Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, the Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina unanimously selected Dr. Harris Pastides as the 28th president of the university since 1801. Prior to his being selected as president of USC, Dr. Pastides had been Vice President for Research and Health Sciences. His appointment completes a long and thorough selection process chaired by Trustee Miles Loadholt of Barnwell, and I commend the university on their extraordinary work in choosing a strong and capable individual to lead the university.

As an alumnus of USC law school, I cherish the relationship the university

continues to form with the South Carolina community, and its national leadership in areas of research and discovery; most notably, the university's research in biomedical technology, as well as fuel cell and hydrogen technology. I welcome Dr. Pastides' and his wife Patricia's dedication to these goals.

I wish to thank Dr. Andrew Sorensen and his wife, Donna, for their remarkable leadership of the university for the past 6 years.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th.

Mr. Speaker, the majority, capably led by Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo of the Republic of Guam, has superbly explained the bill. The National Sea Grant College Program has been an important component in addressing local and regional research for needs for ocean and Great Lakes issues. The program, such as the one at Buford, South Carolina, has been extremely effective in disseminating science-based information to citizens through education and outreach programs.

H.R. 5618 reauthorizes this important marine science program, and I support its passage with particular appreciation for the Buford Laboratory.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1714, introduced by Congressman Connie Mack of Florida, corrects an honest mapping mistake made in the Coastal Barrier Improvement Act of 1990. Under current law, only Congress can add or delete property from the Coastal Barrier Resources System.

Under this bill, 48 acres of previously held land would be removed from the system, which would allow the affected homeowners to qualify for Federal flood insurance. We would be making this change because this property is not contained within the designated Clam Pass Conservation Area, these are not inholdings, and these lands were never held for conservation or recreation purposes.

We would be providing this relief because this bill satisfies the threshold of being a legitimate mapping mistake. The Fish and Wildlife Service testified in support of this technical correction, and the new implementing map would add 65 acres of conservation land to the Coastal Barrier Resources System that was overlooked when the unit was originally created. As a result, the net effect of H.R. 1714 is to actually increase the size of the system by 17 acres.

I would urge an ``aye'' vote on H.R. 1714.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, Congressman Doc Hastings of Washington State and the cosponsors of this bill should be congratulated for their efforts to ensure continuation of a long-standing and highly successful program that creates fishing opportunities in the North Cascades region.

For over 100 years, 91 of the 245 lakes in the North Cascades Complex have been stocked with fish. This has created recreational opportunities that are important to the quality of life and the region and help sustain the local economy.

I urge support for the bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise today in support of the resolution designating July 26, 2008, as the National Day of the Cowboy.

For the last 3 years on the last Saturday of July, people across America gathered to honor one of the greatest icons of our Nation, the American cowboy. National Day of the Cowboy first emerged in July of 2005 in large part to the efforts of the late United States Senator Craig Thomas of Wyoming.

Cowboys are the original heroes of American culture. From the earliest western settlers to present-day ranchers and cattlemen, their tireless courage, integrity, and adventurous spirit has made them a symbol of values that built this great Nation.

Their trade nourishes our bodies as well as our souls. The values inspire each of us. From Maine to California, from twisted urban streets to the vast, open plains, Americans envy and respect those who each day, ride off into the sunset.

I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this resolution and leave you with the words of poet laureate Ron Wilson--

We give thanks for all that cowboys and cowgirls do,

To keep the Cowboy way alive and true.

So we honor this legacy for the value it will employ,

As we celebrate the National Day of the American Cowboy.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise in support of H.R. 5506, a resolution to designate the post office located at 369 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Jersey City, New Jersey, as the ``Bishop Ralph E. Brower Post Office Building.''

Bishop Ralph E. Brower, a Methodist pastor and native of North Carolina, has been a vital presence in the religious and civic communities of northern New Jersey for over five decades.

