Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Bradley amendment to H.R. 1815 to postpone the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) recommendations until Congress receives critical reports from the Overseas Basing Commission and the 2005 Quadrennial Defense Review.

Quite simply, this is the wrong process at the wrong time. Even as 100,000 of our men and women are in uniform are serving overseas in the Middle East and our armed services continue to miss their recruiting goals, this Administration has rushed forward with a plan that closes 33 major bases across the country. We should not be closing and consolidating bases and infrastructure here in the states now, when in another 2 years we may be bringing a significant amount of troops and equipment back from Europe and other forward deployed locations and we would have to spend more money again to reopen or recreate space for them.

Since the Pentagon released their recommendations on May 13, the BRAC commission has moved swiftly forward with its job. Yet even as BRAC begins to hold regional hearings and site visits as early as next week, the Pentagon has yet to release the detailed and facility specific information that was used to formulate their recommendations.

The BRAC process has the potential to drastically impact communities surrounding facilities slated for closure or realignment, and it is vital that this process be as open and opaque as possible. However, if the department continues to delay the release of this information, these same communities will be unable to asses or challenge the Pentagon's recommendations in the limited time they have remaining.

Anyone familiar with the 103rd Fighter Wing at Bradley, the Sub base in New London, and the assets both bring to our national defense are at a loss to explain these recommendations. The 103rd calls home an international airport with the capability and resources to host a range of aircraft, large and small--including Air Force One. Yet, the Pentagon apparently deemed Bradley unable to retain their current aircraft or take on more. In New London, one finds incredible and dynamic synergy between the base, the Sub School and an industrial base capable of manufacturing and repairing today's most advanced vessels. Yet, the birthplace of the modem submarine service was unable to garner enough military value points in the Pentagon's review to stay off the BRAC list.

Were other options explored? How did each score in critical evaluation areas? Did the Pentagon accurately asses both bases and their capabilities? Will leaving the state, like several others, without a flying unit affect recruiting and retention for the Air National Guard? These are all questions that hold the key to the future of the ``Flying Yankees'' and the Sub base--questions that cannot be answered until the Pentagon levels with us and countless other bases around the country facing the same delay.

I sincerely hope that there is no agenda behind this delay. But the clock is ticking and deadlines are fast approaching. Next week, four commissioners will visit the New London Submarine base without ever seeing the facility specific data that led to its recommended closure. And, in little over a month, Connecticut will have the opportunity to present its rebuttal to the recommendations to the commission. The submariners, airmen and communities affected deserve the most thorough and extensive review possible because once these recommendations are implemented, they can never be undone.

There is no doubt that Connecticut was hit hard by BRAC, but this is not a political or parochial issue. This is an issue of ensuring the best possible defense of our Nation, and the best possible resources for our men and women in uniform. But neither this Congress, nor the BRAC Commissioners, can make a judicious and thoughtful review of these recommendations with the lack of data and shortened timeframe we now face.

In 2002 I voted in the Armed Services Committee to repeal the BRAC process outright, and again in 2003 to postpone it for 2 more years, because I have felt all along that the process had serious flaws. However, there is still time to put on the brakes before we reach the point of no return. That time is now. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act and H.R. 2520, the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act that we debated earlier today. Both bills would expand stem cell research, which holds tremendous promise to curing and treating some of the most devastating diseases and conditions facing Americans today. This issue is about medical research coupled with high ethical standards and providing hope to those most in need--it should have no role in any party's political agenda.

In 2001, President Bush announced that for the first time federal funds could be used to support limited research on human embryonic stem cells, specifically ``existing stem cell lines where the life and death decision has already been made.'' Under this policy, only 78 embryonic stem cell lines are eligible for use and according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), only 22 of those lines are viable for human research. Since 2001, 128 embryonic stem cell lines have been developed that are ineligible for federally funded research.

Both bills--the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act that would create a new federal program to collect and store umbilical-cord-blood cells and expand the current bone-marrow registry program and the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act that would increase the number of stem cell lines that can be used in federally funded research--establish much-needed ethical standards and expand the possibilities of stem cell research for new treatments and cures.

According to the NIH, in the United States more than 4 million people suffer from Alzheimer's disease; one in every four deaths is from cancer; and every hour of every day, someone is diagnosed with juvenile (type 1) diabetes. These brave individuals battling life-threatening and debilitating diseases are not responsible for policy or debate, but they will be the ones most affected by the outcome of today's vote.

