Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I rise today to pay tribute to Michael Patterson whose heroic actions helped save the life of Chad Hostnick,

a first-grader at Elsanor School in Robertsdale, Alabama.

On the morning of Monday, December 17, 2007, Michael decided to take the bus to school instead of driving his motorcycle as he often does. Michael just had a feeling that he should ride the bus that morning and what followed was simply miraculous.

On the bus ride home from school that Monday afternoon, Michael noticed that 7-year-old Chad appeared to be having trouble breathing. Without hesitation, Michael put to use his first-aid training--training he learned as a part of his Navy Junior ROTC program at Robertsdale High School--and he initiated the Heimlich Maneuver.

When Michael realized that his efforts were not dislodging the object, he quickly began to massage Chad's throat until he located the obstruction and pushed upward. He then attempted the Heimlich Maneuver again and a piece of butterscotch candy came out of Chad's mouth.

In recognition of Michael's efforts, Master Chief Petty Officer Robert Dairy awarded him the Meritorious Service Ribbon, the highest honor available to Navy Junior ROTC members.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me recognizing Michael Patterson for his heroism and commending him on his quick actions to save the life of Chad Hostnick. The citizens of Robertsdale and the state of Alabama are forever thankful. Michael is a true hero.

Madam Speaker, Baldwin County and indeed the entire state of Alabama recently lost a dear friend, and I rise today to honor and pay tribute to the memory of Mr. Arthur Robert Wilson.

Known to his many friends as ``Bobby,'' he was a devoted family man and a dear friend to his community. Bobby, the ``Unofficial Mayor'' of Spanish Fort, was the owner of Wilson's Service Center for roughly 50 years. Wilson's Service Center was much more than a typical service station; it was the heartbeat of Spanish Fort. As Mobile's Press- Register remembered Bobby, ``just about anyone who passed through Spanish Fort seemed to have encountered him.''

Known for his insatiable work ethic, Bobby ``rose with the chickens'' and was often at the service station before 5 a.m.--he never seemed to stop working. Bobby's service to Spanish Fort did not stop at the doors of Wilson's Service Center. For 26 years, he served as the volunteer fire chief, keeping a red phone and firefighter's gear in his shop for emergencies. Bobby also served in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of the Korean War. He was a justice of the peace and a Mason; it's probably safe to say that everyone in Spanish Fort knew Bobby Wilson or at least knew who he was.

In a fitting tribute, Bobby's casket was placed on the back of a tow truck for his final trip through Spanish Fort. His procession, which included about 12 other tow trucks, cars carrying his family, and a police escort, drove to Wilson's Service Center, passing through the parking lot and under the front awning. All along the route to Wilson's Cemetery, fellow residents stopped and got out of their cars to stand along the route with their hands on their hearts.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout south Alabama. Bobby Wilson will be deeply missed by his family--his wife, Jo Anne Wilson; his daughters, Tracey Goens and her husband Robert, Gina Lee and her husband Thomas, and Joelle Wilson; his brothers, Earl Wilson and Charles Wilson; his sister, Louise Dahlen; his grandchildren, Jeffrey Mosley, Jonathan Mosley, Jasmine Lee, and Zackary Lee; his great-grandchild, Lola Jo Anne Mosley--as well as the countless friends he leaves behind.

Our thoughts and prayers are with them all at this difficult time.

Madam Speaker, the city of Mobile and indeed the entire nation recently lost a true American hero, and I rise today to honor Mr. Dwain Luce of Mobile, Alabama, and pay tribute to his memory.

Many Americans came to know Mr. Luce last year as his courageous story, along with those of other Mobilians, was told in the Ken Burns' documentary series ``The War.''

Born in Mobile in 1916, Mr. Luce was educated at University Military School. Upon graduation from high school, he continued his studies and earned a degree in chemical engineering from Auburn University.

Shortly following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dwain volunteered for military service and entered the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant in January 1942. As a lieutenant in the 82nd Airborne Division's 320th Glider Field Artillery Battalion, he participated in the invasions of Sicily and later Italy. Just prior to the U.S. invasion of Normandy, he was promoted to captain. He landed his glider at Normandy on D-Day and survived 33 days of fighting there.

