Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, last month Siemans announced that it was moving most of its 15,000 software jobs to China, India, and Eastern Europe. We have now lost 229,000 computer jobs since 2001. Pfizer and Levis now produce none of their products in this country, even though this is where they make most of their money.

Yesterday, The Washington Post carried a story about a chemical plant in West Virginia closing this month, just after its 75th anniversary. The story said we have lost 100,000 chemical jobs in the last 5 years because of cheap foreign competition and soaring natural gas prices.

The Clinton administration locked up 213 trillion cubic feet of natural gas due to pressure from environmental extremists. Conservative columnist Paul Craig Roberts, a Reagan Treasury Department official, wrote recently, ``The combination of war, job and income loss, unprecedented trade deficits, and the creation of Social Security entitlements for foreign nationals will break the U.S. long before another generation passes.

``Before the U.S. can reconstruct the world,'' he wrote, ``it must cease deconstructing itself.''

Mr. Speaker, Dean Stone, long-time editor of The Daily Times newspaper in Maryville, TN, has written a really outstanding editorial about prescription drug prices.

Mr. Stone frequently writes very thoughtful and informative editorials about issues of national importance.

He points out in this editorial that we have drug prices that are far too high because the Food and Drug Administration, FDA, seems to be controlled by the giant pharmaceutical companies.

I have consistently supported in committee meetings and in votes on the floor of the House the right of the people to purchase drugs from Canada. Mr. Stone points out that FDA concerns about safety are not supported by any evidence.

I would like to call this fine editorial to the attention of my colleagues and other readers of the Record.

With More Than 600 Lobbyists, There's Little Chance on Drug Prices

Know why we Americans will not get reasonable prescription

drug prices?

The pharmaceutical industry has more than 600 lobbyists in

Washington, more than the total number of representatives and

senators.

They have spent $435 million to influence Washington from

1996 to 2003 and handed out $57.9 million in contributions

between 1991 and 2002 to buy their way through Congress.

They are well paid (we pay for them with exorbitant drug

prices) and they do their job, cutting to pieces any

legislation that might tend to lower the price of

prescription drugs.

The Feb. 2 issue of Time magazine contains an excellent

article about how Americans are being ripped off with high

prices from the manufacturers of drugs.

And most of our drugs are manufactured overseas by American

companies who moved there because of the tax breaks. And it

is illegal for Americans to import these drugs.

While the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) inspects these

overseas plants when built to certify their products, there

is little supervision later.

Ireland is a favorite location and Singapore is getting new

plants. This overseas production of drugs was $40.7 billion

in 2002, a five-fold increase from 1995. The impact has given

us a negative balance of trade in that field.

Pfizer Inc. and Eli Lilly & Co. enjoy huge profit margins

compared with other U.S. firms. Pfizer's was 28.4 percent

profit in 2002 while Eli Lilly was at 24.4 percent.

Pfizer reported $9.1 billion in profits on $32.4 billion, a

return of 28 percent and a rate more than twice that of

General Electric, nine times that of Wal-Mart and 31 times

that of General Motors.

Our U.S. sales of prescription drugs is the highest in the

world at $654 per person with an average life expectancy of

77 years. Japan is second at $421 with a life expectancy of

81 years.

Americans pay on an average 40 percent more for their

prescription drugs than do Canadians. And it has been ruled

illegal for us to import them from Canada. Drug companies

have threatened to cut off supplies to Canadian drug stores

that sell to Americans.

Despite all this, the cities of Montgomery, Ala., and

Springfield, Mass., have negotiated with Canadian sources.

Montgomery alone is saving $34,000 a month with its contract.

Members of Congress, the FDA and all the rest who are in

bed with the pharmaceutical industry who use the excuse of

safety regarding Canadian drugs are just blowing hot air. So

far there have been no reported incidents of any problem. In

the U.S., 50,000 to 100,000 people die annually as a result

of adverse reactions from FDA-approved drugs.

