Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5449.

This bill, sponsored by Representative LaTourette, will restore fairness and accountability to the FAA's negotiating process.

It is time that Congress steps in to ensure that no serious damage is done to the integrity and safety of our aviation system. We must support the men and women who help keep our airways safe and on time.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been trying to circumvent real negotiations and to unilaterally impose a contract on the air traffic controllers. Increasingly, they have refused to negotiate in good faith in an effort to create a false impasse.

Congress must act! Earlier this week, the FAA moved to start implementing its unilateral changes to the terms and conditions of employment for our nation's air traffic controllers.

The system is already facing a massive staffing crisis that could leave fewer and fewer qualified and trained controllers guiding record air traffic. More than 7,000 air traffic controllers are expected to retire over the next nine years. Air traffic controller staffing is critical. We will need 1,000 new air traffic controllers per year over the next five years to avert a staffing crisis. These conditions will lead to an erosion of talent at the agency because retirement-eligible controllers, the FAA's most experienced, would see the imposition as a reason to retire. This will in turn make recruiting replacement controllers of quality and excellence much more difficult. Possible delays due to staff shortages and inexperienced staff, as well as the closing of severely understaffed facilities could impose hundreds of millions of dollars in unnecessary costs for consumers and communities.

H.R. 5449 would encourage the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) in the contract negotiations to reach an agreement and turn toward other important matters, including the future growth and safety of the U.S. air traffic system.

This bill would allow for the existing sections of the law to be utilized to solve the contractual differences--the same way disputes are settled for other federal workers. It would allow for this and future disputes to be settled in a manner that ensures a fair hearing for both sides.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5449 and restore fairness to this negotiating process and keep America's airways flowing safely and professionally.

Mr. Speaker, the Rabbi Norman F. Feldheym Award was established to pay tribute to those members of Congregation Emanu El, located in my home district of San Bernardino, California, who have conspicuously and exceptionally reflected Rabbi Feldheym's qualities of love for and loyalty to the synagogue, and service to the community. I stand here today to honor Doctor Philip M. Gold for receiving this distinguished award.

Dr. Gold has been an extraordinarily devoted leader of Congregation Emanu El. He began his service as a member of the Congregation's Board of Directors in 1990, and since then he has served as Secretary, 2nd Vice-president, Vice-president, and from 2000-2002, as the President of the Congregation. During this time he has helped to masterfully guide the Congregation through its period of rabbinic transition. He has been an inspirational leader of the Congregation, giving evidence of his deep love for Judaism, a strong participation in worship and education, and an exemplary commitment to Jewish values and their application in contemporary society.

Dr. Gold is a distinguished graduate of Stanford University, where he received his B.A. degree in 1958, and of the UCLA School of Medicine, where he received his M.D. degree in 1962. At UCLA, Dr. Gold also completed his internship and residency, which included being Chief Resident in Medicine. Dr. Gold is a highly respected physician and teacher, a Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine and the Sub Specialty Board of Pulmonary Disease.

Since 1977, Dr. Gold has been associated with the Loma Linda University School of Medicine, where he currently serves as Professor of Medicine, Chief of the Pulmonary and Intensive Care Division, Program Director of the Pulmonary Fellowship Program and Executive Vice-Chair of the Department of Medicine.

Dr. Gold has been recognized by his colleagues as a leader in the field of medicine. His numerous accomplishments include serving as a Governor and President of the California Chapter of the American College of Physicians, President of the American Lung Association of California, President of the American Lung Association of San Bernardino, Inyo and Mono Counties, Chair of the Council Practice Committee of the American Thoracic Society, President of the California Thoracic Society, and President of the Society of Graduate Internists of UCLA.

While the awards Dr. Gold has received are too abundant to mention in total, some of the most notable include a Mastership in the American College of Physicians, the Lifetime Achievement A ward of the American Lung Association, the Laureate A ward of the American College of Physicians, the William L. Cover MD Award of the San Bernardino County Medical Society, the American Lung Association Pottenger Award and the Michael Stulbarg California Medal of the American Lung Association of California.

Dr. Gold is known to family, colleagues, patients, fellow congregants and friends as a person of the highest integrity, extraordinary sensitivity, perceptive insight, humility and love of the arts. He and his wife, Roberta, are the proud parents of Jana, Matthew and Jason, all of whom received their Jewish education at Congregation Emanu EI, and the proud grandparents of Eddie, Leah, Cary and Molly.

Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 115th anniversary of the founding of the Congregation Emanu El. It is fitting, on such a momentous occasion, that we stand here today to honor Dr. Philip M. Gold, for outstanding service to his Congregation, the field of medicine, and to his family and community.

Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of H.R. 5037.

First of all, I want to thank the chairman, Mr. Buyer, for his support and his leadership and his vision in protecting and speaking on behalf of our veterans. I think it is important that we have someone who has served in the military who will stand up for a lot of our veterans. As you see in Congress today, we do not have a lot of individuals who have served in the military or are willing to stand up with it.

The other individual I would like to thank is Sylvestre Reyes, because he truly has served as a veteran, has served in the committee and stands up for important legislation that talks about the Fallen Heroes Act. Right now, that is important for a lot of us.

I want to thank both of you for standing up and your leadership on behalf of all veterans of America, because we owe it to our veterans.

Many of our veterans who serve our country serve with honor and dignity. They believe in this country. They believe in standing up for the freedoms we enjoy today. A lot of them do not know what is going to happen to them, but they serve with honor and dignity because they believe in the freedoms that we enjoy today and the freedoms that we will enjoy tomorrow.

But if a fallen hero falls, we have the responsibility as Americans to make sure that we protect them and that they have the right to bury their families with honor and with dignity. As Americans, we have that responsibility because, ultimately, they give the sacrifice for us so that we can enjoy those freedoms, those freedoms that we take for granted every day of our life, whether to buy a home, go to school, go to college, enjoy the freedom of speech, enjoy whatever we need. We have the same responsibility to those individuals who have fallen.

To the parents and the relatives, to a wife or anyone else who is there, I think this bill is the right thing to do because we need to respect with honor and dignity those who are willing to sacrifice for us. Too often, we forget.

As we look at the flag right behind you, Mr. Speaker, it is a flag that we honor. It is a flag that many individuals have stood for. It is our veterans who have done that, and when they receive that flag, and many of them receive that flag, it should be done with honor and dignity, without any disruption of anyone picketing, and too often we forget that.

Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of this important legislation on behalf of all veterans who are willing to serve now and will serve us in the future. We owe it to them, and I appreciate what Mr. Reyes has done and Mr. Buyer has done.

Mr. Speaker, the people of this great Nation share a common spirit and heritage. Whether born on the soil of this land or having chosen to come here in search of a better life--one free of political, social, and economic oppression, we are a nation of pioneers. We believe in the American dream, and the promise that through our labors we can achieve educational and economic success. No barrier is too imposing, no obstacle to tall that it should stand in the way of pursuing this dream.

Two of my congressional predecessors, Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Jacob Javits, advanced legislation in the 1960s that promoted this dream by laying the foundation for an organization called TELACU. Since its founding in 1968, TELACU has become the largest community and economic development corporation in the United States. TELACU is a pioneering institution committed to service, empowerment, advancement and the creation of self-sufficiency. Brought to life through a small investment appropriated by Congress, TELACU has grown to become an organization with nearly $500 million in assets, creating thousands of jobs, affordable homes, loans to small business people, and most importantly, numerous educational opportunities for young people and veterans.

In 1983, TELACU established the LINC TELACU Education Foundation. For 23 years, the foundation has partnered with corporate donors, private individuals, and a vast network of colleges and universities, providing the driving force behind one of the most effective national institutions ever to impact the educational needs of the Latino community.

In conceiving the foundation, TELACU discovered that while financial assistance is vital for college students to achieve academic success, other factors are also important. Students who are the first in their families ever to attend college often lack the support system necessary to achieve their dream. Socioeconomic factors, family responsibilities, cultural identity and financial stress create very real conflicting challenges to academic life.

The LINC TELACU Education Foundation has accepted this challenge head on, combining important financial assistance with highly effective programs that ensure college completion. The foundation supports 600 college students and serves 2,000 elementary, middle and high school students and veterans each year. The success of this extraordinary foundation is best summarized by the numbers: Its scholar retention and college graduation rates are an astounding 100 percent.

