Floor Statements

I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding me this time.

I rise in support of this bill and commend Chairman Mica and Chairman Petri because, as a former chair of the Aviation Subcommittee, I know how difficult it is to bring all the competing interests together to produce a bill such as this.

However, I would like to raise one issue that I still have some concerns about. It has been brought to my attention by a former outstanding Member of this body, Jim Coyne, a former Congressman from Pennsylvania who has been the long-time head of the National Air Transportation Association, that some airports are engaging in activities that compete with privately owned fixed-base operators. I did not file an amendment because the chairman has graciously agreed to hold a formal roundtable discussion about this matter and begin working to make sure that this does not become commonplace.

I hope that this is not a trend that will continue because privately owned businesses should not have to compete with the government or quasi-governmental agencies, such as airport authorities, which do not pay taxes and are not subject to all of the rules and regulations that private businesses are.

Each time there has been a White House Conference on Small Business-- and they have held one on average every 5 years since 1955--either the number one concern or one of the top three concerns at all these White House Conferences on Small Business has been freedom from government competition.

Madam Chair, since the Eisenhower administration in 1955, it has been U.S. policy--or was supposed to have been--that ``government should not start or carry on any commercial activity to provide a service or product for its own use if such a product or service can be procured from private enterprise through ordinary business channels.'' So that is my concern, and we are going to continue working on that.

I also want to mention a very commonsense amendment that will be filed later by Mr. Shuster on behalf of myself and Mr. Meehan, my two colleagues from Pennsylvania. This amendment that we will be filing does two very simple things: it states that the FAA should not use a one-size-fits-all approach when considering new regulations. It also requires the FAA to take into consideration the cost it is imposing on the private sector when issuing new regulations.

This amendment simply codifies much of an executive order issued by President Obama on January 18 of this year. Quoting from the President's executive order, it said our regulatory system ``must be based on the best available science. It must allow for public participation and an open exchange of ideas. It must promote predictability and reduce uncertainty. It must identify and use the best, most innovative, and least burdensome tools for achieving regulatory ends. It must take into account benefits and costs, both quantitative and qualitative.''

In addition, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt has stated that a one- size-fits-all approach to rulemaking can make aviation less safe. There are different segments of the aviation industry that face very different challenges. I believe that by tailoring the regulations toward these different segments of the industry, we can make aviation safer by helping address the different challenges that different types of businesses face.

Finally, I would like to say that I agree with the chairman about overstaffing with regard to our aviation regulation. I am amazed, Madam Chair, at how many Members and private citizens have expressed concerns about TSA overstaffing and have mentioned the lines of thousands standing around. The number of screeners has gone up, as I understand it, from 16,000 prior to 9/11 to 61,000 now. That is simply far, far too many; and that needs to be looked into. And I know the chairman intends to do that. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution.

First, I want to thank the gentleman from North Carolina for yielding me this time. And I want to pay tribute to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones), who is one of the kindest, most sincere, and most courageous Members that we have in this body.

I voted, Mr. Speaker, for this war, but I sure didn't vote for a 10- year war or a forever or a permanent or an endless war.

There is nothing fiscally conservative about this war, and I think conservatives should be the people most horrified by this war.

Alfred Regnery, the publisher of the Conservative American Spectator magazine, wrote last October: ``Afghanistan has little strategic value, and the war is one of choice rather than necessity.'' And he added that it has been a ``wasteful and frustrating decade.''

The worst thing about Iraq and Afghanistan is all the young people who have been killed. But it is also very sad, Mr. Speaker, that we have spent hundreds of billions of dollars--in fact, some estimates are $2 trillion or $3 trillion now in indirect costs--to carry on these two very unnecessary wars.

Our Constitution does not give us the authority to run another country, and that is basically what we have been doing. We have been doing more nation building and more civilian functions than anything else, and we have been turning the Department of Defense, at least in Iraq and Afghanistan, into the Department of Foreign Aid.

I had a conservative Republican elected official from my district in my office this past Monday. His son is in Afghanistan in the Army, and he said he asked his son recently what we were accomplishing there, and he said his son said, ``Dad, we're accomplishing nothing.''

We seem to be making the same mistakes in our policies toward Afghanistan that we made in Iraq. Even General Petraeus has said some time ago that we should never forget that Afghanistan has been known as the ``graveyard of empires.''

