Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 3590, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and H.R. 4872, The Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010. These severely misguided bills authorize $1.2 trillion in new mandatory spending over the next decade, impose costly unfunded mandates on States, increase taxes on small businesses and families by more than $500 billion over ten years, and provide a clear path for federal funding of abortions.

Both President Obama and Speaker Pelosi have talked about the ``historic'' nature of their health care legislation. While they claim to be acting upon the unrealized goals of a century of past Presidents and Congresses to expand health care access to all Americans, the real history that's being made by the passage of the legislation is less inspiring. Rather than seeking a national consensus to forge a truly historic, and badly needed reform of American health care, the President and the Speaker instead cynically crafted alone a one-sided, purely partisan bill that ignores the desires of the majority of the people.

Unlike the Social Security and Medicare Acts which enjoyed strong bipartisan support in their day, the President and the Speaker's health care legislation, which will impact nearly one-sixth of the economy, did not see one single Republican vote in support of their effort. Furthermore, 34 members of their own party joined Republicans in opposing this blatant power grab, dressed up as health care reform.

The reason for this lopsided vote is clear. The Democrat health care plan facilitates a backdoor takeover of American health care. The Federal Government would force small businesses and even individuals to buy health coverage or face stiff penalties. This mandate may well be unconstitutional and, in many states, including my State of Alabama, there are already attempts to challenge this in court.

This $1.2 trillion health care scheme will increase federal deficits by $59 billion over the next ten years, while inflicting a painful combination of Medicare cuts and tax increases, affecting millions of seniors, families and small businesses.

Ironically, the elderly--the most vulnerable to high medical costs-- will suffer the loss of $200 billion from the popular Medicare Advantage program, upon which over 170,000 Alabama seniors rely. In all, a total of $500 billion will be taken from Medicare to pay for the broad health care expansion.

But that's not all. This bill will also, for the first time, levy Medicare taxes on investment income. It imposes a new tax of 3.8 percent on unearned income.

Small businesses would also be forced to provide a government- approved level of coverage or face a $2,000 penalty per employee. Businesses already providing coverage would face the same penalties if the government deems the coverage ``unaffordable.''

What's more, individuals would also have to buy government-approved insurance--whether they want it or not--or face fines. The IRS will become the health care enforcement agency, hiring up to 16,000 new workers to ensure that everyone buys federally approved coverage.

The Democrat health care bill will also place an unfunded mandate on States to expand Medicaid rolls. In my State, it will move an additional 400,000 people into an already cash-strapped Alabama Medicaid program. Alabama will have to come up with an additional $61 million annually to sustain this mandatory expansion of Medicaid, which will cost State and Federal taxpayers a total of nearly $1.1 billion a year. As Governor Bob Riley recently said, ``I am deeply concerned that sustaining this level of coverage would translate into a substantial tax increase on the people of Alabama.''

Equally troubling is this health care bill's green light for the federal funding of abortions. Despite the President's Executive Order barring the use of any Federal funds for abortion, there is no permanent prohibition over using Federal funds to pay for abortions. Whatever deal Rep. Bart Stupak and his group think they may have struck with the President, it does not carry the force of law. Executive orders are signed by the President and they can be revoked by the President--and frequently, they are.

Mr. Speaker, Republicans have been shut out of the President's and your health care bill from the beginning. We offered to sit down and start from scratch to write a bill the American people could actually support, including the ability to buy insurance across State lines, give small businesses the power to pool coverage, and address liability lawsuit abuse. The Congressional Budget Office said the Republican health care plan would increase access to care, lower premiums by up to ten percent and reduce the Federal deficit by $68 billion over ten years. Sadly, this kind of real reform was all but ignored by the administration and the Congress.

This is truly a sad day for this House and for our country. Americans wanted and deserve so much more than a cynical push for bigger government. I am committed to supporting efforts to fix this badly flawed legislation and replace it with true health care reform that Americans can support.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this flawed health bill.