Mr. Speaker, I join today with community leaders throughout my State in expressing our Nation's gratitude to TELACU and the LINC TELACU Education Foundation for believing in the dream of higher education for America's next generation of pioneers and helping to make it possible.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I first wish to commend Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro and Chairman Bonilla for their good work on this appropriations bill. It is a good bipartisan bill that has brought in a very important issue, especially as it pertains to Hispanic Serving Institutions and Colleges.

I now rise in favor of this collaboration amendment by my Congressional Hispanic and Black Caucus to boost funding for minority education in farming programs at the USDA. This amendment is being offered by me, Representatives Butterfield, Hinojosa and Thompson to increase funding for Hispanic Serving Institutions and for the 2501 Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program.

This amendment is important because it provides funding to help minority educations in agriculture.

I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I don't mind. I just wanted to read it for the Record to be recorded that I am fighting on behalf of everyone, if you don't mind, Mr. Chairman. But I appreciate that. I think it is important, and I appreciate the fact that they are moving on the amendment. Also I felt it was important for people to hear the amendment itself in terms of what it does.

This amendment is important because it provides funding for minority education in agriculture and helps rebuild a minority farming community that has been often neglected and discriminated against.

Hispanic Serving Institutions are a great source of innovation and deserve funding to continue generating advances in agricultural sciences. We must stop the long-standing practice of underfunding these institutions.

HSI funding lags behind funding for other minority institutions and remains underfunded by nearly 75 percent. With population growth, and this is why I appreciate the chairman's concern, and innovative ideas in terms of helping Hispanic-growing populations, we see enrollment at HSIs has skyrocketed, but funding remains very low and it is still unacceptable.

HSIs have grown to a number nearly equal to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The funding has remained much lower.

A decade ago, we had less than 100 of the HSIs, and now we have nearly 250. In my district alone, we have three Hispanic Serving Institutions: Chaffey Community College, San Bernardino Community College and San Bernardino Cal State University of California. Hispanic community colleges want to know why they should not receive the full $20 million per year in investment we promised them in the farm bill.

In addition, the 2501 program helps socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, the fastest growing population in agriculture. We need to help these small minority farmers who are investing and keeping our country's farming legacy alive and well.

This program can help thousands of farm workers who are leaving strawberry fields behind and growing their own crops. This is a great example of the American Dream.

On the opposite side of the American Dream, this program helps keep farming traditions of thousands of African American farmers forced to the brink of discrimination, often by our own Federal Government.

Mr. Chairman, I understand you have agreed to accept this amendment, and I appreciate that. Again, I want to thank you; I want to thank Ranking Member DeLauro for the fine and great work on this legislation and this bill. So I thank both of you.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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

We must stop throwing away good money after bad policy. Some States are taking misguided steps in administering the Food Stamp Program and other public benefits. Moving 20 to 50 percent of all cases online or to remote calling centers makes little sense, creating problems for those most in need.

The fact is, disabled, undereducated and minority food stamp participants are losing their food stamp benefit because of these cost- cutting privatization initiatives.

What is happening in Texas is a waste of Federal funds. The Texas State comptroller called for an investigation of the new public benefit system. The Texas State comptroller said that the Accenture contract appears to be a perfect storm of wasting tax dollars, reducing access to services, and profiteering at the expense of taxpayers.

The new eligibility system is a disaster. More than 300,000 children have left the CHIP program. This has been blamed on the contractor's loss of applications, payments that were not credited to the proper accounts, and families who have been improperly denied benefits.

Mr. Chairman, we cannot allow other States to be misguided down the road. If the Baca-Doggett-Green amendment would have been in order, we would have forced States to certify that changes to the application process are not hurting sensitive communities under existing civil rights and disabilities law.

People on food stamps and other public benefits need our help to ensure that new program structures, privatization and other changes do not harm them and do not take away food from the table. That is the purpose of this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Al Green).

Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment given that this amendment would be subject to a point of order, and hope that Chairman Bonilla and Ranking Member DeLauro will work to increase congressional oversight on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, its been 4 years since 9-11, yet the Republicans in Congress and this President have failed to secure our borders and protect this country against future terrorist attacks.

Americans want and deserve better.

The country is depending on us to take action but this Administration and the Republians in Congress have let us down over and over again.

The Democrats' plan offers real security that will protect America from harm.

It's time for Republicans to put politics aside and enact real reforms now.

It's time for Republicans to stop playing politics with our security.

Just take immigration reform, for example.

