Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise the works of one of South Carolina's outstanding legal minds, Harvey L. Golden, who celebrates 50 years of practicing family law this month. I am proud to call Harvey a good friend, a fellow member of the Bar of South Carolina, and I ask all of my colleagues to join me in honoring his lifetime of hard work and service in the law profession.

I ask that the following information on Harvey's life and achievements be added into the official record.

Harvey Laurance Golden was born in Brooklyn, New York,

October 15, 1929, the only child of Gertrude Dribbon Golden

who had, come to this Country from Manchester, England, and

Irvin (Jack) Golden who was born in New York. When Harvey was

four years old, his mother, father and he moved from Brooklyn

to Hartford, Connecticut, where his father spent World War II

working at the Colt Firearms factory and, subsequently,

became a supervisor in Pratt and Whitney Aircraft factory. In

Hartford, his mother became a buyer for Brown and Thompson

Department Store. In Hartford, Harvey attended the Vine

Street School and subsequently Jones Jr. High School.

Whereupon the family moved to Columbia, South Carolina, after

a brief summer in Augusta, Georgia. In Columbia, he attended

Columbia High School and became Business Manager of the

school newspaper, ``High Life'' and became active in the high

school debate team. Harvey was also active in the drama club

and chorus.

While in Columbia, Harvey and some of his best friends

joined the S.C. Air National Guard in 1948 and when the

Korean war began, he turned down a college deferment when his

S.C. Guard unit was federalized. The South Carolina Guard was

the first guard unit in the country to be nationalized and he

was the first guardsman in Korea and one month later was

promoted to Sergeant. He spent two years as a Weapons

Specialist in charge of the 157th Fighter Bomber Squadron

Armament, including napalm, bombs, rockets, machine guns and

small arms. This work was accomplished on F-51 aircraft that

had already been sent to the war zone and had SCANG scrubbed

from the side of the planes. These were the same aircraft on

which Sgt. Golden had been working back at Congaree Air Base

in Columbia. Upon returning to Columbia he was hospitalized

in the Columbia VA Hospital for three months and released.

Whereupon, he approached Dean Sam Prince of the USC Law

School requesting special dispensation to be allowed to

attend law school without vacation and thus be able to

graduate in two years rather then three or two and a half.

The Dean grudgingly allowed him to become the first student

to petition the law school to enter and while in law school

he was awarded membership in Wig and Robe Honor Society,

having begun in September 1952 and finished in September,

1954 with only one grade below a B. He was also elected by

the faculty and editorial board as Editor-in-Chief of the

South Carolina Law Review. He had already been elected

president of his fraternity. After graduation, he had become

very active in the University Theatre and had played many

roles there as well as in Town Theatre and later he founded

the Workshop Theatre and Columbia City Ballet as he began the

practice of law. After law school, he practiced with Edens

and Woodward and then Isadore Lourie, the late legendary

State Senator, joined him as Golden and Lourie for the next

four years.

On July 15, 1962, he married Heide Engelhart and they are

the proud parents of three children and two grand children.

Mr. Speaker, as a 31-year veteran of the Army National Guard and the parent of 3 children serving in the military, including a son in Iraq, I am glad to report our troops are clearly supporting the reelection of President Bush. According to the independent Army Times, America's troops are voting today for President Bush by a margin of over 4 to 1.

Our troops know firsthand President Bush is courageously leading the successful fight against the terrorists on the global war on terrorism. He is the commander-in-chief to trust with their lives. American service members know in a time of war, we need a clear message to the murderers of children. President Bush has a hopeful vision of victory established by our competent troops who have liberated over 50 million people from Afghanistan to Iraq.

In my three visits to Iraq, I have seen and met the new greatest generation who are making history for democracy. President Bush clearly understands with our troops that the best way to protect American families is to take the war to the terrorists. We must fight at the source to reduce the potential for warfare in the streets of America.

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

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from California for yielding me this time and, indeed, I am on the Committee on Armed Services, and very grateful to be serving on the Committee. At this time, I would like to take the opportunity to speak in strong support of H.R. 10, the 9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act.

Mr. Chairman, the House Committee on Armed Services, under the leadership of our chairman, the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), was tasked with the consideration of title I of this measure. We had hearings during the break in August. We had a great deal of input from so many different people. This was an open process, and we achieved, I think, a great deal.

I particularly note we achieved the creation of a National Intelligence Director separate from the director of the CIA. This legislation creates a National Counterterrorism Center within the Office of the National Intelligence Director to integrate all Federal agencies that deal with intelligence services. There are 15 that need to be coordinated.