George C. Wilson, a military columnist for the Congress Daily, wrote a few months ago: ``The American military's mission to pacify the 40,000 tiny villages in Afghanistan will look like mission impossible, especially if our bombings keep killing Afghan civilians and infuriating the ones who survive.''

The Center for Defense Information said late last year we have now spent $439.8 billion on war and war-related costs in Afghanistan, and $1.63 trillion so far on the war and war-related costs in Iraq. As I said a moment ago, these figures should astound fiscal conservatives.

Georgie Anne Geyer, a syndicated columnist, wrote a few years ago: ``Critics of the war have said since the beginning of the conflict that Americans, still strangely complacent about overseas wars being waged by minorities in their name, will inevitably come to a point where they will see they have to have a government that provides services at home or one that seeks empire across the globe.''

I just finished, Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago doing field hearings around the country in relation to the transportation and highway bill. These were done in Oklahoma, Arkansas, West Virginia, and west Tennessee--very conservative districts. And in each of those places, I said that it's time that we stop spending hundreds of billions on these unnecessary foreign wars and stop rebuilding in Iraq and Afghanistan and start rebuilding the United States of America.

In each of those conservative districts, the people erupted into applause. Only 31 percent of the American people, according to the latest ABC/Newsweek poll that just came out, think this war is still worth it.

William F. Buckley, the conservative icon, wrote a few years ago that he supported the war in Iraq and then he became disillusioned by it, and he wrote these words:

``A respect for the power of the United States is engendered by our success in engagements in which we take part.''

William Buckley said:

``A point is reached when tenacity conveys steadfastness of purpose but misapplication of pride.''

President Karzai last year told ABC News he wanted us to stay there another 15 or 20 more years. That's because he wants our money. This war is more about money and power. Every gigantic bureaucracy always wants more money, but this war has gone too far and too long, and I support this resolution.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I wish today to honor a legal legend from my District on the occasion of his retirement.

Circuit Court Judge W. Dale Young has served the citizens of Blount County, Tennessee, admirably and with humor and humility for 26 years.

I served as a state trial judge in nearby Knoxville for 7 years before I was elected to Congress, and I was in private law practice 8 years before that. I do not know another person whose integrity honors the legal profession more than Judge Young.

At a recent reception in his honor, hundreds of people lined up to thank Judge Young for his service.

The Daily Times Newspaper in Maryville, Tennessee, reported, ``Kind, fair, and the ultimate gentleman--that's how friends and admirers described Blount County Circuit Judge W. Dale Young . . .''

Judge Young has a long history of protecting and strengthening families, and his favorite part of the job was the many adoptions he helped finalize. He would often pose for photos with the families and showed great compassion during the process.

Judge William Brewer said, ``He is a wonderful fellow. He's a gentleman.''

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues and other readers of the Record to join me in recognizing Judge W. Dale Young's 26-year service to Blount County, Tennessee.

On the occasion of his retirement, I submit the Daily Times article offering tribute to Judge Young's service.

[From the Daily Times]

Hundreds Attend Retirement Reception for Judge Young

(By Chloe Morrison)

Kind, fair and the ultimate gentleman, that's how friends

and admirers described Blount County Circuit Judge W. Dale

Young Friday at his retirement reception.

``He has just been so good to so many people and I just

feel like we should turn out and let him know how much we

appreciate him,'' Louisville resident Sandra Stricklin said

at the reception, which was on the third floor of the Justice

Center.

Over a period of two hours, hundreds flowed through the

reception, many stopping to shake the judge's hand, give him

a gift or thank him for his service.

``He is a man of high integrity and character,'' Maryville

Police Chief Tony Crisp said after the reception. ``He has

done a wonderful job for Blount County.''

Young is retiring after 26 years at the bench. He is 72.

During decades of service Young has touched many area

residents, such as Mike Everett, who came to Friday's

ceremony to honor the judge.

Everett's granddaughter, Allie, 20 months, was the last

adoption that Young finalized. Allie's parents--Morgan and

Glenda Everett--couldn't attend the ceremony, but Everett

said it was important for him to come and bring his

grandchild.

