Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Pughtown Baptist Church as it celebrates its 150th anniversary. In 1856, citizens from Spring City, Pennsylvania gathered at the banks of the French Creek to baptize six men and women, thereby officially forming the Pughtown Baptist Church. From that day forward, the Church has been in its original building at 780 Pughtown Road, South Coventry Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

The Church congregation is focused on preserving their history while expanding the community's knowledge of the Church to its neighbors. The Church holds an annual community picnic where members spend a day of fellowship and, additionally, this year the congregation reached out to the needy by sending a mission group to Ocean Spring, Mississippi, an area hit hard by last year's Hurricane Katrina.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in honoring Pughtown Baptist Church as it celebrates its 150th anniversary. I am sure that this active and energetic congregation will continue to bring hope, faith, and aid to both Chester County communities and other communities in need for generations to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a great public servant and friend, the late Pennsylvania State Senator Robert J. Thompson. Today, the House of Representatives has the unique opportunity to designate the United States Postal Service facility located at 101 East Gay Street in West Chester, Pennsylvania, the ``Robert J. Thompson Post Office Building''.

Bob, a native of Chester County, Pennsylvania, gave his life to public service as a township supervisor, county commissioner, member of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, and finally as State Senator representing the 19th District of Pennsylvania. In all of these endeavors, he represented his constituents with honor, dignity, and professionalism. He was also known throughout the community as a loving father and grandfather with a tremendous sense of humor and love of life. So, it is an honor for me to take this time to remember a man I worked closely with and who I greatly respected as a mentor and a friend.

Bob and his wife Nancy made community service, civic participation, and faith-based activities paramount in their lives. When not serving on countless commissions, committees, and caucuses, Bob made sure he was there for his family as well. In short, Bob was a ``legislator's legislator,'' a highly honored servant and a loving family man.

Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to stand before this House today to help remember State Senator Robert Thompson. He is sorely missed by his family, his constituents, and myself, and I know that by naming the post office in West Chester after him, his legacy of public service will live on.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5313, the Open Space and Farmland Preservation Act, a bill I introduced to strengthen the Federal Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program.

Under the bill, 15 percent of the funds made available for the program would be reserved in order to make challenge

grants available to preserve the most threatened farmland, farmland in States, counties, municipalities, or private entities all agree are vital to preserve.

Simply put, if a State contributes 25 percent, a county contributes 25 percent, and a municipality or private entity contributes 25 percent towards the preservation of eligible farmland, the effort would then be eligible for a 25 percent Federal match.

I know that every, State, county, and municipality's commitment to farmland preservation is different, but it is my hope that creating this challenge grant will encourage more efforts at these levels of government.

States like Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania's counties and municipalities have invested heavily in preserving farmland. The challenge grant created through H.R. 5313 would only help to encourage other States in more local municipalities to follow this example and compete for Federal dollars available through the challenge grant.

I also believe that this challenge grant will steer Federal resources towards those projects already getting wide support from counties, States, and municipalities, or private organizations. This ensures that the increasingly limited Federal resources are being used to preserve the most threatened farmland.

This is an important measure that will help preserve farmland and open space in suburban and exurban communities. For residents of these areas like my constituents in Pennsylvania's Sixth Congressional District, preservation of open space and farmland is a quality of life issue that can not be overlooked.