The Committee on Armed Services considered all the recommendations, and were careful to ensure we were strengthening our national intelligence infrastructure, particularly with respect to the men and women in uniform. The Department of Defense operates the majority of national intelligence capability and uses those assets to support troops engaged in combat in addition to supporting the director of the CIA. It is critical that the Department of Defense maintain the ability to provide the best intelligence directly to our troops on the ground as they wage the war on terrorism.

The Committee on Armed Services, as you heard, 59 to nothing, approved this unanimously in committee. As the father of three sons currently serving in the military, I want to thank again Chairman Hunter for his leadership on behalf of our troops. He has a special insight, in that our chairman is a veteran himself, and his son has just returned from distinguished service with the U.S. Marines in Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, last night, Americans saw the choice of Dick Cheney and John Edwards. It is being debated now who prevailed.

Where people know John Edwards best, his and my home, birth State of South Carolina and his home State of North Carolina, the people are overwhelmingly supporting Dick Cheney to continue his service with President Bush to best protect American families in the war on terrorism.

Senator Kerry has a 20-year record in the Senate of voting against every major weapons system that won the Cold War and that our troops are using today. Senator Kerry has proposed budget cuts in intelligence even after the first World Trade Center bombing. He voted against the first Gulf War; he voted for the current war in Iraq and then against the funding to give our troops the body armor needed to fight the war. This is not the kind of record Americans expect in a commander in chief.

President Bush and Vice President Cheney have a strong and clear record of leading our Nation in the war on terror. President Bush has shown he will take the fight to the terrorists wherever they are, protecting American families from future terror attacks here at home.

In conclusion, may God bless our troops. We will never forget September 11.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5186, the Taxpayer-Teacher Protection Act. In doing so, I'd like to thank Chairmen Boehner and McKeon for their leadership on this issue, supported by Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

H.R. 5186 moves efficiently and effectively to end unfair subsidies for lenders in the student loan program and redirects those funds to assist the teachers of this country. What could be better? While it took some time for my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to agree with us on the need to stop the excess subsidies for student loan providers, I'm confident that today, we all recognize the importance of the measure before us. I'm also certain they agree with us on the need to assist teachers, given their past votes of overwhelming support on similar teacher loan forgiveness bills.

This bill is straightforward and increases the amount of loan forgiveness for secondary math and science teachers and for K-12 special education teachers to a maximum of $17,500 from the $5,000 currently provided in the Higher Education Act for all teachers in high-poverty schools.

This bill is similar to legislation I introduced, H.R. 438, which passed the House with strong bipartisan support by a margin of 417-7 on July 9, 2003.

The purpose of the bill is to ensure our future workforce is scientifically literate and competent, skills that the Committee for Economic Development and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers have identified as keys to our country's ability to compete in the global marketplace. Unfortunately, our high school students consistently test toward the bottom in math and science compared to the rest of the world.

Teachers working in schools that face the greatest difficulty in recruiting math, science and special-ed teachers will be eligible for the increased amount of loan forgiveness after teaching for five years. This commitment to these schools and the students they serve is well worth the recognition and support of this Congress. To further assist children in low-income schools, eligible teachers must be highly qualified as required by the No Child Left Behind Act.

I look forward to the day when a group of math, science and special- ed teachers begins teaching in our Nation's neediest schools inspired by the incentives of this bill. Those teachers will clearly know they are part of a national program designed to ensure all American children are equipped with the life skills necessary to contribute and succeed in a technologically driven world economy.

The goal with this bill, and the bill I was proud to sponsor earlier in this session, is to ensure our Nation remains a competitive force in the world. I hope a secondary effect will be to send a strong signal that America honors and respects those who accept the calling to teach. I am proud that my wife Roxanne has been a teacher in Lexington County encouraging young people to reach their highest fulfillment. This bill provides a common sense solution that shuts down excess profits for loan providers, and directs the resources to one of our Nation's most valuable resources--teachers, professional educators who make a difference in children's lives.

I urge my colleagues to support passage of H.R. 5186.

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank you for all of your efforts in bringing forward this very important piece of legislation. It will serve to provide a much-needed benefit to highly qualified teachers teaching in title I schools. The benefits provided in this legislation will increase loan forgiveness for those teachers in the high shortage subject areas of math, science and special education. In addition to the important role that special education teachers play in the lives of students with disabilities, I would also like to recognize the importance of the many related service providers that help children with disabilities every day. Speech-language pathologists and audiologists provide the single largest component of related services under IDEA and are key to providing a quality education to children with disabilities. A number of independent studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Education and other organizations have concluded that we must do more to attract people into these professions, or we will be faced with a chronic shortage of such personnel in our schools within the next decade. I am pleased with the efforts we are making today to address these shortages, and I look forward to working with you in the future to do even more.