A community leader and accomplished intellectual, Bishop Brower is, above all, a devoted family man. Married to his loving wife, Alberta, for over 60 years, the bishop has been the guiding force in the lives of his three wonderful children and 18 grandchildren and great- grandchildren.

His dedication to his denomination and community is exemplary, and it is fitting to name the post office in Jersey City, New Jersey, in his honor.

Generous and compassionate, Bishop Brower's passion for religious and civic duties is fueled by a personal commitment to intellectual development. After receiving his B.A. from Kettle College, he went on to earn an M.A. from Kings College, and finally a Ph.D from Grambling State University.

Academic accolades only scratch the surface of a man who has devoted so much of his life to improving the lives of the people surrounding him. He served in numerous positions including as the Commissioner for the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency and 4 years as the Deputy Mayor of Jersey City. His service demonstrates that he truly is a man of the people. This devotion has not gone unnoticed. Over the years, the Bishop has received a number of accolades for his civic devotion by organizations such as the New Jersey Urban League and NAACP.

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

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

I rise in support of H.R. 4010, legislation to designate the post office at Indianola, Mississippi, as the ``Minnie Cox Post Office Building.''

Minnie M. Geddings Cox was born in 1869 in a Mississippi emerging from the Civil War. After graduating from Fisk University, she returned to teach in the common schools in her hometown of Lexington.

In 1891 at the age of 22, Ms. Cox was appointed postmistress of Indianola by President Benjamin Harrison, becoming the first black postmistress of the United States. She was reappointed by President William McKinley and, again, by President Theodore Roosevelt.

In 1902, however, some of the local whites of Indianola demanded Ms. Cox's resignation, determined to remove her from her leadership position solely because of her race.

Ms. Cox refused, but when threats against her and her family persisted, she submitted her resignation to be effective in January 1903. Theodore Roosevelt felt that Ms. Cox had been aggrieved and refused to accept her resignation. Instead, he closed the post office in Indianola, rerouted the mail, and continued paying Ms. Cox.

It is important to remember determined and dedicated Americans such as Minnie Cox and be ready to stand for what is right when people are treated unjustly.

Let us now commemorate this courageous woman by naming the post office building in Indianola in honor of Minnie Cox.

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

Madam Speaker, last week three Americans, along with a dozen Colombian hostages held by FARC terrorists, were rescued by an elite team of Colombian soldiers. Included in the hostages was Ingrid Betancourt, a former candidate for president of Colombia; and three U.S. contractors, Keith Stansel, Marc Gonsalves, and Thomas Howes.

President Alvaro Uribe, Ambassador Carolina Barco, and the Colombia military are to be commended for this extraordinary and well-planned rescue.

I am grateful for the incredible effort the Colombian government has made to strike back at the FARC terrorist rebels and to bring greater stability and security to their country.

I have visited Colombia, two of my sons were exchange students in Cali, and I know firsthand the hard work necessary to curb the drug trade, terrorist activity, and build Colombia's economy. America has been working to build a stronger strategic partnership with the people of Colombia for economic prosperity, led by U.S. Ambassador William Brownfield.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th.

Mr. Speaker, here are a few facts on energy I would like to share. America currently has an estimated 175 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 1.1 trillion barrels of oil that is off-limits to exploration. In ANWR alone, there is an estimated 10.4 billion barrels of oil. Currently 85 percent of the lower 48 Outer Continental Shelf energy resources remain under the lock and key of the Federal Government. Only 6 percent of the 700 million acres of federally owned subsurface mineral estate has been leased for oil and glass exploration.

The estimated Federal revenue that would be generated by opening up these lands that are currently off-limits to leasing is upwards of $60 trillion. Americans support exploring for these resources and breaking America's dependence on foreign oil. The American people are demanding Congress take action. That is why House Republicans will continue to fight for an all-of-the-above energy plan that will produce more American-made energy while investing in alternative fuels and promoting conservation.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th.

Mr. Speaker, last week was an extraordinary week of success for America in promoting nuclear nonproliferation.