I want to thank Chairman Goodlatte and his staff for their efforts in bringing this bill to the floor today, as well as the efforts of Ranking Member Peterson. I would also like to thank my colleague, Congressman Mark Kirk of Illinois, for his foresight and leadership in the creation of the Suburban Agenda Caucus. His efforts and the efforts of the leaders of the Caucus have helped shed light on the issues that those of us in the suburban communities care deeply about.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5313, the Open Space and Farmland Preservation Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the National Psoriasis Foundation and of August as Psoriasis Awareness Month to bring much-needed attention to an often overlooked and serious disease that affects constituents in each of our districts. According to the National Institutes of Health, NIH, as many as 7.5 million Americans are affected by psoriasis--a chronic, inflammatory, painful, disfiguring and disabling disease for which there are limited treatments and no cure. Ten to thirty percent of people with psoriasis also develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes pain, stiffness and swelling in and around the joints. Psoriasis is widely misunderstood, minimized and undertreated. In addition to the pain, itching and bleeding caused by psoriasis, many affected individuals also experience social discrimination and stigma. Many people also mistakenly believe psoriasis to be contagious. Psoriasis typically first strikes between the ages of 15 and 25 and lasts a lifetime. As such, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis impose significant burden on individuals and society; together they cost the Nation 56 million hours of lost work and between $2 billion and $3 billion in treatments each year.

Despite the serious adverse effects that psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis have on individuals, families and society, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are underrecognized and underfunded by our Nation's research institutions. The NIH has spent less than $1 per person with psoriasis on average each of the last 10 years. At the historical and current rate of psoriasis funding, NIH funding is not keeping pace with research needs. The scientific advisors of the National Psoriasis Foundation believe that between 5 and 10 additional psoriasis-specific investigator-initiated research

grants are needed each year to begin to make real progress toward improved treatments and, eventually, a cure.

There are an average of 17,000 people living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in every congressional district--estimate based on 2000 Census Data/Census apportionment population with the average size of a congressional district of 646,952 and prevalence rate of 2.6 percent. Approximately 320,000 people are affected by psoriasis in Pennsylvania.

Fortunately, we have two support groups in Pennsylvania affiliated with the National Psoriasis Foundation. I am pleased that my constituents have a welcome and knowledgeable support group to help them know they need not face their disease without help. Support group interaction and discussion provides individuals affected by this debilitating disease with much-needed comfort, assistance and resources. The work of the support groups in Pennsylvania is invaluable, and I commend the efforts of those involved.

I thank the National Psoriasis Foundation for all of its efforts and leadership over the last 38 years and am grateful to the foundation and its members for their ongoing commitment to improving the quality of life of people who have psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Moreover, I thank the constituents, Kathleen Brickley, Carl and Sandy Christofano, Eileen Gallant and Lara Wine Lee, who visited my Washington, DC, office earlier this year to educate me and my staff about the challenges associated with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. This year, the National Psoriasis Foundation had nearly 100 participants join in its Capitol Hill Day to elevate awareness and understanding of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and have policymakers take action to address access to care and boost the Nation's research efforts.

Too many people suffer needlessly from psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis due to incorrect or delayed diagnosis, inadequate treatment options, and/or insufficient access to care. I stand ready to work with my constituents and the National Psoriasis Foundation to help elevate the importance of expanding psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis research and ensuring access to care and treatment for this disease. I urge my colleagues to learn more about psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, to take action to support their affected constituents and to support the National Psoriasis Foundation in its important endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Frederick Mennonite Community, an elderly continuing care community, on its 110th anniversary.

This community has been providing outstanding service to its more than 300 residents on eighty acres in western Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. This bucolic setting is large enough to accommodate a wide variety of lifestyles, yet small enough to maintain a sense of community. Residents have the option to live in independent living cottages, apartments, assisted living, and nursing care facilities. The organization's goal is to offer housing and support options for every individual preference and need. Frederick Mennonite Community strives to promote and encourage every individual to live life to their fullest.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in honoring Frederick Mennonite Community on its 110th anniversary. I hope that this community is able to continue to live out its mission statement: ``In the spirit of Christian love, Frederick Mennonite Community cares for and enriches the lives of older adults, while valuing the staff, volunteers and community that serves them.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an American hero, Pfc. Travis Clyde Zimmerman, who died on April 22, 2006 while serving his country in Iraq.

