Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, first, I would like to thank the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young), the gentleman from Wisconsin (Chairman Petri), as well as the gentleman from Minnesota (Ranking Member Oberstar) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski). Their dedication and leadership on this legislation is commendable. I would also like to commend the committee staff for all their hard work on this bill. It has truly been a pleasure to work with them.

Mr. Chairman, H.R. 3550, the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users, is legislation our country needs to not only maintain but also to grow our Nation's infrastructure.

When I came to Congress, I followed a visionary member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Mr. John Paul Hammerschmidt. Congressman Hammerschmidt served on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for decades, and he was instrumental in advancing our Nation's transportation infrastructure into the 21st century.

Like Mr. Hammerschmidt, I understand the importance of passing a robust transportation bill that provides for infrastructure development across the country.

During the last year, I traveled with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to examine our transportation needs. From Fort Smith, Arkansas, to Chicago, Illinois, we heard the same thing: Our Nation must invest in transportation infrastructure. Each city and town, even the rural areas in our States, are in dire need of infrastructure dollars.

Our Nation is growing and prospering. However, our cities and towns are suffering from congestion and poor roads. We must continue growth by passing this legislation, which will allow for continued development. This will not only lessen congestion on our roads, but it will also provide for economic development across the country. This bill provides for growth, it provides for jobs, and it provides for increased safety to our traveling public.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the committee for their dedication to passing this critical legislation, and I encourage my colleagues to support

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Bachus amendment. I understand the effects that the new hours of service rule is having on the trucking industry and I also understand the unique operation of the motion picture drivers.

There are a number of groups who are seeking a modification to the hours of service rule and its for a simple reason--one size doesn't fit all.

The modifications sought by individual groups are understandable and I do support the motion picture industry's efforts. However, I also want to mention that I am also a strong supporter of taking a broader approach to assist all drivers, including short-haul operators in dealing with the new rule.

Options such as providing another 16-hour day to the short-haul drivers and providing all drivers with a defined two-hour rest period are viable options. I plan to continue working on this issue because there are several matters that deserve consideration.

Again, I support the Bereuter amendment and I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Bereuter amendment. I understand the effects that the new hours of service rule is having on the trucking industry and I also understand the unique operation of the drivers of agriculture commodities.

There are a number of groups who are seeking a modification to the hours of service rule and it's for a simple reason--one size doesn't fit all.

The modifications sought by individual groups are understandable and I do support the agriculture modification. However, I also want to mention that I am also a strong supporter of taking a broader approach to assist all drivers, including short-haul operators, in dealing with the new rule.

Options such as providing another 16-hour day to the short-haul drivers and providing all drivers with a defined 2-hour rest period are viable options. I plan to continue working on this issue because there are several matters that deserve consideration.

Again, I support the Bereuter amendment and I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of America's bravest, Specialist Brandon Smith, who grew up in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Brandon was killed in action in Al Qaim, Iraq, late last week. His Humvee ran over a land mine as he rushed to assist his fellow soldiers who were under enemy fire.

When Brandon joined the Marines, he told his friends that he had found his life's calling. However, for Brandon to fulfill his lifelong dream, it was no simple task. Every morning he had to run laps around Asbell Park, lift weights and literally lose 80 pounds to be in shape for Marine boot camp.

Brandon selflessly put himself in harm's way, serving his country so that future generations can live in a world free of terror. His father, Gordon Smith, put it best when he said Brandon ``was taking a stand and making a difference.''

Mr. Speaker, Specialist Brandon Smith made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. He is a true American hero. I ask my colleagues to keep Brandon's family and friends in their thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for the brave men and women of the 39th Brigade combat team as they deploy to Iraq. The 39th Brigade includes National Guardsmen from 10 States but is mostly made up of Arkansas National Guardsmen, including the Russellville-based 206th Field Artillery Unit.

Last weekend I had an opportunity to visit with many of the soldiers of the 39th Brigade during their colors casing ceremony at Fort Polk. They are some of America's finest. They are a diverse group, including doctors, teachers, lawyers, people from all walks of life, men and women who are ready to put their Guard training and professional skills to work establishing democracy in a country where oppression was once the norm.

Mr. Speaker, their mission is noble and of great importance. I ask my colleagues to remember them and their families in their thoughts and prayers as we continue to support our troops and their efforts to fight terror and bring back democracy to Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sister Catherine Dominic, whose life has been devoted to helping and caring for her neighbors.

Sister Catherine will be retiring from St. Mary's Hospital in Rogers, Arkansas, after more than 40 years of service. Her devotion and joyful spirit have given us all strength, and we are fortunate to have shared her friendship.

Throughout her career at St. Mary's, Sister Catherine served the hospital in a variety of roles, including administrator, anesthetist, surgery supervisor and nursing service director. As both a registered nurse and chaplain, Sister Catherine has split her time providing medical care and spiritual support to those in St. Mary's Hospital.

