Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, Congress is currently evaluating America's needs and trying to decide upon a budget that will responsibly provide for our Nation in 2007.

We should approach this process with the same wisdom and self- restraint used by American families when they decide upon their budget. While we must provide for our needs, we must eliminate unnecessary government programs and prepare for emergencies.

House Republicans are focused on strengthening our Nation's most critical programs, reforming the government, and spending taxpayers' dollars wisely. The Lexington County Chronicle is correct, that the money belongs to the people, not to the government.

I am particularly proud of Chairman Jim Nussle's efforts to save $6.8 billion in spending and reduce the deficit by implementing commonsense reforms. Most importantly, we are taking immediate steps to ensure that the American economy continues to create jobs for American workers.

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

Madam Speaker, the American Forces Press Service reported on Monday that Iraqi and coalition forces have scored several successes against insurgent fighters, seizing weapons caches and capturing suspected enemies during missions over the past several days.

From Karabilah to Ramadi, Iraqi troops and coalition forces have captured terrorists during raids and discovered weapons including hand grenades, rocket propelled grenade launch motors, sticks of plastic explosives, and AK-47 rifles. The Victory in Iraq Caucus is grateful to recognize their successes to protect American families in the central front of the global war on terrorism.

With every terrorist they detain and each weapon they discover, Iraqi troops and American forces save lives and improve our security. The events over the past several days are commendable, but they are not unique. By facing the terrorists overseas, we are confronting mass murderers before they strike American families again at home.

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

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of Ms. Carrie Coleman Robinson, a citizen of Hilton Head Island who will celebrate her 100th birthday on April 21, 2006.

The Hilton Head Island Town Council recently issued the following proclamation in her honor:

Whereas, Carrie Coleman Robinson, her family, and friends will be gathering on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina from April 21-23, 2006 to celebrate her 100th birthday, and

Whereas, many of Ms. Robinson's family and friends will be coming from such diverse locations as Minnesota, California, Indiana, Alabama, North Carolina and Illinois, and

Whereas, Carrie Coleman Robinson was born April 21, 1906 to James and Cordelia Coleman in Madison County, Pocahontas, Mississippi, and

Whereas, Carrie was the 5th of 6 siblings, all of whom are now deceased, and

Whereas, Carrie was married to Dr. Thomas L. Robinson of Hilton Head Island for 54 years until his death in 1989, and

Whereas, Ms. Robinson's education is unparalleled as she received an Associate Bachelor's degree from Tougaloo College in 1931, a BLS degree from the Hampton Institute in 1932, and an MLS degree from the University of Illinois in 1949 while she also attended Columbia University from 1940-41 and Advanced Studies from 1953-55,

Now, therefore the Hilton Head Island Town Council hereby proclaims April 21, 2006 as: The Centennial Birthday of Carrie Coleman Robinson on Hilton Head Island.

Madam Speaker, as supporters of freedom confront terrorism worldwide, it is appropriate to recognize the Republic of Indonesia's extraordinary efforts to advance democracy. Newly appointed Ambassador Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat recently made a convincing presentation in the Washington Diplomat regarding the significance of his country, which is the world's third largest democracy of over 220 million and the world's largest Muslim population which spreads across 17,000 islands.

Despite al Qaeda terrorist attacks and economic collapse, and the catastrophic tsunami, Indonesia has rebounded with fair and free elections and an economic growth rate from 5.5 to 6 percent annually. America is fortunate to be a friend and partner of Indonesia, a dynamic nation which joins us in working for regional peace and winning the war on terrorism.

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

Mr. Speaker, today, I am happy to congratulate Elizabeth and Teddy Eynon of Washington, DC, on the birth of their new baby boy. Charles Aurelio Hudson Eynon was born on March 17, 2006, at 9:09 p.m., weighing 8 pounds and 7 ounces. Hudson has been born into a loving home, where he will be raised by parents who are devoted to his well-being and bright future. His birth is a blessing.

Mr. Speaker, as a grassroots volunteer in the Reagan for President campaign of 1976, I saw firsthand the historic efforts of Lyn Nofziger who died Monday in Falls Church, Virginia.

Mr. Nofziger was crucial for the success of the Reagan Revolution which revitalized the American spirit by building an economy of hope through reducing taxes, by enhancing our military for victory in the Cold War, and by growing the Republican Party to today's status of majority in the state legislatures, state governorships, the U.S. House, the U.S. Senate, and the Presidency.

His contributions for America were highlighted on March 29, 2006 in The Washington Times:

Few people played as a critical a behind-the-scenes role in

the rise of Ronald Reagan and the modern American

conservative movement as Lyn Nofziger, who died Monday at his

home in Falls Church at 81. An Army ranger who lost fingers

to shrapnel during the D-Day landing, Mr. Nofziger left a

successful career in political reporting to become a top

Reagan adviser.