Pfc. Zimmerman was on a combat reconnaissance operation when an improvised explosive device exploded near his observation post. This young man's high school goal, as stated in his yearbook, was to serve in the United States Army. Neighbors, friends, and former teachers have all testified that Travis was a courteous, cooperative, and compassionate young man. Dr. Harry Morgan, the Boyertown School District Superintendent, told students that Travis's death ``was a great loss to the family and the community and our sympathy goes out to them. We are grateful for his service to our county.''

Travis was a life-long resident of Boyertown, Pennsylvania and is the son of Gail Camperson and Lloyd Zimmerman. After Travis's graduation in June of 2005, he attended basic training and then joined the Army's 101st Airborne unit. Travis's unit deployed to Iraq in February 2006.

Scarlett Kulp, Travis's life long friend, wanted to make sure that the community did not forget the commitment and sacrifice he made to serve his country. Scarlett took action and worked with the local community to create a memorial fund to honor Pfc. Zimmerman and other local military heroes. Local schools took Scarlett's lead and held events such as ``Hats Off to Travis Day'' at Colebrookdale Elementary School, Travis's elementary school from kindergarten to sixth grade. The students and staff at Boyertown Jr. High West and the Senior High- School held tributes and helped Scarlett gather funds for the memorial military bear statue.

By Memorial Day weekend, Scarlett, with the help of the community, had raised enough money to order a six-foot military bear statue and create the ``Pfc. Travis Zimmerman Memorial Fund''. This permanent fund will not only provide for the cost of the creation and maintenance of the memorial, but it will also help area military personnel as they readjust to civilian life upon their return from services overseas.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in paying honor to a hometown hero, Pfc. Travis Zimmerman, as his community honors him and other service members during the September 17, 2006 Hometown Heroes parade and ceremony. Heartiest congratulation, out to all the individuals who have helped to make this lasting memorial possible, and our utmost gratitude and respect conveyed to Travis's family for his unflinching devotion and sacrifice for our nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Holy Saviour Club of Norristown, Pennsylvania.

The Holy Saviour Club was founded by Italian-American immigrants from the town of Montella, Italy. It was the desire of the founding families to share their Italian heritage and culture with their fellow Montgomery County citizens.

The Holy Saviour Club will celebrate its 100th anniversary with a weekend celebration on August 4th-6th and the members and guests will participate in a celebratory procession, feast, and a solemn mass at Holy Saviour Church.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in honoring the Holy Saviour Club of Norristown, Pennsylvania as it celebrates its 100th anniversary. It is my hope the Club continues to prosper and promote the Italian heritage and culture of its members for the benefit of the larger Montgomery County community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Borough of Kenhorst in Berks County, Pennsylvania.

The residents of Cumru Township, upset with what they described as an exorbitant streetlight tax, a lack of fire and police protection, and a lack of street improvement, decided to secede from the Township to create their own municipality, thereby resulting in the establishment of the Borough of Kenhorst nearly 75 years ago.

Its name is of most interesting origins. Along New Holland Road to the south of the proposed borough was a large estate owned by the Horst family. Along Lancaster Avenue was a large farm operated by the Kendall family, also known as Kendall Park. Consequently, the founders decided to combine both names and Kenhorst Borough was thereby incorporated on August 25, 1931.

The Borough remains largely residential, but has recently seen expansion along the two main throughways--New Holland Road and Lancaster Avenue--because of the community's outstanding beauty and quality of life. Today, the Borough is considered one of the premier communities in Berks County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in honoring the Borough of Kenhorst on its 75th anniversary and recognizing the service of a multitude of citizens who worked tirelessly to establish, promote, and grow the Borough to become the exemplary community it is today.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as cosponsor of H.R. 65.

I thank the gentlewoman from Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I think most of us understand we must succeed in Iraq if we are to win this global war on terror. Like any war, we may not want to be there, but now we must successfully complete the task before us.

It is not and will not be easy. But as one said, there is no substitute for victory. We must prevail. But at the same time, we also need to make it undeniably clear to the Iraqi Government that our patience and support are not blank checks that can be cashed with American lives and tax dollars ad infinitum.