Mr. Speaker, here we are on the verge of one of the most significant votes that Congress has ever taken. The only time that I can think of which perhaps rivals the importance of this vote has been when we have had to decide to send our Nation's finest young men and women off into the perils of war. And yet it is mind-boggling, literally unconscionable to think that we are about to slap the American people in the face and have the audacity to say, We know better than you.

In town meetings, at TEA Party rallies, from emails, faxes, letters, and literally millions of phone calls that have jammed the Capitol switchboard, the voices of America have spoken out, begging, pleading with their elected Representatives, Please, slow down, start over, and do this the right way.

Sadly, instead of listening to the American people, the Democrat majority, at least most of them, have chosen to tune the people out, to ignore the angst, the fear, the frustration, and the anger and hope that somehow this will all go away. Let me assure you it will not.

This whole process has been an insult. It is an outrage. It is an all-out

attack on freedom and liberty, on fiscal responsibility, and on the sanctity of human life.

On Thursday afternoon, right after work a man from my district left his wife and children, drove all night some 998 miles all the way from Fairhope, Alabama, to Washington, D.C., just to go door-to-door to those Members who were still on the fence to encourage them to do the right thing. When I thanked him for making the trip, he said, Congressman Bonner, I just couldn't sit back and look my children in the face and tell them one day years from now I didn't do everything I could do to keep this from happening.

Earlier this morning, another man from Mobile walked into my office. He had stopped in Knoxville, Tennessee, to pick up his mom, and together they came for the same reason: to thank those of us who are saying ``no,'' and to reach out to every last undecided Member of Congress and beg them to listen to the American people.

All day long we have watched people come into our offices from towns in Monroe and Escambia Counties in my district to folks from New Jersey, all the way to the coast of California. All of them, literally thousands, who descended on the Hill today came for the same reason, to leave no stone unturned before the vote tomorrow afternoon.

Common sense tells us that with a bill this big and with so many last-minute deals that have been made, there are going to be a lot of angry people, a lot more throughout the entire country when all the details of this legislation are known in the coming weeks and months.

Isn't it ironic that just the other day the Speaker of the House told a group, ``We have to pass this bill to find out what is in it.'' Well, earlier today we found out how true that promise was with the disclosure that Democrats have now added a new 3.8 percent Medicare surtax that will hit average middle-class taxpayers who have invested in real estate. Just what an already depressed real estate market needs.

Or the fact that just a couple hours ago on this very floor the House attempted to fix another little problem that we discovered in this bill, a provision that, if left unchanged, could have taken more than 9.5 million veterans out of TRICARE. Once again, just another example of the dangers of passing legislation on the fly.

While the outrage of the American people did help succeed in taking ``deem and pass'' off the table earlier this afternoon, we are still left with reconciliation, a process that leaves many Americans dizzy in terms of the ever-changing rules that are being rewritten to try to pass this bill.

The American people remember reconciliation. Back in October of 2007, then-Senator Obama said of reconciliation, and I quote, ``We are not going to pass universal health care with a 50-plus-1 strategy.'' And a couple years earlier then-Senator Biden said, and I quote, ``I say to my friends on the Republican side, you may own the field right now, but you won't own it forever. And I pray to God, when Democrats take back control, we won't make the same kind of power grab that you were doing.''

Back home this might sound like doublespeak. Sadly, in Washington it is just another day at the office.

Mr. Speaker, while many people understandably are focusing on the vote that will take place tomorrow on the third Sunday in March, trust me, the vote that will be taken on the first Tuesday in November is the vote that will allow the American people to have the last word.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to United States Navy Captain Joseph Gould (Retired), who bravely served his country in time of war and continues to play a role in honoring America through his authorship of a much revered poem, Old Glory.

Captain Gould was born in Brunswick, Georgia, in 1920 and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in May of 1942 before being deployed in World War II.

Captain Gould's 23 years as a Navy officer include service as commander of the LSM449 Amphibious Ship, executive officer of the USS Radford Destroyer, commander of the USS Silverstein DE534 Destroyer Escort, and commander of 15 ocean mine sweepers. He concluded his military service assigned to the Pacific Fleet as a Fleet Intelligence Officer at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Captain Gould retired from the United States Navy on November 1, 1965.

