Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, Special Libraries Association members are celebrating the organization's centennial celebration. For 100 years, SLA has made it its mission to organize and connect information professionals and their strategic partners. Today I take great pride in recognizing the University of Arkansas' libraries and the resources that they have provided students, professors and researchers year after year. Behind these libraries are the very knowledgeable information professionals.

In particular, I would like to recognize Tony Stankus, a science librarian at the Mullins Library on the University of Arkansas campus. SLA named Tony and five others as a Fellow of the Special Libraries Association. Due to his reputation as a published librarian, Tony and his team were also chosen for the task of naming the top 100 biology and medical journals that were established in the 100 years of the SLA's existence.

Please join me in congratulating Tony Stankus and his colleagues for this great honor.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the manager's amendment to H.R. 466. This bill would add protections against employment discrimination due to continued treatment for a service-connected disability to the Uniform Service Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, or USERRA; and that is the right thing to do.

Those who are seriously injured serving in the Nation's military should not be disadvantaged in the workplace beyond what their injuries have already put upon them; and allowing a reasonable amount of time off from their jobs for continuing service-connected medical treatment is the least thing that we can do. I believe that including them in USERRA is appropriate because it leaves no doubt as to an employer's obligation to service-disabled employees.

I extend my appreciation to the distinguished chairwoman, Ms. Herseth Sandlin, who has worked with us to improve the bill. Together we have clarified issues related to service-connected disability leave as well as other issues such as pension benefits and protections for businesses whose circumstances have changed so significantly that the application of these provisions would impose a serious burden on the employer.

This is a very worthy bill, and we appreciate Mr. Doggett bringing it forward. I would urge my colleagues certainly to support it.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Broun).

Madam Speaker, having no more speakers on the bill, I would like to extend my appreciation once again to Mr. Doggett for bringing the bill forward, to Ms. Herseth Sandlin, Chairman Filner and Ranking Member Buyer for their support and everyone working together to improve the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.

Again, you know where I am at on this bill. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 466, as amended.

I yield back the balance of my time.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of America's bravest, First Sergeant Blue Rowe, who sacrificed his life in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

In 1994, after graduating from Siloam Springs High School, Blue enlisted in the Army. He served honorably all over the world, and earned several military awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal and Posthumous Combat Action Badge, and a Bronze Star.

Blue's family and friends describe him as funny, compassionate, hardworking and 100 percent Arkansan. A lifelong Razorback fan, it wasn't out of the ordinary for Blue to leave Northwest Arkansas with a bag full of new

Razorback gear and show his support for the team while stationed in California.

Blue made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. He is a true American hero.

I ask my colleagues to keep Blue's family and friends in their thoughts and prayers during these very difficult times, and I humbly offer my thanks to Army First Sergeant Blue Rowe for his selfless service to the security and well-being of all Americans.

Madam Speaker, on April 27, 2009, Chairman Skelton and I introduced H. Res. 259 to recognize the members of the United States Armed Forces who participated in the amphibious D-day invasion in Normandy, France and to express the gratitude and appreciation of the House of Representatives for their achievements and acts of heroism.

Madam Speaker, 65 years ago this Saturday marks the 65th anniversary of the beginning of Operation Overlord, commonly referred to as D-day, what would be the largest single amphibious assault in the history of the world.

On June 6, 1944, the supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, said in his official message to the soldiers, sailors and airmen, ``You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave allies and brothers-in-arms on other fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe and security for ourselves in a free world.''

General Eisenhower then went on to express his confidence in their ``courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle,'' reminding our young men that the United States would accept nothing less than full victory.

So these brave and selfless young men, in the face of incredible danger and challenges, assaulted the Atlantic Wall--a series of military fortifications along Normandy's coast that consisted of minefields, bunkers and artillery emplacements. They courageously bombarded these fortifications, parachuted and glided behind enemy lines and stormed the beaches, code named ``Utah,'' ``Omaha,'' ``Juno,'' and ``Sword,'' to break the grip of the Nazi and fascist regimes and to restore the hope of freedom to Europe and to the entire world.