As spokesman for Mr. Reagan's 1966 campaign for California

governor, he was a trusted aide in 1968 when the California

governor tried to wrest the Republican presidential

nomination away from Richard Nixon. During the spring of

1968, Mr. Nofziger recounted many years later, Mr. Reagan

visited Republican Sen. Strom Thurmond, who told the then-

governor: ``You'll be president some day, young man, but not

this year.''

Perhaps the most serious political challenge Mr. Nofziger

would face during his many years as a senior Reagan aide came

in March 1976, during the primaries. President Ford had swept

all of the early primaries, and prominent Republicans were

pressuring Mr. Reagan to drop out and endorse Mr. Ford. Mr.

Nofziger, a stalwart conservative, would have none of it. As

political consultant Craig Shirley told Ralph Hallow of The

Washington Times: Mr. Nofziger ``was the steel in Reagan's

back that kept him going in 1976 when everyone else wanted

him to drop out of the nomination race before the North

Carolina primary.''

After Mr. Reagan's election, Mr. Nofziger served slightly

over a year as White House political director, before leaving

the White House in 1982. He became a lobbyist, but instead of

the conventional K Street uniform, he was usually seen with

his shirt collar unbuttoned and tie loosened, chomping on a

cigar and drinking a concoction of whiskey mixed with milk.

The editor of this page, who was a young White House aide

during the 1980s, recalls meeting Mr. Nofziger, who had left

the government, for lunch. Mr. Nofziger grabbed his White

House badge and twirled it, telling him that the same people

who wouldn't return his calls before he joined the White

House wouldn't return them after he left.

In his final years, Mr. Nofziger established his own blog,

wrote poetry and became prolific as a book critic for this

newspaper. In one case, Mr. Nofziger wrote a scathing review

of a professor's book. The writer complained and Mr. Nofziger

responded that he would have written a nicer review if the

book hadn't been so bad. But Mr. Nofziger subsequently ended

up befriending the professor and they established a friendly

e-mail relationship.

Lyn Nofziger--journalist, gruff, cigar-chomping pol,

trusted aide, and warm, kindhearted man--will be missed.

Mr. Speaker, this week, America lost a statesman wIth the death of former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger on Tuesday in Bangor, Maine.

Secretary Weinberger was the architect of President Ronald Reagan's vision to establish Peace Through Strength leading to victory in the Cold War and liberation of millions of people across Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and Asia.

I am glad to join President Bush's heartfelt praise:

Statement By The President on The Death of Caspar Weinberger

Caspar Weinberger was an American statesman and a dedicated

public servant. He wore the uniform in World War II, held

elected office, and served in the cabinets of three

Presidents. As Secretary of Defense for President Reagan, he

worked to strengthen our military and win the Cold War. In

all his years, this good man made many contributions to our

Nation. America is grateful for Caspar Weinberger's lifetime

of service. Laura and I send our condolences and prayers to

the entire Weinberger family.

Another fitting tribute was in The Washington Times on March 29, 2006:

``Caspar Weinberger, who died yesterday, was a lifelong

Anglophile who embraced Winston Churchill as `one of my great

heroes' for forlornly warning in the 1930s that Europe must

re-arm against the German threat. Throughout his

distinguished seven years of service as Ronald Reagan's

defense secretary, Mr. Weinberger warned of `some rather

deadly parallels' in the threat from the Soviet Union.

While Britain and the rest of Europe effectively ignored

Churchill's plaintive pleas, helping to set the stage for

World War II, Americans responded to Mr. Reagan's warnings by

electing him president. Mr. Weinberger, who earlier served in

the Reagan gubernatorial administration during the 1960s, was

promptly selected to be the architect of the largest American

peacetime military build-up in history. That strategy

culminated in American victory in the nearly five-decade-long

Cold War.

Barely six weeks into Mr. Reagan's first presidential term,

Mr. Weinberger delivered to Congress the administration's

first defense budget, which: resurrected the B-1 bomber;

greatly expanded the procurement of fighter aircraft for the

Navy and Air Force; virtually doubled the purchase of sea-

launched cruise missiles; significantly increased the

production of tanks and other Army weapons systems; and

reactivated World War II battleships as a first step toward

building the fabled 600-ship Navy, which would eventually

feature 12 aircraft-carrier battlegroups and dozens of the

world's most powerful ballistic-missile-carrying

submarines.