Several months later, his unit saw action again when they were dropped behind enemy lines into Holland as part of Operation Market Garden. They remained in Holland for six weeks battling both the Germans and the cold weather. He and his unit also participated in the Battle of the Bulge where they anchored the northern flank of the American lines. On May 1, 1945, the 82nd Airborne took 144,000 German prisoners as they surrendered to Americans.

Following the war, Mr. Luce left the service as a major in 1945, and began a career in banking. He joined American National Bank, in Mobile, Alabama, and rose to senior vice president and director. He remained with American National Bank for 16 years before joining First National Bank of Mobile, where he served as executive vice president. Mr. Luce retired as president of First Bancgroup-Alabama and as vice-chairman of the board of directors of the First National Bank of Mobile.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a dedicated community leader, a true American and friend to many throughout Alabama, as well as a wonderful husband and devoted father. Mr. Luce will be missed by his family--his wife of 65 years, Margaret Wilson Luce; their children, Margaret Luce Brown and Dwain Gregory Luce Jr.; his brother, Jex Ransom Luce; his five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren--as well as the many countless friends he leaves

behind. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during this difficult time.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I rise to honor Leroy High School on their 2007 2A Alabama State Football Championship.

Madam Speaker, it is with tremendous pride and personal pleasure that I rise today to honor St. Paul's Episcopal School on their 2007 5A Alabama State Football Championship.

In 1947, William S. Mann founded St. Paul's Episcopal School in Mobile, Alabama. St. Paul's began with a class of 20 kindergartners and has grown to an enrollment of more than 1,600 students, making St. Paul's the largest Episcopal school in North America. While perhaps best known for their outstanding faculty and top-notch college- preparatory curriculum, St. Paul's is also fast becoming acknowledged around the State for having one of the best athletic programs as well. In fact, just last year St. Paul's was recognized by the Birmingham News as having the best overall sports program in the entire State of Alabama.

First-year head coach Mike Bates led the 14-1 Saints to his school's first-ever football State championship. Even though St. Paul's has a rich and proud history of winning championship trophies in many other sports, this most recent honor on the gridiron brings the number of State championships won by St. Paul's teams to three this year. Madam Speaker, these three championships mark the school's 134th, 135th, and 136th respectively in St. Paul's storied history.

Indeed, the St. Paul's Saints proved they are a team of champions in their victory on December 7, 2007, at Legion Field in Birmingham as they defeated Briarwood Christian in a thrilling 14-13 victory.

The entire St. Paul's family is excited and proud of what these young men have accomplished. Whether on or off the field, the student athletes of St. Paul's continue to set positive examples for those who will follow them. Many of the young men who played on this year's team will become stars in their own right in college and perhaps, one day, in the pros. However, make no mistake, they are all champions in the game of life.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating St. Paul's Episcopal School on their extraordinary football season and State championship. This team and the entire school deserve public recognition for this tremendous accomplishment.

I extend my congratulations to each member of the team and coaching staff:

St. Paul's Roster

Name, Grade, and Jersey Number

Strickler Adams, 12th, 17; Glen Adams, 9th, 19; Tyler

Andrews, 10th, 46; Mark Barron, 12th, 4; Deige Barry, 12th,

33; Ryne Baxter, 12th, 68; Matt Bowden, 11th, 31; Mic Brown,

12th, 75; Angelo Bruno, 11th, 42; and Scott Byrd, 12th, 50.

Alan Carrol, 10th, 51; Davis Coker, 10th, 18; Joe Cotton,

11th, 58; Scott Crow, 11th, 81; Daniels Duhe, 11th, 21; Adam

Dyas, 10th, 25; Chad Dyas, 11th, 40; Paul Elcan, 12th, 67;

Dominic Francia, 11th, 11; and Gaines Gibson, 12th, 15.

Joe Gilmore, 11th, 56; Brett Granger, 12th, 29; Carson

Hale, 11th, 16; Destin Hood, 12th, 1; Zain Husain, 12th, 3;

Trevor Jones, 12th, 74; Tyler Kennedy, 12th, 63; Zach King,

10th, 62; Josh Lancaster, 12th, 54; and Scott Martin, 12th,

14.

