Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the National Kidney Foundation Kidney Walk.

Throughout the year, kidney walks will be held nationwide. Specifically, in my congressional district, a kidney walk will be held on June 9, this Saturday, at Eldridge park in Elmira, New York.

Chronic kidney disease affects approximately 20 million Americans; and, tragically, 80,000 people die each year from the disease. Additionally, in 2006, 17,000 kidney transplants were performed, yet more than 70,000 people are on the national waiting list for a kidney transplant.

The purpose of the kidney walk is to encourage Americans to educate themselves about early detection and prevention of kidney disease and to promote awareness of organ donation. The walks are for a good and a very important cause, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting them.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 101 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor Glenn H. Curtiss from my hometown of Hammondsport, New York. Glenn Curtiss was a true transportation pioneer.

This week, I introduced House Resolution 84 to recognize Glenn Curtiss for setting the world's speed record on the first V-8 powered motorcycle exactly 100 years ago today. In honor of that ride in 1907, the Curtiss Museum and the City of Ormond Beach, Florida, which is the ``birthplace of speed,'' hosted a Curtiss motorcycle run on the beach today, January 24, 2007.

In addition to his recordbreaking speed, which was 137 miles an hour, Mr. Curtiss was the founder of the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, now part of the Curtiss-Wright Corporation. Glenn Curtiss also developed the first successful sea plane and manufactured the famous World War I Jenny training plane.

Again, Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to honor the memory of Mr. Glenn Curtiss, and I encourage all Members to join me in honoring the legacy of Mr. Curtiss and cosponsoring House Resolution 84.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to an issue that concerns all of us, and that is railroad safety.

On Tuesday night, there was a train derailment near my congressional district in East Rochester, Monroe County, New York. Fortunately, no one was injured. There have been dozens of other derailments in New York: Recently, on December 28 along route 15 in Gang Mills, in which cars were carrying butane.

According to an online Federal Railroad Administration database, defective tracks have been the number one cause of train derailments since 1996 in New York and Monroe County.

Madam Speaker, I understand the role of railroads and the importance they serve in transporting goods and people across the country. As a member of the House Transportation Committee which oversees the railroad industry, I firmly believe that Congress must provide more thorough oversight of this industry.

Furthermore, I believe that Congress, CSX, and the Federal Railroad Administration and the Department of Environmental Conservation must work together to identify what must be done to avoid similar disasters in the future.

Madam Speaker, I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to create a safer, more efficient rail system for everyone.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to make the House aware of a serious problem in my Congressional district in upstate New York.

The West Valley Demonstration Project, which is located here, was created by Congress in 1980 to solidify in glass the nuclear waste left over from a variety of sources, including defense atomic waste. This project successfully vitrified all of the high-level waste on the site over the next 2 decades, placing the waste in safe gas containers ready to store in a permanent storage facility.

West Valley is unique in the Department of Energy system in that the site is owned by the State of New York, but the operation is funded 90 percent by the Federal Government and 10 percent by the State of New York. While there is little question that the waste is, in large part, Federal waste, the Federal Government is not owning up to its responsibility to completely clean the site so that it can be returned to the community of West Valley and reused for economic development opportunities.

There is now a grave problem that threatens all of us. Some of the radiation has leaked into the ground water and formed a plume, as shown here on chart 2. The plume continues to grow and threatens streams on the site. These streams feed into larger tributaries which empty into the largest body of fresh water in the world. I repeat that: the largest body of fresh water in the world, the Great Lakes. Lake Erie's shores are only 25 miles away. Better shown on this chart. West Valley Demonstration Project, the creeks to Lake Erie.

It was estimated that the cleanup of this plume would require the removal of 4 million cubic feet of soil just a few years ago. Current estimates suggest 30 million cubic feet of soil would need to be removed to eliminate the threat if done today.

The Federal Government has simply moved the ropes around the affected area. Rather than cleaning it up, a few years ago when the problem was first noticed, the Department of Energy has roped off the area, allowed it to grow and grow and grow.

I will be introducing legislation once again during this term of Congress, Mr. Speaker, to direct the Department of Energy to take immediate possession of the Western New York Nuclear Service Center at West Valley and remediate the entire site, including this dangerous plume. The Department of Energy would be responsible for all costs of the clean up, as New York State neither has the resources nor the ability to do so. This is a Federal problem that requires Federal attention.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission would be given authority to regulate activities of the Department of Energy at West Valley and consult with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in executing the remediation.