Mr. Speaker, President George W. Bush has led our Nation in the global war on terror with consistent strength and courage. After thousands of innocent Americans were murdered on September 11, he understood the nature of the terrorist threat and immediately went on the offensive to protect American families.

The Democratic Presidential nominee, John Kerry, has proven he has a September 10 approach. When asked what he would do about the war on terror, Kerry said America should hold summits and must pass a global test before defending the American people. This is a mixed message that will do nothing to deter terrorists.

Under President Bush's leadership, America has liberated 50 million people from terrorist-sponsoring regimes in Afghanistan and Iraq, captured or killed hundreds of terrorists, formed a new Department of Homeland Security, initiated training of Iraqi police and military, and stopped the flow of millions of dollars in terrorist funding. President Bush has proven he is the right leader to win the war on terrorism by making courageous decisions to protect American families.

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

Mr. Speaker, the bill we are voting on today has been used by Democrats to scare young voters and their parents with the lie of an impending draft.

As a retired veteran of 31 years' service in the Army National Guard, with three sons serving today in the military, including one serving in Iraq, I agree with the Newsweek magazine expose of October 12 which discredits the rumor has having no basis in fact. Crying wolf about the need for a draft causes doubt about the ability of our Armed Forces and hurts our morale and recruitment.

I urge all of my colleagues to vote against H.R. 163 and end this false rumor.

Mr. Speaker, the bill we are voting on today has been used by Democrats to scare young voters and their parents with the lie of an impending draft.

In South Carolina, the Democratic Party sent out a

despicable campaign letter, disguised as a draft notice. The

Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerry speaks

disingenuously about a ``back door draft.'' He has said to

elect him President because he ``will give us a foreign

policy that absolutely makes it unnecessary to have a

draft.'' Democrats' false rhetoric has helped fuel a

nationwide scare campaign.

As a retired veteran of 31 years service in the Army National Guard, and with three sons today in the military, one of whom is serving in Iraq, I agree with the Newsweek magazine's expose (Oct. 12th) which discredited the rumors as having no basis in fact. Crying wolf about the need for a draft causes doubt about the ability of our Armed Forces, and hurts our morale and recruitment.

Let's be clear. The all-volunteer American military is succeeding in the War on Terror, and retention remains high. We have the best- trained, best-equipped, most competent military in history. We have a new greatest generation that I have visited three times in Iraq who are dedicated patriots protecting American families by taking the war to the terrorists. There is absolutely no need for a draft. Not one person in the executive branch supports or has talked about reinstating the draft.

Clearly, by resorting to the politics of fear, Kerry and the Democrats have no positive agenda for America. Americans deserve more. President Bush and Republicans have a proud record of achievement in the last 4 years: of tax relief, better education for our children, improved health care through prescription drug coverage, and a strong national defense against terrorism.

I urge all of my colleagues to vote against H.R. 163, and end this false rumor.

[From Newsweek, Oct. 11, 2004]

The Draft: Rumors, and That's All They Are

For months, Democratic operatives have muttered that news

about a revived military

draft could become the silver bullet that stops President

George W. Bush's re-election campaign. But the White House

and Pentagon emphatically deny any intention to reinstitute

conscription: in the first presidential debate last week,

Bush made sure to include a reference in his closing remarks

to the ``all-volunteer Army.''

Democratic presidential contender John Kerry carefully

limited his debate remarks to a factually supportable charge

that current Bush policies may constitute a ``backdoor

draft'' because some soldiers' tours of duty are being

involuntarily extended. But some Kerry supporters--and

prominent Kerry surrogates--are spreading more alarming

rumors about a reinstated draft. ``You do not have the draft

hanging over your heads--not yet. But pay attention, boys and

girls, to what you've got going on in Iraq,'' disabled

Vietnam vet and former U.S. Senator Max Cleland, an important

Kerry backer, recently told a student audience. At the

University of Colorado-Boulder last week, cafeteria tables

were littered with cards signed by self-described Students

for Kerry, warning YOU'RE GONNA GET DRAFTED. (In an ``open

letter'' to America's students, independent candidate Ralph

Nader recently claimed the ``machinery for drafting a new

genration of young Americans is being quietly put into

place.'') The most explicit claims about a Bush plan to

revive conscription have come from onetime Kerry rival Howard

Dean, who charged in a recent newspaper column that draft

boards ``have already been notified that 20-year-olds and

medical personnel will be called up first.'' Laura Gross,

Dean's spokeswoman, says Dean spoke with two draft-board

officials in different parts of the country who told him they

had been ``put on notice there is going to be a draft . . .