Ivan Matchett, 12th, 5; AJ McCarron, 11th, 10; Corey

McCarron, 9th, 43; Andrew McGee, 10th, 30; Clint McKinnon,

12th, 83; Bill McRae, 12th, 35; Andrew Miller, 12th, 8;

Joseph Minus, 11th, 64; Williams Morrissette, 12th, 24; and

Bishop Mostellar, 10th, 37.

Harrison Myles, 12th, 22; Patrick Myles, 10th, 20; Hunter

Nelson, 11th, 44; Dulan Nicholas, 10th, 55; William Oneal,

12th, 28; Luke Phillips, 12th, 23; Marcus Porter, 11th, 53;

Marcus Powell, 10th, 41; Thomas Praytor, 12th, 72; and Gray

Rentz, 12th, 26.

Matt Rippy, 11th, 9; Grant Rogers, 12th, 12; Mason Thames,

10th, 78; Mike Thomas, 11th, 52; Walton Thompson, 11th, 61;

David Turner, 10th, 80; Louis Watson, 12th, 2; Lee Wingard,

10th, 60; Billy Wyatt, 12th, 65; John Wyatt, 10th, 27; and

Ryan Zarzour, 12th, 6.

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Mike Bates.

Assistant Coaches: Muskingum Barnes, Ron Danley, Tim

Hardigree, Tyler Siskey, Thomas Smith, and Shane Sullivan.

Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, December 18, 2007, I was absent for two votes due to an important meeting regarding a significant economic development need in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall Nos. 1179 and 1180.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I rise to honor the long and distinguished career of Dr. George Crozier on the occasion of his retirement from the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.

For the past 30 years, Dr. Crozier has served as the executive director of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Alabama's marine research facility. Serving Alabama's 21 four-year colleges and universities, the Sea Lab has provided Alabama students with the opportunity to study marine creatures and habitats. George has been with the Lab since its inception in the 1970s, helping to build the Sea Lab to national prominence.

In addition to being the director of the Sea Lab, Dr. Crozier is also an associate professor of marine science at the University of South Alabama and an associate professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He serves as a member of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Environmental Advisory Board and administers the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program.

In recognition of his outstanding work in the field of marine science, George Crozier has received numerous awards, including the Walter B. Jones Award for ``Coastal Steward of the Year'' from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He was the recipient of the Alabama Academy of Science's Wright A. Gardner Award in 2000. In 2007, George was awarded Mobile United's ``Green'' Award, or Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1993, he was named ``Conservation Educator of the Year'' by the Alabama Wildlife Federation, and the Alabama Science Teachers Association named him the 1991 Friend of Science.

Dr. Crozier is an acknowledged expert in the coastal management issues, and as a longtime steward of natural resources, he promoted the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild and currently serves as a board member. He helped to found the Alabama Coastal Area

Management Plan, served as the initial director of Alabama Sea Grant, and served as a member of the board of directors of the Mississippi- Alabama Sea Grant Consortium. In addition, he serves on the board of the Alabama Coastal Foundation, grassroots, inc., Smart Coast, Inc., and Robinson Island Estuary Foundation. George also serves on the board of national advisers for Coastal States Stewardship Foundation, and he is a member of the Urban Land Institute.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout Alabama. I know his family, his friends, and the many students who have benefited from the Dauphin Island Sea Lab join me in extending thanks for his many years of distinguished service. On behalf of a grateful community and state, I wish him the best in all his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a great leader, a great man, and a truly great American, the Honorable Henry Hyde.

Known throughout Congress as a man of strong character and humility, Chairman Hyde served the people of the 6th District of Illinois

with decency and grace. From his service in the Navy during World War II and throughout his career in the U.S. House of Representatives, Henry Hyde devoted his life to public service.

In the House, he rose to the chairmanship of two committees, Judiciary and International Relations. To say that Chairman Hyde was an eloquent orator would be an understatement. He spoke with dignity, conviction, principle, and eloquence; he was a true statesman by any measure. As President George W. Bush said last month, ``the background noise would stop when Henry Hyde had the floor.''

In service to the people of Illinois for over 40 years, Chairman Hyde was a champion of the rights of the unborn. He will probably be most remembered for his amendment that prohibited the use of federal funds for abortions--a measure that became known as the ``Hyde amendment.''