The West Valley Remediation Act will replace and supersede the West Valley Demonstration Project Act of 1980, if adopted, but does not reduce any of the act's decontamination or decommissioning provisions.

Appropriations of roughly $95 million per year would be authorized to implement the act, and additional appropriations would also be authorized to benefit the community.

The Department of Energy is then precluded from transporting any additional hazardous or radioactive waste to the site for the purpose of treatment or disposal.

Most importantly, the site would be cleaned and returned to its natural state, and the Great Lakes would no longer be threatened, taking care of a potential international environmental hazard of monumental proportions.

Mr. Speaker, I hope you and my colleagues will work with me and with the Senate to find a solution to this problem.

Mr. Speaker, it is with honor and pleasure that I rise to recognize Corporal Jason L. Dunham, United States Marine Corps. Corporal Dunham will posthumously receive our Nation's highest award for valor tomorrow, on January 11, 2007, from our 43rd President, George W. Bush.

Corporal Dunham grew up in my congressional district in Scio, New York. He was known for his prowess in basketball, baseball and soccer at Scio Central School. He was also well known throughout the entire community, not just for the good-natured pranks that he pulled but for being a young man of enthusiastic yet humble spirit, someone who genuinely cared for others and could always be counted on if someone was in need.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps in July of 2000, because the Marines were known to have the toughest training but also the strongest brotherhood. He also felt a personal challenge to complete basic training and to do it well.

Following his first duty assignment with the Marine Corps security forces in Kings Bay, Georgia, Corporal Dunham was assigned to the Fourth Platoon, K Company, Third Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 7, First Marine Division.

Having quickly proven himself as a capable and concientious leader, Corporal Dunham was assigned as a squad leader and therefore was entrusted with the training, welfare and the lives of nine American sons. He soon earned the reputation for his unwavering commitment to his fellow Marines. He had a caring, a respectful and a humane style of leadership and believed above all in leadership by example.

On April 14, 2004, while conducting a reconnaissance mission in the town of Karabilah in Al Anbar Province, Corporal Dunham and his men heard rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire erupting two kilometers to the west. Their battalion commander's patrol had been ambushed while en route to visit L Company at Camp Husaybah right on the Syrian border.

Realizing that his unit was in a position to assist, Corporal Dunham ordered the vehicles of his combined anti-armor team to link up with his dismounted squad and advance towards the engagement to provide reinforcement.

Upon reaching the sight of the ambush, they were quickly barraged with enemy fire. Corporal Dunham ordered the vehicles to dismount and led one of his fire teams into the village to neutralize the ambush.

After having moved several blocks south into the village, they discovered seven Iraqi vehicles in a column attempting to depart to the east. Corporal Dunham ordered his Marines to block their movement and check the vehicles for insurgents.

As he approached the second vehicle in the column, an insurgent leaped out and attacked Corporal Dunham. In the ensuing hand-to-hand struggle, Corporal Dunham wrestled the Iraqi insurgent to the ground and immediately noticed that the insurgent was holding a live grenade.

Corporal Dunham alerted his fellow Marines and, aware of the imminent danger but without hesitation, he removed his helmet and covered the grenade, absorbing the brunt of the explosion and shielding the fellow Marines from a blast in a selfless act of bravery that most certainly saved the lives of a minimum of two of his Marines.

By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of certain death, Corporal Dunham gallantly gave his life for his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Corporal Jason L. Dunham epitomizes the selfless devotion to duty that our young men and women have displayed time and time again in Iraq and Afghanistan, Africa and numerous other places around the world. Our Nation is blessed to have a military full of Corporal Dunhams who are serving with great distinction.

My heart certainly goes out to his family, to the townspeople of his hometown, Scio, New York, and the Marines, for they have lost one of America's finest.

Madam Speaker, it is with honor and pleasure that I rise to recognize Corporal Jason L. Dunham, United States Marine Corps. Corporal Dunham will posthumously receive our Nation's highest award for valor on January 11, 2007 from our 43rd President, George W. Bush.

Corporal Dunham grew up in Scio, New York. He was known for his prowess in baseball, basketball, and soccer at Scio Central School. He was also well-known throughout his entire community, not just for his good-natured pranks, but for being a young man of enthusiastic yet humble spirit, someone who genuinely cared for others and who could always be counted on if someone was in need. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in July 2000, because the Marines were known to have the toughest training, but also the strongest brotherhood. He also felt a personal challenge to complete basic training and to do it well.