Instead of recognizing the need for real, comprehensive reform Republicans have used th border security issue to play on people's fears and exploit the debate for their political gain.

They've hijacked the debate to incite xenophobia in the minds of the American people!

I want my colleagues to be aware that this rhetoric can provoke extremists to commit violence against immigrants.

Remember that words have consequences and set the tone for public debate.

Unfortunately, all over America racists are taking advantage of the immigration debate to voice their message of hate.

And they are using the media--which our Constitution protects--to do so.

Several years ago, I founded the Congressional Sex and Violence in the Media Caucus because I was disturbed by the messages our children were receiving.

As co-chair of this caucus, I have led the effort to help parents protect their kids from harmful and inappropriate content such as graphic sex and violence.

Now we must be on the lookout for racist content in the media.

On March 29, 2006, a New Jersey radio talk show host Hal Turner exclaimed, ``. . . It is time to fight. To kill such invaders. . . . If you don't fight AND don't support those of us who do, when we're done with them, we can come for you.''

I recently learned about a racist game distributed freely on the Internet called ``Border Patrol'' that encourages Players to shoot at Immigrants as they cross into the United States.

The game first surfaced in 2002, but has come up once again amid the immigration debate.

This is obscene and crosses the line!

For years, White supremacists have used the Internet to get their messages out to as many people as possible.

But the use of computer video games is new.

They are deliberately targeting our children and recruiting them into their hate groups!

The fact that the national immigration debate is fueling their efforts is downright scary.

It just takes one individual with hate in his heart to act on these notions!

Border Patrol is one of several racist computer games that hate groups are currently for sale or download on the Internet.

Other games like ``Ethnic Cleansing,'' ``DriveBy 2'' and ``African Detroit Cop'' were created to further racist, anti-Semitic or homophobic opinions.

Already, the National Alliance, a violent neo-Nazi group, is selling ``Ethnic Cleansing'' and is promising to market and sell similar games.

As the issue of comprehensive immigration reform has moved to the forefront of national policy debate, these hate-messages have grown more radical.

As the Aryan Nation's Web site puts it, ``We now have another game animal to add to our list of available targets for our favorite pastime, hunting, and we'll declare permanent OPEN SEASON on these dirty wetbacks! From what I've heard through the grapevine the Skinheads and Klans across the country are more than prepared for this type of action. I say let's play by state and see which state can claim the most kills and let the jewsmedia whores keep score!''

This is a big real concern especially as the debate continues.

These extremist groups are going to gain momentum.

A report by the Anti-Defamation League shows that hate groups have organized numerous assaults against immigrants within this month alone.

As members of Congress, our first responsibility is the security of every American and of that means securing our borders.

But the outcome of this debate will speak volumes about how we embrace diversity in our communities and welcome foreigners in our society.

We cannot have this debate at the expense of the safety of immigrants in our communities.

I understand that not everyone in Congress agrees with a more inclusive vision of the American family.

But regardless of your position on immigration and border policy, I call on you to join me in condemning all the extremists who are hijacking this debate for their hateful agendas.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

I am disappointed with the recommendations that have just been made. We have just heard the President over the week talk about the need for 60,000 National Guard troops. Well, basically what we are doing now, it is going to impact the State of California and the family members in that area.

How can we comply then with the President of the United States saying that we need an additional 6,000 troops on the border when we are cutting back additional guards. Mr. President and the Nation should know what we are doing here today and the impact it is going to have on the National Guard and the State of California and the Federal Government to meet the needs of what the President has recommended. I am disappointed in what has been submitted right now.

Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks.

Mr. Chairman, I want to voice my support for H.R. 4200.

The catastrophic wildfires that devastated southern California in late 2003 are proof that forest health and recovery are essential. We must expand these tools however possible to protect the lives and property of our constituents.

I only wish the agency and administration would have heeded our demands from then Governor Davis, Senators Boxer and Feinstein, and many others including myself for emergency fuels reduction funding.

The fact is that many forests in southern California continue to be matches waiting to set ablaze. Bark Beetle infestations have ravaged the San Bernardino National Forest and many populated rural areas.

Either we learn the lessons of the past or we are condemned to repeat those mistakes in the future.

By the time the 14 major wildfires in southern California were extinguished in November 2003, 24 lives were lost, 3,710 homes were destroyed, and 750,043 acres were blackened--70,000 of those acres in San Bernardino County.