These were young men like combat medic and surgical technician Warren D. Blaylock of Alma, Arkansas, who served in the 67th Evacuation Hospital, which arrived at Utah beach shortly following the initial invasion forces. One of Warren's responsibilities was to seek out suitable places to treat and to care for the wounded--tents, schools, buildings or any other suitable cover that could be found to protect the wounded and other personnel from enemy fire.

In one instance, Warren recalls a situation in which German machine gunfire strafed his immediate area, and he dove into a foxhole. At that same moment, another soldier dove into the

same hole, landing on top of him, angrily cursing the enemy. Warren looked up, and it was none other than his good friend Clovis Bryant from Van Buren, Arkansas, who would later become an Arkansas State senator. Warren would serve in five campaigns during his 2 years in Europe, part of that in support of Patton's 3rd Army into the Bastogne area until he was held behind to care for 23 wounded soldiers, all of whom survived thanks to his direct and excellent care. Warren D. Blaylock received the Bronze Star for his service.

While he is just one of many of Arkansas' native sons who served during this very dangerous time, his story is a testament to their bravery, skill and personal sacrifice in the name of freedom. This resolution honors Warren and all of those who fought to bring peace to Europe.

So I would ask all Members of Congress to take pause this Saturday and to remember the great accomplishment of these servicemembers and what the world might have been if not for the bravery, skill and selfless determination to preserve the universal human right of freedom.

I encourage all of my colleagues to thank those servicemembers on the 65th anniversary of their great endeavor for all of the sacrifices made by them and by their entire generation to secure victory and peace for the freedom-loving people of the world.

I would also like to express my appreciation to Chairman Skelton and to his staff for their assistance in bringing forward this resolution, as well as to Mr. McHugh and to his staff so that we might bring this to the House floor in time to honor these servicemembers prior to the 65th anniversary of this great feat. I strongly encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this resolution.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, on February 25, 2009, I, along with Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, introduced H.R. 1170, which would amend chapter 21 of title 38, United States Code, to establish a grant program to encourage the development of new, assistive technologies for specially adapted housing. H.R. 1170, as amended, would authorize the VA to use up to $2 million per year to provide grants of up to $200,000 to expand research and development in the areas of adaptive technologies that can be used in the VA's Specially Adapted Housing Program.

The goal of VA's specially adapted housing benefit is to enable severely disabled veterans to live in a home with modifications that make daily life and daily living easier--typical adaptations or structural modifications such as ramps, wider halls and doors, grab rails, and lower counters. Yet there are many emerging technologies that lend themselves well to improving the livability of adapted homes. Some examples of possible home modifications are voice recognition and voice-commanded operations, integrated computer-managed functions, alternative human computer interfaces, living environment controls, adaptive feeding equipment, fall prevention devices, and recreation assistance equipment.

Finally, the bill includes a provision that is a result of funding an R&D program. Under this authorization, the VA would retain a 30 percent interest in any patents evolving from the grant.

I truly appreciate Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin in working with me on this very important bipartisan legislation.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, Ms. Herseth Sandlin, committee Chairman Filner, and Ranking Member Steve Buyer for moving this bill forward in a timely manner, as well thanking our staffs. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1170, as amended.

With that, having no other speakers, I yield back my time.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, providing first-class employment services to veterans is the most basic way to ensure they can support themselves and their families, and that is why I rise in strong support of H.R. 1088, the Mandatory Veteran Specialist Training Act of 2009. This measure would amend title 38 of the United States Code to provide for a 1-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by the National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute.