Just last month, President Bush bestowed upon Representative Hyde the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. The medal is designed to recognize great contributions to national security, the cause of peace and freedom, science, the arts, literature, and many other fields; I can think of few individuals more deserving of this high honor.

Madam Speaker, our country and this great institution have been blessed to share in the life of Chairman Henry Hyde. May we never forget the leadership he displayed or the lessons he taught us. May we continue to keep the entire Hyde family in our thoughts and prayers.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to pay tribute to the memory of Admiral William H. Stewart, a devoted family man, model officer and dedicated community leader.

A native of Gulf, Texas, Admiral Stewart graduated from Austin High School in 1943. He attended the University of Texas at Austin for two years before leaving to attend the Coast Guard Academy. He graduated from the Academy in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in marine engineering and was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Admiral's distinguished Coast Guard career spanned almost four decades. His first assignment was as a deck watch officer aboard the Coast Guard cutter Tampa based in Mobile. He then went on to serve as operations officer aboard the cutter Newell in Honolulu. In 1954, he was assigned to the Fifth Coast Guard District in Norfolk, Virginia, as chief of the Military Personnel Branch of the Personnel Division.

Admiral Stewart returned to Mobile in 1957 as executive officer of the cutter Blackthorn. He was sent to Washington, D.C. in 1959 to

attend George Washington University, where he received his master's degree in public administration. Following graduation, he was assigned as chief of the Material Management Branch of the Office of the Comptroller at Coast Guard Headquarters.

In 1964, Admiral Stewart returned to the Gulf Coast as executive officer of the cutter Sebago based out of Pensacola, Florida. He was then assigned as chief of Personnel Division K of the Seventh Coast Guard District in Miami. In 1967, he was named commanding officer of the cutter, Androscoggin, a cutter he to took to Vietnam in December of 1967 to participate in Operation Market Time. The Androscoggin remained on station in Southeast Asia until August 1968.

Following this tour of duty, then-Commander Stewart returned to Washington, D.C. and served as special assistant to the commandant of the Coast Guard before serving as administrative aide to the commandant. Then-Captain Stewart was transferred back to Honolulu to the Fourteenth Coast Guard District, where he served as chief of the operations division and then chief of staff. He once again returned to Washington, D.C. in 1976 as deputy chief of staff at Coast Guard Headquarters. He was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to the rank of rear admiral and was named chief of the office of personnel, a position he held until 1981, when he was assigned commander of the Eighth Coast Guard District in New Orleans, Louisiana.

As commander of the Eighth Coast Guard District, Admiral Stewart worked tirelessly to prevent illegal drug smuggling. In 1983, he testified before the House Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control. During this time, he also served as an advisor to then-Vice President George H.W. Bush before his retirement on June 28, 1985.

Admiral Stewart earned an impressive list of medals and awards over the course of his distinguished career, including: the Coast Guard Achievement Medal; the Combat Action Ribbon; the Bronze Star Medal (with Combat ``V'') and the Gold Star; the Meritorious Service Medal (with two Gold Stars); the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Gold Star; and the Legion of Merit.

Admiral Stewart's retirement certainly was not the end of his service to his community, state or nation. Following his retirement from the Coast Guard, he served as a Kiwanian, a founding member of the board of trustees of the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico, a member of the board of governors of the Bienville Club, a past president and member of the Mobile Council for the Navy League of the United States, a member of the board of directors of the Veterans Day Commission, a past chairman and member of the Military Affairs Committee of the Mobile Chamber of Commerce, a past division chairman of the United Way, a past chairman of the Disaster Service Committee of the local Red Cross Chapter, and a member of the board of directors of the Alabama Military Hall of Honor at Marion Military Institute.

As a homeowner on Alabama's Dauphin Island since the 1950s, the island was of great importance to him. Admiral Stewart served as a member of the board of directors of the Property Owners Association for eight years and president for five years. He was a member of a Task Force which brought together Islanders and the Auburn University Economic Development Institute in the late 1980s. He was also founding director as well as second and current chairman of the Dauphin Island Foundation.

