Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, after returning to the United States, many disabled veterans devote themselves to their community with the same dedication they displayed on the battlefields and bases around the world. Specifically, thousands of veterans put their skills and talents to use by operating successful small businesses.

Today, I am proud to announce an event that will pay special attention and tribute to service-disabled business owners. On August 19, Mr. Bernard Smith will host a charity golf tournament at Andrews Air Force Base to raise money for three disabled veterans groups. Twelve disabled veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom have enthusiastically volunteered to participate in the golf tournament. These servicemembers are determined to lead full and successful lives and are an inspiration to all Americans.

Mr. Smith's leadership on this event is truly honorable. As a service-disabled business owner, he understands the importance of supporting those who have already given so much to our country.

In conclusion, God bless our troops; and we will never forget September 11 and the attacks on Egypt.

Mr. Speaker, since the moment Justice O'Connor announced her resignation, President Bush has met with an unprecedented number of people of both political parties. His thorough and sound selection process has proven he is dedicated to nominating an impartial, highly qualified person to the Supreme Court.

The President's selection of Judge John Roberts is good for our country. Upon his nomination to the D.C. Circuit, 152 members of the D.C. bar wrote to the Senate Judiciary Committee to note that Judge Roberts is ``one of the very best and most highly respected appellate lawyers in the Nation.'' Throughout his accomplished legal career, Judge Roberts demonstrated that he will fairly interpret and apply the Constitution.

Judge Roberts is a man of great integrity who deserves a civil and swift confirmation process. The United States Senate has already unanimously expressed its confidence in Judge Roberts. I am hopeful that the Senate will confirm his appointment to the United States Supreme Court before the fall term begins.

In conclusion, God bless our troops. We will never forget September 11 and the London attacks.

Mr. Speaker, as the global war on terrorism continues, State Defense Forces are playing an increasingly critical role in ensuring that their communities are prepared for Homeland Security crises and recovery from hurricane damage.

As a 31-year veteran of the South Carolina Army National Guard, I am well aware of the valuable contributions of the South Carolina State Guard. From training monthly to supporting National Guard operations, these capable men and women honorably offer their time and experience for their communities.

To ensure that these volunteers are used to their greatest potential, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Davis) and I have reintroduced the State Defense Forces Improvement Act. This legislation will recognize the importance of the State Defense Forces, authorize DOD and DHS to coordinate Homeland Security efforts with and provide training to State Defense Forces and allow State Defense Forces to receive surplus DOD equipment.

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

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the proceedings had during the recess be printed in the Record.

Mr. Speaker, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh eloquently expressed today that the people of United States and the people of India have much in common. Our nations face the challenges of national security and the global war on terror, enjoy the fruits of economic opportunities, and share a deep passion for democracy. The bonds of cooperation between America, the oldest democracy, and India, the largest democracy, grow stronger every day. Our relationship has never been better.

Yesterday, President Bush and Prime Minister Singh issued a joint statement listing 16 programs that will strengthen the strategic partnership between the United States and India. Our continued efforts will provide stability, democracy, prosperity, and peace in our homes and throughout the world.

My home State of South Carolina is home to thousands of Indian Americans who have quickly assimilated as business, medical, and academic leaders. I learned from my father, who served in India during World War II, that Indians are guided by their strong work ethic and ingenuity. They are dynamic civic leaders of Rotary and chambers of commerce with children who excel with the highest SAT scores. As their representative and friend, I am grateful the India-U.S. friendship has never been stronger.

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

Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 386 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

personal explanation

Mr. Speaker, though the triumphs go largely unreported by the media, our men and women in uniform and the Iraqi people are making tremendous progress every day in Iraq. An example is the Army Corps of Engineers is currently building 150 new primary health care facilities that will provide Iraqis with basic medical care, maternity and emergency services, and medical training. As families throughout Iraq welcome these facilities to their communities, our troops know they are greatly improving the lives of the Iraqi citizens. As a 31-year veteran of the National Guard with a son who has served a year in Iraq and two additional sons in the military, I know firsthand of the military's competence and success.