We must also remember the post-fire flooding in the erosion-prone mountain watersheds, and how 17 lives were lost in San Bernardino County alone. Sixteen of these lives were lost on Christmas Day, including those of two constituents.

Mr. Chairman, I completely agree that recovery is essential, but I am also very interested in ensuring that the contractors doing this recovery are not engaging in criminal violations of health, safety and labor law.

At the December hearing on this bill in the Agriculture Committee, I introduced into the record an expose by the Sacramento Bee on the deplorable, and often criminal, conditions to which these H2B and other contract employees are subjected.

Some are not paid their full wage, denied safety equipment, or made to live in subhuman conditions because of their H2B guestworker status.

Mr. Chairman, that is why I will be holding a briefing tomorrow at 2 p.m. in the Science Committee room on these forest workers and how agencies can improve their oversight of wage and workplace safety violations.

Mr. Chairman, I agree that we need to protect the lives and property of our constituents by maintaining healthy forests and recovering after disasters and pest infestations. That is why I am voting in favor of this legislation. I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise and urge the defeat of this previous question.

It should come as no surprise to anyone in this country that Democrats and Republicans differ in their priorities for America. With the White House set to vote on the budget tonight, I as a Blue Dog oppose the majority party's misguided plan which will result in a staggering $10 trillion deficit by the year 2010.

The Blue Dog 12-step reform plan is a comprehensive, responsible alternative to the meager attempt to reform and contain the Republican budget. The Blue Dog plan is based on a commitment to resolving the fiscal problems facing our country that includes a call for a balanced budget, strict spending plan, and a pay-as-you-go rule, especially establishing a rainy day justification.

The budget resolution debated tonight will cut critical programs in order to pay for millionaire tax cuts, cuts to food stamps, the WIC program, the school lunch program, the breakfast program, student financial assistance, Community Development Block Grants, veterans health care, and funding to help local law enforcement, to name a few.

I ask our colleagues to defeat this budget. We need to help those poor and disadvantaged, our veterans, our health block grants, and students who need an education.

There is a pay as you go.

Then you should look at the pay-as-you-go plan. You know that? It is there.

That is why we are supporting the Democratic substitute amendment, and that is pay as you go. The Democratic substitute budget.

Mr. Chairman, first of all, I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter) and, of course, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) too, as well, and I would like to also thank Congressman Dreier, Congressman Lewis, and Congressman Pombo in helping us work with this simple amendment that basically asks the Department of Defense to require a study of the perchlorate contamination at formerly utilized defense sites, otherwise known as

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Mexican patriots who gave their lives to fight valiantly and successfully against an overwhelming French Army on May 5, 1862.

This is the week of Cinco de Mayo, a time to celebrate the courage and bravery of Mexican Americans and of all those who have fought for the freedoms of self-governance.

By celebrating Cinco de Mayo we honor the history of democracy in North America and remind ourselves that though our nation is made up of many diverse people and cultures, we all share a commitment to democratic freedom.

Last year this House passed Concurrent Resolution 44, a bill that recognizes the historical significance of the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo.

Today, along with the other members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I have called on the Senate Judiciary Committee to take up this resolution and pass it.

Many celebrate this day with festivals, singing, and dancing. But this day is more than a party. It is a celebration of cultural pride and the respect for the rights of all people. And the Senate should celebrate this day by passing H. Con. Res. 44.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for H.R. 4912, the Rural Health Care Capital Access Act of 2006, along with Mr. Frank who is one of the cosponsors of this important legislation.

This bill extends and exempts under the Hospital Mortgage Insurance Act of 2003 small, rural critical-access hospitals. This allows them to qualify for the Department of Housing and Urban Development section 242 mortgage insurance program.

This section 242 program is an important program which provides mortgage insurance for loans made for construction, renovation and equipment of acute-care hospitals. To be eligible for section 242 requires that at least half of the hospital's net patient days qualify as acute care, which is referred to as a Patient's Day Test.

Small, rural hospitals sometimes have a hard time meeting these requirements. This is because rural communities often have hospitals and nursing homes combined in order to achieve savings by sharing facilities and services such as pharmacy and food services.

The Hospital Mortgage Insurance Act of 2003 eliminated the so-called Patient Day Test for critical-access hospital, but limited the exemption to 3 years. The exemption expires on July 31, 2006.