A resident of Fairhope, Alabama, Captain Gould penned a patriotic poem, Old Glory, to honor our nation's flag. This inspiring tribute has been adopted by the Baldwin County Commission in its presentations to honor local World War II veterans.

I would like to include Captain Gould's poem in the Record, and on behalf of a grateful nation, I thank Captain Gould for his service to America.

Old Glory

(By Joseph Gould)

I have survived quite a lot of hype

Since Betsy Ross designed my prototype,

Some have been false, some have been true;

I've selected some pertinent facts for you.

I was with Paul Revere at the end of his ride;

The first man on the moon had me at his side.

I was with the lads at Bunker Hill,

Aboard ``Old Ironsides'' I'm flying still.

I went with George across the Delaware,

Inspired Francis Scott Key in the rockets' red glare.

Abe Lincoln flew me from a Gettysburg steeple

And ever since then I've been liberating people.

I stormed ashore with Marines at Guadalcanal,

Climbed Mount Suribachi with a G.I. pal.

I rode with Patton 'til we reached the Rhine,

And only stopped when the Allies drew the line.

I've seen our enemies brought to their knees

Including the Germans and Japanese.

I watched Ronald Reagan as he stood tall

and said, ``Mr. Gorbechev, tear down this wall!''

I've sailed the seven seas with the boys in Navy blue,

Made the journey to the North and South poles too.

I've basked in the sun on many a tropic isle;

I've marched city streets in grandiose style.

Today you can find me in the Middle East

Helping to suppress the Terrorist Beast

That hates and despises our way of life and

Continually causes much worldly strife.

Now that you've heard my story true

I have a request to make of you;

Promise that evermore I shall wave

Over the land of the free and home of the brave.

I am Old Glory, the Stars and Stripes--forever!

Madam Speaker, on Sunday, January 24, 2010, George Werneth, a veteran reporter for the Mobile Press-Register in my congressional district passed away at that age of 65.

George Werneth was an institution in Mobile journalism, covering maritime operations and military news for approximately four decades before his retirement.

George had a reputation for sound reporting and fact checking as noted in the Press-Register's own story about his passing.

He was absolutely devoted to rooting out the truth and took great pains to verify all details. It was said that the newspaper never had to run a correction for any of his news stories: he was that reliable.

George was well known and respected by Mobile area veterans for his devotion to military news coverage, which was his beat for approximately half of his reporting career.

He loved the military and shared a bond with those who donned the uniform of our country.

In honor of his efforts, George was made an honorary member of the Marine Corps League at the American Legion Post 88 in Mobile. His departure from local reporting was keenly felt when he put down his pen and pad for retirement in November 2008.

George Werneth's absence in the lives of his family, friends, former colleagues--the community he loved--will be even more profoundly felt.

I offer my condolences and prayers to his family, including his son Joseph Carey Werneth, his brother Carey Werneth and his two grandsons, Skylar Carey Werneth and Dylan Mesean Werneth.

Madam Speaker, I rise to personally welcome to the House, our guest chaplain, John L. Beaver of Mobile, who hails from the First Congressional District of Alabama.

John L. Beaver was appointed National Chaplain of The American Legion on August 17, 2009, during the closing session of the 91st National Convention in Louisville, KY.

A retired U.S. Air Force veteran with more than 20 years military service from the Vietnam War era to the time of the Lebanon/Grenada conflicts, Chaplain Beaver has performed religious duties at the local Post, District, State and National levels since joining the American Legion in 1989.

Chaplain Beaver is well known and respected in South Alabama for his humanitarian work with an emphasis on aiding homeless persons.

In the aftermath of the September 2005 crisis following Hurricane Katrina, Chaplain Beaver coordinated regional relief efforts on behalf of The American Legion, a fellow veterans' service organization and church organizations.

He was instrumental in the operation of supply depots and distribution sites to aid storm victims all along the stricken Gulf Coast.

