Jo Ann Davis

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 431 and 432 I am not recorded. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an exceptional officer in the United States Army, CWO5 Charlie Ray Parker, Jr., upon his retirement after 40 years of distinguished service. Throughout his career, first as an enlisted Army private, then as a non-commissioned officer, and finally as a commissioned warrant officer, Warrant Officer Parker personified the seven Army values, particularly those of duty, integrity, respect, and selfless service across the many missions the Army asked him to execute. It is my privilege to recognize his many accomplishments. I commend his superb service to the United States Army and this great Nation.

Beginning his career in March 1967, Warrant Officer Parker entered into active duty from the State of Virginia as an enlisted soldier. He achieved the rank of staff sergeant while serving as a motor sergeant in the First Battalion (Airborne), 325th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Staff Sergeant Parker served in the 82nd Airborne Division from March 1970 until receiving his appointment as a warrant officer in March 1977. His formula for success was simple, ``work hard to accomplish your mission and take care of your soldiers,'' a formula he still follows today.

In June 1987, then Chief Warrant Officer 3 Parker served as the staff maintenance technician for the Logistic Readiness Division, 200th Theater Army Materiel Management Center in Zweibruecken, Germany. He was the principal automotive maintenance technical advisor to the Commander. As such, Warrant Officer Parker was singularly responsible for the increased readiness status in the 600 units of United States Army, Europe. His total dedication to this vital mission was a key to maintaining theater war fighting capability and allowed for the smooth deployment of U.S. V and VII Corps units to Operation Desert Storm in Southwest Asia.

By December 2000, Warrant Officer Parker was the Plans and Training Development Branch Chief, managing the development, implementation, and evaluation of training for the Warrant Officer Candidate Course, Staff Course, and Senior Staff Course for active and reserve component Warrant Officers. He also laid the groundwork for the Warrant Officer Mentorship Program, which is now implemented throughout the United States Army. As the most senior warrant officer in the Army Ordnance Corps, he used his position to ensure African-American soldiers were provided the same opportunities due every soldier who attended Army Warrant Officer Career Courses. His genuine concern for the welfare and development of warrant officers and candidates proves an enduring inspiration to all.

Most recently, as the senior evaluator for the $1.6 billion combat logistics support system--Global Combat Support System--Army (Field and Tactical), Warrant Officer Parker developed an operational test and evaluation strategy for the Enterprise Planning Solution designed to ensure enterprise elements such as supply, maintenance, property, finance, and task organization processes are adequately evaluated in accordance with public law. This new system will transform Army logistics by ensuring direct support of Joint Force and Army military operations ranging from garrison duty to expeditionary deployments, ultimately reducing the need for forward deployed logisticians.

On behalf of Congress and the United States of America, I thank Chief Warrant Officer 5 Parker for his commitment, sacrifice, and contribution throughout these 40 years. I congratulate him on completing an exceptional and extremely successful career.

Madam Chairman, H.R. 1585 clearly focuses on the readiness of our troops.

As a first step to improving the readiness of our forces, the bill requires the Secretary of Defense to include status of the National Guard in the quarterly readiness reports to Congress. Not only will this provide visibility on the status of our guard units to support the Federal mission, but will also provide updates to the Governors and to the Congress on the ability of these units to accomplish their civil support missions. The bill goes on to require the Secretary of Defense to report annually to Congress on the status of prepositioned stocks and to establish a timeline for reconstituting those prepositioned stocks in the event they are downloaded for use by our deployed troops. While these reporting requirements seem small, they will do a great deal to ensure that priority and necessary funding is applied to areas that need it the most.

I would also like to highlight that this bill authorizes $250 million to address training shortfalls throughout the services and recommends $165 million above the President's budget request for depot maintenance. Properly funding depot maintenance ensures that the equipment our troops need to not only engage in combat operations, but to also train and prepare for deployment, is available and ready for them when they need it.

Once again, I would like to state that I am proud of this legislation and I encourage all members to support it for the steps it takes to ensure our troops are ready to meet the needs of our nation.