To do that properly and effectively, it is imperative that the Congress do its job to proactively and comprehensively evaluate the current level of progress of the Iraqi Government and clearly report its findings on an ongoing basis to the American people.

By doing so, we would be firmly pushing the Iraqis themselves to continue their efforts to stand up and take charge of their destiny. The American people are looking to us to answer their questions on how much progress is being made, what are the Iraqis themselves willing to do to fight for their freedom, and when will the men and women come home.

For this very reason, I recently introduced a resolution calling on certain House and Senate committees to evaluate and issue specific findings and conclusions on the progress of the Iraqi Government to take over operational control to maintain proper civil order, to foster economic growth and self-sufficiency and preserve the Iraqi people's freedoms as set forth in their Constitution.

It is my firm belief that if this fact-finding and reporting process is undertaken, it will set the stage for further evaluation and consensus-building both inside and outside of Congress on our role in Iraq and will go a long way to ensure that our future involvement there continues to be the right policy, both for Iraq and America.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res 368) expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to honoring the goals and ideals of Alex's Lemonade Stand Days, June 9 through 11, 2006.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material on the bill.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the short but incredibly meaningful life of my constituent, Alexandra Scott. Alex, as she was known, was an extraordinary young girl who possessed ideas and a vision far beyond her years. Shortly before Alex's first birthday, she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a common and aggressive childhood cancer. Alex fought valiantly against her disease, and at the age of 4, she came up with the idea to set up a lemonade stand to raise money to help her doctors find a cure for other children with cancer. The idea was put into action by Alex and her older brother, Patrick, when they set up the first ``Alex's Lemonade Stand for Childhood Cancer'' on their front lawn in July of 2000.

For the next 4 years, despite her deteriorating health, Alex continued to hold her annual lemonade stands to raise money to help other children with pediatric cancer. Her drive and enthusiasm did not go unnoticed, as she inspired many to follow her example. Since Alex's first lemonade stand in 2000, thousands of other lemonade stands have been established across the country by children, schools, businesses and community organizations, all to benefit Alex's inspired cause. As of May 2006, her national campaign has raised over $6 million for childhood cancer research.

In recognition of her good work, Alex was honored with numerous awards, including the Good Housekeeping Hero for Health Award, the Philadelphia 76ers Hometown Hero Award in 2002 and 2003, the Philadelphia Foundation's Philanthropist of the Year Award for 2003, the Association for Fundraising Professionals Youth in Philanthropy Award in 2004, a Kellogg's Child Development Award in 2004, and a Volvo for Life Award in 2003.

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation has also received the PPRA Gold Medal Award for 2005, the 2006 Ben Appelbaum Advocate for Youth Award, and the Philadelphia Sports Writers Humanitarian Award for 2005.

During the last months of Alex's life, Chuck Zacney, the owner of the racing horse Afleet Alex, saw a story about Alex and her determination to raise money to help children with pediatric cancer. Mr. Zacney first made a donation on his own and then decided he wanted to donate a portion of Afleet Alex's winnings to the foundation.

Not only did a portion of Afleet Alex's winnings go to fight childhood cancer, but lemonade stands were set up at two of the most prestigious horse racing events in the country, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.

On August 1, 2004, Alex died peacefully at the age of 8 after battling cancer for most of her life. Alex's spirited determination raised awareness and money for all childhood cancers while she bravely fought her own deadly battle. Alex's parents, Jay and Liz Scott, established the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation in her memory and have worked to create awareness and raise funds for childhood cancer research.

Each year the foundation holds ``Alex's Lemonade Stand Days'' during the second weekend in June where lemonade stands are set up all across the country, all with one single goal, to raise money to help children with childhood cancer and to honor the memory of Alex. During the national ``Alex's Lemonade Stand Days'' there are nearly 500 separate stands erected across the country. This kind of support speaks volumes about the character, the vision and the inspiration of this young girl.