The President was quoted by the Associated Press over the weekend saying, ``I made it very clear to the Congress that the use of federal money, taxpayers' money to promote science which destroys life in order to save life is--I'm against that. And therefore, if the bill does that, I will veto it.'' This legislation will not create life for the purpose of destruction. These bills will expand the scope of research that the Bush Administration has already approved. It is unfortunate President Bush would dash the hopes of so many people looking for medical answers through research.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues join me today in advancing science and supporting H.R. 810. Congress and the Administration must not withdraw from progress, but embrace the immense opportunities that expanded stem cell research can have for the future and wellbeing of our Nation's public health.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak of the inspiration and strength of Ray and Leesa Philippon and their family in confronting the ultimate sacrifice, the loss of their son Lance Corporal Lawrence R. Philippon, who on Mother's Day, May 8, tragically lost his life while serving his country in Iraq. In 2002 Lance Corporal Philippon answered his country's call to service and joined the United States Marine Corps. Again stepping forward for his country, Lance Corporal Philippon came up and gave up his position with the Washington, D.C. Color Guard to become an infantryman with the 3rd Battalion Second Marines deployed to Al Qaim, Iraq.

In the eulogy, Ray Philippon spoke of his son's courage, his ability to overcome life's obstacles, his Forrest Gump-like philosophical manner in dealing with life. He was proud of his family, his fidelity to the Marine Corps, his commanders, his President. He was 22 years old.

Ray Philippon; his daughter, Emilee; and Olivia Lawrence, Larry's fiancee, spoke eloquently and emotionally. How this father, a veteran himself, found the strength and composure to deliver a compelling, humorous, and heartfelt tribute to his son is among the remarkable traits of the human character. He transcended his pain and heartache and credited his strength as coming from his son. He capped his comments with a final salute to his son that left no dry eye in the church.

Reverend Miller quoted Scripture and the New Testament, repeating the refrain: ``No greater love can a man have than to lay down his life for his friends.''

Governor Rell rose and spoke tearfully and with empathy as both a mother and the State's chief executive. Her heartfelt response, her grace veiled only by her tears of motherly sympathy, were equally moving.

As we all pause this Memorial Day to honor the fallen, our hearts are filled with gratitude for those brave soldiers, like Lance Corporal Philippon, who have laid down their lives for their country but also for their families who gave their sons and daughters to military service. In honor of those soldiers and families, I hereby submit for the Record his mother's farewell, a letter Leesa Philippon composed on Mother's Day, the day she learned of her son's death. This letter's sincerity, love, and

implicit truth comes shining through as radiant and bright as her love for her son. I hereby submit this letter for the Record, which reads:

``My Dear Sweet Boy Larry, I know how busy you were on Mother's Day. Your commanding officer's message apologized that mothers may not get a call on their special day. I knew that if you could find a way, you would call. Your voice always calmed my fears. The day passed, and, again, I prayed for your safe return home. I detailed my prayers, trying to think of every danger you might encounter. No IEDs, no enemy mortars, no friendly fire, no disease. And, God, please bring Larry home safe, unharmed and of sound mind and body. But then they came, two Marines marching to my door, carrying a cross that was so very painful to bear.

``Larry, you played such a huge part in our lives. You were a Guidon bearer and team leader all along. You marched through our lives and led us to wonderful places. You imprinted your love on our hearts. It was a joy to watch you grow and play. We laughed endlessly at your antics on and off fields of grass and ice. You led us on an incredible patriotic journey with your badge of courage. We anxiously waited those 13 long weeks of boot camp to pass and we would be able to hold you in our arms again. You conquered Infantry school and you called home every day, keeping us informed from foxholes, rifle ranges, and even bars. I will never forget answering the phone and hearing my 21-year-old son say `Hi, Mommy.' Your daily calls home meant so much to me.

``Marching on, you paraded us through our Nation's capital. You impressed us with your precision and pride. You walked in the sunshine all the way. We watched you soar even higher the day that you waltzed Olivia into our life. She fit so well into our plans, and I knew she would take good care of you. I was happy to share you with her. Then your dream to deploy came true and our hearts with dread. Oh, Larry, how thankful I was to go and see you before you left. That time I spent with you is so precious to me. You introduced me to your Marines. You were always mindful to ask them to curtail their leatherneck language in front of your mom, saying to them, `Hey, this is my mom. Watch your mouth.'