Following his first duty assignment with Marine Corps Security Forces in Kings Bay, Georgia, Corporal Dunham was assigned to Fourth Platoon, Kilo Company, Third Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 7, First Marine Division. Having quickly proven himself as a capable and conscientious leader, Corporal Dunham was assigned as a Squad Leader and entrusted with the training, welfare, and lives of nine American Sons. He soon earned a reputation for his unwavering commitment to his fellow Marines. He had a caring, respectful, and humane style of leadership and believed above all in leadership by example.

On 14 April 2004, while conducting a reconnaissance mission in the town of Karabilah in Al Anbar province, Corporal Dunham and his men heard rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire erupt two kilometers to the west. Their Battalion Commander's patrol had been ambushed while enroute to visit Lima Company at Camp Husaybah, right on the Syrian border. Realizing that his unit was in a position to assist, Corporal Dunham ordered the vehicles of his Combined Anti-Armor Team to link up with his dismounted squad and advance toward the engagement to provide reinforcement. Upon reaching the site of the ambush, they were quickly barraged with enemy fire. Corporal Dunham ordered the vehicles dismounted and led one of his fireteams into the village to neutralize the ambush. After having moved several blocks south into the village, they discovered seven Iraqi vehicles in a column attempting to depart to the east. Corporal Dunham ordered his Marines to block their movement and check the vehicles for insurgents. As he approached the second vehicle in the column, an insurgent leaped out and attacked Corporal Dunham. In the ensuing hand-to-hand struggle, Corporal Dunham wrestled the Iraqi insurgent to the ground and immediately noticed that the insurgent was holding a live grenade. Corporal Dunham alerted his fellow Marines, and aware of the imminent danger but without hesitation, he removed his helmet and covered the grenade, absorbing the brunt of the explosion and shielding his fellow Marines from the blast in a selfless act of bravery that most certainly saved the lives of two of his Marines.

By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of certain death, Corporal Dunham gallantly gave his life for his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. Corporal Jason L. Dunham epitomizes the selfless devotion to duty that our young men and women have displayed time and time again in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, and numerous other places around the world. Our Nation is blessed to have a military full of Corporal Dunhams who are serving with great distinction. My heart goes out to his family, the townspeople of Scio, NY, and the Marines, for they have lost one of America's finest.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank a tireless and unselfish community leader from my congressional district, Mr. G. Fred Schutz.

Born in Buffalo, New York, in 1928, Fred joined the U.S. Naval Reserve at the age of 19, and then transferred to the U.S. Air Force for 8 years during the Korean conflict. In 1988, Fred ended his military career with the U.S. Army reserve-retiring as a command Sergeant Major of the 98th division. During his 22 years of service, he received 9 personal medals and 21 service awards.

After active duty, Fred returned to Canandaigua, New York to work for the Penn Central Transportation Company and later became a small business owner. Fred has been a dedicated leader, being instrumental in many crucial projects including: the founding of a downtown park--The Commons, and the revitalization of Phoenix Street.

He has also organized the Memorial Day parade for as long as anyone can remember and, for the past five years, has led the 9/11 (patriot day) ceremonies. Fred has worked tirelessly to retain the VA medical facility in Canandaigua; he has fought to establish a museum for military art and has lobbied for a ship to be named after the city of Canandaigua. Fred continues to provide sage advice and economic assistance to veterans who are seeking records, medical treatment, and transportation or lodging.

For a number of years, Fred has served a free Thanksgiving turkey dinner for homeless or needy veterans in the area. His concern for others is evident in his employment of handicapped and older veterans and his enthusiastic fundraising for camp good days and special times, the Make a Wish Foundation, and a church summer carnival.

Fred has also volunteered as a fireman for 20 years. He has been an American Legion member for 53 years, having served as a post, county and district commander and has served on numerous committees on the local, state and national level. Fred was a financial contributor to the Vietnam moving wall in 1999 and instrumental in organizing the ceremonies commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Korean war.

He was named Seventh District Legionnaire of the Year in 2003 and Seventh District Humanitarian of the year in 2005. The city of Canandaigua named him volunteer of the year in 2006 and recently named a day in his honor.