Drug companies like to talk about the cost of developing

new drugs. A report of the Joint Economic Committee of

Congress in 2000 dispels some of that. It found that the

federal government, mainly through the National Institutes of

Health, the National Cancer Institute and other public

agencies funds about 36 percent of all U.S. medical research.

Of the 21 most important drugs introduced between 1965 and

2002, a total of 15 was developed using knowledge and

techniques from federally funded research.

Best current figure we could locate indicates $2.5 billion

was spent by the drug industry on advertising in 2001.

There is absolutely no real effort by the President or

Congress to take an honest look at the high cost of

prescription drugs. We believe in the capitalistic system but

not in those extreme profiteers whose huge profit is at the

cost of our health. Canada does a good job of regulating

prices and would be a good example to follow.

Regulations always take away a little freedom from some

segment of the economy but the government has seen fit to

regulate the broadcast industry, the airline industry,

interstate commerce and through taxes numerous other aspects

of the economy. It is time to do something about runaway

prescription drug prices.

There is a Republican president, a Republican Congress and

this problem lies largely on their shoulders, election or

not!

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 439) honoring the life and career of Willie Shoemaker and expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives to his family and friends on his death.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration, H. Res. 439.

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

On behalf of the Committee on Government Reform, and particularly on behalf of the sponsor, our colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes), I rise in support of House Resolution 439, which honors the life and career of one of horse racing's most legendary figures, Willie Shoemaker.

Willie Shoemaker ranks second all-time among jockeys in career wins, with 8,833. During his unbelievable 42-year career, Shoemaker won each of horse racing's Triple Crown events multiple times. He won the Preakness twice, he won the Kentucky Derby four times, and prevailed at the Belmont Stakes five times. Remarkably, at age 54, while riding the horse Ferdinand, he became the oldest jockey ever to win the Kentucky Derby in 1986.

After entering his first professional race at age 17 in 1949, Shoemaker made his last mount, number 40,352 of his incredible career, in 1990. The following year, he was involved in a tragic auto accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Despite being confined to a wheelchair, Shoemaker remained focused on his desire to return to horse racing in any possible capacity. Indeed, he returned to the sport he loved as a trainer in a supervisory role on September 29, 1991, less than 6 months after his accident.

Madam Speaker, perhaps horse racing's greatest and most renowned jockey ever passed away in his sleep last October 12 at the age of 72 at his home in Santa Anita, California. I commend the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes) for working to honor Willie Shoemaker with this timely and deserved resolution, and I urge all Members to support House Resolution 439.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to urge support for this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3769) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 137 East Young High Pike in Knoxville, Tennessee, as the ``Ben Atchley Post Office Building''.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration, H.R. 3769.

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

Madam Speaker, H.R. 3769 would name the post office building at 137 East Young High Pike in Knoxville, Tennessee as the Ben Atchley Post Office Building. No tribute could be more fitting than to name a facility of the United States Government after one of our most patriotic public servants, Senator Ben Atchley.

Ben Atchley has served for 32 years with great honor and distinction in the Tennessee State Legislature. He served for 4 years in the Tennessee House of Representatives and has served the last 28 years as a State Senator from Knox County, Tennessee. Senator Atchley has served for most of that time as the Senate minority leader, but in a coalition with conservative Democrats he has really had effective control of the Tennessee State Senate. However, I think it is fair, and I think people on both sides of the aisle would agree, he is perhaps the most respected and admired figure in the entire government of our State of Tennessee.

He is a long-time personal friend. He is an outstanding family man, with his wife Sue and two children. He is a recognized and very respected figure in the Presbyterian Church, having received the very first Barnabas award, the highest award ever given to a lay member of the Presbyterian Church.

He has served as the National Chairman for the Ethics Committee of the National Association of State legislators. He has been a leader in his business, in his profession of life underwriting and in the mutual fund business. He has received the Distinguished

President Award of the Optimist International.

Ben Atchley has been outstanding in every conceivable way in both public and private life. He also served from 1948 to 1958 in the Naval Reserves. He has served his community, he has served his State, and he has served this Nation. I think it is very accurate to say that this country is a better place today because of the service of Senator Ben Atchley.

