Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 578, I was not present and am not recorded due to a family illness. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 577, I was not present and am not recorded due to a family illness. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 576, I was not present and am not recorded due to a family illness. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 580 I was not present and am not recorded due to a family illness.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 575, I was not present and am not recorded due to a family illness. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 574 I was not present and am not recorded due to a family illness. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 573 I was not present and am not recorded due to a family illness.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 572, I was not present and am not recorded due to a family illness. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 571 I was not present and am not recorded due to a family illness. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 570 I was not present and am not recorded due to a family illness. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 569, I was not present and am not recorded due to a family illness. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of America's bravest, Lance Corporal Irvin Ceniceros of Clarksville, Arkansas, who was taken from us while supporting combat missions in Afghanistan.

After graduating high school in 2007, Lance Corporal Ceniceros enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. Family members say it was the strength and character of the Marines that drew him to serve with the Corps, and his friends and comrades say he was a great machine gunner.

Lance Corporal Ceniceros served with the Marines all across the globe, and less than 2 weeks after arriving in Afghanistan, at the age of 21, he made the ultimate sacrifice for our great Nation.

My prayers and the prayers of the people of Arkansas are with the Ceniceros family. I humbly offer my thanks to Lance Corporal Irvin Ceniceros, a true American hero, for his selfless service to the security and well-being of all Americans.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate the University of the Ozarks for its work with students with special needs.

The Clarksville, Arkansas university earned national attention and was named by Parade Magazine to its ``College A-List'' for its efforts to help college students with learning disabilities.

Established in 1971, the University of the Ozark's Jones Center was one of the first centers in the nation created to assist college students with learning disabilities or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders. The center has a student to faculty rate of 4 to 1 which allows the center to provide students with the best services available so they can achieve the results they are capable of.

Jones Learning Center Director Linda Frost says this recognition confirms the dedication and commitment of staff to providing students with comprehensive support that allow all students to succeed.

This is a great honor for the staff and the students. Having such innovative leaders in the classroom provides an opportunity for all students to get the education they deserve. I am proud of the efforts of the Jones Learning Center and the University of the Ozarks and wish them success in the future as education leaders work to meet the needs of all students. I look forward to recognizing its future successes.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Judge John Scott for his outstanding advocacy of adoption. He is a selfless crusader for children who need a loving home, helping the dream of a family become a reality. Since becoming 19th West Judicial District Circuit Judge in 2001, Judge Scott has heard 578 adoption cases and says successful adoption cases are some of the most rewarding and enjoyable work that he does because the result is a stable and loving environment.

Judge Scott is truly an advocate for adoption, creating a warm and comfortable environment for the adoptive parents, their attorneys and most importantly, the children. Judge Scott has positively influenced many lives through the adoption process and he has helped loving parents bring home deserving children. He is to be commended for his many years of service and passion to placing children in loving homes.

Because of his efforts, I nominated Judge Scott as an Angel for The Angels in Adoption\TM\ program. This program honors outstanding individuals who are dedicated to helping children find permanent, safe and loving homes. Judge Scott is well deserving of this honor and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing his service, dedication and efforts to making adoption possible.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the 100th birthday of Cave Springs, Arkansas.

At the turn of the century Cave Springs was a busy town that centered on commerce and tourism. The town cave and therapeutic waters attracted people who would travel up to two days by horse and carriage just to visit.

Commerce was booming. The town had two hotels, a lumber yard, three churches, a bank, a doctor and dentist's office as well as several other services. Commerce has changed through the years and now revolves mostly around agriculture, but community leaders are just as committed to making it a vibrant area where people want to spend time.

Today Cave Springs is known as the ``Gateway to the Future.'' Those on the way to the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport pass through this small community that still maintains its friendly rural charm where people still say hi to their neighbors.

Mayor Mark Reeves said that's what attracted him to the town in 1982. Since then the population of the community has grown as it is uniquely situated between rural beauty and busy cities that offer a lot of activities.

Congratulations to Cave Springs for 100 amazing years and best of luck on the next 100.