Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today many South Carolinians mourn the loss of Sarge Frye, who died yesterday of heart failure at the age of 90. I ask that his obituary be included in the Record, as printed today in the State newspaper.

[From the State, Sept. 4, 2003]

Columbia.--Mr. Frye died Wednesday, September 3, 2003. Born

in Medon, Tennessee, he was a son of the late Leonard A. Frye

and Pearl Daniel Frye Allin. A combat veteran of World War II

and Korea, he landed at Utah Beach on D-Day. He was decorated

with two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, and Combat Infantry

Badge. He retired in 1953 as a master sergeant after 23 years

of service in the U.S. Army. While serving in the Armed

Forces, Sarge was an outstanding athlete, participating in

basketball, baseball, softball and track as a player and

coach. He met his wife, Ruby, while stationed in Alabama. The

family later moved to Columbia's Fort Jackson, where he was

responsible for athletic facilities. Mrs. Frye died in 1997.

It was in 1953 that he came to work for the University of

South Carolina and was placed in charge of athletic

facilities. His duties were expanded to include supervision

of grounds for the entire university. South Carolina named

its baseball facility, ``Sarge Frye Field'' in 1980 to honor

its groundskeeper. The American Baseball Coaches Association

named Frye National Groundskeeper of the Year in 1993. Sarge

retired in 1977, but continued to supervise operations

through mid-1997. In addition to groundskeeping and

landscaping duties, Sarge operated the game clock for men's

and women's basketball games at the Carolina Coliseum for

many years.

Sarge Frye was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame

and the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame. He was an

honorary member of the USC Association of Lettermen and the

USC Alumni Association.

Surviving are his daughter, Nancy Frye Stiehr of Columbia;

son, Jerry L. Frye and his wife, Jayne, of Greenville;

sister, Norma Pope of Dallas, Texas; brothers, Kenneth Frye

of Jackson, Tenn., Huey Frye of Florida, and Martin Allin of

Boliver, Tenn.; four grandchildren, Jay L. Frye and his wife,

Kim, of Columbia, Mamie Frye Clayton and her husband,

Richard, of Columbia, Debbie Stiehr Smith and her husband,

Allen, of Charlotte, and Eric Stiehr and his wife, Marianne,

of Columbia; and five great-grandchildren, Cole and Tucker

Smith, Mary-Riley, Heyward and Emma Clayton. He was

predeceased by a son-in-law, Pete Stiehr.

Mr. Speaker, September 19, 2003 is National POW-MIA Recognition Day, and I urge my colleagues on that day to take a moment and reflect on the families whose loved one has never returned home.

Our resolve to find our 88,000 MIAs should assure our fighting forces today that our support for them does not end after the victory parades. Let us also remember the more than 140,000 Americans since World War I who have endured the hardships of captivity and made it back home.

Among the missing in action from Vietnam is Air Force Major Harold R. Sale of Lexington, South Carolina, shot down over Laos June 7, 1967. I wore a POW bracelet in his honor for years. I implore the governments of Laos, Vietnam, and North Korea to open their records and fully support our country's recovery efforts.

We continue to need people of character like Harold Sale to serve in our Armed Forces to protect our liberties. Indeed his nephew, Lieutenant Colonel Scott Cromer, continues the family tradition today as an Air Force pilot, displaying the courage of American military personnel.

In conclusion, God bless our troops.

Mr. Speaker, a highlight of the August district work period was to accompany my 15-year-old son Hunter on a 70-mile backpacking trek at the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico.

Philmont is correctly identified as a scouting paradise due to the multitude of camps and breathtaking views of mountain ranges and Southwestern mesas. This 137,000-acre area ecological wonder is the result of its benefactor, the late Waite Phillips, who donated the properties now defined as the world's largest camping organization, staffed by 900 employees for over 25,000 hikers who come annually from every State.

I saw firsthand the accomplishments of dedicated adult volunteers, Mike Apfeld and Jeff Geygan of the Milwaukee County Scout Council, who guided our crew of nine scouts, Crew Leader Brendan Apfeld, Daniel Gerlach, J.P. Geygan, Nicholas Haynes, Michael Mastroianni, Christopher Murphy, Danny Brownfield, John McClellan, Jr., and Hunter Wilson. They achieved climbing the ranch's highest peak on Baldy Mountain of 12,441 feet, encouraged by Ranger Michael Ferrin.

Philmont Scout Ranch is a treasure for all Americans to enjoy, and I urge my colleagues to encourage their scout troops to participate in the exhilarating Philmont experience.

