Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, this weekend marks the 21st Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals held in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This great event, which was founded in 1987, is organized by Emmett Hahn and Lanny Edwards, recent inductees into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame. The Chili Bowl is referred to as midget racing's answer to the Super Bowl.

This annual event draws thousands of people to the Tulsa area from around the country and will bring in an estimated $12 million to Tulsa's economy. The Chili Bowl itself, held in the Tulsa Expo Center, is an exciting four nights of super powered midget vehicles racing on a quarter-mile clay oval track.

The Chili Bowl draws everyone from amateur drivers to NASCAR champions, who view this event as a great way to spend their off season. This year's event will feature Kasey Kahne, who drives for Evernham Motorsports in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, and Tony Stewart, who drives for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and was the Chili Bowl champion in 2002. In addition, reigning Chili Bowl champion Tim McCreadie will be there to defend his title.

I would like to welcome all the fans and participants to Tulsa and hope that they have a fun, safe event.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (Stop Act), which tackles an important issue facing families in every congressional district, the issue of underage drinking. If present for rollcall vote 521 on H.R. 864, the measure would have my strong support.

The Stop Act serves to restate the importance of state alcohol laws in fighting underage drinking while supplementing federal research and advocacy with additional funds. I am proud to support this legislation to confront the growing problem of underage drinking.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in proud support of S. 1820, which will designate the 6110 East 51st Place post office in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the Dewey F. Bartlett Post Office.

I was pleased to introduce the companion legislation, H.R. 4051, which passed the House in March, and I again encourage my colleagues to join me in support of S. 1820. Dewey F. Bartlett was a strong advocate for conservative values, a war veteran and a public servant for Oklahoma and the Nation. He served as the second Republican Governor of Oklahoma and is a distinguished alumni of the United States Senate. He was a true representative of Oklahoma values, leadership and drive, and I am pleased that we are able to honor him in this way.

After graduating from Princeton University in 1942, Dewey Bartlett served in the Marine Corps as a combat dive bomber pilot during World War II. As a result of his courageous efforts in the South Pacific theater, he was awarded the Air Medal. After the war he moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and became a farmer, rancher and oilman. He was a partner in the Keener Oil Company, one of Oklahoma's oldest, small independent oil companies.

In 1963, he began his career in public service by joining the State Senate and then, in 1967, he became Oklahoma's 19th Governor. One of his priorities while in office was increasing industry in Oklahoma. As Governor the results of his hard work helped to produce a record $148.4 million in new industries or improvements in existing facilities and created 7,500 jobs for Oklahomans.

From 1972 to 1978, Bartlett served as a Member of the United States Senate. During his tenure, this proud Oklahoman maintained a strong consistent stance on limited government bureaucracy, reducing burdensome taxes and maintaining fiscal responsibility. I am proud to share Dewey Bartlett's vision of conservatism and work daily toward the goal of promoting commonsense Oklahoma values in Congress.

By designating the Dewey F. Bartlett Post Office in Tulsa, we are commemorating an exceptional person who embodied the spirit of Oklahoma.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 260, the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act, which was introduced in the Senate by my friend and fellow Oklahoman, Senator Inhofe.

I would like to thank some of the people that work on the staff, Nathan Richmond and the famous Ryan Jackson on the Public Works Committee for all their support. The bill is supported by 34 different sportsmen and conservation groups.

I would like to thank my colleagues, Fisheries and Oceans Subcommittee Chairman Gilchrest and House Resources Chairman Pombo, for their consideration and leadership on this bill. I was proud to introduce companion legislation, H.R. 2018, in the House last year.

Senate bill 260 will authorize the popular Partners for Fish and Wildlife program. The Partners Program provides technical and financial assistance to private landowners to voluntarily restore wetlands and other fish and wildlife habitat on their own land.

With more than 80 percent of the fish and wildlife in the United States on private lands, S. 260 is needed to encourage public-private landowners in Oklahoma and around our Nation to enter into agreements with the Federal Government to conserve valuable natural habitat and wildlife.

Since 1987, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has operated the Partners Program as a separate line item under the President's budget, subjecting these funds to reprogramming within the Fish and Wildlife Services.

Senate bill 260 authorizes up to $75 million through fiscal year 2011 to allow this successful program to stabilize and expand. Given that thousands of landowners are eager to participate in the Partners Program, Senate bill 260 couldn't come at a better time.

As a sportsman, I believe that it is our responsibility to protect and preserve our natural resources. There are few things I enjoy more than fishing with my kids, and we owe our future generations the same opportunity.