H.R. 1088 was introduced by our distinguished colleague, the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, on February 13, 2009. Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to work with Ms. Herseth Sandlin in the 109th Congress to begin the process of improving the training levels of State and employment service staff. We did that because there was a significant backlog of untrained staff and we needed to give States adequate time to train their veterans' employment staff that were paid for with Federal funds. Together, we passed legislation to require State employment services to send their disabled veterans' outreach program specialists--or DVOPS-- and local veterans' employment representatives through basic job placement training within 3 years.

States have had sufficient time to meet the initial training backlog, and we should now require that employment specialists be trained within a shorter period of time to ensure veterans' employment staff is trained properly and promptly after being hired by the State employment service.

Again, I appreciate Ms. Herseth Sandlin for bringing this forward. I think it's an excellent bill.

Having no other speakers, I want to thank committee Chairman Filner and Ranking Member Steve Buyer, along with our staffs, and urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1088.

With that, I yield back my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1089 as amended, the Veterans Employments Rights Realignment Act of 2009 which would amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the investigation and enforcement of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies through the Office of Special Counsel and for other purposes.

This bill was introduced by the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, Ms. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, on February 13, 2009. Mr. Speaker, as I stated earlier today when speaking about H.R. 466, as amended, the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act provides significant protections to veterans returning to civilian employment. In the past, enforcement of these rights was limited to the Department of Labor's veterans employment and training services--VETS. Unfortunately, the VETS case investigation and enforcement process took too long and the 108th Congress required a comparison of the time it took the Office of Special Counsel and VETS to process employee claims involving Federal agencies.

I believe that having the Office of Special Counsel handle all Federal claims is the right way to go because of their expertise in dealing with Federal agencies in other similar matters.

I am hopeful that H.R. 1089, as amended, will not only shorten the time it takes to complete action on the case but that veterans will ultimately see a friendlier Federal bureaucracy when it comes to veterans returning to their former Federal employer.

I appreciate Ms. Herseth Sandlin's leadership in this area in bringing forward this important legislation. I want to thank Chairman Filner and Ranking Member Steve Buyer in moving this bill in a timely manner.

And having no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 360 urging all Americans and people of all nationalities to visit the national cemeteries, memorials and markers on Memorial Day. This legislation was sponsored by our colleague from Tennessee and a new and very active member of the Veterans Affairs' Committee, Congressman David Roe, on April 23, 2009, and we all appreciate him bringing this forward.

Mr. Speaker, properly honoring a veteran's memory is one of our most solemn obligations. These patriots are due the final tribute of a grateful Nation. Here in the U.S., the National Cemetery Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs cares for 128 national cemeteries that serve as the final resting place for over three million of our Nation's veterans and their dependents. The National Park Service cares for 14 veterans' cemeteries as well.

But it's not just here in the United States that our fallen are honored. The overseas national cemeteries of the American Battle Monuments Commission provide our Nation's heroes an honored repose in national shrines far from the homes they left in order to protect democracy. These overseas cemeteries have become the gold standard in memorializing the precious gift to us by those who fell in our defense.

The commission oversees 24 overseas military cemeteries that serve as resting places for almost 125,000 American war dead. Tablets of the missing memorialize more than 94,000 U.S. servicemen and -women as well as 25 memorials, monuments and markers.

These memorials and cemeteries are mute testimony to the sacrifices of Americans who fought in battles across the globe such as Flanders Field, Belgium; Manila, Philippines; North Africa, Tunisia; Sicily- Rome, Italy; Corozal, Panama; Lorraine, France; Mexico City, Mexico; and Normandy, France.

Mr. Speaker, with Memorial Day less than a week away, this is a most fitting time to consider this resolution. I ask all my colleagues to support it, and I look forward to its passage.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he would require to the author of the resolution, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe).

Yes, I have two more.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe).

Mr. Speaker, that was my last speaker on the subject.

I want to thank Mr. Roe of Tennessee for bringing this forward in a very timely way and such an important message that we remember those that have sacrificed so much for all of us.

