett Theological Seminar and Asbury Theological Seminar and was ordained in 1950. He truly made a difference in several Kansas communities as he served churches in Wichita, Hays, and Hutchinson.

Although I can express how special Rev. Miller is, no one does a better job of doing so as close friend and aforementioned Bob Lowen. As Bob said, ``Rev. Miller is a tall, lean, kind and gentle man much like Abraham Lincoln. I have no doubt but that God gave Rev. Miller to us to truly be ``Our Shepherd.''

I cannot think of better words to describe thisman. Madam Speaker, our community owes a debt of gratitude to someone who has quite simply been a ``Shephard'' to individuals in their time of need. Rev. Bill Miller has provided comfort to so many patients and families that I can only say ``thank you.'' Thank you Rev. Miller for answering the call to make a difference.

I appreciate the gentleman from New Jersey yielding time. He has been a leader on this and other issues for so long, and I am honored to be here with him here today.

Madam Speaker, often on this floor, way too often from my perspective, we see a divisive, partisan discussion and debate. But, Madam Speaker, today we speak about an issue in which there is no partisanship and there is no political divide, and that, Madam Speaker, is what is transpiring and has transpired over the last several years in Darfur.

We know that there have been 2 million citizens of Sudan who no longer live in their homes or villages. We know that there has been 450,000 people killed in Sudan. It is something that demands our attention. It is something that we as Congress, we as a country, we as a world, must come together to bring the death and destruction, the inhumanity and the hunger and violence to an end.

Madam Speaker, I had the opportunity several weeks ago to join the honorable majority leader (Mr. Hoyer), the distinguished majority leader of this House, along with the ranking Republican of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, to visit Darfur. And there, of course, we had the opportunity to visit with government officials, as we in Congress often do. But we also had the opportunity to see for ourselves the conditions that human beings are living in today. And while I hope our meetings with government officials were useful, I know the view I saw, the scenes that were brought to my attention, the people of Darfur I met transcend any meeting I could have had with a government official to discuss what is going on. But it was an opportunity for me to see my life change as a human being, and to see that we all have a cause to see that life prevails and justice endures.

Upon my return, Madam Speaker, last Tuesday I took the opportunity to visit the Holocaust Museum. That week was the Week of Remembrance of the Holocaust. And while there, I saw the quote from Isaiah, Isaiah 43:10, ``You are my witness.'' Madam Speaker, that speaks to me and should speak to all of us. We are the witnesses of a holocaust today.

Many Members of Congress, much more so than me and for much longer periods of time, have paid attention to this issue and have been trying to rise to the occasion and bring awareness to the world, and I commend those colleagues who have been outspoken on this issue for a long, long time, and today I join them.

Recently, I returned back to the Holocaust Museum where President Bush spoke. He spoke certainly about the remembrance of the death and destruction of the Jewish community, the people of Jewish faith who have suffered, but he also brought home the importance of addressing genocide and death today.

I commend the President for his demands that the Sudanese Government allow the African Union and the United Nations peacekeeping force, that they be allowed to reach out and be increased in their force, that they reach out to rebel leaders, that the Sudanese Government end its support for violent janjaweed militia and they permit humanitarian aid workers to do their work. President Bush outlined some steps that we as a country are willing to take and requests that we will make to the United Nations.

Congress designated last week as The Days of Remembrance in order to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust. While at the Holocaust Museum, I learned much about the reach of the Holocaust and saw the images of death and dehumanization.

As I reflected upon the Jews' past and considered the future of African tribes in Darfur, I have a question to ask: Are we going to wait until the proportions of death are similar to the Holocaust before we take action?

The part of the exhibit that moved me the most, Madam Speaker, was the list of 10,000 individuals who took action during the Holocaust. They have been identified by the Israelis as ``the Righteous Among the Nations,'' those who risked their lives to save innocent Jews during Nazi rule.

When the conflict in Darfur has ended, everyone will feel sorrow for the unnecessary loss of life. But will our Nation be among those, will we, as individuals, be among those who feel shame for inaction, or will we have the opportunity to have pride for standing up for justice in Darfur?

Mr. Speaker, we see from time to time, way too often from my perspective, a divisive, partisan discussion, debate, and oftentimes nearly fisticuffs on this House floor. But, Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to speak about an issue that each of us, every one of us, can agree upon, where there is no partisan or political consideration. And that, Mr. Speaker, is what is transpiring, has transpired over the last several years in Darfur.

Mr. Speaker, we know that there have been 2 million citizens of Sudan who today no longer live in their homes or their villages, and we know that there have been 450,000 people killed in Sudan. It is something that demands our attention. It is something that we as a Congress, we as a country and we as a world must come together to bring the death and destruction, the inhumanity, the hunger, the violence to an end.

Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity several weeks ago to join the Honorable Steny Hoyer, the distinguished majority leader of the House of Representatives, in a visit to Darfur. And there, of course, we had the opportunity to meet with government officials, but we also had the opportunity to see for ourselves the conditions that human beings are living in today. And while I hope our meetings with government officials were useful, I know the view I saw, the scenes that were brought to my attention, the people I met transcend any meeting I could have with a government official to discuss what is going on but was an opportunity for me to have my life changed as a human being to see that we all have a cause to see that life prevails and justice endures.

Upon my return, Mr. Speaker, yesterday I took the opportunity to visit the Holocaust Museum. This week is the week of remembrance of the Holocaust, and while there, I saw the quote from Isaiah, Isaiah 43:10, that says: ``You are my witness.'' Mr. Speaker, that speaks to me and should speak to all of us. We are the witness of the holocaust today. And many Members of Congress, much more so than I and for longer periods of time than I have paid attention to this issue, have been trying to rise to the occasion and bring awareness to the world. And I commend my colleagues who have been outspoken on this issue for a long time, and I join them tonight.

And today I was back to the Holocaust Museum, where President Bush spoke. And, yes, it was a remembrance of the death and destruction that the Jewish community, the people of the Jewish faith suffered, but it also brought home the importance of addressing genocide and death today. And I commend our President for his demands that the Sudanese government allow an African Union/U.N. peacekeeping force, that they reach out to the rebel leaders, that they end their support for the violent Janjaweed militia and they permit humanitarian aid to pass. And President Bush outlined some steps that we as a country are willing to take and requests that we can make to the United Nations.

Congress has designated this week as the ``Days of Remembrance'' in order to commemorate those victims of the Holocaust. While at that Holocaust Museum, I learned much about the reach of the Holocaust and saw images of death and dehumanization. And as I reflected upon the Jews past and considered the future of African tribes in Darfur, I have to ask a question: Are we going to wait until the proportions of death are similar to the Holocaust before we take action?

The exhibit that moved me the most, Mr. Speaker, was the list of 10,000 individuals who took action during the Holocaust. They have been identified by the Israelis as ``the Righteous Among the Nations,'' those who risked their lives to save innocent Jews during Nazi rule.

When the conflict in Darfur has ended, everyone will feel sorrow for the unnecessary loss of life. But will our Nation be among those, will we as individuals be among those who feel shame for inaction or pride for standing up for justice in Darfur?

I thank the gentleman from Indiana for yielding time to me. I express my appreciation to the Chair for recognizing me.

Mr. Chairman, I am here today in support of this legislation, but I think this legislation could be significantly improved. I come today to advocate on behalf of veterans who live in rural America, as well as servicemen and -women on leave from active duty.

I failed to have the opportunity to attempt to amend this bill in the Veterans' Affairs Committee because of the waiver of its jurisdiction. I appeared yesterday before the Rules Committee seeking the opportunity to offer an amendment today on the House floor. That authorization for offering that amendment was not allowed, was denied.

And I am concerned that as we look at veterans and our military retirees, as we look at those actively engaged in the military today and we try to address the needs that they face, there is a large area of veterans, there is a significant veteran and military active military population that are disadvantaged. That is those who live in rural America.

I represent a district, a congressional district the size of the State of Illinois, and yet, although we have more hospitals, private community hospitals than any congressional district in the country, there is no VA Hospital. There is no military hospital. And so you can be distanced from that access to care by hours, by 3, 4, 5 and 6 hours.

Legislation that I have introduced would try diligently to address that issue, to allow access to the private sector health care providers. If you live further away from a VA Hospital or an outpatient clinic, that you can take your VA card, you can take your active military benefits and see your hometown physician.

Examples from my own constituents. A veteran in the community of Hoxie was told he couldn't see the local optometrist, despite the fact that the optometrist is down the street. But, no, he has to go to Wichita, 4 hours away, in order to have his glasses adjusted.

Another veteran, who is incapable of travel, was told that, no, the local physician can't refill his prescription. He has got to travel to the VA Hospital in order to do that.

This legislation would correct that by allowing, in those circumstances where distances are so great, that the VA can enter into contracts with the private sector to meet the needs of those veterans and that a physician, a private physician, could fill a prescription.

So, Mr. Chairman, I regret that, although this bill brings to the forefront and addresses many issues that our servicemen and women face, it fails in, at least in my belief, to address the needs that we see from rural veterans.

I was pleased that Mr. Barrow, the gentleman from Georgia, who I have joined with in past efforts to try to increase the reimbursement rate for mileage for rural veterans as they travel to a VA Hospital, his amendment was made in order. And I am pleased and will support that, would love to have the opportunity again to speak in favor of it.

But these are the kind of issues that we cannot let this Congress ignore. We are not a one-size-solution fits all. And those of us who have concerns for those who choose to live in rural America, we believe we can make this legislation better. So, Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the time to speak in favor.