Bush has not denied that there's going to be a draft.''

Rumors about a new draft were sparked when a Pentagon Web

site earlier this year posted a solicitation for volunteers

to man local draft boards. But officials say the ad has

appeared every year since 2001, and didn't signal a plan to

reactivate the draft. Two bills in Congress propose reviving

conscription, but both were introduced by anti-Iraq-war

Democrats to highlight the fact that the burden of military

service falls disproportionally on poor people. The bills

have no chance of approval. Selective Service spokesman Dan

Amon says he has fielded ``hundreds'' of calls about the

possibility of a renewed draft, which he calls an ``urban

legend . . . If the White House is planning a draft, you'd

think they might have told us about it.'' The uniformed

military are among the last people who want to see the draft

revived. While U.S. forces are stretched by current

commitments--including Iraq--Army leaders don't want a draft,

don't think they need one and recognize that, politically, it

would be virtually impossible. Two-year waves of unwilling,

unskilled soldiers would contribute little except, the brass

fear, the same discipline problems the Army spent years

purging after Vietnam. Army lobby spokesman John Grady says:

``Nobody wants to go there again.''

Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my strong support for H. Con. Res. 501, which honors the life and work of Duke Ellington and recognizes the 30th Anniversary of Duke Ellington School of the Arts. I add further that the Duke Ellington School is where the Washington DC Satirical Group, the theater troupe Hexagon, performs every year to raise funds for local charities. Over the last 17 years many members of Congress have performed in the annual ``Congress Goes to Hexagon'' Night, organized each year by Skip Maraney, of the National Star Route Mail Contractors Association. Hexagon Inc is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year.

Mr. Speaker, a historic meeting took place this past Friday in New York City between Indian Prime Minister Singh and Pakistani President Musharraf. This was an important step toward bringing about a peaceful ending to disputes over Kashmir and fears of nuclear conflict in the region.

Both India and Pakistan have been strong allies of the United States in the war on terror and Secretary of State Colin Powell should be thanked for playing a significant role in bringing these leaders together. This is the latest example of positive progress in South Asia and the Middle East, thanks to the leadership and support of President George W. Bush and his administration.

This month the world's largest Muslim nation, Indonesia, had its first direct democratic election of a president, and earlier this year Libya voluntarily gave up its program to develop weapons of mass destruction. Additionally, millions of Muslims have been liberated by coalition forces from brutal regimes in Afghanistan and Iraq and now will build a civil society which protects American families.

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

Mr. Speaker, last week Indonesians voted directly for the first time to elect their new president. The Charleston Post

and Courier reported this marked ``a milestone on the road to democracy for the world's most populous Muslim nation.'' Both competing candidates were pro-American in the global war on terror.

This historic election is another nail in the coffin of the lie that Muslim nations cannot become democracies. India, the world's largest democracy, has over 200 million Muslims. In Afghanistan, 10 million have registered to vote, despite threats from remnants of the Taliban and al Qaeda. The same will happen in Iraq.

As Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said to the defeatists last week in this room, ``Above all, they risk underestimating the courage, determination of the Iraqi people to embrace democracy, peace and freedom, for the dreams of our families are the same as the families here in America and around the world.''

Freedom and democracy are on the march throughout the Muslim world, and they are the greatest threat to the dark plans of terrorists who want to destroy American families.

In conclusion, may God bless our troops. We will never forget September 11.

Mr. Speaker, it is vitally important that our children have an understanding of the fundamental principles and values of our constitutional democracy.

Last September, the first annual Congressional Conference on Civic Education was held. The conference was

sponsored by the Alliance For Representative Democracy and co-hosted by the four leaders of the U.S. Congress.

The conference established State delegations that returned to their States to advocate for better civic education. I would like to recognize Cindy Coker and Paul Horne, the facilitators of the South Carolina action team, for their efforts to improve civic education in South Carolina in the tradition of Sara Bookhart at the High School of Charleston in 1964.

The South Carolina action team activities include advocating civic education programs and curricula, hosting a conference on the civic mission of schools, participating in the review of social studies standards, which includes civic education, and providing input on the value of civic education on the State's school report card.

I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking all of the participants of the Congressional Conference on Civic Education and wishing them further success during their next conference in December.