``Then it came time to say good-bye. I prayed, and God graced me with calmness so that I could look you in the eyes. Without a quiver in my voice, I opened my heart and told you how deeply I loved you, how happy I was to be your mother and that I would see you when you came home. Olivia and I stood side by side. We held each other up as we watched the buses filled with courageous and brave Marines drive away. You'll be happy to know that Olivia picked up that Guidon and has called me every day. Oh, dear Larry, no one will ever fill your magic shoes. So many people loved you. It is so evident in these past days. Our home has been filled with love from family, friends, community, and even those we never met. You will continue to guide us into the future of your family. We must regroup and, as we learned entering the Marine Corps, `adapt and overcome; we thank God for your presence in all our lives. He is working so faithfully to turn the evil that took you away from us into everlasting love. Your flag will continue to wave in our hearts. We proudly stand and watch you lead your fallen comrades to the Gates of Heaven.

``Look for me when I get there, and we will walk hand in hand together again.

``Semper Fi, love always, Mom.''

Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit this statement for the record and regret that I could not be present today, Thursday, May 19, 2005 to vote on rollcall votes Nos. 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198 and 199 due to family medical emergency.

Had I been present, I would have voted: ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 190 on calling the previous question on H. Res. 287--The rule providing for consideration of H.R. 2361--Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2006; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 191 on an amendment to H.R. 2361 to increase funding for Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) by $4,800,000 and to reduce funding to the National Endowment for the Arts; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 192 on amendments en bloc to H.R. 2361 to insert ``oil'' after ``offshore'' on page 53, line 12 strike ``and natural gas'' on page 53, line 20 and to strike ``and natural gas'' on page 54 line 3; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 193 on an amendment to H.R. 2361 to reduce funding for the Environmental Protection Agency--Science and Technology by $130 million and to increase funding for the Environmental Protection Agency--Hazardous Substance Superfund by $130 million; ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 194 on an amendment to H.R. 2361 to increase funding in the Clean Water State Revolving Fund by $100 million; ``no'' on

rollcall vote No. 195 on an amendment to H.R. 2361 to increase funding for Wildland Management by $27,500,000, to increase funding for hazardous fuels reduction activities and to reduce funding for the National Endowment for the Arts--Grants and Administration by $30 million; ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 196 on an amendment to H.R. 2361 to prohibit the use of funds from being made available for the selling or slaughter of wild free-roaming horses and burros; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 197 on an amendment to H.R. 2361 to reduce total appropriations in the bill by $261,591,250; ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 198 on the motion to recommit H.R. 2361 to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; and ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 199 on passage of H.R. 2361--Department of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2006.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit this statement for the Record and regret that I could not be present today, Wednesday, May 18, 2005 to vote on rollcall vote Nos. 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188 and 189 due to a family medical emergency.

Had I been present, I would have voted: ``No'' on rollcall vote No. 181 on calling the previous question on H. Res. 283--the rule providing for consideration of H.R. 1817--Homeland Security Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 182 on passage of H. Res. 283--the rule providing for consideration of H.R. 1817--Homeland Security Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006; ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 183 on an amendment to H.R. 1817 to increase funding for the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General to $200 million; ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 184 on an amendment to H.R. 1817 to prohibit any of the money in the DHS authorization bill to come from an increase in airline ticket taxes; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 185 on an amendment to H.R. 1817 to clarify the existing authority of State and local enforcement personnel to apprehend, detain, remove, and transport illegal aliens in the routine course of duty, and requires DHS to establish a training manual on this matter and set forth simple guidelines for making that training available; ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 186 on an amendment to H.R. 1817 to call for the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a report to Congress on: the number and types of border violence activities that have occurred; the types of activities involved; a description of the categories of victims that exists; and a description of the steps that DHS is taking and any plan that the Department had formulated to prevent these activities; ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 187 on an amendment to H.R. 1817 in the nature of a substitute to authorize $6.9 billion over H.R. 1817 in homeland security funding and includes a number of policy proposals to close security gaps and to restructure the Department of Homeland Security; ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 188 on the motion to recommit H.R. 1817 to the Committee on Homeland Security; and, ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 189 on passage of H.R. 1817--the Homeland Security Authorization Act for FY 2006.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit this statement for the record and regret that I could not be present today, Tuesday, May 17, 2005, to vote on rollcall vote Nos. 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, and 180 due to a family medical emergency.