So it is with great pride and a special privilege that I have introduced this bill to name this post office facility after him in tribute to his years of public service, and I urge support for this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

First, I want to commend my friend, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), for his very kind and fitting and appropriate comments in regard to this legislation, and I simply would like to note that our congressional delegation from the State of Tennessee consists of five Democrats and four Republicans. I think we get along about as well as any delegation in this entire Congress. All nine Members of the House Congressional delegation from Tennessee very quickly and eagerly joined this legislation and cosponsored it.

Ben Atchley has been a very loyal Republican, but he has as many friends on the Democratic side as on the Republican side. He is truly a great, great American, and I urge passage of this bill.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, sometimes ordinary people do extraordinary things. We do not have to be rich or famous to leave a positive and lasting legacy to this world.

Bob Graham, one of my constituents from Knoxville, TN, was one of those people. Mr. Graham was the long-time supervisor of athletic officials for the City of Knoxville and a long-time volunteer leader in our community.

Bob Graham loved children, and he gave tirelessly of himself to thousands of young people throughout his career. Many people remember him from his days as a youth baseball, football, and basketball coach. Everyone who knew him remembered him as a great leader and role model for our children. This Nation would be a much better place if there were more people here like Mr. Graham.

Bob Graham passed away following a lengthy illness on November 28th. He will be remembered fondly by his family and friends and the countless young people he helped through the years.

Mr. Speaker, I have attached a copy of a tribute to Mr. Graham that ran in the Knoxville News Sentinel that I would like to call to the attention of my colleagues and other readers of the Record.

Helping Kids Was Graham's Focus Until His Death

(By Chuck Cavalaris)

Rare is the occasion when just three words can sum up the

essence of a person's life.

Such is the case with a great man like Bob Graham, who

passed away Friday night.

His three words were all about, ``Helping the kids.''

Bob always had a handy explanation for those 14-hour days

and frequent weekends at a ballpark.

``I just want to do whatever I can to help the kids,'' he

said.

Anyone who had the privilege of knowing the supervisor of

athletic officials for the city of Knoxville would agree: he

is an all-time great in this regard.

This stocky, blue-eyed former lineman and kicker from

Oliver Springs High School became a youth baseball, football

and basketball coach (1956-1982) who helped thousands of

kids. He also found time in the 1970s to be a TSSAA football

referee and was a baseball scout for the St. Louis Cardinals.

To many people, Bob Graham was the tireless volunteer

leader at Badgett Field. His passion led to a full-time job

offer by former recreation department director Maynard Glenn.

Talk about a great hire.

``Bob is probably the most-conscientious person I have ever

known,'' said Norman Bragg, who worked with Graham for many

years. ``Nowadays, you just don't replace someone like that.

He did what he did without asking for a single thing in

return--that was just Bob.''

Sure, he loved his children--all seven of them--and he was

really proud of his grandkids. But he also cared deeply about

the scruffy, undersized youngsters who didn't even know how

to hold a softball bat or throw a baseball. He took great

delight in working with these children and watching their

self-esteem grow. That was Bob Graham.

``Dad just wanted all kids to have the opportunities in

sports that he might not have had growing up,'' said his son,

Mark. ``He loved doing that. I think he would rather be at

the ballpark than anywhere else. It was his second home.''

Graham, who was 69, was instrumental in the planning,

design and construction of the award-winning Caswell Park

softball complex off Winona Avenue.

He died at St. Mary's Hospice in Halls and had a rare brain

disease called Creutzfeldt-Jacob (pronounced kroitsfelt-

yakob). There is no known cure for CJD, which strikes

approximately one in a million people worldwide between the

ages of 55 and 75.

The family received the diagnosis less than eight weeks

ago, which left time to say goodbye. Considering the

circumstances, they were thankful he did not suffer. He

passed away quietly, just after speaking with close friend

Willie Anderson.

``My mother (Judy) was holding dad's hand,'' Jeff Graham

said. ``She was saying, `I love you, Bob I love you, Bob'

when he took his last breath. I think he held on just a

little bit longer to make sure everyone had the chance to say

goodbye.''