Admiral Stewart was married to Laura Hamilton Stewart for more than 40 years before her untimely death from cancer. Together they raised two children, Edward Wilson, who preceded his father in death, and Karla Stewart Bohn.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me in remembering a dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout south Alabama. Admiral William H. Stewart loved life and lived it to the fullest, and his passing marks a tremendous loss for all of south Alabama. He will be deeply missed by many, most especially his wife, Paulette Gerhardt Stewart; his daughter and stepdaughters; his grandchildren; his extended family; as well as countless friends he leaves behind.

Our thoughts and prayers are with them all at this difficult time.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I rise to honor the long and distinguished career of Dr. Harold Dodge, on the occasion of his retirement as superintendent of the Mobile County Public School System.

With a career spanning over four decades, Dr. Dodge has dedicated his life to education, serving as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. Beginning his career as a teacher and a coach at Deep Creek High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, he went on to serve as principal at Oscar Smith High School, Indian River Junior High School, and E.W. Chittum Elementary School in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Prior to coming to Mobile, Dr. Dodge served as superintendent of Cumberland County Schools in Cumberland, Virginia; Montgomery County Schools in Christianburg, Virginia; and University City School District in University City, Missouri.

In August of 1998, Dr. Dodge took the reigns of the Mobile County Public School System, the State's largest school system with over 65,000 students and 8,000 employees. Under his leadership, the school system has implemented a nationally recognized strategic

plan that encourages sustained parental and community involvement while focusing on making children proficient in learning.

After 10 years of extraordinary work as superintendent of the Mobile County Public Schools, Dr. Dodge will turn his attention to college students as a professor at the University of South Alabama. He will be an associate professor in the Department of Leadership and Teacher Education, training principals and superintendents in the university's master degree program.

There are few individuals more dedicated or more committed to students than Harold Dodge, and this commitment has not gone unnoticed. In 2006, Dr. Dodge was named Alabama's Superintendent of the Year. Earlier this month, he was named an Outstanding Civilian Service Member, the second highest public service honorary award given to civilians by the United States Army, and the Mobile Area Education Foundation named its Fund-a-S.T.A.R. grant program for classroom teachers after him. The city of Mobile named Thursday, December 6, 2007, both the Mobile Area Education Foundation Day and Harold Dodge Day.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout Alabama. Dr. Harold Dodge is an outstanding example of the quality of individuals who have devoted their lives to education. I know his colleagues; his wife, Jean; his family; and many friends join me in extending thanks for his many efforts over the years on behalf of the city of Mobile and the State of Alabama. I wish him the best in all his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, the city of Mobile and indeed the entire Nation recently lost a special lady, and I rise today to honor Mrs. Jane Maury Denton and pay tribute to her memory.

Born in Mobile, Alabama, on March 22, 1926, Jane Maury was educated at The Convent of Visitation School in Alabama and Mary Washington College in Virginia. She married Mobile native, Jeremiah Denton, on June 6, 1946, the day he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy.

Mrs. Denton and her husband reared seven children while living in many states and Europe during her husband's distinguished military career; unfortunately, for almost 8 years, she reared their children alone. On July 16, 1965, while serving in the Vietnam War, then-Captain Denton's plane was shot down over the city of Thanh Hoa. He was held as a prisoner-of-war for eight long years in Hanoi, Vietnam.

During her husband's imprisonment, Mrs. Denton helped found the National League of Families of Prisoners of War and Missing in Action. Her tireless work on behalf of all American airmen held prisoner in North Vietnam is credited with obtaining a more humane treatment and ultimate release.

Jerry Denton returned home a true American hero; obviously, he and Jane had so many years of their lives for which to catch up. In 1980, Admiral Denton successfully ran for the U.S. Senate from Alabama. As a senator's wife, Jane became a true champion for the improvement of America's mental health facilities.

In recognition of her life-long support for her husband's naval career in addition to her work as an advocate for POWs, Mrs. Denton was given the honor of sponsoring and christening the USS Mobile Bay, a Ticonderoga Class Cruiser in 1985. The day she christened the ship, she said, ``The event will be a real highlight of my life. My pleasure at receiving this honor is multiplied by my love for the Navy, my concern for our national defense, and my pride in having a fine ship named for Mobile Bay.''