Today only one hospital sought approval under this exemption. This is not surprising considering the length of time required for applying to the program, particularly for small hospitals with limited staff and resources to devote to such complicated processes.

As we all know, there are many small hospitals throughout the Nation that need this kind of help. It is very complicated, applying for this kind of a process. Nevertheless, this exemption is necessary for small hospitals to have access, and I state, to have access to section 242 programs. And it is important that they do have the access.

H.R. 4912, the Rural Health Care Capital Access Act of 2006, would extend the exemption for an additional 5 years. During this time, HUD and FHA can review the impact and recommend to Congress whether the exemption should be made permanent.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I express my strong support for this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers. I appreciate the gentleman from Arizona's leadership in taking up this legislation along with the cosponsor, Mr. Frank, who feels this is important for a lot of the hospitals in rural communities, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support of H.R. 4902, the Byron Nelson Congressional Gold Medal Act. We are honoring Byron Nelson for his accomplishments in golf. He truly has set a legacy, not only for those of us who have watched golf, but have participated in golf and have seen him during this period of time.

He is a true champion. He is a teacher, he is a course designer, and he is a commentator. But most of all, he

brought integrity to the game of golf. For those of us that play the game, we aspire to be like him. Some of us would love to shoot the rounds that he has. And some of us will probably never do that. But at least we have those dreams and the hopes that one day we can achieve what he has achieved.

I know that for many youth he has been a positive role model and he has set a good example. In addition, he has given back to the community by supporting nonprofit agencies in the greater Dallas area.

Byron Nelson was also a top player in the sport of golf during the World War II era. He grew up near Ft. Worth, Texas, and first got involved in golf as a caddy. And that is inspiration when we see many of the movies that have occurred where caddies ultimately became, then, professional golfers.

And when you see someone, and someone is caddying, you also learn how to hit the ball, pick up the club, give directions and learn just the course management and the integrity of the game itself.

He did this at a local club at Glen Garden Country Club. In fact, among the other caddies that were there was Ben Hogan, another individual that we admire very much, who also became a champion golfer. But in 1927, Byron Nelson competed against Ben Hogan in the club's caddy championship, and he, Byron Nelson, won that match.

In 1944, he won seven tournaments, averaging 69.67 strokes for 85 rounds. Can you imagine what that is like? And the average is 72 per course. That means three strokes under, that he accomplished during that period of time.

And like I said, I only shoot a round once in a while of 68, but never on a consistent basis, and for someone to do it on a consistent basis for 85 rounds is very difficult. He was named Male Athlete of the Year, but he would be even better than that.

In 1945 Byron Nelson had what is still considered today the best season ever by a male golfer. He won 18 different tournaments that year, including a remarkable 11 in a row at one point. And that is something that you do not even see in a lot of the eras that are here today.

That season he averaged 68.33 strokes per round for 31 tournaments. Again, imagine, 31 tournaments going under 72.

At the Seattle Open in 1945, he shot a record of 62, and that is something that I dream about. I probably will never accomplish in my life, but one day, in my dreams I will shoot a 62 and under for 18 holes, and a 259 and a 29 shots under for 72 holes.

In 1945, the AP again named him Male Athlete of the Year. Only two golfers have received that honor twice. He was selected for the Ryder Cup four times, in 1937, 1939, 1947, and again in 1965, when he led the American team to victory over the Britons.

Byron Nelson won five majors, including the Masters twice, 1937 and 1942; the Professional Golf Association PGA, that really stands for posture, grip and alignment, Championship twice, in 1940 and 1945; and the U.S. Open once in 1939.

He won a total of 54 victories during his short 13-year career. He retired from full-time competition in golf at the age of 34 to buy a ranch in his native Texas. Can you imagine what he would have done on the Senior Tour if he would have continued to golf, and if it was available for him to have participated? He would have probably added additional tournaments on the Senior Tour, as well, but he decided to retire at the young age of 34.

After his playing days were over, Byron Nelson continued to contribute to golf. He served as a coach, as a mentor to other players, including Tom Watson, and as a role model for many individuals. He has also shared his knowledge of the sport as a television analyst.

Byron Nelson also was a pioneer in the golf business, helping to develop golf shoes and umbrellas used today. Of course, I bought a couple of his golf shoes, a couple of his umbrellas that I still use on rainy days.