Graveside services are set for 11 a.m. today at Woodhaven

Memory Gardens.

Bob Graham had a positive, uplifting impact on more lives

than he possibly could have known. We love you, Bob. Many of

us will never really and truly say goodbye.

Donations can be sent to Beaver Ridge United Methodist

(Family Life Center), P.O. Box 7007, Knoxville, TN., 37921 or

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes Bob Graham Memorial

Scholarship Fund, 406 Union Ave., Knoxville, TN. 37902.

Mr. Speaker, the conference report (108-401) for H.R. 2673, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2004, contains very important language within the FAA, operations section regarding improving our existing commercial air fleet's flight data and cockpit voice recorder standards.

Specifically, this language request that the FAA seriously review the potential of transferring the U.S. military's deployable flight data recorder technology into our commercial air fleet.

I am very pleased that this language was included as it reflects the goals I am seeking to implement within the legislation that I introduced earlier this year, H.R. 2632, the Safe Aviation Flight Enhancement (SAFE) Act.

Congress has previously showed interest in the deployable technology and requested within the FY2001 Transportation Appropriations Bill, that the FAA issue a report to Congress on the benefits and advisability of using deployable flight recorders in the commercial fleet. This report was issued in the December 4, 2001 Future Flight Data Collection Committee Final Report and detailed the United States military's successful use of the deployable recorder technology, concluding that it would be acceptable to incorporate the deployable recorder technology within the NTSB's 1999 recommendation to improve flight recorder standards.

The 1999 NTSB recommendations that the FAA's report is referring to were issued as a result of a history of delay in black box recovery and lost data due to crash damages in some of our countries most recent and devastating air accidents.

Following a series of air accidents where critical flight recorder information was lost, the NTSB issued recommendations A-99-16 through 18, which called on the FAA to require improved recorder capabilities and the installation of two sets of combination flight data and cockpit voice recorders in commercial aircraft to ensure the survival and recovery of at least one set of recorders.

It is important to note that the intention of the Conferee's language on deployable recorders within the FAA, operations section of the FY2004 Omnibus appropriations conference report is that the FAA evaluate the deployable technology within the context of incorporating the deployable recorder system as one of the two combination recorder systems recommended in the NTSB's 1999 recommendations.

I am hopeful that the FAA will move swiftly on this, since 4 years have passed and these recommendations have yet to be addressed.

The terrorist attacks of 9/11 opened the Nation's eyes to the face that our skies are vulnerable to more than mechanical or human error. One of our best examples of what can occur when we do not have immediate access to this information following a crash was demonstrated in the aftermath of the TWA 800 crash. This accident clearly illustrated the pressures investigators are under to rule out the potential of terrorism and quickly identify the safety concerns. At the outset of TWA 800 crash investigation, there was intense speculation that a ground-to-air missile was the cause of this disaster. For every day that went by as we search the ocean floor for the recorders, the speculation and questions mounted about the potential of terrorism. Ultimately, it took 7 days and millions of dollars to recover those fight recorders from the bottom of the ocean and eventually, investigators and explosive's experts led us to the understanding that it was an accidental fuel tank explosion, not terrorism that was responsible for the crash.

Post 9/11, we cannot afford to be faced with a similar situation of uncertainty. Our national security teams and transportation safety officials must have immediate access to the flight recorders to determine the appropriate response.

The deployable technology presents us with ability to ensure immediate and complete access to the flight recorders today, as our United States Navy has successfully tested, developed and used the deployable recorder technology for years on aircraft including the Navy's F/A-18EF Super Hornet fleet. The deployable technology is capable of meeting the needs of the commercial industry and is designed to ``deploy'' from the aircraft during a accident, which allows it to land outside of the crash impact site, thus avoiding becoming ensnared within the aircraft wreckage and the direct impact forces and fire intensity of the crash. The deployable recorder is also designed to float indefinitely in cases of a water crash.

The use of the deployable recorder in the commercial air fleet would provide the same benefits that it does for the military and would present an obvious way to maximize our ability to ensure the survivability and quick recoverability of flight recorders.