A pastor assistant and Sunday school superintendent, Chaplain Beaver's primary ministry is the visitation of--and care for--shut-ins at area hospitals, assisted living facilities, veteran's homes and homeless shelters through the ministries of the Fowl River and Kingswood United Methodist Churches in the Mobile, Alabama area.

I join my colleagues in welcoming Chaplain Beaver to the U.S. House and in thanking him for his service to our veterans and our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise out of sadness to note the recent passing of a good friend and a long-time public servant. Monroe County Commissioner Charlie McCorvey passed away at the age of 59 on February 24, 2010, after an extended illness.

Charlie McCorvey loved helping others and his many achievements are measured in the lives of the many students at Monroeville Middle School where he taught for 35 years, as well as in the support and respect he earned from the people of Monroe County who benefitted from his leadership as county commissioner for over two decades.

Commissioner McCorvey was native to Monroe County and South Alabama where he was dedicated to inspiring his students to reach for their dreams while he also labored hard in local government to improve the lives of all citizens.

A graduate of Hope College in Holland, Michigan, Charlie worked as a teacher in New York state before eventually returning to South Alabama.

Charlie was more than a passionate school teacher and public official, he was also among Monroe County's most noted ambassadors. For over 14 years, he traveled across the United States and around the world as a major cast member of the play ``To Kill a Mockingbird,'' based on the book by another Monroe County native, Harper Lee.

Charlie portrayed the character of Tom Robinson with a style that mesmerized audiences of all ages.

Charlie was also an active member of the Alabama Education Association, serving as a state and national delegate. He also served as treasurer of the Monroe County Education Association and the Monroe County Democratic Conference. His volunteer activities included serving as a board member of the American Red Cross in Monroe County.

Commissioner McCorvey is survived by his partner, Sandra Farr and three children, Stephanie Lauren, Justin Ryan and Charles Quarles and nine brothers and sisters.

On behalf of the people of Monroe County, I extend my prayers and condolences to his family.

Madam Speaker, it is with genuine sadness that I rise to note the passing of former State Senator Bill Menton, of Irvington; a long-time public servant and beloved friend to many in South Alabama. He passed away on February 15, at the age of 90.

Bill Menton was a native of Paterson, NJ, coming to Mobile, Alabama after having been awarded multiple sports scholarships to Spring Hill College. After graduation, he coached at Spring Hill College and then UMS Preparatory School.

Senator Menton had a strong belief in our young people and is credited with helping to build the juvenile division of the Mobile County Sheriff's Department, where he served as a juvenile probation officer.

Continuing his interest in law enforcement, Mr. Menton later served as police chief of Bayou La Batre and separately worked for the Mobile County School System as a crime prevention officer.

He was the voice of the Mobile Bay Bears baseball team throughout the 1940s and 1950s and a popular host of a local radio football scoreboard program.

Bill Menton entered politics in 1982, winning a state senate seat representing Mobile County in Montgomery until 1988. In 1988, he came home to run in for the Mobile County Commission, a seat he won and held until 1992.

In 1996, he returned to support the profession he loved--law enforcement--by assuming the position as executive director of the Alabama Fraternal Order of Police.

Senator Menton also loved south Mobile County and he gave much of his life to making it a safer, better place to live. He dedicated an equal measure of devotion to bettering the lives of our young people, guiding many to learn from early mistakes in judgment and to take the path of responsible young adults.

I wish to offer my condolences to his wife of 65 years, Carmen Santana Menton; their eight children, Grace M. (Bob) Overmeyer, William J. (Pat) Menton, Jr., Mary Jane Menton, Edward C. (Brenda) Menton, Regina F. Menton, John Samuel (Janie) Menton, Thomas P. Menton and Charles M. ``Chip'' Menton; six grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Senator Menton's many contributions to our community will never be forgotten.

Madam Speaker, if health care reform weren't such a serious subject, something that will affect every person in America, then what the Democrats are trying to do would prove to provide enough fodder for comedians like Letterman, Leno and Jon Stewart that their writers wouldn't have to work on new jokes for the next month.