Mr. Speaker, our community will greatly miss Sister Catherine as she returns to the Dominican mother house in Springfield, Illinois. We are extremely grateful for her tireless efforts on our behalf.

I ask my colleagues today to join me in honoring this wonderful Dominican sister for her commitment and dedication to the Third District of Arkansas.

Mr. Speaker, I would like the Record to show that I was unable to attend votes yesterday, January 27, 2004, due to inclement weather in Washington, DC that prevented my return. Should I have been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on H.R. 1385. I would have also voted ``yea'' on H.R. 3493, the ``Medical Devices Technical Corrections Act.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Downtown Fort Smith Sertoma Club for their fifty years of service to the community of Fort Smith, Arkansas.

The Downtown Fort Smith Sertoma Club exists for the high and noble purpose of service to mankind by communications of thoughts, ideas and concepts to accelerate human progress in health, education, freedom and democracy.

The club, which is part of the international charity the Sertoma Foundation, provides a number of services to the community. Most notably, they aid the hearing-impaired acquire hearing related products for persons who otherwise could not afford them.

I appreciate what they have done for the people of Fort Smith. They truly are an example of what can be accomplished if we make sacrifices for the greater good of our communities.

Mr. Speaker, 50 years of dedicated service and support to local charitable organizations and the educational good of mankind is truly a glorious reason to celebrate. I ask my colleagues to join me today as we honor this wonderful organization and encourage them to continue their work on behalf of the community.

Mr. Speaker, I recently had the honor of handing out Bronze Star Medals to 58 World War II veterans from the Third District of Arkansas. These veterans did not previously receive their medals because of an oversight when they returned home after the war.

The Bronze Star is awarded to World War II veterans who earned the Combat Infantry Badge or the Combat Medical Badge. The award of these badges is considered as a citation in orders of exemplary conduct in ground combat against an armed enemy.

The hard work of the Northwest Arkansas Veterans Task Force who brought this oversight to my attention made this ceremony a reality. They are constantly looking out for veterans in our community, and their commitment to our veterans ought to be commended.

Mr. Speaker, each one of these veterans has a story to tell. Theirs is a special generation, the greatest generation, and we all owe them a debt of gratitude.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Bilirakis) for yielding me this time.

I also thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) and his staff for working so hard on this bill. They have really gone above and beyond the call of duty in spending a great deal of time getting this to the situation that we have now. I also thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) for his help and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin).

Today we have the opportunity to close a loophole that has caused harm to many people young and old throughout the country. The loophole is a quirk in the law that allows decorative, plain old contact lenses to be sold without a prescription. Although this may not sound like a big deal, as a practicing optometrist for over 25 years, it is.

There are many cases of damage caused by contact lenses sold without the supervision of an eye care professional. Take, for instance, the case of a 14-year-old girl who purchased a pair of decorative contact lenses from a local video store and received no instructions on how to care for them. She ended up suffering a severe bacterial eye infection, and ultimately had to have a corneal transplant, which is a very significant surgery. Or the 32-year-old man who bought a pair of lenses at the local flea market for a Halloween costume. Again, the customer was provided with no directions at all on proper usage. He was later diagnosed with a corneal abrasion. He had scratched his eye because they did not fit his eye. He was later in a situation that resulted in possible permanent loss of vision.

Unfortunately, there are many, many more people whose vision has been compromised because of this type of contact lens being available to the general public without the supervision of eye care professionals. It is important to know that although adults are affected by the availability of these lenses, our children are the most vulnerable. As all of us who have children know, reason is often overruled by the desire to be fashionable and trendy.

Selling lenses to change one's eye color in video stores, flea markets, hair salons, and gas stations is inviting trouble and, frankly, should not be allowed.

A simple eye infection is the least of problems with unsupervised contact lens use. The worst is it can lead to permanent blindness. Proper care of the lenses and instructions on the correct way to use them are the keys to preventing these afflictions. Consumers are not getting this information from the video store clerk or the gas station attendant.

H.R. 2218 presents a simple fix to a dangerous problem. This bill is not intended to address the complicated legal issues surrounding intended use. The gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) and I have worked hard to ensure that the language in this bill remains neutral on this question, and I think we have succeeded.

Additionally H.R. 2218 is being endorsed by the health care community, including the American Optometric Association and the American Academy of Ophthalmology, as well as the leading manufacturers in the contact lens industry and consumer protection groups.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot stress strongly enough that unregulated, unsupervised use of decorative contact lenses is extremely hazardous to one's health. H.R. 2218 would simply close that loophole that allows these lenses to be sold unregulated. I would strongly encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 2218.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank President Bush who will be signing the Partial Birth Abortion Ban later today. By making the Partial Birth Abortion Ban law, Congress and President Bush have listened to the strong voices of our constituents who want to protect the health of women and fight for the sanctity of life.

The Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 bans the procedure in which a living fetus is partially delivered before the fetus is killed and delivery is completed. This law will have the power to stop partial birth abortion

and prosecute the doctors who continue to practice this horrific procedure. Furthermore, it will give the parents of minors and husbands the right to bring civil actions against said doctors.

As a father of three daughters and a member of the medical community, I am proud to have played a part in the preservation of women's health and the sacredness of life.

Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a resolution honoring the memory of Mrs. Bernice Jones of Springdale, Arkansas. She passed away on September 10, 2003.

Mrs. Jones married her husband, Harvey, in 1938. Together they established

Jones Truck Lines, Incorporated, which became the largest privately owned trucking line in the United States. In 1980, after selling the company, Harvey and Bernice Jones made it their mission to foster the growth of their community.

Over the years, the Joneses were instrumental in the development of many facilities which improved the quality of life for all Arkansans. A few examples are the Harvey and Bernice Jones Eye Institute and the Jones Center for Families. Even after Harvey's death, Bernice continued to donate millions of dollars to educational pursuits throughout Arkansas.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Jones and for the timely passage of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I voted in support of S. 3, the Partial- Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003. This legislation, passed by the House of Representatives on October 2, 2003, will outlaw the horrific act of partial birth abortion.

My colleagues and I are sending the President comprehensive legislation that protects the sanctity of life. The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban will save the lives of thousands of unborn. It will protect women from going through this evasive, harmful procedure.

The American public has become educated on how this procedure is done. The abortionist intentionally delivers the baby feet first and stops with the head still in the mother. They then puncture the skull of the child and remove the brain. The skull collapses and the

abortionist completes the delivery of a now dead baby. If the head slips out at any time the abortionist must stop the procedure. This procedure defines life by inches of a baby's head.

Many members of the medical community, myself included, find the practice of partial-birth abortion to be appalling. In fact, this ban has been endorsed by the American Medical Association. America's doctors recognize the uselessness and danger of this procedure, not only to the baby, but to the mother as well.

This is a very emotional issue and every Member of the House who voted for this important legislation truly considered whom we are trying to protect. The most innocent members of our society are under attack. If we don't protect them, who will?

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for voting to protecting our unborn children. We must stand together and recognize the damage inflicted on America when we treat life as a privilege and not a right. I commend the members of both Houses who have worked so hard to bring this legislation to a vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H. Con. Res. 282, which pays tribute to the memory of legendary singer Johnny Cash, who was born in Kingsland, Arkansas.

Johnny Cash grew up on a 20-acre cotton farm in Northeast Arkansas. Listening to his mother's folk songs, hymns, and hearing the workers in the fields, or the nearby railroad yards nurtured his love for music. The plight of the workingman and downtrodden would remain a central theme to his music throughout his rise to become one of the most influential country singers of the 20th century.

His experiences of the dark side of life, through drugs, alcohol, bad luck, and poverty have been very popular. He used his songs, books, movies and television to grab the attention of the world.

Johnny Cash remained an Arkansan by heart throughout his entire career, never forgetting the importance of his faith, his family, and his roots. In 1969, he worked closely with Arkansas Governor Winthrop Rockefeller to show the nation that prisons were not a lost cause and living conditions must be improved. At the Governor's request he performed at Cummins Prison in Grady, Arkansas, to a live

audience, along with his wife, the Statler brothers, Carl Perkins, and many more. In 1990, when devastating flood hit Arkansas farmers he was quick to jump to action. As a member of the country quartet, the Highwaymen, he persuaded the group to begin their new tour in Little Rock, Arkansas. They raised thousands of dollars for the farmers' recovery.

An eleven-time Grammy winner, Johnny Cash was recognized and honored by his native state of Arkansas. He won the Arkansas Broadcasters Association ``Arkansan of the Year'' Award and was given the Entertainers Award and the President's Award from the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame. Johnny Cash is a country music legend and will always have a special place in the hearts of many worldwide, but none more than in the hearts of his fellow Arkansans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of America's bravest, Specialist Dustin McGaugh, who grew up in Springdale, Arkansas. Specialist McGaugh was killed in a ``friendly fire'' accident in Balad, Iraq, late last week.

Motivated by a desire to serve and be a part of something important, Specialist McGaugh enlisted in the Army prior to the September 11 attacks and was so intent on becoming a soldier that he completed his last 3 weeks of basic training with a broken shinbone.

Specialist McGaugh put himself in harm's way so that the world could be a better place, and he did so in a manner that was an inspiration to his fellow soldiers. While in Iraq he told his family that his unit often came under fire. However, this did not stop him from doing his mission. In fact, it seemed to have encouraged him to reach out to the Iraqi people. His fellow soldiers said that, regardless of the dangers, Specialist McGaugh could often be found handing out candy to Iraqi children.

Mr. Speaker, Specialist Dustin McGaugh made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. He is a true American hero. I ask my colleagues to keep Specialist McGaugh's family and friends in their thoughts and prayers during these difficult times.