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout Alabama, as well as a wonderful wife and devoted mother. Mrs. Denton will be missed by her family--her husband of 61 years, Senator Jeremiah Denton; their children, Jeremiah Denton III, Donald Denton, James Denton, William Denton, Madeleine Doak, Michael Denton, and Mary E. Denton; her sister, Madeleine McPhillips; her 14 grandchildren; and her three great- grandchildren--as well as the many countless friends she leaves behind. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during this difficult time.

Madam Speaker, it is with both pride and pleasure that I rise today to honor one of the most beloved residents of Alabama, Miss Nelle Harper Lee, on the occasion of her receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her novel To Kill a Mockingbird.

A native of Monroeville, Alabama, Miss Lee began her writing career at the University of Alabama where she wrote for student publications and served for one year as the editor of a campus humor magazine. She moved to New York City in 1950 where she worked as a reservations clerk with Eastern Air Lines and BOAC.

In 1956, Miss Lee found an agent, and soon after, she began the draft of To Kill a Mockingbird. The novel was published on July 11, 1960, and became an immediate bestseller. She won the 1961 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel, and in a 1999, poll run by the Library Journal, her novel was voted ``Best Novel of the Century.''

In 1966, Miss Lee was named to the National Council of Arts by President Johnson, and since that time, she has received many honorary doctorate degrees for her outstanding contributions to literature.

Madam Speaker, Miss Lee's masterpiece To Kill a Mockingbird is a model of literary achievement that has become an American classic. Its pages spoke a strong message of honor and tolerance during our Nation's struggle for equality. So, from one native south Alabamian to another, please accept my heartfelt expression of pride--on behalf of all of us who, over the years, have been touched in some way by ``Mockingbird.''

It is only appropriate that I ask my colleagues to join with me in congratulating Miss Nelle Harper Lee on receiving this award. I know her sisters--Louise Lee Conner and Alice Lee--her family and her many friends join with me in praising her significant accomplishments.

Today, Madam Speaker, I rise to ask that President George W. Bush's remarks in honor of Miss Lee made at the ceremony for the 2007 Medal of Freedom recipients be entered into the Congressional Record:

President Bush Honors Medal of Freedom Recipients, East Room--November

5, 2007

The President. Good morning. Laura and I are thrilled to

welcome you to the White House. We welcome the members of

Congress, the members of the Cabinet, and other distinguished

guests. It's an honor to be with the Medal of Freedom

recipients, as well as their family members and friends.

We're sure glad you're here.

The Medal of Freedom is the highest civil honor that a

President can bestow. By an executive order of John F.

Kennedy, the medal is designed to recognize great

contributions to national security, the cause of peace and

freedom, science, the arts, literature, and many other

fields. The eight men and women came to this distinction by

very different paths. Each of them, by effort and by

character, has earned the respect of the American people, and

holds a unique place in the story of our time.

The story of an old order, and the glimmers of humanity

that would one day overtake it, was unforgettably told in a

book by Miss Harper Lee. Soon after its publication a

reviewer said this: ``A hundred pounds of sermons on

tolerance, or an equal measure of invective deploring the

lack of it, will weigh far less in the scale of enlightenment

than a mere 18 ounces of a new fiction bearing the title To

Kill a Mockingbird.''

Given her legendary stature as a novelist, you may be

surprised to learn that Harper Lee, early in her career, was

an airline reservation clerk. (Laughter.) Fortunately for all

of us, she didn't stick to writing itineraries. (Laughter.)

Her beautiful book, with its grateful prose and memorable

characters, became one of the biggest-selling novels of the

20th century.

Forty-six years after winning the Pulitzer Prize, To Kill a

Mockingbird still touches and inspires every reader. We're

moved by the story of a man falsely accused--with old

prejudice massed against him, and an old sense of honor that

rises to his defense. We learn that courage can be a solitary

business. As the lawyer Atticus Finch tells his daughter,

``before I can live with other folks I've got to live with

myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is

a person's conscience.''

Years after To Kill a Mockingbird was put to film, the

character of Atticus Finch was voted the greatest movie hero

of all time. It won Gregory Peck the Oscar. He was said to

believe the role ``brought him closest to being the kind of

man he aspired to be.'' The great actor counted Harper Lee

among his good friends, and we're so pleased that Gregory

Peck's wife, Veronique, is with us today. Thank you for

coming.

One reason To Kill a Mockingbird succeeded is the wise and

kind heart of the author, which comes through on every page.