Most people think that wildlife conservation and the rights of private landholders are a naturally combative force and are mutually exclusive. The Partners Program is a shining example of how we can protect wildlife and the property of individuals at the same time.

The simple fact is the future of our natural resources depends on the conservation of habitat, the successful management of wildlife, and the control of invasive species on private land. Passage of S. 260 today is critical to ensure its continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support our efforts to secure Iraq in the ongoing Global War on Terror and to honor the brave work our servicemen and women are doing to protect our freedoms at home and to promote democracy abroad.

Iraq is the central front in the Global War on Terror. Al-Qaeda views Iraq as the main battleground to spread their ideology of hate and violence against the Iraqi people and the civilized world. The simple fact is we are fighting terrorists in Iraq so we don't have to fight them here on our homeland.

I have visited Iraq and have seen firsthand the atrocities brought on the Iraqi people and their infrastructure by Saddam Hussein's regime. I stood in the spider hole that Saddam Hussein was cowering in before his capture and was able to meet many of the brave men and women in uniform who are serving there. Now, the ``Butcher of Baghdad'' is behind bars and is on trial for brutal crimes against his own people, and democracy is slowly coming to fruition in a Nation and a region of the world that has never known it.

It has been an exciting week in Iraq, with the completion of Iraq's National Unity Government and the death of Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi, a terrorist and ally of Osama bin Laden. This week was capped off by President Bush's surprise trip to Baghdad Tuesday to reaffirm our Nation's commitment to securing a peaceful Iraq.

Only with our continued presence and coalition support will Iraq be able to make the transition to a peacful and prosperous democracy. It is imperative that we remain patient and vigilant as we continue our missions in Iraq and in the Global War on Terror.

Mr. Speaker, may God continue to bless our brave men and women serving to protect our homeland.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague and friend from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne) for his work on this. It has been great, and as we anticipate the celebration of Father's Day this weekend, I am proud to have introduced H. Res. 318, which supports responsible fatherhood, promotes marriage and encourages greater involvement of fathers in the lives of their children.

Three of my four children are in Washington with me this week, and I find it very fitting that they are here to share in the passage of this resolution. Being a father is one of the greatest blessings in my life. I love my job, but I look forward to the end of the week when I can head back home to Tulsa and to be with my family.

My children Tommy, Meredith, Sydney and Daniel are my number one priority, and I strive every day to show them they are important. I would like to take this opportunity to remind all fathers, including myself, to spend extra quality time with their children on Father's Day and to continue to do so throughout the year.

I introduced this resolution not only to honor fathers but to call attention to the importance of the job. The role that fathers play in the development of our youth cannot be understated.

According to findings by the National Fatherhood Initiative, which have been reiterated already, the closer adolescents feel to their fathers regardless of the type of family structure in which they live, the less likely it is that they will engage in the use of drugs or delinquent behavior. Involved and proactive fathers help to shape confident and productive future citizens.

So as we honor fathers on Father's Day we should also encourage men to evaluate their own participation in their children's lives, because you can never be too involved.

It is also important to note that this bill includes language recognizing the outstanding efforts of single mothers, grandparents and other caretakers. Their efforts are heroic and should be applauded.

As a cochair of the Fatherhood Caucus, as a father and as a concerned citizen, I ask my colleagues to promote responsible fatherhood and support H. Res. 318.

Mr. Speaker, I intended to vote ``nay'' on rollcall vote 167 to H.R. 5386 taken on May 18, 2006.

Madam Speaker, we all know that gas prices are very high right now, but one of the reasons that gas prices are high is that we haven't built or expanded a refinery in this country for 30 years, and the reason is because the environmental extremists won't allow that to happen. That is one of the reasons there is not enough supply for the demand out there. It is very simple. That is what it is, supply and demand.

Our refineries right now are operating at maximum capacity. They can't pump out any more gas to the people of this country. So we need to expand domestic production. We need to expand refining capacity in this country. It is critically important we do that, and that in return will help to reduce gas prices in this country.

So we need to build these around the country and to build them with geographical diversity as it relates to the refining capacity. Katrina underscored that, because 40 percent of our refining capacity is down in the gulf, and it was affected by Katrina. We saw gas prices go up when they were affected. So one of the things we need to do is spread refining capacity around the country.

One of the best places to build a refinery in this country is Cushing, Oklahoma. I say that not only because I am from Oklahoma, but because nine major oil pipelines intersect in Cushing. We have the infrastructure in place already and the supply there. It is about a near perfect place to build a refinery in this great country. We need it desperately. Let's make it a megarefinery producing 500,000 barrels a day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a physician who has served my home State of Oklahoma and the Nation with distinction over the past 6 years. On April 20, 2006, Ray E. Stowers, D.O. will participate in his final meeting as a member of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC).