I want to thank Committee Chairman Bob Filner and Ranking Member Steve Buyer for allowing us to go forward with the bill, and certainly I want to urge all of my colleagues to support H. Res. 360.

And with that, having no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.

General Leave

Madam Speaker, today I rise to congratulate the Arkansas Association For Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired for 25 years of dedicated service to the people of Arkansas.

This important organization provides support to the professionals who work with the visually impaired. I have seen the results of the work this organization does through my involvement with the AER, working with the Arkansas School for the Blind in Little Rock and also as an optometrist practicing in Rogers, Arkansas.

This important resource for Arkansans has been recognized recently as the AER chapter showing the greatest increase in membership over the past year. This national recognition is one reason why Arkansas was selected to host the 2010 AER International Conference.

With the help of organizations like this, Arkansas is building a brighter future for the visually impaired community. I commend the service providers for their good work and wish them continued success for another 25 years.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of Arkansas' public safety telecommunicators and emergency service dispatchers.

We're taught to call 9-1-1 in an emergency and these are the men and women who answer our call for help. They recently celebrated National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. This special week honors the thousands of people who respond to emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals, and offer life-saving assistance in our communities.

These civil servants work tirelessly to assure we have direct and immediate access to emergency responders whenever the need arises. We recognize these men and women for their service as well as their concentrated community outreach, training courses for students, senior citizens and church groups on the uses and abuses of the emergency telephone lines and the services available. These community awareness programs improve the quality of our telecommunicators' work.

Their commitment to excellence makes our communities a much safer place to live, and for that I thank them for their service. My appreciation for these Americans who help us every day is immeasurable. We must recognize and honor their efforts not only one week, but all year long.

Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Lion Rifles Team from the University of Arkansas Fort Smith for its well deserved rank as the fifth-best collegiate team in the country in the National Rifle Association's Intercollegiate International Air Rifle standings.

For the past two years the UA Fort Smith Air Rifle Team has proven itself by placing in the top five teams in the nation. A small school like UAFS can be proud to see its team ranked among major universities like Penn State, Clemson, Illinois State and Michigan State. This team provides a great opportunity for many college students to become well- rounded. These students serve as good examples for others, as they accomplish their academic goals while achieving success on the rifle range. These members should be proud of the reward they experience from their hard work.

Members of the team who deserve credit for this high ranking are Elizabeth Garris, Tom Nguyen, J.D. Peronia, Morgan Welch and John Wozniak. These sharp shooters are led by Roy Hill, who works hard to equip each individual to succeed. I congratulate each member of the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Air Rifle Team on their success and wish them the best of luck in future competitions.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, investment in the Nation's highway, bridge and transit infrastructure has not kept up with growing demands on the system. The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commissions reported that the United States needs to invest up to $340 billion annually over the next 50 years to upgrade the Nation's transportation network.

The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has jurisdiction over our water transportation system, which consists of 926 coastal and inland harbors maintained by the Corps of Engineers and 25,000 miles of inland and coastal commercial waterways. If we do not keep our harbors and waterways operating efficiently, we threaten our economic prosperity.

To meet these needs, as well the need for flood protection and environmental restoration, passing a water resources development act for 2010 should be high on the committee's agenda. According to separate studies conducted by the Congressional Budget Office, EPA and municipal groups, the current rate of capital investment will not keep our wastewater treatment systems operational. State and local governments are spending approximately $10 billion a year in capital investments in wastewater infrastructure. Most of this funding comes from the local taxpayers. However, to meet the needs of communities all over the United States, our Nation should be doubling that spending.

We can't continue to take our wastewater treatment facilities for granted. Not only are they critical to protecting our health and the environment; they are critical to protecting our economy and our way of life. Public infrastructure plays a critical role in enhancing our quality of life, improving our environment and contributes to our economic prosperity.

We take these systems and the professionals, engineers and administrators for granted. So it is important for Congress to recognize the contribution they make to ensuring America remains the world's premier economic power.