``I was involved every step of the way,'' Everett said

about the adoption process. ``She's the only grandchild I

have and will probably ever have, so I've been in the middle

of it.''

Everett also said that he heard that adoptions were Young's

favorite part of the job, and he said the judge showed care

and compassion for his family.

``He was so kind to us that day,'' Everett said of the day

Young finalized Allie's adoption. ``He made pictures and sent

us copies.''

Judge William Brewer summed up his thoughts about Young,

keeping his words simple.

``He is a wonderful fellow,'' he said. ``He's a

gentleman.''

At the retirement reception, Rick McNear, with the Blount

County Sheriff's Office, also had praise for the retiring

judge.

``He's a gentle, compassionate caring man,'' he said.

``(He's) a loving man.''

Former Blount County Mayor Jerry Cunningham said at the

reception that he's known Young since high school.

He called the judge brilliant, compassionate--a gentleman.

``He brings dignity and fairness and equity to the bench,''

Cunningham said. ``Anything he's every done, he's done it

well.''

Cunningham also said that Young has a good sense of humor

and that the pair have had many fun times

together.``Sometimes in court, things happen that you just

have to stop and laugh,'' he said. ``Then sometimes things

happen that are funny but you are not supposed to laugh and

he would always manage to drop his pencil and duck down

behind the bench (to laugh). We've always teased him about

that.''

Mr. Speaker, I wish today to honor a rising star in motorsports.

On February 20, 2011, Knoxville native Trevor Bayne raced into NASCAR history by becoming the youngest driver ever to win the Daytona 500.

It was only his second sprint Cup race ever.

The night before his victory, Trevor celebrated his twentieth birthday. Little did he know that the next day, his childhood dream would come true.

Trevor's love of racing began when his father bought him a go-kart when he was 5 years old, and he never looked back.

As a boy, his hero was NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon. Until Sunday, Gordon was the youngest driver ever to win the Daytona 500, an honor that now belongs to Trevor.

Just before heading to Victory Lane, Trevor said four words that summed up his historic feat: ``Are you kidding me?''

Because of his overnight success, Trevor is fast becoming one of the most popular young drivers in his sport, but he is much more than that.

Trevor is a young man who puts his faith before winning and his family ahead of individual accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, Knoxville and the State of Tennessee are very proud of 2011 Daytona 500 Champion Trevor Bayne, and I urge my Colleagues and other readers of the Record to join me in recognizing this extraordinary young man.

I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

Madam Speaker, H.R. 662, the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011, extends the highway, transit, and highway safety programs through the end of the fiscal year at the 2010 funding levels. It does not make any programmatic or policy changes but instead only continues what is currently in law.

I'm proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill with the chairman, my subcommittee vice chair, Mr. Hanna, Ranking Member Rahall, and Subcommittee Ranking Member DeFazio. I want to commend Chairman Mica for his hearings and listening sessions that he's done all over this country. I had the privilege of attending several of those, and we heard from local and State officials all over this Nation about their needs.

Without this extension, these programs are set to expire on Friday. This extension will allow the highway and transit programs to continue to operate as the spring construction season kicks off. With unemployment in the construction industry at an all-time high, it is imperative that we extend the surface transportation programs through the end of the fiscal year.

A front page story in USA Today last week said that gas would soon go to $5 a gallon or higher. We need more domestic oil production in this country. We simply cannot allow or let environmental radicals drive the price of gas to $5 or higher. This will hurt many poor and lower income and working people and stop our recovery in its tracks.

This bill is important to our economy. Additionally, this extension will provide a level of predictability for State DOTs and local transit agencies to embark on major construction projects that will create jobs; and as I said, it will certainly stimulate the economy.

I support the passage of this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

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, last Tuesday the top front-page story in USA Today said gas will soon hit $5 a gallon. If it does, it will really slow our recovery, and some think it could lead to another recession. It will really hurt the already hurting small towns and rural areas because their people on average have to drive farther distances to go to work.

Environmentalists want gas to go much higher so people will drive less; but if gas goes to $5 a gallon or even higher, it will hurt a lot of poor and lower-income and working people. I know most environmentalists come from very wealthy or upper-income families, and I know they will say we don't have enough oil to drill our way out of this problem; but if we would at least start producing a little more oil, it would be harder for other countries to keep raising their prices.