Had I been present, I would have voted: ``No'' on rollcall vote No. 174 on Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 278, providing for consideration of H.R. 2360 making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, and for other purposes; ``No'' on rollcall vote No. 175 on Agreeing to the Resolution as Amended on H. Res. 278, providing for consideration of H.R. 2360 making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, and for other purposes; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 176 on an Amendment to H.R. 2360 to increase funding (by transfer) by $50 million to State and local governments for the defense of chemical plants by first responders; ``No'' on rollcall vote No. 177 on an Amendment to H.R. 2360 to prevent the use of funds in contravention of a provision in the illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (PL 104-208) that prevents Federal, State or local government officials from prohibiting or restricting government agencies or officials from sending or receiving information to Federal immigration officials regarding an individual's immigration status; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 178 on an Amendment to H.R. 2360 to insert anew section at the end of the bill to prohibit the use of funds from being used to close any detention facility operated by or on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that has been operational in 2005; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 179 on an Amendment to H.R. 2360 to insert a new section at the end of the bill to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to make grants to assist States in conforming with minimum drivers' license standards by appropriating $100,000,000. For taxpayers with adjusted gross income in excess of $1,000,000, the amount of tax reduction shall be reduced by 1.562 percent; and ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 180 on final passage of H.R. 2360, a bill making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and dedication of an East Hartford legend and community sports leader, the late Ray McKenna. In honor of his memory, I am submitting for the Record a letter to the editor by Don Pitkin in the East Hartford Gazette.

[From the East Hartford Gazette, Mar. 10, 2005]

Letter To the Editor

(By Don Pitkin)

To the Editor: Ray McKenna, the Sports Legend, icon,

humanitarian, and more importantly, the friend we all lost a

week ago. Much has been spoken and chronicled about his many

accomplishments and the giving of himself. Any attempt to try

and say more along those lines would be to repeat what has

already been stated. Now is the time to try and envision what

Ray has been, or is doing, since he left us. It is easily

believed that on his journey to his new ``Burnside,'' he is

thinking of those he will be joining. How many will there be?

What have they been doing? Are there any sports activities

there? It soon became clear what he would do first. He would

look for his old coach and mentor, Mr. John ``Crafty Jack''

McGrath. Once arrived it didn't take long. Everyone knew Mr.

McGrath. After all, the residents in this area all came from

East Hartford. Ray will be surrounded by those he has known

for years. After the greetings and reminiscing is over, Ray

gets right to the point. Are there any sports here? Are there

are athletes from East Hartford around? There are! Who are

they? Will you help me find them? And off Ray went with

Coach. Ray spotted them even before he and Coach got there.

Someone was banging out fly balls for Al Jordan and Johnny

Lichatz to chase down. Then it was a grounder to the left of

Ed Cox at short. The scoop and the toss to Bill Wood at

second and the throw to Long John Gorman at first. It was

wide, but John snared it and made the swipe to tag the

imaginary runner. Over there, isn't that Andy Senicrope

pitching to Bill Luika? Then it was like they were all as one

when they spotted Ray and came to greet him. It was talk,

talk, yak, yak for a while. Ray brought up the subject of

playing as a team. They were all from the 1938 team of East

Hartford High. The only ones missing, Bobby Brown at third

and Pitkin in right. Now the vision changes. It is a month

later. Someone has filled the vacancies and Coach has found

others from his past teams. They are all wearing the knicker

length baseball pants. On the front of their shirts it is

East Hartford, and on the back, Ray's '38 Team. They look

pretty sharp as they work out. Word is that they have joined

the Eastern Division of the newly formed Sky League. Yes! Ray

had an important role in this endeavor. If any of you would

like to see them play their first season, it is quite easy.

Walk out into your yard, tilt your head back and look up into

the blue. Now close your eyes. Did you see that? Loika threw

out the man trying to steal. Just stay like that. This is

only the third inning. There is more coming. You all know the

rest of this vision. Mr. Editor. If you should happy to be in

touch with Ray, please tell him that when I am finished here,

I will join them with glove and shoes in hand. P.S. Good Luck

guys! Thanks, Don Pitkin of East Hartford Note: Don Pitkin is

a graduate of East Hartford High School, Class of 1938. He

and East Hartford Gazette Sports Editor Ray McKenna were

teammates.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit this statement for the record and regret that I could not be present today, Thursday May 12, 2005 to vote on roll-call vote nos. 171, 172 and 173 due to a family medical emergency.