Again, I thank Fred for his tremendous contributions, and I look forward to continue working with Fred to help those in need and do what is best for our community.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 343) recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Con. Res. 343.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 343, a resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, and I want to thank my friend and colleague from New York (Mr. Boehlert) for introducing this resolution and recognizing the important role that the Commission for Independent Colleges and Universities plays in educating New York students about their options for obtaining a postsecondary education.

This institution was founded in 1956 and incorporated in 1972, and the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities enjoys a diverse membership with a shared goal of shaping and strengthening public policies in higher education. Its membership institutions, which include more than 100 private nonprofit institutions of higher education, enroll close to 460,000 students, including 300,000 New York residents, and award 59 percent of our State's baccalaureate degrees and 81 percent of the doctoral and first professional degrees earned in the State. In my congressional district, there are nine campuses, which include Alfred University, Elmira College, Houghton College, CUCA College, Nazareth College of Rochester, Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester Institute of Technology, St. Bonaventure College, and Saint John Fisher College.

Independent sector campuses promote diversity in their missions and academic program offerings and in their student bodies. Approximately one in four, or 80,000, full-time and part-time graduates enrolled in New York State independent colleges and universities are considered nontraditional students. At dozens of campuses, more than one quarter of all undergraduates are age 25 or older. Sector-wide, one in four enrolled students, 26 percent, is Asian, African American, and/or Hispanic, nearly double the percentage of minority students who were enrolled in 1980, which was 15 percent.

The importance of independent colleagues and universities to the New York economy is significant. A recent study produced by the Nonpartisan Center for Governmental Research estimates that the total annual contribution to the economy made by independent colleagues and universities rose 42 percent over the past decade to $41.4 billion in 2005, up from $29 billion in 1995. This figure includes $20.8 billion in direct campus spending and $20.6 billion in spillover spending.

In addition to their importance to the economy, the independent campuses each year provide billions in aid to thousands of lower-income students, working to ensure that every single qualified student can earn a college degree. Access to college education will provide access to better jobs and certainly more opportunities for our young people.

The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities also participates in a number of outreach and educational efforts. For example, the commission produces publications for students and families that provide helpful

admissions information regarding member institutions and information about financial aid programs that may assist a student in obtaining a college education. Recently, over 500,000 copies of these documents were provided to New York high school guidance counselors and principals, in addition to public libraries and high schools in neighboring States.

Mr. Speaker, over the past 50 years the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities has provided invaluable information and assistance to New York's families and institutions. It is for that reason and all the others that I have articulated here today that I urge my colleagues to honor the 50th anniversary of this important organization and support House Concurrent Resolution 343.

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

Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield as much time as he may consume to the distinguished Member and colleague of mine from New York (Mr. Boehlert).

(Mr. BOEHLERT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6206) to revise the calculation of interest on investments of the Harry S. Truman Memorial Scholarship Fund.

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. 6206.

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

I rise in support of H.R. 6206, a bill to revise the calculation of interest on investments in the Harry S. Truman Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The Harry S. Truman Memorial Scholarship Fund was signed into law by President Ford in 1974, created with the purpose of awarding scholarships to college juniors who, and I quote, ``demonstrate outstanding potential for and who plan to pursue a career in public service.''

The foundation provides for at least 53 scholarships, and includes at least one for each State, each year, to deserving young people. The purpose of this measure before us is to align the foundation with other similar scholarship foundations.

Under current law, the Secretary of the Treasury is required to invest the foundation's trust fund solely, and I repeat, solely, in U.S. Treasury securities unless the Secretary explicitly chooses to invest in other obligations. Because of this restrictive policy, the scholarship funds have not been able to keep pace with the rapid increases in college tuition.

Specifically, H.R. 6206, would shift the authority for making the investment decisions in the Par Value Special Treasury Obligations to the foundation's board of trustees. The Par Value Special Treasury Obligations have a slightly higher interest rate than the current yield on the 10-year Treasury note. In addition, these special obligations may be bought and sold without penalty, a feature that would provide the foundation with much needed flexibility in its investments.

Both the James Madison Memorial Scholarship Foundation and the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development currently have this authority already. This measure simply gives the Harry S. Truman Memorial Scholarship Fund, the sole memorial to President Truman, the same authority.