President Clinton vetoed drilling in ANWR in the mid-nineties, stopping a million more barrels a day from being produced here. When environmental radicals stop more domestic oil production, it helps foreign energy producers, but it really hurts middle- and lower-income Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I wish today to honor two of the most beloved people in my District.

Twin sisters Helen Ashe and Ellen Turner have been serving the homeless and winning over hearts in the City of Knoxville since they founded the Love Kitchen in 1986.

The Love Kitchen served just 22 meals the day it opened, but 25 years later, it now serves more than 2,000 meals each week to the homeless and homebound.

I have known Helen and Ellen for many years, and they are the kindest, most gracious and selfless people I know.

They live their life by the Love Kitchen's slogan: ``Everybody is God's Somebody.''

Over the years, their hard work and devotion to the less fortunate stoked the volunteer spirit of one of this Nation's great cities and turned the pair into local celebrities.

As the holidays near, it has become tradition to see Helen and Ellen on local television pleading for help so that no one in need is turned away. And the good people of East Tennessee always deliver, donating supplies and offering volunteers in droves.

In fact, a few years ago my wife Lynn volunteered at the Love Kitchen, and she will never forget the experience.

Helen and Ellen always exercise a remarkable humility, redirecting any deserved attention showered on them back to the Love Kitchen and those it serves.

Today, they were guests on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and I am so thrilled and thankful that Ms. Winfrey took notice of these extraordinary sisters. Now, millions more outside of Tennessee have been touched and hopefully moved to similar community service by their story.

Reflecting on her upbringing as the daughter of a share cropper, Helen told the Knoxville News Sentinel in 2008, ``The three truths daddy taught us were: There is but one Father, and that is the Father in heaven. There is but one race, and that is the human race, and he taught us not to take the last piece of bread from the table, because somebody may come by that is hungry.''

Mr. Speaker, I urge my Colleagues and other readers of the Record to join me in recognizing Helen Ashe and Ellen Turner for their compassionate, life-long devotion to community service and unwavering faith in God.

On the occasion of their appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, I request that the Knoxville News Sentinel article celebrating their service to Knoxville be reprinted in the Record below.

[From the Knoxville News Sentinel, Dec. 31, 2008]

Drinnen: ``Everybody Is God's Somebody'' at The Love Kitchen

(By Beth Drinnen)

``Everybody is God's Somebody.'' That's the slogan at The

Love Kitchen in East Knoxville, and from the moment you walk

in the building, you start to feel it. Complete strangers

greeted me with smiles and a couple of ``good morning,

honey's,'' as I was wrapped in warm, welcoming hugs by both

Helen Ashe and her twin sister, Ellen Turner, founders of The

Love Kitchen.

Helen and Ellen were born in Abbeville, S.C. Their parents

were share croppers. ``We've been working since we were 8

years old,'' said Helen proudly. ``My sister and I used to

wash dishes for a contractor. He built a little step so that

we could reach the sink easier. We made 50 cents a week,''

she said as she looked at Ellen and smiled.

The sisters moved to Knoxville in 1946 when they were 18

years old. ``That's what our parents gave us as a graduation

gift,'' said Ellen. ``Our parents saved up a little bit of

money and we were to choose where we wanted to live.'' They

chose Knoxville because their favorite aunt, one of their

father's sisters, Eva Icem, lived here.

``The three truths that my Daddy taught us were: There is

but one Father, and that is the Father in Heaven. There is

but one race, and that is the human race, and he taught us

not to take the last piece of bread from the table, because

somebody may come by that is hungry,'' said Helen.

People going hungry had always weighed on Helen's mind.

``Every single day I would tell Ellen, `One day, I'm going to

do something about it.' '' Ellen nodded her head.

``One night,'' Helen began, ``I had a dream . . .''

Ellen quickly interrupted. ``No, you let me tell that,''

she said, her eyes shining. ``We

got a phone call early one morning,'' Ellen continued, ``And

my husband and I were still in bed. He said, `Honey, Helen's

on the phone and I can't understand a word she's saying.' I

got on the phone and it was Helen, and honey, she was just

babbling away. I said `Honey, is Al okay?' Al was her

husband, and I thought he was dead the way she was carrying

on. I said, `Helen, calm down.' And she said, `Sis, I had an

encounter with God last night. And I'm going to have that

feeding program; I'm going to have a place where people can

come and get something to eat.' ''

Ellen looked proudly at her sister. ``And she does,'' she

grinned.