Mr. Speaker, on July 27 we will honor the 50th anniversary of the armistice that ended the fighting of the Korean War. On that day, I encourage all Americans to remember the courageous men and women who sacrificed to prevent the spread of Communism and restore the freedom of South Korea.

I am particularly proud to recognize an event to be held in Lexington, South Carolina, to honor those who served so bravely. Veterans speaking at the event will be E. Pickens Rish, a U.S. Army Ranger from Lexington who was awarded the Purple Heart, and Anthony Forker, a native Korean who served 30 years in the U.S. Army and is currently the President of the Korean Association of Columbia, South Carolina.

As our military continues to fight in the War on Terrorism, we can find inspiration in remembering the Korean War victory over Communism, which reminds us that Americans have a long history of defeating enemies of freedom all over the world. In conclusion, God bless our troops.

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Boehner) for his leadership on improving the educational opportunities for our poorest children and the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle), former Governor of Delaware, for his passion and dedication to this issue.

I strongly support the improvements to the Head Start program and the School Readiness Act as the husband of a school teacher, as a parent, and as a new grandparent since March 14. We cannot allow fear of change to keep children from reaching their full potential. I hope we can all work together to help low-income children to be better prepared to learn as I learned from State superintendent of education Barbara Nielson.

First, the School Readiness Act requires children to be taught early reading, math, and writing skills. It also directs that 50 percent of the Head Start teachers have a 4-year degree by 2008. Second, through an eight-State pilot program, States like South Carolina that already are committed to educating pre-K children will be able to combine efforts with Head Start to maximize resources and experiences to provide comprehensive, coordinated services that must generally meet or exceed Head Start services.

The School Readiness Act does not dismantle Head Start. It reinvigorates and improves it by focusing on academic skills and allowing States to be innovative.

Our military has proven that tactics must be constantly examined and improved to be successful in combat. The School Readiness Act brings this same philosophy to a 40-year program for one purpose: to better prepare our country's poorest children to succeed in schools. I urge my colleagues to vote against the Miller amendment and support the underlying bill.

God bless our troops.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend India on its annual celebration of Independence Day on August 15, 1947. Happy 56th birthday, Republic of India, the world's largest democracy and friend of America, the world's oldest democracy.

On that day, India became a free nation modeling its constitution after our own. For nearly 56 years the people of India have faithfully adhered to democratic principles. During the Cold War we were not allied as closely as we should have been. However, times have changed now. India's economy is rapidly reforming and historic joint military exercises are taking place between our two great nations.

According to Ambassador Lalit Mansingh, trade between India and America soared 20 percent last year. Also, importantly, the Indian American community should be recognized for their leadership, entrepreneurship, family values and faith. Many Indian Americans left their homelands, immediately assimilated and have achieved great success in America. As cochair of the India Caucus I am so proud of this dynamic community in South Carolina and nationwide.

It is my sincerest hope that this new friendship between the United States and India blossoms into a solid, serious relationship between mutual allies.

In conclusion, God bless our troops.

Mr. Speaker, every child should enter school with the basic skills needed for learning. Although Head Start has provided children with satisfactory nutrition and health care, it needs reform to significantly improve in their ability to learn.

As spearheaded by the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner), the School Readiness Act will address this problem in Head Start by increasing academic and teacher requirements, while preserving and strengthening health, nutrition, parental literacy, and family services. Additionally, we are asking for an additional $202 million in funding for fiscal year 2004 for a total of $6.87 billion, an amount that is double the amount in 1996.

A very important part of the School Readiness Act is a pilot program in eight States that would integrate existing State prekindergarten programs with Head Start. I am excited that South Carolina will be eligible to take part, as it will help ensure all children enter kindergarten with the academic tools necessary to succeed.

I urge my colleagues to join me in support of the School Readiness Act.

In conclusion, God bless our troops.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove the following cosponsors from H.R. 2789:

The gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Davis); the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Jenkins); the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown); the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood); the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins); the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter); the gentleman from California (Mr. Cardoza); and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Myrick).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the courage and bravery of a newlywed couple from Greenville, South Carolina. This past Sunday, Walt and Donyelle Wilkins were flying to their honeymoon destination in the Bahamas when their commuter flight crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Abaco Island.

Of the nine passengers and pilot aboard, Diane Parker Diaz of Jacksonville, Florida, and her 3-year-old niece, Dante Parker, did not survive. However, Diaz's two children, Andre Parker Diaz and Elisa Parker Diaz, were saved through the selfless efforts of Walt and Donyelle.

Disregarding immediate personal safety, the Wilkins couple stayed behind and held the children above them in the water as they treaded water for over an hour waiting for rescue.