Last week, the Speaker of the House said, ``We have to pass the bill so we can find out what's in it.'' That would be like buying a house before checking it out to see how many bedrooms were in it or what the colors were or whether we could even afford it in the first place. Most Americans don't buy shoes without trying them on, buy a car without test driving it, much less support a takeover of our health care system that will include life-changing decisions that are being kept from you in the dark.

This morning, the Speaker said we may actually vote on the health care bill without voting on it, something that she calls ``deem and pass.'' What a pesky little thing voting is, you know, where those of us who work for you have to actually cast our votes first so you can find out whether you should vote for us in November.

This is an insult and a sham.

Madam Speaker, on Sunday night, the six-member crew of the Space Shuttle Endeavor returned to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida after 14 days in Earth orbit. Aboard the STS-130 was Mission Specialist Kathryn ``Kay'' Hire, Mobile, Alabama's first astronaut.

A native of Mobile and a 1977 graduate of Murphy High School, Kay Hire epitomizes the ideal of service to her country. A 1981 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Hire earned a Master of Science degree in space technology from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1991 while also serving as a Naval officer.

Over her military career, Hire has taken part in a wide range of missions, from oceanographic research to naval flight instructor. In 1993, she was the first female in the U.S. military to be assigned to a combat aircrew when she flew aboard a P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, taking part in Atlantic and Caribbean operations. She was recalled to active naval duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom as a member of the U.S. Naval Central Command staff. She later returned to reserve status and served as Commanding Officer of the Navy Reserve Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command.

She transferred her duties to NASA in 1989. She was selected for astronaut training in 1994, reporting to the Johnson Space Center in Houston. In 1998, she first entered space aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-90, logging over 381 hours above the Earth. Aboard the Columbia, Hire spent 16 days in space and took part in 26 life science experiments focusing on the effects of microgravity on the brain and nervous system.

While on the just-completed Endeavor Mission, Hire traveled to the International Space Station where the ISS and Endeavor crew took part in the final major construction project for the orbiting space station--the installation of the ``Tranquility'' module. The new addition to the space station will house life support systems for the ISS and offers a breathtaking seven-pane ``bay window'' in space view of planet Earth.

Madam Speaker, I join the people of South Alabama in welcoming Kay Hire back down to Earth, and in expressing our pride for her service in our military and space programs. She is a tremendous role model for our youth. For those who seek examples of real heroes in our society, one need not look any further than Kay Hire, Mobile's astronaut.

Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate my dear friend and predecessor, former Congressman Sonny Callahan, for being selected as 2009 Mobilian of the Year by the Cottage Hill Civitan Club.

To the people of South Alabama, Sonny needs no introduction. He has dedicated much of his life to serving our area. A Navy veteran and a self-made local business success, Sonny has never known a time when he was not giving back to his community.

First elected to public office representing Mobile in the Alabama House of Representatives in 1971, Sonny embarked on a journey that took him to the Alabama State Senate and eventually to Washington, DC, where he labored in this House for no less than 18 years.

He quickly made a name for himself in these Halls, earning the gavel of one of the 13 subcommittee chairmanships on the House Appropriations Committee after only 10 years in office. He was named chairman of the powerful Subcommittee on Foreign Operations in 1995, protecting America's interests and investments around the world.

In 2000, he became the chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. In this position, Sonny worked closely with the Bush Administration to develop and finance a new national energy policy.

While chairman of this subcommittee, he also served as vice chairman of Foreign Operations and was a member of the Transportation Subcommittee.

In an era of stark partisanship that too often divides this Chamber, Sonny Callahan knew only friends as he served in Congress. His ability to reach out across the aisle won him universal praise and enabled him to accomplish much for his district and the State of Alabama.

After retirement from Congress in 2003, Sonny has refused to settle down into a quiet life of leisure. In addition to work in his own government consulting firm, Sonny was named by Governor Bob Riley to serve on the Alabama Port Authority Board. In 2004, Sonny was named Patriot of the Year by local veterans groups, and in 2005, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Mobile named its Theodore activity center the Sonny Callahan Boys and Girls Club Building.