The Love Kitchen first opened its doors in 1986 in the

basement of a local church. They eventually moved out of that

space and into several more before moving into their current

location at 2418 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., in 1994.

The bulk of their ministry involves delivering food to

homebound people. The Love Kitchen delivers food each

Thursday to approximately 2,200 homes. In addition to the

meals they deliver, The Love Kitchen serves breakfast on

Wednesday and lunch on Thursday to approximately 40 to 110

people each day. Wednesday afternoons are dedicated to

handing out anywhere from 60 to 150 food bags to the homeless

or needy in the community. The bags usually contain enough

food to last the recipients a week. They also hand out

hygiene bags to new patrons at the Kitchen, and recently

handed out approximately 300 blankets to the homeless.

If Helen and Ellen are the heart of The Love Kitchen, the

volunteers are the lifeblood. Most begin volunteering because

they want to help the less fortunate, but wind up staying

because they love Helen and Ellen so much. The University of

Tennessee's chapter of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity has been

sending volunteers to help pack food bags for the past

fifteen years. ``It's good to come here and . . . do

something nice for someone less fortunate,'' said volunteer

and Phi Gamma Delta Tyler Bowland.

``I like to come to see Helen and Ellen,'' said volunteer

and Phi Gamma Delta Matt Baumgartner, then he laughed.

``Seeing what they do here everyday, I think it's a good

thing to come and help her out!'' He smiled, ``They have been

a blessing to a lot of people.''

I thank the gentleman from California for yielding me this time.

First I would like to commend Chairman Rogers and his staff, because I am sure they have tried to do as much as they thought they possibly could in what would get through the Senate.

But I rise at this time to especially commend the gentleman from California (Mr. Campbell) for making what I consider to be a very courageous amendment. He knows that this amendment is probably not going to get many votes, but I will tell you, this amendment makes a very important point and sends a very powerful message, and that is that nothing should be left off the table. There should be no sacred cows.

As he has pointed out, as the gentleman from California has pointed out, the Pentagon actually receives an increase under this bill. But we can no longer afford to have higher military spending than all the other nations of the world combined.

We are facing an astounding $1.6 trillion deficit, a $14 trillion debt, and there is no way we can come even anywhere close to doing what we should do if we leave any departments or agencies off or make them not look for savings.

The President's commission on the debt said that very thing. They said that the Pentagon was going to have to look for savings. And as far as Homeland Security, The Wall Street Journal had an editorial that they noticed that we were voting for almost anything and everything if it had the word ``security'' attached, and they said from now on we should give four times the weight and twice the scrutiny to anything that had the word ``security'' in it.

I thank the gentlelady from Ohio for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 72.

I thank the Speaker and the House leadership for giving us this time to help call to the attention of the Nation something that has become a very serious problem, and that is the explosion of rules and regulations and red tape that has taken place over these last several years at a very rapid pace.

In 2005, a study by the Small Business Administration found that businesses spent approximately $1.1 trillion to comply with Federal Rules. Confirming that, another study in 2009 by the Competitive Enterprise Institute said Federal regulatory compliance had reached $1.2 trillion for businesses.

The annual outflow of rules has meant that nearly 60,000 Federal rules have been issued just since 1995. Regulatory agencies issued over 3,500 final rules in 2009. Today's Code of Federal Regulations contains an astounding 157,974 pages. They haven't designed a computer that can keep up with all of that, much less a human being. And the average family, according to another study by the SBA in 2010, they said the cost of Federal rules and regulations now costs the average family over $15,000 a year, and that has increased by more than $4,000 just in the last 5 years.

George Mason University put out a report earlier this year which said that U.S. regulations ``are now more onerous than those in other countries, particularly countries that offer similar property rights and infrastructure,'' and that ``the United States risks losing investment capital and jobs.''

Speaking more specifically about the Transportation Committee, according to a GAO report the typical transportation project now takes between 9 and 19 years to plan, gain approval of and construct a new major federally funded highway project.