During Mr. Weinberger's tenure, America spent $1.7 trillion

on national defense (or $3 trillion in today's dollars). By

any fair-minded calculation, it was a bargain. Less than a

month after Mr. Weinberger left the Pentagon in November

1987, the world witnessed the first fruits (many others would

follow) of his seven-year tenure. On Dec. 8, 1987, Mr. Reagan

and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Intermediate

Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which required the destruction

of about 425 single-warhead intermediate-range U.S. nuclear

missiles based in Western Europe and 650 triple-warhead

intermediate-range Soviet SS-20 nuclear missiles capable of

striking Europe and Asia. Following steady Soviet deployment

of SS-20s beginning in the 1970s, NATO began installing the

U.S. missiles in Europe in late 1983. Self-styled peace

groups on both sides of the Atlantic, including congressional

Democrats who preferred the Soviets' self-serving nuclear-

freeze offer, pilloried Mr. Weinberger and Mr. Reagan for the

missile deployment in Europe. History has recorded who was

right.

Known as ``Cap the Knife'' during his budget-cutting days

in the Nixon administration, Mr. Weinberger became ``Cap the

Saber'' in 1981, indispensably helping the president rattle

the nation to the cause of its defense. When the Soviet Union

imploded in 1991, it did so with a very able assist from

Caspar Weinberger. Winston Churchill would have been very

proud.''

Mr. Speaker, I greatly appreciate pharmacists, social workers and other caregivers who are working to help American seniors realize they have only 6 weeks to take advantage of an opportunity to save hundreds of dollars in the coming year.

Although over 27 million Americans have registered for the Medicare prescription drug program, additional seniors throughout our Nation are still eligible to sign up for this positive plan. I am glad that independent reports indicate that those who have registered say the total cost of all of their drugs is often less than the amount they were paying for just one prescription benefit in the past. Additionally, seniors who have consulted Medicare experts and insurance counselors are usually quite happy with their coverage.

As the May 15 registration deadlines draws near, I encourage American seniors to take advantage of this opportunity to significantly decrease their drug expenses. Simply call 1-800-MEDICARE.

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

Mr. Speaker, today, I am happy to congratulate Beth and Ted Felder of Beaufort, SC, on the birth of their new baby boy. John Goodwin Felder was born in Beaufort on March 29, 2006, at 9:20 a.m., weighing 6 pounds and 3 ounces. He has been born into a loving home, where he will be raised by parents who are devoted to his well-being and bright future.

His father Ted Felder serves as deputy district director for the Lowcountry in the Office of Second Congressional District of South Carolina. He is extremely knowledgeable about the Lowcountry and works tirelessly to help citizens throughout South Carolina. Today, I am pleased to congratulate the Felder family on John's birth.

Mr. Speaker, Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that an ounce of action is worth a pound of theory. As I listen to theories of doom and gloom about our military operations in Iraq, I am proud that American soldiers remain focused to successfully accomplish their mission to protect American families. Last week, the U.S. director of the Iraq Reconstruction Management Office reminded us of the tremendous progress that has been made in Iraq over the last 3 years.

Ambassador Daniel Speckhard reported that Iraq's per capita annual income increased from $500 per person in March 2003 to $1,200 today. More than 30,000 Iraqi businesses have been registered in the past year. Iraq now has a free press, more than 2,000 Internet cafes, and more than 5 million cell phone users.

While naysayers focus on a civil war in Iraq, our troops are committed to creating a civil society in Iraq which protects American families.

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

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to rise today in support of the Porter Amendment, which would extend student loan forgiveness to individuals employed full-time by a qualified public service employer.

In order to receive this loan forgiveness, individuals would commit to serving in areas of national need for 5 years. The underlying bill extends teacher loan forgiveness to select other groups who play critical roles in bettering the lives of millions of America's youth. From social workers and nurses to medicine specialists and lawyers, thousands of America's roll models will benefit from this vital provision. By removing the burden of student loan debt, this amendment will encourage trained professionals to seek careers in public service fields.

In South Carolina, I am specifically impressed by the tremendous dedication of speech language pathologists. Fortunately, speech language pathologists are included in the underlying bill and would also be eligible to receive the crucial student loan forgiveness. These talented and caring professionals dedicate their lives to helping children throughout our community who struggle with speech, language, or hearing disorders. As American schools struggle to recruit teaching professionals, we must do more to help promote these important careers to our Nation's best and brightest. My friend Congressman Porter's amendment is an important way to increase the incentive for students to enter public service fields. Please join me in supporting this amendment today.

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

Mr. Chairman, as the global economy becomes increasingly competitive, Americans must have the skills and knowledge necessary to compete against workers throughout the world.

Preparing American workers begins in American schools. If our students fail to excel at math, science, and foreign languages, tomorrow's generation of workers will simply not be able to overcome the challenges of the international workforce.