Again, I am pleased that Congress addressed this very important issue to encourage the FAA to move expeditiously in formulating regulations to address the need for improved flight recorders and that Congress would like the deployable technology to be considered within the context of the dual-combination recorder recommendation issued by the NTSB in 1999.

Such improvements will help us ensure that our safety and security officials will have immediate and complete access to the recorders following an aviation crash and make great strides in protecting the American people.

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

Madam Speaker, first of all, I want to commend my colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder), and I rise in strong support of H.R. 135, the 21st Century Water Commission Act of 2003.

Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder).

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster).

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

Madam Speaker, I have the privilege of chairing the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. We held a hearing on this legislation, and the then chairman, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), and I and the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), and the ranking member of my subcommittee, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Costello), all approved bringing this legislation to the floor at this time.

As I said a few moments ago, I rise in strong support of H.R. 135, the 21st Century Water Commission Act of 2003. I want to commend the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder) for his foresight and his hard work in bringing this legislation to this point.

A couple of years ago, the New York Times had a series of articles in which they called water the oil of the 21st century. There is probably nothing that people take more for granted than a clean, safe, adequate water supply.

This bill begins the hard work of tackling one of the most important and difficult environmental and economic issues facing our Nation, and that is ensuring that we have an adequate water supply. We need water for our homes, farms, and factories. Water also supports navigation, generates power, and sustains our environment. Communities cannot grow or even exist without adequate water.

As we enter the 21st century, demands for water are growing and are outstripping supplies in many areas, both in the West and the East, leading to disputes over water supply and allocation. In response, many municipalities, businesses and land developers are trying to secure more water rights so they will have adequate water supplies now and in the future.

Last year's drought in the East made it clear that while water may be abundant in many areas, it is not limitless, and even our Nation's most water-rich regions can run dry. Even though the East has been wet this year, much of the West remains very, very dry. Policymakers no longer can ignore this issue. We need to start planning for the future.

H.R. 135, the 21st Century Water Commission Act of 2003, will help start that planning process by looking at our Nation's available water supply and the projected demand for water and making recommendations on how to meet that demand.

Because of the importance of water to our Nation's economy and well- being, I held a series of hearings this past spring on water scarcity problems, ways businesses and communities are responding, and how H.R. 135 can help States and communities address their water problems. The witnesses strongly supported greater planning for future water needs, involving all levels of government, and supported H.R. 135 as a means to help start that process.

H.R. 135 respects the primary role that States play in addressing water supply issues, but the Federal Government can provide expertise and technical assistance. Numerous parties strongly support this legislation, including the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Urban Water Council, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Water Resources Association, the National Association of Homebuilders, the Association of California Water Agencies, and many others.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this very important bill and once again commend our colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder), for leading this effort.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the current issue of the American Conservative Magazine has an article by Owen Harries that says, quote: ``In the 1770s, when Britain had recently added North America and India to its Empire, when its economy was the strongest in the world, when it ruled the seas, it occupied a position not too different from the one occupied by the United States today.''

Then the great statesman, Edmund Burke, godfather of conservatism, issued this warning: ``Among precautions against ambition, it may not be amiss to take precautions against our own. I must fairly say, I dread our own power and our own ambition. I dread our being too much dreaded. We must say that we shall not abuse this astonishing and hitherto unheard of power.'' Edmund Burke continued, ``But every other nation will think we shall abuse it. It is impossible but that sooner or later this state of things must produce a combination against us which may end in our ruin.''

Mr. Speaker, we should consider these words of Edmund Burke today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to enter into a colloquy with the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin).

Mr. Speaker, since 1992 section 212(j) of the Federal Power Act has provided very important protections for the Tennessee Valley Authority and all the people and businesses of the TVA region from one-way competition from other suppliers as an equitable balance to those provisions of the TVA Act which greatly restrict TVA's ability to sell excess power outside the TVA region.

I wanted to verify that it was not the intention of the conference committee for any provision of the Energy Policy Act of 2003 to be construed to repeal the protections from such one-way competition provided by section 212(j).