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to stand before you today to support House Concurrent Resolution 368, which honors the goals and ideals of this annual event, and, most importantly, honors the drive, determination and selflessness of this tremendous young lady, Alex Scott.

I urge all of my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 368.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick).

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Beulah Spatz for her 70 years of service to her employer, Campbell's Fitting Company of Boyertown, Pennsylvania. Beulah began with the company, then called Campbell Nipple works, in 1936 with a high school degree and a passion for math and accounting.

Beulah began her career as a receptionist and clerk for the owner, Mr. Louis Campbell. In 1939, Beulah's career dream came true when Mr. Campbell elevated her to the position of controller.

In 1949, Mr. Campbell sold the company to Mr. Frederick Paff, who changed the company's name to Campbell Manufacturing Company and, with this son Thomas D. Paff, expanded and improved business operations and opportunities. Today, under the leadership of Thomas J. Paff, Campbell is a leader in the industry both nationally and internationally.

Beulah has steadfastly stayed with the company through name and ownership changes. In the years she worked at Campbell, she's gone from using a typewriter to main frames to the modern personal computer. Beulah has been the company's foundation and her colleagues remark that she always knew where every penny was coming from and being spent.

Beulah is now looking forward to spending her hard-earned retirement with her daughter Suzie. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in honoring Beulah Spatz for her exemplary record of service and dedication to the company, its management and employees. And I wish to extend to her this institution's best wishes for health and happiness in the coming years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church of Norristown, Pennsylvania for its 176th anniversary celebration.

The first gathering of this congregation was held in 1830 in a small building on the corner of Airy and Walnut Streets. Under the influence of Richard Allen, the Founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, more and more individuals began to become members. However, the members had to meet in local homes and businesses and were not officially recognized as a church body until 1832.

In 1832, the congregation officially organized and adopted the name Mount Zion, a name derived from highest point in the City of Jerusalem. A more modern interpretation of the name refers to one's ``spiritual homeland'' or ``safe haven''. The name Mount Zion appropriately applies to the congregation because many of its earliest members from 1832 to 1845 fled to Canada to escape slavery and oppression. A large majority of the original members returned in 1845 with great determination and courage to acquire and build their very own spiritual safe haven. Adversary seemed to later follow the congregation and the Church lost many of its buildings, funds, and records through a series of improper transactions.

However, the congregation never lost faith and one member, Mother Caroline Lewis, supplied the funds necessary to secure the Basin Street Church property. On May 20, 1867, the Church was granted its charter under the name Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church of Norristown.

The Church has provided the Borough of Norristown outstanding spiritual, communal, and political leadership ever since. The Church was often used as a school, safe house, and shelter and it moved current location in 1915.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in honoring Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, Norristown, Pennsylvania on its 176 years of history, heritage, and community leadership.

Mr. Speaker, during consideration of H.R. 5427, the Fiscal Year 2007 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, I was not present for rollcall 196, 197, 198, 199, 200 and 201. Had I been present, on rollcall 196, I would have voted ``yea,'' on rollcall 197, I would have voted ``nay,'' on rollcall 198, I would have voted ``yea,'' on rollcall 199, I would have voted ``yea,'' on rollcall 200, I would have voted ``nay,'' and on rollcall 201, I would have voted ``yea.''

Offered By: Mr. Gerlach

Amendment No. 19: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following new section:

Sec. 7__. (a) Limitation on Use of Funds.--None of the

funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act

shall be used to implement the limitation in section 728 of

this Act to carry out or administer a program authorized by

section 2503 of Public Law 107-171 in excess of $73,500,000.

(b) Corresponding Reduction in Funds.--The amounts

otherwise provided by this Act are revised by reducing the

amount made available for ``Common Computing Environment'' by

$23,500,000, to be derived from rural development-related

activities, Natural Resource Conservation Service-related

activities, and Farm Service Agency-related activities in the

amount of $1,531,238, $4,938,488, and $17,030,071,

respectively.