My friend Congresswoman Cathy McMorris is addressing this issue by offering fiscally responsible legislation to update the current Higher Education Act provisions and adapt them to meet the needs of the 21st century workforce. Specifically, this amendment will: Increase the number of Advanced Placement teachers; recruit well-qualified Americans to serve as adjunct teachers in high school math, science, and critical foreign language classes; and establish competitive teacher preparation programs to encourage students to advance from elementary school through college while achieving proficiency in foreign languages.

I encourage all of my colleagues to support this visionary legislation which will help American students, workers, and our economy.

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

Miss McMORRIS. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the American Medical Association has established a new honor, the Jack B. McConnell, MD, Award for Excellence in Volunteerism, which recognizes the work of a senior physician who provides treatment to U. S. patients who lack access to health care. After a full career of practice, this physician remains dedicated to the future of medicine through the spirit of volunteerism.

Jack B. McConnell, MD, is a distinguished physician and scientist who served as Corporate Director of Advanced Technology at Johnson & Johnson. Widely acknowledged for his medical contributions, he directed the development of the TB Tine Test used in the detection of tuberculosis, participated in the early stages of the development of the Polio Vaccine, supervised the discovery of Tylenol, was instrumental in developing the technology for MRI's and helped write the enabling legislation to map the genome.

Dr. McConnell saved his greatest achievement for retirement: the creation of Volunteers in Medicine. His visionary concept--using retired medical personnel to volunteer their time and talents in a network of free community clinics for the working uninsured--coupled with his enthusiasm and determination has enabled the VIM program to grow to over 40 clinics in less than a decade. The initial VIM clinic was opened on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and continues to serve with over 20,000 patient visits in 2005.

Today, I am honored to recognize the tremendous life and career of Dr. McConnell. His service has benefited so many citizens throughout the Second District of South Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, during the President's State of the Union address, a military working dog was among the honored guests, sharing box seats with First Lady Laura Bush.

While serving alongside a soldier in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq, this dog searched for explosives and saved the lives of many American soldiers. Since World War II, dogs have served and protected our troops on nearly every battlefield, and today they help detect terrorists in the global war on terrorism.

For many years, Johnny Mayo and his dog, Buck, of Lexington, South Carolina, worked tirelessly to promote the dedication of America's military war dogs.

An inspiration for the book, ``Buck's Heroes,'' Buck, a 15-year-old Siberian Husky, touched the lives of many people throughout our Nation. Last Thursday, Buck passed away at home. Today I am honored to recognize his unique service for all American military dogs, which is especially needed in the war on terrorism.

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

Madam Speaker, today we will witness another important building block in the development of the strategic partnership between the United States and India.

By introduction of bipartisan legislation to amend the Atomic Energy Act, Congress will begin the important process of authorizing peaceful nuclear cooperation between two great democracies that share similar values of goals and hopes for the future.

While the title of this agreement focuses on nuclear cooperation, the scope of this proposal reaches far beyond nuclear issues. Improved strategic relations with India will promote nonproliferation, will increase our energy independence, will provide environmental protection, strengthen our national security, and create thousands of new jobs for American workers.

As the global economy becomes increasingly competitive and the threat of terrorism endangers all free nations, America faces a historic opportunity with our friend, India. Our countries should take advantage of this unique chance to deliver tremendous mutual benefits to both Indian and American families.

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

Mr. Speaker, the American Medical Association has established a new honor, the Jack B McConnell, MD, Award for Excellence in Volunteerism, which recognizes the work of a senior physician who provides treatment to U.S. patients who lack access to health care. After a full career of practice, this physician remains dedicated to the future of medicine through the spirit of volunteerism.

Jack B. McConnell, MD, is a distinguished physician and scientist who served as Corporate Director of Advanced Technology at Johnson & Johnson. Widely acknowledged for his medical contributions, he directed the development of the TB Tine Test used in the detection of tuberculosis, participated in the early stages of the development of the Polio Vaccine, supervised the discovery of Tylenol, was instrumental in developing the technology for MRI's and helped write the enabling legislation to map the genome.

Dr. McConnell saved his greatest achievement for retirement: the creation of Volunteers in Medicine. His visionary concept--using retired medical personnel to volunteer their time and talents in a network of free community clinics for the working uninsured--coupled with his enthusiasm and determination has enabled the VIM program to grow to over 40 clinics in less than a decade. The initial VIM clinic was opened on Hilton Head, SC and continues to serve with over 20,000 patient visits in 2005.

Today, I am honored to recognize the tremendous life and career of Dr. McConnell. His service has benefited so many citizens throughout the Second District of South Carolina.