Let me give you two examples. Several years ago when I chaired the Aviation Subcommittee, we had a hearing in which they said the main and newest runway at Atlanta airport at that time took 14 years from conception to completion. It took only 99 construction days. They were so happy to get all the

final approvals they did those in 33 24-hour days. It was all environmental rulings and regulations and red tape.

Four years ago, we had a hearing in the Highways and Transit Subcommittee, and they said that a highway project in Southern California, a 9-mile project, took 17 years from conception to completion, from 1990 until 2007.

What these delays and rules and regulations have done is driven up the cost. We now take on average three times as long and three times the cost of any other developed nation.

What this does is it hurts the poor and lower-income and working people of this country because it destroys jobs, it drives up prices, all these regulations. It even kills people, when you delay for years widening and improving highways and making them safer. So it is causing problems for everything that comes out of our committee.

This is a very important resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, later today we will vote on a resolution to reduce Federal non-security spending to the 2008 level or in some cases less. This is a very good first step if we follow through and abide by this resolution. However, we need to make sure that these cuts are real and not simply cuts that will be reinstated later in an end-of-the-year omnibus spending bill.

More importantly, I want to add my voice to the growing chorus that is saying loud and clear that nothing should be left off the table. There is waste in every Federal department and agency, and the waste in the Defense and Homeland Security Departments is huge. No department should be given a free pass and made exempt from cost savings and belt- tightening.

We have a national debt of over $14 trillion, a mind-boggling incomprehensible figure. Even The Washington Post, which has usually supported every Federal spending program imaginable, editorialized recently, ``It's time to stop worrying about the deficit--and start panicking about the debt. The fiscal situation was serious before the recession. It is now dire.''

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) for their work in bringing this bill to the floor at this time.

As has been described, this is a private relief bill attempting to allow the young widow of a marine who was killed in combat in Iraq to bring the couple's young son and come to live with the marine's family in the State of Tennessee in my district.

While everyone has supported this bill every step of the way, it has run into some technical or procedural difficulties that have delayed it until this point. As has previously been stated, I would like, as Ms. Chu did, to thank particularly Senator Alexander and Senator Webb who have taken such a personal interest in this bill on the Senate side, and I would like to once again thank the House for passing the general bill last month.

Mrs. Ferschke, the mother of this soldier, first came to see me about this in December of 2008. Early in this Congress, we introduced a private relief bill. It took a few months to get the necessary information and complete the required paperwork, but this private bill was taken up by the Subcommittee on Immigration in the Judiciary Committee on July 23, 2009. At that time it received the support of both Chairwoman Lofgren and Ranking Member King, both of whom I would also like to thank. However, at that point there were some objections to doing private bills in the other body, and so at the direction of the staff of the Judiciary Committee, both majority and minority, we attempted to do an amendment to the Defense bill. However, some of the people on the Rules Committee, while supporting the bill, did not feel it was germane to the Defense bill, which we also had to agree with, but we were doing that at the direction of others. But I also would like to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) because hearing about this at the Rules Committee, he took a special and personal interest in this bill also.

We then introduced a general bill, once again working with the staff of the Judiciary Committee, whom I would also like to thank. That bill was passed last month in the House, but we ran into some objections here, and that is why we are back here today on this private relief bill.

Hotaru Ferschke, as has been stated, is the widow of the late Sergeant Michael Ferschke of the U.S. Marine Corps. She was born on October 20, 1983, in Okinawa, Japan. In March 2007, as Ms. Chu said, when Sergeant Ferschke was stationed in Okinawa, he met her at a mutual friend's party. They dated for more than a year before Sergeant Ferschke was deployed to Iraq in April 2008. Shortly before Sergeant Ferschke deployed, the couple learned that Hotaru was pregnant. Sergeant Ferschke's parents and members of his military unit in Iraq have attested to the fact that the couple already had planned to marry before Hotaru became pregnant and had decided to live and raise their future family in the United States.

The couple was married by proxy, by telephone, by a military chaplain in July of 2008 while Sergeant Ferschke was in Iraq. But 1 month later, in August of 2008, Sergeant Ferschke was killed in combat. Although the marriage is legally valid and recognized by the military, in order for Mrs. Ferschke to be recognized as Sergeant Ferschke's spouse for immigration purposes, the marriage itself would have had to have been consummated. Under the circumstances, this wasn't possible. The law makes no allowance to the fact that Mrs. Ferschke was already pregnant with her husband's child before the marriage ceremony took place.