This daughter of Monroeville, Alabama had something to say

about honor, and tolerance, and, most of all, love--and it

still resonates. Last year Harper Lee received an honorary

doctorate at Notre Dame. As the degree was presented, the

graduating class rose as one, held up copies of her book, and

cheered for the author they love.

To Kill a Mockingbird has influenced the character of our

country for the better. It's been a gift to the entire world.

As a model of good writing and humane sensibility, this book

will be read and studied forever. And so all of us are filled

with admiration for a great American and a lovely lady named

Harper Lee.

Now I call on the military aide to read the citations for

the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Military Aide. Harper Lee. Harper Lee's beautiful book is a

meditation on family, human complexity, and some of the great

themes of American life. At a critical moment in our history,

To Kill a Mockingbird helped focus the nation on the

turbulent struggle for equality. The novel became an instant

American classic and earned her a Pulitzer Prize. Nearly half

a century after its publication, her work continues to

captivate new readers who encounter its compelling power for

the first time. The United States honors Harper Lee for her

outstanding contribution to the great literary tradition of

America.

The President. Thank you all for coming. Laura and I now

invite you to a reception here in the State Dining Room. I

hope you've enjoyed this ceremony as much as I have. May God

bless you all. Thank you.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the city of Prichard, Alabama, its mayor, Ron Davis, and the city council for successfully eliminating the city's debt.

On November 9, 2007, Mayor Davis signed two checks at a ceremony at the A.J. Cooper Municipal Complex, officially paying off the city's creditors a full year ahead of schedule. As Mayor Davis stated while signing these checks, the city of Prichard is now open for business-- business that includes the Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Alabama Motorsports Park and theme park, which will feature stock car racing, drag racing, and a road course.

Founded as a settlement in the 1830s, Prichard was incorporated as a city in 1925. During World War II, it became home to many who worked for the shipbuilding companies in Mobile.

The closing of Brookley Air Force Base in the late 1960s, followed by the closings of Scott and International Paper companies in the early 1990s, cost many Prichard residents their jobs and forced them to move away from the city. In 1999, the city filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection in federal court, revealing the city owed $5.3 million to creditors. Over the last eight years, the city has been paying this debt with quarterly payments--some as much as $1.5 million.

Madam Speaker, the residents of Prichard, Alabama, have firmly rooted themselves in their proud history, but they also keep an optimistic and careful eye on the road ahead. I have no doubt that the consistent leadership and inspired vision of today's residents will lead to great success in the coming years.

I ask my colleagues to join me in commending the city of Prichard as well as the leadership of Mayor Ron Davis and the city council. It is my hope that Prichard enjoys continued prosperity, and it is my distinct pleasure to represent this community in the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove my name as a cosponsor of H. Con. Res. 183.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I rise to honor the St. Paul's Episcopal School volleyball team on winning the 2007 5A state championship.

In 1947, William S. Mann founded St. Paul's Episcopal School in Mobile, Alabama. St. Paul's began with a class of 20 kindergartners, and has grown to an enrollment of 1,613 students, making St. Paul's the largest Episcopal school in North America.

Coach Kelli Hillier led the top-ranked and defending 5A champion varsity volleyball team to their second consecutive state championship earlier this month bringing the total number of volleyball state championships to 10. Incredibly, this most recent honor brings the number of St. Paul's state championships won this year to 9. Like Coach Hillier, I am so proud of her players, and I know they worked hard for this great honor.

The St. Paul's statement of philosophy regarding its athletes states, ``On the field and off, win or lose, they should be the example of honor, integrity, and respect,'' and these young women are certainly no exception.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the St. Paul's volleyball team on a great season and state championship. This school deserves public recognition for this great honor, and I extend my congratulations to each member of the team and coaching staff:

St. Paul's 2007 Volleyball Team Roster

Names: Katherine White; Grace Copeland; Annie Gonzales;

Lenore Lahti; Jennifer Percy; Nancy Taylor; Neal Tisher;

Courtenay Martindale; Catherine Rebarchak; Sarah Kitzmann;

Johnnie Borries; Robin Jackson.

Coaching Staff: Head Coach Kelli Hillier and Assistant

Coaches Jill Campbell and Sharon Mosley.