I ask all of my colleagues to join me in thanking Walt and Donyelle Wilkins for their heroic act, continuing the tradition of the dedicated Wilkins family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those who were involved in the tragic event.

In conclusion, God bless our troops.

Mr. Speaker, I want to praise the strong support from the people of Denmark in the war on terrorism. Denmark has been our ally longer than any other country, with unbroken diplomatic relations going back to 1791. The Danish military was one of our strongest partners in Afghanistan, providing special forces and F- 16 fighter jets and has stood side by side with America in disarming Iraq. Also, the people I represent appreciate the strong maritime trade relationship between South Carolina and Denmark.

I am honored to be a member of the Congressional Friends of Denmark Caucus, which was founded by the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos). Recently, I welcomed to Capitol Hill Denmark's Ambassador to the United States, Ulrik Federspiel, and First Secretary Karen Eva Abrahamsen. I had the opportunity to thank them personally for the courage their country has shown.

I ask all of my colleagues to join me in thanking Denmark for its strong stand with the United States on the war on terrorism.

In conclusion, God bless our troops.

Mr. Speaker, congratulations to Mr. Thomas ``Chip'' Payne and Shannon Payne, on the birth of their daughter, Catherine Anne Payne, on Thursday, July 10th, 2003 at 6:23 a.m. Catherine was born at Columbia's Richland Memorial Hospital weighing 7 pounds and being 19\1/2\ inches in length. I extend my warmest wishes for a successful and happy life who is blessed to have devoted parents.

Mr. Speaker, as one of the greatest honors of representing the Second District of South Carolina, I will soon be in Beaufort, the Palmetto State's second oldest city and the home of Second Congressional District Communications

Director Wesley Denton attending the 48th annual Beaufort County Water Festival. I will join Geordie Madlinger, this year's Commodore, in this historic celebration of South Carolina's Lowcountry, which takes place in Beaufort's Waterfront Park.

Southern hospitality, Lowcountry culture, and family traditions are all on full display at each year's festivities. The Water Festival brings together young and old from all over the Lowcountry to enjoy dances and concerts, fine arts and crafts, an antique show, boat races, sporting events of all kinds, historic home and museum tours, the Blessing of the Fleet, a grand parade and a Lowcountry Supper with fresh local seafood.

Each summer I enjoy spending time at the lemonade social at the home of South Carolina State Representative Catherine Ceips and this year attending the Change of Command Ceremony hosted by Brantley and Helen Harvey. Also, I would like to commend Beaufort Mayor Bill Rauch, Greater Beaufort Chamber of Commerce's Executive Director Libby Barnes, and Beaufort County Council's Vice Chairman Skeet Von Harton for their hard work in making this year's festival a success.

I ask all of my colleagues to join me in wishing the residents of Beaufort County a wonderful 48th Annual Water Festival.

In conclusion, God bless our troops.

Mr. Speaker, during the Fourth of July District Work Period, I attended funerals of heroes of South Carolina who will always be remembered--former First Lady Virginia Russell on June 30, former U.S. Senate President Strom Thurmond on July 1, and Sergeant O.J. Smith on July 2, who served with distinction in Iraq in the War Against Terrorism.

Virginia Russell was special to me as the mother of my State Senate seatmate for 14 years, John Russell. Also in 1962, I met her campaigning for her husband running successfully for Governor while I was delivering the Charleston Evening Post on King Street in Charleston, SC, at Fralix Shoe Shop. She so inspired my political involvement that I contacted Campaign Manager J. Bratton Davis and I served as youth Campaign Manager for Charleston in the June primary.

The following is an article and obituary from the Spartanburg Herald- Journal regarding her death.

[From the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, June 28, 2003]

Donald Russell's Widow Dies

(By Janet S. Spencer)

Former South Carolina first lady Virginia Russell died

Friday at her home on Otis Boulevard after an extended

illness.

Mrs. Russell was the widow of the Honorable Donald S.

Russell who was governor from 1963 to 1965 and then served as

a federal judge.

In addition to numerous contributions to her community and

the dedication to her family, she is remembered for her role

as first lady of the state as well as of the University of

South Carolina when her husband was president there.

While living in the governor's mansion, Mrs. Russell

noticed state seals that had been painted over for many years

on the mantle in a large drawing room.

She is credited with having the seals uncovered and brought

out in gold relief. They remain that way today.

Mrs. Russell also was responsible for first encouraging

tours of the mansion.

Her neighbors, Mary and Thomas Stokes, remember moving to

their new residence in Spartanburg as the youngest couple on

the street and Mrs. Russell opening her home to them.