I could go on and tell additional details, but I'll just leave those for the statement that I have and say that this is something that I think everyone has wanted to support all through this, and it is a great moment for this family to hopefully finally complete this at this time at the tail end of this Congress. And so I urge my colleagues to support this very worthwhile legislation.

Madam Speaker, Retired Major General Frederick Harwood ``Fred'' Forster passed away on November 18, 2010, after a long and very brave battle with cancer. I do not know another person who has met such a challenge with more strength, faith, and grace.

Fred was a very patriotic American and one of the finest men I have ever known. He had an immeasurable impact on Blount County, Tennessee, and the United States in many positive ways.

Upon reporting the news of his death, The Daily Times newspaper in Maryville, Tennessee, referred to Fred as ``a community treasure.''

Fred's pastor at Mount Lebanon Baptist Church said Blount County has lost a ``great man and friend to this community,'' and he continued on to say that, ``(Fred) believed in prayer and accepted the will of God without complaint. Dignity, respect, honor, faith, love, commitment; these are the words that describe Fred.''

Sharon Hannum, Chair of the Blount County Chamber Foundation, said, ``I have met no stronger, dedicated and compassionate leader than in the person of Fred Forster.''

Former Maryville Mayor Joe Swann said, ``His steadfastness in the face of such adversity makes him the solider we point to and say, `I had the great privilege of knowing that remarkable man.' ''

Senator Lamar Alexander, a native of Maryville himself, called Fred a friend and said, ``Blount County and I will miss him greatly.''

Fred is perhaps best known for his success in the military. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1968, his accomplishments as a pilot and natural leadership abilities propelled Fred to the rank of assistant adjutant general of the Tennessee Air National Guard at the time of his retirement in 2003.

During his 35-year service, he served as commander of the 134th Air Refueling Wing, Tennessee Air National Guard, and chief of staff of the Tennessee Air National Guard.

Fred's time in the military took him through the Air Command and Staff College, Army Command and General Staff College, and Air War College. He received countless decorations, including a Bronze Star, and served in Thailand and the United Arab Emirates, playing an important role in the liberation of Kuwait during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Fred also found much success in community development. He served as chief executive officer of the Blount Partnership, a venture made up by the Blount County Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Development Board, Smoky Mountain Convention and Visitors Bureau and Blount Chamber Foundation.

His time at the Chamber is admired by all who were lucky enough to work with him until his retirement earlier this year.

As you would imagine, Fred's work did not stop with the military or his time at the Chamber. He devoted much time to other civic and private organizations too numerous to name in this space.

Fred was buried with full military honors at Mount Lebanon Baptist Church, and I attended his graveside service along with many hundreds of other people. It was very obvious to everyone who was there how loved and respected he was in the community.

Recently, Fred's father-in-law, Garland DeLozier, also passed away. Garland was a community leader in his own right, and I offer my condolences to Fred's wife, Carolyn, who has lost her husband and father in such a short span of time.

Before his passing, Fred said of Carolyn, ``She was invaluable. Couldn't ask for a better supporter and a partner and a helper and sustainer.''

Fred's daughter Rebecca was one of my House Pages and is now a member of my staff, and her sister, Joy, interned for me in 1996. I know the pain myself of losing a father at about their age, but they should have much comfort in knowing how loved and admired their dad was by everyone and how proud he was of their own accomplishments.

Fred was very devoted to his family, and he will be greatly missed by Carolyn, Joy, and Rebecca, as well as his daughter, Katherine; grandchildren Drew and Caroline; mother, Harriet; and sister, Jane.

Madam Speaker, I urge my Colleagues and other readers of the Record to join me in celebrating the extraordinary life of Major General Fred Forster. His life and accomplishments are without comparison, and he will forever be an example to all those who knew him.

Madam Speaker, several years ago, they sent us to a civility conference because they didn't think that Democrats and Republicans were getting along well enough in the Congress, and I have never forgotten something our first speaker said.

David McCullough, the great historian, told a story about a Russian visitor who came up into the House gallery in 1948 and watched for a while, and then he went out and shook his head and he said, ``The House is a

strange place.'' He said, ``A man stands up and says absolutely nothing, no one pays any attention, and then everyone disagrees.''