Mr. Speaker, as college tuition continues to skyrocket, we must continue every opportunity to create scholarships that have the tools necessary to continue to attract students to serve in the areas of public service. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6206.

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

I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. English).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Akin).

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 484) commending The New York Institute for Special Education for providing excellent education for students with blindness and visual disabilities for 175 years, and for broadening its mission to provide the same quality education to students with emotional and learning disabilities.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Con. Res. 484.

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

I rise in strong support of this concurrent resolution to recognize the achievements of The New York Institute for Special Education. During this academic year, the institute is celebrating its 175th year of providing an outstanding education to students with special needs. I thank my colleague from New York (Mr. Crowley) for sponsoring this very important resolution.

Founded in 1831 as The New York Institution for the Education of the Blind, the institute began classes in March of 1832 as one of the first schools in the United States to provide an educational program for children who were blind or who were visually impaired. In the mid- 1980s, the institute expanded its mission to include programs for students with emotional and learning disabilities and for preschoolers with developmental delays.

To reflect this broader mission, the institute adopted its current name change in 1986. In the year 2000, the institute again expanded with the creation of the Cornerstone Literacy Initiative to provide staff development and school reform leadership to high poverty school districts throughout the entire United States.

This Congress has made special education a priority. In 2004, for instance, with overwhelming bipartisan support, we were able to reauthorize the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to provide teachers and parents and schools the tools needed to ensure that students in special education receive the opportunities that they deserve.

In addition, in 2002, we passed the No Child Left Behind Act which ensures that the achievement of children with disabilities is a priority, and underline that priority, in our school systems.

We are proud that we can partner with States, with local school districts and schools such as The New York Institute for Special Education, to ensure that our students with special needs are receiving a high-quality education that prepares them for success.

The New York Institute for Special Education in particular has a long history of providing just such an education for its students and being a leader in special education nationally.

I again thank my colleague for bringing this important resolution forward and for giving us the opportunity to celebrate The New York Institute for Special Education on the occasion of its 175th birthday, and I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 484.

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

Mr. Speaker, once again I offer my appreciation to my colleague from New York (Mr. Crowley) for bringing this resolution. I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor on H.R. 1696.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 478) supporting the goals and ideals of ``Lights On Afterschool!'', a national celebration of after-school programs.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Con. Res. 478.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 478, offered by my colleague, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey). This resolution seeks to support the goals and the ideals of Lights on Afterschool!, a national celebration of after-school programs. This year's Lights on Afterschool! rally, which takes place on October 12, 2006, is expected to include more than 7,000 events in the United States and at military bases around the world. This event is aimed at bringing attention to the need for high-quality after-school programs that keep kids safe, help working families, and improve academic achievement.

I support this resolution because after-school programs are an important part of many American's student lives. High-quality after- school programs provide safe, challenging and fun learning experiences that help children and youth develop their social, emotional, physical, cultural and academic skills.

I am pleased that we are able to bring attention to the critical importance of after-school programs. I commend the communities across the Nation that engage in innovative after-school programs and activities and ensure that the doors stay open and the lights stay on for all children after school.

This resolution is simple and straight forward. It supports the goals and ideals of Lights on Afterschool!, a nationwide celebration of after-school programs.

I commend my colleague, Mrs. Lowey, for her leadership in authoring H. Con. Res. 478. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time at this moment. Once again, I would like to commend my colleague Mrs. Lowey for bringing this important resolution to the floor, and I thank my colleague Mr. Davis for expounding upon the very need for it, and with that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4981) to amend the National Dam Safety Program Act, as amended.

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

H.R. 4981, as amended, reauthorizes the National Dam Safety Program for 5 years through fiscal year 2011. It makes minor improvements to the national inventory of dams. The existing program authorization expires in just 3 days at the end of September.

The National Dam Safety Program is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, commonly known as FEMA, and was established to improve safety and security around dams. The program provides assistance grants to State dam safety agencies to assist them in improving their regulatory programs, training and research, and to create a national inventory of dams.

According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams, there are nearly 2,000 dams in New York State, of which 133 are in my congressional district alone. Some of these high-hazard dams include the Almond Dam in Steuben County; the Canadice Lake Dam in Ontario County; the Cuba Lake Dam in Allegany County; and the Keuka Lake Outlet Dam in Yates County.