Had I been present, I would have voted: ``yea'' on rollcall vote no. 171 on H.R. 627--to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 40 Putnam Avenue in Hamden, Connecticut, as the ``Linda White-Epps Post Office''; ``yea'' on rollcall vote no. 172 on H. Res. 266--supporting the goals and ideals of Peace Officers Memorial Day; and, ``yea'' on rollcall vote no 173 on H.R. 2107--the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Maintenance Fund Act of 2005.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to submit for the Record this article that appeared in the Hartford Courant on May 9, 2005. It poses the idea of investing the Social Security surplus in the financial markets. The future of Social Security would be addressed through the strength of these markets without the uncertainties of the stability of individual private accounts. The author also addresses some of the concerns that have been raised about this idea.

As you can see, there are many thoughts that can be brought to the table to address the future of Social Security and to utilize the forces of the financial markets without being wedded to private accounts. Additionally, there are many issues surrounding personal retirement savings and pension security that deserve to be looked at carefully.

[From the Hartford Courant, May 10, 2005]

Push-Button Picks Just Too Simple

(By Dan Haar)

The Social Security private accounts tour passed through

Hartford Monday with some downhome remarks from Treasury

Secretary John W. Snow that called to mind H. Ross Perot, who

sounded open-minded but wasn't.

Snow was in town pushing President Bush's scheme to move

much of the Social Security trust fund into private accounts,

where you and I can watch our retirement accounts grow and

wither and maybe grow back again.

The private accounts would cost an estimated $2 trillion to

set up, and they would do nothing on their own to fill the

Social Security shortfall. These are not points of debate.

Still, Snow said, ``I challenge all of our critics to say,

if you think you've got a better idea, what is it?''

He added, echoing Perot without the irony of anatomy,

``We're all ears.''

Well there is a better idea--but sadly, the administration

is all fists in fighting it back. That's because private

accounts are not on the list of features the Bush folks are

willing to do without.

The idea behind the private accounts is that workers could

choose to invest their money in stocks. not just the long-

term bonds the trust fund uses today. Over time, on average,

company shares earn higher returns than bonds. Social

Security could meet its obligations without raising payroll

taxes, and poof! We wipe out much of our $11 trillion

deficit.

If tapping into the stock markets would work in private

accounts. why can't it work for the trust fund as a whole?

Why can't the fund simply set a target of stockownership--

say, 25 percent--and gradually ramp up to that target,

without giving Aunt Martha fits over the state of her

personal account?

The financial results would be identical to Bush's plan.

The start-up cost would be lower because it could be done

over a period of years.

Aunt Martha, who may already have plenty of worries about

her 401(k) and other private savings, could rely on a

predictable stream of retirement income, no matter what--just

like uncle Chester had back in the day.

The fund could achieve returns based on decisions by the

best and brightest financial minds--not the twitches of a

nervous household, multiplied by 100 million.

Last week, a ranking Treasury official told me the problem

is that Social Security would end up meddling in the stock

markets--a dangerous thing if, say, someone in power wanted

to help or hurt General Electric Co.

But that worry is easy to wave off with a pair of laws even

this Congress would pass without much debate: All stocks must

be part of broad index funds, and never could the Social

Security Administration vote in company proxies.

On Monday, Snow produced another answer: Allowing the fund

to invest as a whole in stocks produces a short-term surplus,

``and short-term surpluses become subject to the spending

proclivities of Congress.''

``This,'' Snow said of the private accounts, now echoing Al

Gore, ``is a lock-box.''

It's true that Congress--and our free-spending president,

by the way--have borrowed heavily from today's Social

Security surpluses. But it's hard to believe that federal

spending rises just because the surplus is there. It rises

because we have rising needs, and because the political

system we have causes it to rise.

Anyway, there are better ways to rein in federal spending

than to needlessly take trillions of dollars out of the

system and put them in a place--your hands and mine--where

they will cause new grief. The administration's real goal

here is not to advance Social Security, but to push its

social agenda, the so-called ``ownership society.''

Funny, median family income adjusted for inflation--the

most important measure of how typical Americans are doing--

has fallen three straight years and is headed for a fourth as

Bush showers tax breaks on companies that aren't hiring.

Whose ownership society is this?

Democrats and their allies at AARP in the Social Security

debate have offered little in the way of real solutions. John

Rother, director of policy and strategy for AARP--defending

his hilariously exaggerated, slam-dunk anti-personal account

TV ad campaign--told me the idea of allowing the trust fund

to invest more broadly makes sense.

But he said the public isn't ready for that discussion.