They say there is a little bit of truth in the best humor, and I guess there is some truth in that humor. But David McCullough was kind enough to go on from there and say, but if he had a chance to live his life over again and he could choose what he wanted to do, he would choose to be a member of that wild and raucous bunch known as the United States House of Representatives.

I think today, because of some of the television talk shows, that many people around the country think that we all dislike each other or that we hate each other at times, or that Democrats and Republicans just don't get along at all. But that is not true at all, and I think for the great, great majority of Members, all of us get along really well with everyone, regardless of party, and all of us consider it a great privilege and honor to serve in the United States House of Representatives.

We are losing many, many good Members from both sides of the aisle this year because of retirements, running for other offices, or for all sorts of reasons, and there are many other Members, both Democrat and Republican, who are good friends of mine who are leaving to whom I should pay tribute. But I rise tonight to pay special tribute to a very special man, and that is Congressman James Oberstar from Minnesota.

In my entire 22 years in this Congress, I have served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. I had a couple of chances in my early years to move to other committees, and I think people were surprised that I didn't take either one of those offers. But I enjoyed serving on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, originally called the Public Works and Transportation Committee, in part because it was considered to be the most bipartisan, or nonpartisan, committee probably in the Congress. It was often said that there is no such thing as a Republican highway or a Democratic highway; and on many, many things people on both sides of the aisle on that committee worked together to help build America.

Certainly, Congressman Oberstar was one of the great leaders of that committee through his entire time in the Congress. Jim Oberstar served for 11 years on the committee staff, rising to the position of staff director. He then began his service in the House and continued to serve for the past 36 years.

It is an astounding figure to think that a man worked on this one committee for 47 years of his life, but he has done so with great honor and distinction. In fact, I think almost everybody knows that there is no one in the Congress and probably never has been anyone in the history of the Congress who has known transportation issues and understood them and worked on them longer and harder and with more effectiveness than Jim Oberstar has.

At one point, he was chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee. In 1994, after the election, the Republicans took control and I had the honor of becoming the chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee, and I served for 6 years in that position, which was the maximum allowable on our side.

When I took over as chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee, I had frequently heard Jim Oberstar referred to as ``Mr. Aviation.'' So I went to him and asked for his help, and he helped me and guided me and gave me advice that to this day I appreciate very much, and he did that in a very kind and humble way.

Then, of course, in the last 4 years, he reached the pinnacle and became chairman of that committee, a committee that he loves. He has been a great chairman, and I think he has tried to help everyone on both sides of the aisle.

So I just wanted to rise and pay tribute to a man that I consider to be a great American and a great Member of Congress, Congressman James Oberstar.

Madam Speaker, I wish today to honor one of the most well-known and respected attorneys from my district.

Bill Banks recently passed away at the age of 82. He practiced law in Knoxville for more than 50 years, and I do not know another person who respected and honored the profession more than Bill.

He graduated from the University of Tennessee Law School in 1950 when there were many fewer attorneys than there are today. As the legal profession grew and more law practices opened, Bill became a leader among his peers.

I have nothing but fond memories of him from my own time as a lawyer and judge in Knoxville.

Bill's love of the law and government was not just limited to his practice. He also served on the Knox County Election Commission for many years and was instrumental in the transition from paper to machine voting in Knox County.

He also served admirably in the Korean War as an officer with the United Nations War Crimes Commission. His work during the war earned him a citation for meritorious service.

Those who knew Bill knew a humble and kind man devoted to his family and faith. He was a long-time member of Washington Pike United Methodist Church.

His community involvement included the Knoxville Elks Lodge, where he rose to the rank of Exalted Ruler and Trustee. He was also an active Mason and was a member of the Burlington Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rite and Kerbela Temple in Knoxville.

I had the privilege of knowing Bill Banks personally and considered him to be a good friend for almost 40 years.

He was one of the finest men I have ever known, and he touched thousands of people in good and positive ways throughout his life.

I extend my condolences to Bill's daughter and son, Betsy and David; four grandchildren; brother, John; and sister, Allene. His absence will surely be felt in Knoxville, but Bill's life will be celebrated as an example of one lived with a dedication to what truly matters: God, family, and community.