Of those 133 dams, 30 of them are considered to be high hazard and 41 are significant hazard. That means if there is a failure, and I underline, there is a high risk of death and destruction, high risk of death and destruction, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Reauthorization of this program is necessary to continue the program and benefit the research, development of information technology, and the training of State dam safety officials who are considered the Nation's first line of defense from dam failures.

I support this bill and encourage my colleagues to do the same.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no other requests for time. I would just like to thank my colleague from the other side of the aisle, Ms. Brown, for her support of this bill and certainly to my colleagues Mr. Matheson and Mr. Abercrombie for their cosponsorship of this bill; and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5295) to protect students and teachers, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 5295.

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

It gives me great pleasure to rise in support of H.R. 5295, the Student and Teacher Safety Act of 2006, of which I am a cosponsor. This bill is designed to help schools take actions to keep students and property safe from harm and destruction.

We have an obligation to make the learning environment in which our children attend free from weapons and drugs. By allowing school officials the ability to use their experience and intuition, we are eliminating these threats of violence before they have an opportunity to occur.

Specifically, this bill encourages local school agencies to establish policies that put parents and students on notice that weapons and drugs will not be tolerated within school bounds, and gives power to school officials and full-time teachers to enforce such policies. We all know that the threat of weapons

and drugs in school can create an intimidating and threatening environment making teaching and learning difficult.

The Supreme Court has ruled, and here today we should agree, that ``apart from education, the school has the obligation to protect pupils from mistreatment by other children, and also to protect teachers themselves from violence by the few students whose conduct in recent years has prompted national concern.''

Mr. Speaker, violence in our schools is simply not acceptable. Nothing is more important than the safety and the well-being of our children. Parents should feel secure that when children go to school, they will be completely safe. I say that again, completely safe. This bill provides some assurance that we are doing all that we can as parents, as educators and as leaders of this Nation to protect our children.

If we do not take a stand to keep our schools safe, to keep our children safe, and to allow our teachers to feel that they are in an environment where they are protected, then how can we achieve this goal?

Unless addressed by Congress, public school children will continue to be unnecessarily exposed to unacceptable levels of crime and school violence.

Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Davis), for introducing this important legislation, and I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 5295, the Student and Teacher Safety Act of 2006. A vote for this bill is a vote in support of school officials and teachers who fight to keep weapons and drugs out of our public schools every day and a vote to allow our children to have a safe learning environment.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Davis).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes at this time to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee, the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon).

(Mr. McKEON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick).

Mr. Speaker, we have no additional speakers other than myself to close, so if the gentleman from California would like to close at this time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close on this bill.

It seems as though there is a long distance between this side of the aisle and the other side of the aisle, because my friend Mr. Miller fails to recognize the statistics that the honorable gentleman from Kentucky mentioned. Regardless of the fact that there are school districts who are attempting to make changes in their disciplinary policies protecting students, the fact is that violence remains a very, very big issue in our schools. It needs to be resolved.

People, like the teachers on the front lines combating this violence and protecting our students, are not necessarily afforded the opportunities to do that. That is what this bill does. I applaud Mr. Davis for bringing it forward.

The bill simply asks, and while my friend Mr. Miller would try to distort what the bill actually does, the bill asks school districts, each and every one of them separately, to develop and implement a policy on school safety. Nowhere in this legislation is language requiring what the policy should look like or how strict or relaxed it should be. The legislation merely allows each and every individual school district to craft unique policies with guidance established by the Supreme Court decision. That Supreme Court decision, and I will quote again, simply says apart from education, the school, and I underline the school, has the obligation to protect pupils from mistreatments by other children and also to protect teachers themselves from violence by the few students whose conduct in recent years has promoted national concern.

Now let's go to the actual language. I don't know whether Mr. Miller has had an opportunity to read the bill, but the bill itself specifically says each local educational agency shall have in effect throughout the jurisdiction of the agency policies that ensure that a search described in subsection (b) is deemed reasonable and permissible. No question about it.

Some people might concern themselves with the fact that this might be

an overextension of personal rights, but the Supreme Court has defined what is permissible. In no way does this bill give permission for school officials to perform mass or strip searches of students. No way.

Also, Mr. Miller, let me assure you that while you can make castigations about this side of the aisle trying to balance the budget, nobody on this side of the aisle has suggested that funding for the implementation of this program is to be deleted. As a matter of fact, we openly support increased funding to implement this policy

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5295, and I yield back the balance of my time.