Last month I along with the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Green) and over 118 other Members established the Victory in Iraq Caucus to ensure that more people are aware of the great achievements which protect American families. Today, the caucus announced a weekly e-mail service that will deliver the good news from Iraq. As our soldiers continue to fulfill their mission, we applaud them on the path to victory to win the war on terrorism.

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

Mr. Speaker, Fridays are turning out to be a great day for American workers for more than one reason. Last Friday, the Department of Labor announced that over 146,000 new jobs were created for American workers in June. Over the last 25 consecutive months, 3.7 million Americans have gone to work due to President Bush's tax cuts. Additionally, the national unemployment rate has dropped over the past year to 5 percent, which represents the fastest decline in nearly a decade. More Americans are working now than ever before in our Nation's history and our tax receipts continue to rise as the Federal deficit continues to steadily decline. The Congressional Budget Office now predicts that our deficit may fall to under $325 billion. Friday's job reports continue to bring positive news for American families and prove that President Bush's tax cuts are moving the economy forward.

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

Mr. Speaker, I conclude every floor speech with the reminder, ``God bless our troops and we will never forget September 11,'' because I strongly believe that we must remember the lessons of that tragic day to protect American families.

After witnessing a handful of terrorists murder thousands of innocent Americans, our Nation immediately took action to defeat terrorism at home and abroad. Yesterday, I observed hundreds of terrorists now detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and witnessed the tremendous progress our Nation is making in defending our freedom and defeating terrorism.

Last week's brutal attacks on the streets of London demonstrated that we must remain on the offensive against terrorists who seek to murder innocent civilians and destroy our way of life. Terrorists who believe they can break our will through cowardly attacks are mistaken. As President Bush said, ``America will not retreat in the face of terrorists and murderers. And neither will the free world.''

In conclusion, God bless our troops; we will never forget September 11 and London's July 7.

Mr. Speaker, my legal career of 25 years was to represent small business owners. And since coming to Congress 3 years ago, I have worked consistently to make it easier for small businesses to grow and succeed in our country. I appreciate the leadership of the chairman, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner), and my next-door neighbor, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood), for their promotion of small businesses.

However, OSHA regulations placed upon our small businesses continue to be among the most complex and difficult legal mandates imposed on employers. The Occupational Safety and Health Small Employer Access to Justice Act is a vital piece of legislation that significantly reduces burdensome government regulations. H.R. 742 levels the playing field for small businesses and encourages OSHA to better assess the merits of a case before bringing unnecessary enforcement actions to court against small businesses.

By passing this vital legislation, Congress will enhance fairness for employers, especially small businesses; and give them new tools to defend themselves against OSHA citations they believe are unjustified. Small businesses provide, in the district I represent, 99 percent of businesses, creating 85 percent of jobs for working people; and Congress should act now to help them succeed.

As a member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and cosponsor of the four bills today, I have been honored to work with Chairman Boehner and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood). I applaud their efforts to provide commonsense legislation that will reduce the burden placed upon America's small business owners.

I urge my colleagues to support OSHA reform, H.R. 742.

Madam Speaker, this weekend I joined a bipartisan delegation to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba led by the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), House Committee on Armed Services chairman. We were all impressed by the professionals serving at Guantanamo and their commitment to maintaining a humane detention facility for hard core killers.

The patriotic U.S. soldiers protecting America's families are successors to the 132nd Military Police Company of the South Carolina Army National Guard. Commanded by Major Brian Pitts, the 132nd served with distinction from September, 2002, through September, 2003.

Upon their return, the media reported that Major Pitts summarized his service when he stated: ``Our goal was to treat the detainees well, and hope that if we were detained, that we would be treated as well.''

Guantanamo should be kept open as a symbol of America's resolve to win the war on terrorism. Ten released detainees have already resumed their horrific efforts to kill Americans, and further releases must be subject to administrative review.