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3353) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 525 Main Street in Tarboro, North Carolina, as the ``George Henry White Post Office Building''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased that the House is considering H.R. 3353. This bill names a post office after a great American statesman, George Henry White. From 1897 to 1901, Republican George Henry White served two terms as the U.S. Representative for North Carolina's Second Congressional District. At that time, he was the only African American Member of Congress. As such, not only was Congressman White responsible for his North Carolina constituents, but as the highest-ranking black government official in the Nation he also shouldered the burden of representing the 10 million African Americans at the turn of the century.

Congressman White took principled stands against the racial inequality that was far too prevalent for this time period in American history. His eloquence and temperance toward injustice made him a well- respected Member of Congress, and he is truly worthy of commendation by this body from which he departed more than 100 years ago.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation commemorates George Henry White's courageous legacy as the last black Member of this House following Reconstruction. I congratulate the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Ballance) for having his bill considered by the whole House.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 3353.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Ballance) for introducing this very appropriate bill, and I urge all of our colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 3353.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1590) to redesignate the facility of the United States Postal Service, located at 315 Empire Boulevard in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York, as the ``James E. Davis Post Office Building''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, S. 1590, a bill sponsored by Senator Schumer of New York, names a postal facility in Brooklyn, New York, as the James E. Davis Post Office Building. My distinguished colleague on the Committee on Government Reform, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns), authored the House version of this postal naming bill, H.R. 3012. I commend both the gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns) and Senator Schumer for their work on this meaningful effort.

Mr. Speaker, James E. Davis was a devoted public official who lived and worked in Brooklyn all of his life. The son of a corrections officer himself, Davis became an officer in the New York Police Department in 1983. After nearly 2 decades on the police force, he was elected to the New York City Council in November of 2001. In that capacity Davis was able to utilize his dynamic public speaking ability. He truly had a gift for connecting with audiences and delivering messages that advocated non-violence.

Mr. Speaker, defeating crime and eliminating violence in inner-city New York were lifelong missions for James E. Davis both as a law enforcement and elected official. This reality made July 23, 2003, an even more ironically tragic day for New Yorkers as well as all Americans. On that afternoon, James Davis had invited a political rival to City Hall to attend a council meeting. Just after 2 o'clock, Councilman Davis' guest brandished a handgun and inexplicably shot Davis twice in the chest. Mr. Davis sadly passed away at a nearby hospital later that afternoon.

Mr. Speaker, many of us saw the story of James E. Davis' tragic murder in New York City Hall on national newscasts last summer. I want to join with the gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns) and Senator Schumer in extending the sympathy of all Members of Congress to the family, friends, and supporters of James E. Davis. I am pleased that passage of this legislation will immortalize James E. Davis' contributions to his community and to the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of S. 1590.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers. I urge passage of S. 1590, and I urge all of my colleagues to join in support of this very worthwhile and appropriate measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3185) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 38 Spring Street in Nashua, New Hampshire, as the ``Hugh Gregg Post Office Building''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 3185.

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

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to call up H.R. 3185 for consideration. This legislation introduced by my colleague, the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass) designates the postal facility at 38 Spring Street in Nashua, New Hampshire, as the Hugh Gregg Post Office Building.

Hugh Gregg, a giant in New Hampshire politics for several decades, was elected Governor of the Granite State in 1953 at the age of 34. As a result, he was forevermore nicknamed the ``Boy Governor.'' One of his most notable achievements was his work in organizing the first-in-the- Nation Presidential primary in New Hampshire. What began as little more than a beauty contest for candidates in 1952, his tireless work is a big reason the New Hampshire primary has evolved into such a critical date for modern Presidential candidates.

It is also important to note that Governor Gregg's son, Judd, went on to be elected Governor of New Hampshire in 1989, and he now serves as the State's senior United States Senator.