He has helped design world class golf courses. Byron Nelson also helped to develop the Tournament Players Course, TPC, Four Seasons at Las Colinas in Texas into a world-class facility. That course is the home of the Byron Nelson Classic, and Byron Nelson's Golf School.

The Byron Nelson Classic is the only PGA tour event named in honor of a professional golfer, and traditionally attracts the strongest players in sports.

The Byron Nelson Classic has raised a total of $82 million for the Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers, a nonprofit agency that provides education and mental health services for almost 3,000 children and their families in the greater Dallas area.

So we are honored, not only to have a great golfer but a good man and a man whose legacy will live on because he has contributed an awful lot to the sport of golf and contributed as a role model, too.

In the spirit of celebration, I have also introduced a separate piece of legislation that will honor the achievements of Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods, each of whom has excelled in golf and has contributed to the public through significant charitable work, and both have served as role models and inspiration to many others.

Arnold Palmer once commented, ``Byron Nelson's accomplishment is a thing on the pro tour that will never be seen and will never be approached again''. So it is with pride that we stand in honor of one of the true great heroes of golf. And his legacy will live on forever; that is Byron Nelson.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I express my strong support for this bill.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to add that not only did he touch the lives of many individuals, as I stated before as a positive role model, but he gave of himself and he gave of himself to the community; and that is important when someone plays the game with integrity and character that sets positive examples for many of our youth. And if you look at Byron Nelson's contribution on the golf course and off the golf course, he truly is an example that all of us should follow. His integrity and his legacy will live forever. I urge everyone to support this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5037, which I am a proud cosponsor of as a veteran, the Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act.

These are individuals who have sacrificed their lives for this country, men and women who have served us, and we must remember those who have sacrificed their lives because we are enjoying our lives, because they gave ultimately so we would enjoy the freedom and peace we have today.

So we have the same responsibility, and that is what this bill does to honor those individuals. As we commemorate Military Appreciation Month in May as well as Memorial Day on May 29, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. It seeks to provide every fallen soldier with a private and dignified burial for those who have given to this country, the men and women who have sacrificed a lot.

All around the country, grieving families of soldiers who were killed in service to our Nation are being harassed at funeral sites. These protesters show us with hurtful signs and messages, adding undue stress to military families seeking to bury their loved ones with pride and dignity.

While we respect the right of free speech in this country, military families have a right to mourn the loss of their husbands, wives, and children in peace. H.R. 5037 would enforce the right by banning protests at VA national cemeteries, as well as Arlington National Cemetery, 60 minutes before and after a funeral takes place.

This bill would also impose a 500-foot restriction on demonstrations at the site to give families privacy. Additionally, this bill would create a class A misdemeanor for violations with penalties up to $100,000 in fines or 1 year in prison.

Finally, H.R. 5037 expresses a sense of Congress that all States should enact similar bans for both State-run and privately owned cemeteries and funeral homes.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is consistent with the Supreme Court ruling. It is consistent with the Supreme Court ruling and it is constitutional. This bill provides additional rights to free speech while giving the Armed Forces and their families the due respect and the dignity that they deserve because their families have given so much to this country, and we deserve to give it back to them.

I ask Members to support this important bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5037, the ``Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act.''

As we commemorate Military Appreciation Month in May, as well as Memorial Day on the 29th, I urge my colleagues to support a bill that seeks to provide every fallen American soldier with a private, dignified burial.

All around the country, grieving families of soldiers killed in service to our nation are being harassed at funeral sites. These protesters show up with hurtful signs or messages, adding undue stress to military families seeking to bury their loved ones.

While we respect the right to free speech in this country, military families also have a right to mourn the loss of their husbands, wives, and children in peace. H.R. 5037 would enforce that right by banning protests at VA national cemeteries, as well as at Arlington Cemetery, 60 minutes before and after a funeral takes place. This bill would also impose a 500-foot restriction on demonstrations at these sites and create a Class A Misdemeanor for violations with penalties up to $100,000 in fines or 1 year in prison. Finally, H.R. 5037 would express the sense of Congress that all states should enact similar bans for both state-run and privately-owned cemeteries and funeral homes.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is constitutional and preserves the individual's right to free speech, while giving our Armed Forces and their families their due respect. It is the right thing to do and I ask my colleagues vote in support of this important piece of legislation.