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

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, I was grateful to join a 16 member delegation led by the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), the Committee on Armed Services chairman, to view the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

In the extensive briefings by Brigadier General Jay Hood with representatives of JAG, Naval medicine, the FBI, and interrogators, I am convinced we have patriotic professionals conducting a humane mission to protect American families in the war on terrorism. The detainees' meal was as good as any I had in my 31 years of Army Guard service, and I can see why the prisoners this year gained 5 pounds over last year.

I urge all of my colleagues to visit the base to learn firsthand of the hard-core killers who are detained as interrogation proceeds to secure intelligence on terrorist cells. Not a single life has been lost at Guantanamo, but thousands of lives have been saved in the Middle East, Europe and America because of information which enables terrorists to be arrested before they murder at random.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the South Carolina delegation to the 2005 YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs. The Youth Conference on National Affairs brings together some of the best and brightest students from across the country. YMCA Youth and Government seeks to teach teenagers the process of learning about government through hands-on experiences and in-depth learning at state conferences throughout the country.

The YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs will be held the first week of July in Black Mountain, NC, and I am proud of each and everyone of the delegates that will be representing the Palmetto State.

Viki Alvarez--Riverside High School, Greer.

Dustin Atkins--Liberty High School, Liberty.

Morgan Bauserman--Riverside High School, Greer.

Martha Bordogna--Spartanburg High School, Spartanburg.

Lucy Bullock--AC Flora High School, Columbia.

Stephanie Dunaway--Riverside High School, Greer.

Jason Hill--Riverside High School, Greer.

Stephanie Hoo--Southside High School, Greenville.

Samantha Jaeger--Riverside High School, Greer.

Quentin James--Mauldin High School, Mauldin.

Hart Moede--Wren High School, Powdersville.

Leah Nakom--Spartanburg Day School, Spartanburg.

Eric Novak--Porter-Gaud School, Charleston.

Megan Novak--Mauldin High School, Mauldin.

Niti Parthasarathy--Governor's School for the Arts,

Greenville.

Asha Purohit--Porter-Gaud School, Charleston.

Dave Raheja--Riverside High School, Greer.

Paul Richardson--Spartanburg High School, Spartanburg.

Monica Ryskamp--Riverside High School, Greer.

Rebecca Street--DW Daniel High School, Clemson.

Meg Turlington--Southside High School, Greenville.

Kyle Warren--Greenville High School, Greenville.

Kyle Williams--AC Flora High School, Columbia

I wish the delegates all the best for a great conference, and continue to thank them for their keen interest in improving our government and public service.

Mr. Speaker, President Bush and Republicans are working hard to protect Social Security for today's retirees and strengthen the program for future generations. This week Republicans offered several positive proposals that will help solve the problems plaguing Social Security.

However, to ensure that we find a lasting solution, Democrats should join us at the negotiating table. On Wednesday, The Washington Post editorial page questioned: ``Democrats need to ask themselves, now what? Is it enough to keep sticking their fingers in their ears while saying no? Failing to act now will make the problem harder to fix down the road. Cuts or tax increases will have to be steeper the longer the problem goes unaddressed.''

President Bush has invited Democrats to share their ideas on Social Security, but unfortunately his request has been met with silence or obstruction. While inaction may be politically safe, it does not help the millions of Americans who rely on Social Security.

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

Mr. Speaker, more than 40,000 business and professional leaders from 150 countries have come together this week to attend Rotary International's Centennial Convention led by President Glenn Estess, Sr., in Chicago.

During their first 100 years, Rotary International grew from a small club established by Paul Harris in Chicago to a diverse international network of community volunteers who are dedicated to building peace and goodwill in the world. Today, approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 32,000 Rotary Clubs in 161 countries.

Rotarians are carrying out humanitarian projects in their own neighborhoods, promoting youth exchanges, and raising money to eradicate polio worldwide.

As a former Rotary Club president, I am proud to recognize the organization's distinguished record of volunteerism and thank all Rotarians who contribute to the success of this vital organization. I also appreciate my district director, Butch Wallace, as president of the West Metro Rotary Club; and my chief of staff, Eric Dell, as president of the Capitol Hill Rotary Club.

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