I wish to personally congratulate Sonny Callahan for having received the honor of ``Mobilian of the Year,'' and on behalf of the people of South Alabama, I thank Sonny, his wife, Karen, and their children and grandchildren, for their continued service and dedication to the state and the people we so dearly love.

Mr. Speaker, last week, the President and his administration were out in force bragging to anyone who would listen about how successful last year's trillion dollar stimulus bill has been. Vice President Biden left no doubt in anyone's mind when he said, ``I am absolutely certain of one thing. The Recovery Act is working.'' Well, forgive me, Mr. Vice President, if I and millions of other Americans are a bit skeptical.

The American people continue to ask: Where are the jobs that this trillion dollar budget buster promised?'' Let me tell you, I would have a hard time going to my district in Monroe County, which has gone from 6 percent unemployment when the Democrats took control of the Congress in January 2007 to, last month, over 20 percent unemployment. Sadly, this is a story that is being repeated all across America.

So while the President and his Democratic colleagues in Congress are trying to remember the words to ``Happy Days Are Here Again,'' the American people are left wondering, where are the jobs, and does anyone in Washington care about us?

Madam Speaker, it is with sadness and many fond memories that I rise today to acknowledge the recent passing of Anne Hines Farish of Monroeville, Alabama, a dear friend and extraordinary public servant.

Anne Farish passed away January 18, 2010, at her home after a battle with cancer. She was 83.

Her hometown newspaper, The Monroe Journal, called Anne Farish the ``Matriarch of Monroeville.'' For the former mayor, who viewed everyone in her hometown as family, this title is certainly well chosen.

A native of Monroeville, Anne grew up the oldest of four daughters of the late Dr. Jack and Mrs. Irma Hines. Dr. Hines was Monroeville's mayor for 16 years and his presence no doubt had an influence upon his eldest daughter, who eventually followed in his footsteps.

Anne graduated from Monroe County High School in the same class as Nelle Harper Lee, another beloved daughter of Monroeville and Pulitzer Prize winning author of ``To Kill a Mockingbird.'' Upon graduation, Anne attended Auburn University, and her late husband, Dick, served as Monroeville's postmaster for many years.

Anne will be remembered for so many things. She was indeed a political trail blazer. She was the first woman elected to the Monroeville City Council--serving from 1984 to 1992. Following that, she was the first woman elected as mayor of Monroeville--where she led the city for four terms (1992 to 2008).

During her tenure, Monroeville built its first industrial park, added to its recreational parks and constructed a new City Hall and police station.

Anne was also a successful businesswoman, owning her own brokerage firm, The Farish Agency.

As I noted when Anne retired from public service in 2008, she was the epitome of a ``Steel Magnolia,'' a real southern lady, strong and persevering and someone who was truly an institution among the residents of Monroeville.

Everyone who knew Anne will surely miss her. Monroeville has truly lost a beloved member of its family. My condolences and prayers go out to her family, including her son, William Clifford (Christie) Farish; sisters, Rose Marie Hines Bush, Temple Hudson Hines Lazenby, Irma Jacqueline Hines Nobles; her two grandchildren and extended family.

I join with all of Monroeville and Monroe County in mourning the loss of this remarkable lady and very dear friend.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my deep personal sadness at the passing of M. Hollis Curl, a longtime friend, an award winning journalist, and perhaps Wilcox County, Alabama's greatest advocate.

Hollis, the editor and publisher of The Wilcox Progressive Era in my hometown of Camden, Alabama, passed away on February 2, 2010 at the age of 74.

It's been said that real newspapermen bleed ink. I have no doubt that Hollis would fit into that category. While he would downplay his life's work as mere ``newspapering,'' no one could ever question that Hollis was a consummate professional born with a lifetime love for print journalism and a remarkable passion for his community.

Hollis began his ``newspapering'' career as a young man by hawking copies of his hometown paper, The Red Bay News, from a shoeshine stand. During World War II, his family moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where he got a paper route carrying the Knoxville News Sentinel. Not satisfied with selling other people's papers, he soon started his own neighborhood publication--a single sheet which he sold for five cents a copy.