``She was a genteel Southern lady. I always felt she was so

thoughtful of others from the first time she welcomed us to

her home and the neighborhood,'' Mrs. Stokes said. ``She

always went out of her way to be thoughtful of other

people.''

Stokes agreed with his wife. ``Mrs. Russell was certainly a

lady in the finest tradition of the word,'' he said.

``Mr. and Mrs. Russell were wonderful people.''

John Edmunds, who had been friends with the Russells for 45

years, recalls being a student at USC when the Russells were

there.

Mrs. Russell decorated his fraternity house and invited

every student to dinner their freshman and senior years.

``She loved the university. She was a very brilliant, well-

read woman. She could converse with you on any subject. She

kept up with current events,'' Edmunds said.

After returning to Spartanburg, for many years Edmunds had

dinner weekly with the Russells at the Piedmont Club.

``She was witty and charming. And although she had been in

declining health for some time, I'm gonna miss her,'' Edmunds

said.

For 11 years, Mrs. Russell had also won the hearts of

caregivers who often called her ``pretty lady.''

Martina Smalley is a registered nurse and director of

Professional Nursing Services that provided around-the-clock

care for Mrs. Russell at the Russell residence.

Smalley said she and the three nurses who rotated the

duties were deeply saddened by Mrs. Russell's death.

``She was such a warm and gracious lady. In the 11 years we

were privileged to care for her, we came to love her as if

she were our own mother,'' Smalley said.

Smalley described a mutual strong bond of trust and respect

which she and the nurses shared with Mrs. Russell.

``She was very appreciative of everyone's kindness and

thoughtfulness. She had a way of making everyone feel

special,'' Smalley said.

The caregivers recall how Mrs. Russell eagerly let it be

known how much her husband and family meant to her.

``The saddest time in her life was when she lost her

husband, and the saddest time in all our nursing careers is

the loss of such a grand and gracious lady,'' Smalley said.

Caring for Mrs. Russell was described by Smalley as a once

in a lifetime experience.

``And it's one we will never forget,'' she said.

Among Mrs. Russell's survivors are sons, John of

Spartanburg, Don of Columbia and Scott Russell of Houston,

Texas.

Funeral arrangements will be announced by the Lanford-

Pollard Funeral Home.

Mr. Speaker, I want to express how fortunate I feel today. We have the opportunity to assist an extremely important profession that is often overlooked: teachers. I have seen firsthand the difficulties and challenges these dedicated professionals face since my wife Roxanne is a teacher in Lexington District 2.

Today thanks to the leadership of the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Boehner) of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, the House will vote to increase loan forgiveness to a group of teachers that are desperately needed in our country's rural and urban areas. Math, science and special ed teachers who commit to teach 5 years in a low- income school will receive up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness through H.R. 438, the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Act.

I agree with President Bush that we must ensure all students receive a quality education. I urge my colleagues to support passage of the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Act.

In conclusion, God bless our troops.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to sponsor this important bill that is a product of the President's leadership and dedication to educate all of our country's children. I would like to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner) and the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon), working with the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller), for their leadership and guidance on this issue.

H.R. 438, the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Act, is a straightforward bill which increases the amount of loan forgiveness for secondary math and science teachers and K through 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 qualified schools.

The purpose of this 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 the schools that face the greatest difficulty in recruiting math, science and special ed teachers will be eligible for the increased amount of loan forgiveness. Teachers will begin to receive loan forgiveness after their second year of teaching, with annual payments thereafter. 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 cohort of math, science and special ed teachers begins teaching in our 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.

This bill is a first step to help students teach. It would be great if no teacher had student loans; but those who do have debt, we need to make sure every student loan borrower has a real opportunity to consolidate their loans. Later, during the reauthorization of a different part of the Higher Education Act, we will need to make sure we repeal the single holder rule. It will be part of my commitment to teachers everywhere that they can have the benefit of competition from the more than 1,000 lenders in the program when they consolidate their loans and thus allow them to further reduce their debt burden by taking advantage of historically low, fixed-interest rates.

My goal with this bill 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 want to thank the professionals of the Committee on Education and the Workforce for its hard work to make this bill professional and possible, especially Kathleen Smith, Rick Stombres, Holli Traud, Alison Ream, Jo Marie St. Martin, Kris Ann Pearce and Sally Loverjoy, along with Rachel Post of the gentleman from Michigan's (Mr. Ehlers) office and Laurin Groover, Dino Teppara and Trane McCloud of my office.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 438, the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Act.