For the past 6 years, Dr. Stowers represented the interest of Medicare beneficiaries, physicians, and hospitals as a member of this distinguished Federal body. Most notably, he represented the interest of rural America. During his years of service, MedPAC made recommendations on several difficult health policy issues, including advice on how to establish and implement a prescription drug benefit within the Medicare program.

Dr. Stowers spent over 25 years in a private, solo family practice clinic in northwest Oklahoma. At various times throughout his career, he was the only physician in the entire county. He provided care for the young and old alike. Many evenings were spent visiting the homes of those too ill to travel to his office.

Following his years in practice, Dr. Stowers accepted a position as the Director of Rural Health at the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (OSU-COM) in Tulsa, OK. This position allowed him to share his experiences with medical students and residents, while designing training programs to prepare them for practice in rural and underserved areas. The Rural Health Center has emerged as one of the premier rural training programs in the country and continues to provide a valuable service to the citizens of Oklahoma.

Throughout his career, he has served the citizens of Oklahoma and the Nation well. Before serving on MedPAC, he was a member of the Physician Payment Review Commission (PPRC) prior to the formation of MedPAC in 1997. Additionally, Dr. Stowers served 7 years on the American Medical Association's Relative Value Update Committee (RUC). He truly is one of the Nation's foremost experts on physician payment policies.

Many will never understand or appreciate the time and energy Dr. Stowers dedicated to his service on MedPAC. However, as a Member of Congress representing constituents impacted by the policies developed by MedPAC, I appreciate the professional and caring manner in which he went about his duties. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my fellow Oklahomans I would like to thank Dr. Stowers for his service and wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in proud support of my bill, H.R. 4054, which will designate the 6110 East 51st Place post office in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the Dewey F. Bartlett Post Office.

Dewey F. Bartlett was a strong advocate for conservative values. A war veteran and public servant for Oklahoma and the Nation, he served as the second Republican Governor of Oklahoma and is a distinguished alumnus of the United States Senate.

He was a true representative of Oklahoma values, leadership and drive. I am pleased that we are able to honor him in this way.

After graduating from Princeton University in 1942, Dewey Bartlett served in the Marine Corps as a combat dive-bomber during World War II. As a result of his courageous efforts in the South Pacific theater, he was awarded the Air Medal.

After the war, he moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and became a farmer, rancher and oil man. He was a partner in Keener Oil Company, one of the oldest independent oil companies. In 1963, Bartlett began his career in public service by joining the State senate, and in 1967 he became Oklahoma's 19th Governor. One of his priorities while in office was increasing industry in Oklahoma. As Governor, the results of his hard work helped to produce a record $148.4 million in new industries or improvements on existing facilities and create an additional 7,500 jobs for Oklahomans.

From 1972 to 1978, Bartlett served as a Member of the United States Senate. During his tenure, this proud Oklahoman maintained a strong and consistent stance of limiting government bureaucracy, reducing burdensome taxes, and maintaining fiscal responsibility. I am proud to share Dewey Bartlett's vision of conservatism, and work daily towards the goal of promoting commonsense Oklahoma values in Congress.

I encourage my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation. By designating the Dewey F. Bartlett Post Office in Tulsa, we are commemorating an exceptional citizen who embodied the Oklahoma spirit.

Mr. Speaker, this evening, I introduced H.R. 4744, legislation to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Outpatient Clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma as the Ernest Childers VA Outpatient Clinic to honor one of our nation's finest military heroes.

Ernest Childers holds the distinction of being the first Native American to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic action in 1943 at the battle of Oliveto, Italy, when he charged German machine gun nests against machine gun fire. Although suffering a broken foot in the assault, Childers ordered covering fire and advanced up a hill, single-handedly killing two snipers, silencing two machine gun nests and capturing an enemy mortar observer. His courageous action helped American troops win the battle and save the lives of American soldiers. Childers was also awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for his actions.

Born in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Childers, enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard in 1937 to earn extra money while attending the

Chilocco Indian School in north-central Oklahoma. While stationed at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, he was deployed to Africa to fight in World War II. Childers retired from the Army in 1965 as a Lieutenant Colonel but remained very active in the Tulsa community serving Indian youth, which led to the naming of a middle school in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma in his honor in 1985.

As a proud Creek Indian, in 1966, Childers was honored by the Tulsa Chapter of the Council of American Indians as ``Oklahoma's most outstanding Indian.'' Of his military service in World War II, Childers once said, ``The American Indian has only one country to defend, and when you're picked on, the American Indian never turns his back.'' A fitting quote from a man who exemplified courage under fire and dedication to defending our nation.