Despite the lack of a cohesive public debate, the trust

fund investment idea may emerge as a dark horse. On Monday,

the Yale School of Management announced a working paper by

finance professor Will Goetzmann that shows exactly how such

a system might work.

Goetzmann envisioned an independent agency, similar to

Fannie Mae, that would manage the Social Security fund. It

could issue its own bonds and sell contracts, like annuities.

It could invest in all sorts of sophisticated instruments

that individual accounts couldn't touch, such as commercial

real estate, commodity indexes and short-term Treasury notes.

Goetzmann calculated a portfolio mix that would most

closely mirror the rise in U.S. wages. That's the measure

Social Security uses to set payouts to retirees.

``It's a fairly broadly diversified portfolio,'' Goetzmann

said Monday.

Setting the right investment mix, he said, ``is a very

sophisticated question that is not going to be answered with

a few oversimplified choices on a menu.''

And getting to that point in the debate will not happen as

long as we have officials on both sides who give us an

oversimplified menu of political arguments, and nothing more.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit this statement for the Record and regret that I could not be present today, Thursday, May 12, 2005, to vote on rollcall vote Nos. 169 and 170 due to a family medical emergency.

Had I been present, I would have voted: ``No'' on rollcall vote No. 169 on an amendment to H.R. 1544 to limit the number of Urban Area Security Initiative grants during any given fiscal year to 50; and ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 170 on passage of H.R. 1544--Faster & Smarter Funding for First Responders Act of 2005.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit this statement for the Record and regret that I could not be present today, Wednesday, May 11, 2005 to vote on rollcall vote Nos. 164, 165, 166, 167 and 168 due to a family medical emergency.

Had I been present, I would have voted: ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 164 on Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 268; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 165--an amendment to H.R. 1279; ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 166--an amendment to H.R. 1279; ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 167 on the Motion to Recommit H.R. 1279 with instructions; and, ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 168 on passage of H.R. 1279--Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act of 2005.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit this statement for the Record and regret that I could not be present today, Tuesday, May 10, 2005, to vote on rollcall vote Nos. 162 and 163 due to a family medical emergency.

Had I been present, I would have voted: ``Yea'' on rollcall vote No. 162 on H. Res. 193--expressing support to the organizers and participants of the historic meeting of the Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba on May 20, 2005, in Havana; ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 163 on H. Res. 142--supporting the goals and ideals of a ``Rotary International Day'' and celebrating and honoring Rotary International on the occasion of its centennial anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit this statement for the Record and regret that I could not be present today, Thursday, May 5, 2005, to vote on rollcall vote Nos. 159, 160, and 161 due to a family medical emergency.

Had I been present, I would have voted: ``No'' on rollcall No. 159 ordering the previous question on H. Res. 258--Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 1268; ``Yea'' on rollcall No. 160 on the motion to recommit the Conference Report for H.R. 1268 to the conference committee with instructions; and, ``Yea'' on rollcall No. 161 on agreeing to the Conference Report for H.R. 1268--Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief Act, 2005.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit this statement for the Record and regret that I could not be present today, Wednesday May 4, 2005 to vote on rollcall vote Nos. 153, 154, 155, 156, 157 and 158 due to a family medical emergency.

Had I been present, I would have voted:

``Yea'' on rollcall vote No. 153 on the motion to recommit H.R. 366 to the Committee on Education and the Workforce;

``Yea'' on rollcall vote No. 154 on final passage of H.R. 366--The Vocational and Technical Education for the Future Act;

``Yea'' on rollcall vote No. 155 on H. Con. Res. 127--Calling on the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to transfer Charles Ghankay Taylor, former President of the Republic of Liberia, to the Special Court for Sierra Leone to be tried for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law;

``Yea'' on rollcall vote No. 156 on H. Res. 195--Recognizing the 60th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day and the Liberation of Western Bohemia;

``Yea'' on rollcall vote No. 157 on H.R. 1185--Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act; and,

``Yea'' on rollcall vote No. 158 on H. Res. 233--Recognizing the 60th anniversary of Victory in Europe (V-E) Day during World War II.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit this statement for the Record and regret that I could not be present today, Tuesday, May 3, 2005 to vote on rollcall vote Nos. 151 and 152 due to a family medical emergency.

Had I been present, I would have voted: ``No'' on rollcall vote No. 151 on the motion to table H. Res. 253, the Conyers Resolution Raising a Question of the Privileges of the House; ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 152 on H. Res. 228--Observing the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Republic of Vietnam to the Communist forces of North Vietnam.