I appreciate Mr. Oberstar in bringing this resolution forward. I urge all Members to support H. Res. 313.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve my time.

After thanking the chairlady for being here and Mr. Oberstar for bringing this bill forward, I urge support and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Arkansas Tech University on 100 years of academic excellence.

Arkansas Tech University was originally established as a Second District Agricultural College by the State legislature and one of four State agricultural schools in 1909. Arkansas Tech University is now one of the fastest-growing universities in the State of Arkansas and has established a reputation as a school that truly serves the Nation.

It is said that an education from Arkansas Tech University is the best of both worlds, big time technology and an education in a friendly, small-town setting.

The school excels in exposing its students to the technology of tomorrow and better preparing students for future endeavors. An excellent faculty and staff provide an outstanding education and educational opportunities.

I am proud to support this fine institution and look forward to the next 100 years of academic excellence.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

I want to thank Mr. Baca for bringing this forward, and I urge my colleagues to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, as we, today, commemorate 61 years of Israeli independence, we commemorate and celebrate so much more. We celebrate 61 years of the exercise of vibrant liberty, democracy and opportunity for those of all faiths. We celebrate over six decades of the revitalization of the Jewish homeland where Jewish culture, literature and philosophy have flourished. We celebrate 61 years of Israeli achievements in science and technology and business, achievements defined by continual innovation and entrepreneurship, and we celebrate the hard work, determination and love of peace displayed by the people of Israel, a people with whom we share our deepest values.

In short, Mr. Speaker, today we celebrate a quintessentially American story, an example of what other countries in the Middle East and beyond can achieve if they unleash the power of human freedom.

But as we celebrate, we cannot and must not ignore the continued and growing threats to Israel's survival. At the United Nations, Israel, like the United States, is singled out for bogus criticism and judged by double standards. Most recently at the Durban II conference in Geneva, speaker after speaker lambasted Israel for supposed racism, and the assembled nations passed a declaration that criticized Israel alone among nations. Of course, the most memorable and infamous moment from the Durban II was Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech where he savagely attacked the State of Israel and advanced anti-Semitic conspiracy theories that could have been taken verbatim from the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Ahmadinejad has repeatedly called for Israel's destruction, and given the Iranian regime's pursuit of nuclear, chemical, biological and missile capabilities, he and his ilk may soon have the wherewithal to make good their threats. The prospect of an emboldened nuclear Iran is a threat to Israel, a threat to the United States, and a threat to us all, and we cannot stand idly by in the face of this danger.

Likewise, to Israel's north, Syria's dictator has threatened Israel with violence and brags of his support for the violent Islamist group Hezbollah, which continues to increase its capabilities to diminish Israel. Southern Israel continues to endure the nearly 9,000 rocket missiles and mortars that have been fired into Israel since 2001, more than 6,000 of them since Israel withdrew entirely from the Gaza Strip in November 2005. The result has been numerous Israeli deaths, physical and psychological wounds, and unceasing panic in the towns and cities within range of Hamas's artillery.

As we witnessed in the recent conflict in Gaza, Hamas's capabilities continue to expand; thus, as we celebrate the anniversary of Israeli independence, and with it the creation of a bastion of democracy in a sea of autocracy, we must remain mindful of the challenges that she faces. In short, the bond between our Nations and our people have never been stronger. The United States could not ask for a better friend and ally in the region, and I assure the Israeli people that they will always be able to depend on the United States and the American people.

I would like to extend my best wishes and congratulations to the people of the State of Israel on their 61st independence day.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett), a member of the Budget and Financial Services Committees and the author of the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my final speaker, Mr. Gohmert, a distinguished member of the Judiciary, Resources and Small Business Committees.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this very important resolution, and thank the gentleman from New Jersey for bringing it forward. Again, I urge all of our House Members to vote in the affirmative, and I yield back the balance of my time.