Mr. Speaker, America mourned on September 24th of this year, when Hugh Gregg passed away at age 85. He is survived by his wife, Catherine Warner Gregg, two sons, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass) for his work on H.R. 3185, and I strongly support its passage.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass), the author of the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, since the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass) has brought up the founding of the Republican party and Mr. Gregg's interest in that, I would mention that I have the privilege of representing the only district in the United States that has had

continuous Republican representation in the United States House of Representatives since the founding of the Republican party.

This legislation seems to be very fitting and proper to name this post office facility after Hugh Gregg who was a very great American, who saw the American dream come true in his life in several different ways. I urge passage of this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate joint resolution (S.J. Res. 18) commending the Inspectors General for their efforts to prevent and detect waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement, and to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the Federal Government during the past 25 years.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on S.J. Res. 18.

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

Mr. Speaker, Senate Joint Resolution 18 commends Inspectors General across the Federal Government for their contributions to taxpayers and overall government efficiency over the last 25 years.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Inspector General Act of 1978 that created the position of Inspector General in Federal agencies and departments. I had the honor of introducing the original legislation to name an Inspector General or create an Inspector General position for the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Today, Inspectors General exist in 57 executive branch agencies. Their work has eliminated waste in management at all levels of the Federal Government and saved countless taxpayer dollars.

Mr. Speaker, this body has already passed the House version of this resolution, so I will similarly urge all Members to support the adoption of Senate Joint Resolution 18.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to close by saying that many, many people have paid lip service to waste, fraud, and abuse within the Federal Government, but these Inspectors General and their staffs are on the front lines trying to do something about this to save taxpayers money and help make our Federal Government run more honestly and efficiently, so I urge passage of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 299) honoring Mr. Sargent Shriver for his dedication and service to the United States of America, for his service in

the United States Navy, and for his lifetime of work as an ambassador for the poor and powerless citizens of the United States of America, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Con. Res. 299, the resolution now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 299 honors Mr. Sargent Shriver for his dedication and service to the United States of America. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy appointed Sargent Shriver the first director of the United States Peace Corps, an organization that continues to help millions of people all over the globe today. Three years later, because of his success establishing the Peace Corps, Sargent Shriver was also named director of the Office of Economic Opportunity by President Lyndon Johnson. He ultimately resigned from the Peace Corps in 1966 to devote himself full time to the OEO. In 1968, he was selected as our Ambassador to France. Ambassador Shriver joined the national Presidential ticket in 1972, when he became George McGovern's Vice Presidential running mate in that year.

Mr. Speaker, Sargent Shriver lived a remarkable life committed to public service in the U.S. and around the world. I congratulate the gentleman from California for recognizing Mr. Sargent Shriver for his steadfast dedication and lifelong service to his country.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to commend the gentleman from California for introducing this very worthwhile legislation, and I join him in commending Sargent Shriver on his career. He has led a life of public service that has set a great example for everyone in this Nation. He has tried to serve this Nation well.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3300) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 15500 Pearl Road in Strongsville, Ohio, as the ``Walter F. Ehrnfelt, Jr. Post Office Building.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 3300, the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3300, introduced by another of my distinguished colleagues on the Committee on Government Reform, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette), designates the postal facility in Strongsville, Ohio, as the Walter F. Ehrnfelt, Jr. Post Office Building. All Members of the Ohio delegation have signed on as cosponsors to this legislation.

Walter Ehrnfelt served as Mayor of Strongsville, Ohio, for 25 years, and he was a civic and social institution in this northern Ohio community outside of Cleveland for even longer than that.

He was reelected six times after first being appointed as mayor in 1978. The town of Strongsville nearly doubled its population during Mayor Ehrnfelt's tenure. Largely due to the mayor's efforts over the years, Strongsville boasts a fantastic school system, a productive industrial base, and many safe and wonderful neighborhoods.

Mr. Speaker, Mayor Ehrnfelt sadly passed away in office after suffering a heart attack on May 25 of this year. Naming this post office after Mayor Ehrnfelt in the city he governed and loved would be a small, but very deserved, tribute to his leadership. I urge all Members to support passage of H.R. 3300. I commend the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) for working to honor Mr. Walter Ehrnfelt.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this very fitting and proper legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.