Hollis attended Ole Miss and following college, he worked at newspapers in Tennessee before returning to Alabama in 1960 to join The Dothan Eagle. From there, he moved to Butler, where he served as publisher for The Choctaw Advocate and began winning awards from the Alabama Press Association (APA). He purchased The Choctaw Advocate in 1968, and later, he co-owned The Demopolis Times.

In 1969, he and his wonderful wife, Glenda, bought The Wilcox Progressive Era in Camden, a newspaper that decades earlier had been in my family. Throughout the years, Hollis Curl also owned newspapers in Montevallo and Marion.

Hollis gained national recognition in 1997 when he was selected by Sigma Delta Chi as the first weekly newspaper editor to receive the Ethics in Journalism Award presented at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. In addition, the Alabama Press Association awarded Hollis with its first Lifetime Achievement Award.

Over his four-decade-long career in Camden, Hollis took more than a few politicians to task on his editorial page and in his award-winning, weekly column, ``For What It's Worth.'' A proud and lifelong Democrat, Hollis penned the very first editorial endorsement for my candidacy for Congress back in 2002, even though I was running as a Republican in a congressional district that was different from his own.

Hollis was perhaps best known to those outside of Wilcox County for the national publicity he received for his tireless efforts to restore ferry service to Gee's Bend, Alabama--an area that for nearly 40 years had been isolated from the county seat of Camden. The resumption of the ferry--which took many years of hard lobbying on the part of local residents, backed by Hollis' powerful voice--meant the prospect of a better life for many.

Madam Speaker, I join all of Wilcox County--and everyone else who was privileged to call Hollis a friend--in expressing my deepest sympathies to his wife, Glenda, their children, Mark and Julie, and their grandchildren. Thank you for sharing this extraordinary person with us for all these years. You all are in our prayers.

Madam Speaker, I want to personally thank Mr. Kildee on behalf of Alabama fans all across the Nation for bringing this important resolution to the House floor today.

Mark Ingram is an exceptional athlete. As my colleagues have noted, he won the Heisman Trophy for the first time in the history of the University of Alabama to bring this honor and distinction to our storied and beloved university. But Mark Ingram is also an outstanding young man. I know the people of Michigan, and especially the people of Flint, are proud of what he has accomplished. But people all across America, especially young people, as we look to so many athletes and actors and politicians who sometimes disappoint us, here you have a young man, 19 years old, who on the night that he received the highest athletic award that can be bestowed upon a college football player, stood with tears in his eyes and proudly thanked God, thanked his family, thanked even his teachers, the professors at the University of Alabama for helping to give him this opportunity. He thanked, as my friend from Kentucky said, the offensive line and the quarterback and the others who helped make this not just an individual award but a team award.

As I think about my own children, my 14-year-old daughter, Lee, and my 11-year-old son, Robins, I like to know there are young role models like Mark Ingram out there for children all across America to be proud of and to look up to.

Yes, Mark Ingram is a tremendous athlete. And as my colleagues have already noted, he has already set the single season rushing record at the University of Alabama, and when you think about the great names who have played running back--Johnny Musso, Shaun Alexander, and Bobby Humphrey--that is saying a lot. But Mark Ingram is also a dean's list student. My sister, Judy, is the provost at the University of Alabama, the chief academic officer, and she says that the faculty at the university look at Mark with awe at what he does not only on the athletic field but in the classroom as well. He is a dean's list student, and he is certainly setting the highest standard of any student at the University of Alabama.

So it goes without saying, Madam Speaker, that we are all proud, the people of Michigan, the people of Alabama, and people all across this country, that a young man can come to the University of Alabama, someone who didn't even know if he would be starting at the running back position at the beginning of the year, and contribute to his team to win the 13th National Championship and the first ever Heisman Trophy.

We are proud of Mark Ingram, and I thank the gentleman from Michigan and the gentleman from Kentucky for allowing all of us to pause for just a moment and say: We salute you, Mark, we are proud of you, and we know you have a great future in front of you.