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

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Donald R. Manuel has distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious achievements in public service to this Nation by serving the United States Army for over 39 years. After being drafted in 1964, Mr. Manuel received his commission as a Second Lieutenant, Field Artillery. Demonstrating keen expertise and artillery skills, he moved through various positions in the units at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and the US Army Engineer Supply Center, St. Louis, Missouri.

In 1968, Mr. Manuel began his superior career as a United States Army Civilian employee as Program Manager for Value Engineering, Methods and Standards, and Commercial Activities. Because of his demonstrated abilities, in 1980 he was moved to his current position as the Assistant for General Engineering in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations and Housing), Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations and Environment). Currently Mr. Manuel is the Army's primary policy person dealing with base closure and realignment actions.

Throughout his career, Mr. Manuel has provided outstanding leadership, advice, and sound professional judgment on significant issues that affected both the Army and the Congress. His actions and counsel were invaluable to Army leaders and Members of Congress as they considered the impact of important issues. Mr. Manuel's dedication to accomplishing the Army's mission has been extraordinary. He has been a truly outstanding career civil servant and will be missed by the United States Army.

Mr. Speaker, for the last 10 years, the House Republican majority has built a proud and positive record that has improved the lives of American families. In 1994, Republicans were overwhelmingly elected to bring leadership and accountability to Washington. Republicans had a clear vision to restore fiscal responsibility, rebuild our defense and intelligence, and create jobs through relieving the tax burden and reforming welfare, improving education for our children, protecting the lives of the unborn and the sanctity of marriage, and leading with honesty and integrity.

In the last 10 years, the stock market has more than doubled in value. Poverty has decreased. Unemployment has

declined. And household income has risen substantially. We have reformed welfare, passed the Defense of Marriage Act and promoted quality education in our schools, fulfilling the Reagan revolution.

As a lifelong member of the Republican Party, I have never been prouder of our party. Under the leadership of our Speaker, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert); our majority leader, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay); the chairman of the Republican Conference, the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Pryce); and our majority whip, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), working with President George Bush, this team will continue to promote America's families.

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

Mr. Speaker, yesterday President George W. Bush praised the valor of guardsmen and reservists fighting to win the War on Terror. President Bush is the 19th former guardsman to be president and he rightly pointed out that the National Guard is America's oldest fighting force. The Guard has played a vital role in all of our major conflicts, and especially in recent decades fighting in Vietnam, the Gulf War, and the War on Terror.

The Guard is also called on in times of national emergency to provide invaluable support to local authorities. After the attacks of September 11th, thousands of Guardsmen across the country voluntarily stepped forward to help. When hurricanes strike our shores, it is the Guard that provides necessary communications and rescue services.

As a proud 31-year veteran of the South Carolina Army National Guard, with two sons in the Guard one of whom is serving in Iraq, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in thanking all of the men and women serving in the Guard and Reserves today for protecting American families in the War on Terror.

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

Mr. Chairman, I congratulate the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito) for her leadership on this amendment, and include my prepared remarks for the Record.

I would like to point out that we appreciate the expertise and competence of the employees of the IRS, and I am happy to be here to support the gentlewoman's amendment which reaffirms our faith in these Federal employees.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Capito amendment to H.R. 5025. Under the proposed authority granted to the IRS in the FSC/ETI legislation to ``contract out'' Federal tax collections, the Federal Government is held harmless for any violations committed by contractors. Specifically, the legislation states:

``No Federal Liability.--The United States shall not be

liable for any act or omission of any person performing

services under a qualified collection contract.'' (section

6306(d) of H.R. 4520)

While the government can write contracts prescribing certain actions by contractors or their employees, the IRS does not have adequate contract oversight capabilities to ensure compliance. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) as recently as March, 2004 found that ``. . . a contractor's employees committed numerous security violations that placed IRS equipment and taxpayer data at risk. In some cases, contractors blatantly circumvented IRS policies and procedures even when security personnel identified inappropriate practices.'' (TIGTA Audit No. 200320010)

Currently, IRS employees are the only personnel who may contact taxpayers and collect Federal income tax. These individuals are thoroughly trained in all laws and regulations governing the collection of taxes and are held accountable to the people. If IRS personnel commit violations, they are disciplined or terminated and taxpayers may take legal action against the IRS for such abuse.

Under this proposal, the accountability shifts to third-party contractors whose employees may or may not have any specific training and who are motivated by an economic incentive, through a commission based payment, to ``push the envelope''.

Because this proposal was contained in a very complex international tax bill, Members did not have the opportunity to directly consider this significant policy change. The Capito amendment provides Members with the opportunity and I urge all my colleagues to support the amendment.