On Friday, the North Koreans destroyed the cooling tower at their Yongbyon nuclear complex. This, plus other recent concessions by that regime, will lead to additional aid for the people of that impoverished nation.

In India, the U.S.-India civilian nuclear agreement appears to be closer to approval. This is an important step to bring clean nuclear energy to the citizens of fast-growing India.

In Iraq, there was the removal of the last remnants of Saddam Hussein's nuclear program when 550 metric tons of yellowcake, the seed material for higher-grade nuclear enrichment, was shipped to Canada.

However, the threat of Iran continues to grow. The Iranian Government has confirmed it will not comply with the U.N. Security Council resolutions requiring it to stop enriching uranium.

It is encouraging to see the people of North Korea, India and Iraq benefit from moral cooperation, but it is sad to see the misguided government of Iran further isolate its civilian population and put them at risk.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th.

Mr. Speaker, as we approach Independence Day, I am grateful for the success of our troops in Iraq and in Afghanistan to protect American families by defeating terrorists overseas. With two sons who have served in Iraq and my former National Guard 218th Brigade in Afghanistan, I know firsthand our military's accomplishments.

The Department of Defense reports violence in Iraq has declined significantly. Security incidents have fallen to their lowest level in 4 years. Civilian deaths are down 75 percent from a year ago, with the Iraqi military taking greater control over military operations against al Qaeda and Iranian-backed militias.

Increased security has led to increased political and economic progress where Iraqis are sharing oil revenues, are developing and implementing a budget, and are taking greater financial responsibility for building their infrastructure. We should recognize these achievements to eliminate terrorist safe havens so our decisions here in Washington do not reverse this progress, which would threaten our allies and American families.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, our energy policy is tied to our national security. When America is increasingly reliant on foreign sources of energy, we are increasingly influenced by foreign governments who may be hostile to our interests.

Too many Democrats in Congress believe the debate over energy independence is simply about the price at the pump. Some want to try to lower the price by socializing the oil industry or taxing American energy resources, neither of which will lower the price. Meanwhile, House Democrats refuse to expand exploration for American oil and natural gas. They fail to acknowledge that until we find affordable, reliable fuel sources to replace oil, our Nation will be reliant on this form of foreign energy.

When we invest in American resources, we not only add more supply to the market that has seen increased demand, we invest in our national security by ensuring more of our oil and natural resources come from right here at home.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11th.

Madam Speaker, Americans are speaking up about rising gas prices.

The polls show that well over 60 to 70 percent of Americans support exploration of American oil and natural gas reserves, and we are seeing a vocal outpouring of disappointment in Washington's refusal to take action.

For example, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich has put a petition on his Web site asking Americans to send a message to Washington that we need to ``Drill Here, Drill Now, and Pay Less.'' As of today, the petition has over 1.1 million signatures. Surely this is only a snapshot of the millions more in America who are feeling the pinch from rising energy prices. That is the bad news.

The good news is that House Republicans have a plan to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, invest in a future of renewable, cleaner energy resources, and ask the American people to participate through conservation. We have a plan, and the American people have the will to put that plan into action if House Democrats stop standing in the way.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th.

Madam Speaker, depending on what day it is, the House Democrat energy policy can be described one of two ways-- either inaction or overreaction. On the one hand, with gas prices over 4 dollars per gallon and a growing global demand for oil, House Democrats refuse to lift the moratoriums against exploring for new oil and natural gas reserves here in the United States. On the other hand, having now failed to lower gas prices by doing nothing, we hear Members of the majority saying we should nationalize the American oil industry. Since when did the United States start following the example of socialist regimes like that of unstable Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez?

House Republicans have a plan that will not surrender our freedom and innovative spirit to the limits of big government. We want to lift the unnecessary restrictions on energy exploration. We want to invest in alternative energy sources and use the power of the free market to drive innovation forward and energy prices down.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11th. I am grateful that World War II veteran, Sergeant William E. Durkes, Sr., is visiting Washington today continuing to celebrate his 92nd birthday.