Until his death on March 17, 2005, Childers was Oklahoma's last Congressional Medal of Honor recipient still living in the state. I am proud to introduce this legislation to honor his life and legacy. We were honored to have him grace us with his model character, defend us with his bravery, and leave us all with a life well-lived.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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

First, I would like to thank the Rules Committee for approving my amendment. And let me say that H.R. 4437 is a good start to addressing immigration reform. However, I feel the bill needs to do more to protect and enforce immigration laws throughout our Nation's interior.

National security does not stop at our Nation's borders. Interior security is national security. My amendment is in direct response to the lack of Federal immigration enforcement in cities and towns across the Nation.

It gives willing local law enforcement and State law enforcement the ability to detain illegal aliens in the course of their regular duties. The simple truth is, our State and local law enforcement officers confront illegal aliens more often than Federal agents. My amendment also requires Federal authorities to respond to and detain all illegal aliens reported to the Department of Homeland Security by State and local law enforcement. Federal authorities will now have a choice between either taking immediate custody of illegal or criminal aliens or paying for their continued local detention.

With my amendment, the current policy of catch and release will give way to deter and remove. The key word here is ``willing.'' The amendment does not force or mandate State or local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws. It simply gives them the option of doing so in the course of their regular duties.

It is common sense that willing law enforcement agencies should have the inherent authority and the ability to protect citizens and their community when they come across criminal violations involving illegal aliens.

My amendment also expands expedited removal nationwide for all illegal aliens who cannot prove to the immigration officer they have been in the United States for more than 1 year. Newly arrived illegal aliens coming up from our southern border through Arizona should not get the benefit of a court date simply because they successfully circumvented U.S. law and made it to Phoenix, Arizona, which is 180 miles away. This bill only applies expedited removal up to 100 miles of the southern border.

The Department of Homeland Security has the authority to invoke expedited removal nationwide up to 2 years, but they have chosen not to do so. Expedited removal must apply nationwide.

Lastly, my amendment requires that, by 2008, all non-citizens who enter or exit the country be processed through an automated entry-exit control system Congress mandated in 1996. However, to be effective and secure, the program must require every non-citizen's entry and exit to be recorded, not just a fraction of non-immigrants entering the U.S.

The statistics on this issue are startling. According to the Government Accountability Office, the current risk of visa overstay being identified and removed is less than 2 percent. And we know that visa overstayers account for 40 percent of the illegal alien population.

I feel this amendment is a commonsense approach to deter illegal immigration and will strengthen H.R. 4437, and I encourage its passage.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I respect the gentleman from Wisconsin's and the gentlewoman from Texas' opposition to my amendment, and you have done a great job. The chairman does a great job in what you do as well. But, unfortunately, we disagree on this issue.

Simply put, this bill will not be complete without my amendment in it. Our cities and towns that lie far away from the border need these resources to have the same protection of law that border towns receive.

In my State of Oklahoma, it is estimated that 40 percent of the immigrant population is illegal. I would just like to give you an example of what goes on in our district and the people out in the middle of the United States and other places.

We had a van pulled over in my community as happens dozens of times, but the van had 18 illegals in it. Our local law enforcement did its job, pulled that van over about 2 o'clock in the morning, it had five juveniles in it, 18 people, five juveniles under the age of nine, but no adult or guardians. The adults that were driving and in the van were drinking.

They found amounts of drugs in their pockets. They were on an admitted smuggling load to Chicago, and the juveniles were in there. Sometimes these juveniles, I hope they were just working in a sweat shop even though that is bad, sometimes they are subjected to child pornography and those kinds of things. But our local law enforcement did its job, called their local Immigration Customs Office, which is in Oklahoma City, and asked them, Here is the situation. What do you want us to do? And our local Immigration Office, do you know what they said? Let them go.

Well, no constituent in my district that was driving without insurance and drinking or something like that which is wrong was pulled over, they would be arrested. We let them go. We need to stop doing this. This is absolutely crazy. And it should not just apply to border towns. This is happening all across our country, and I am standing up for the constituents across this country. It is very important.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of S. 397, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.

I am an original cosponsor of the House version of this legislation because I do not believe that licensed gun manufacturers and merchants should be held legally responsible for the unlawful use of their lawful products. Continuing to allow these frivolous lawsuits could set a dangerous precedent for future lawsuits affecting many other industries across the nation. By passing this similar Senate bill, we will prevent state courts from bankrupting the national firearms industry and undermining all citizens' constitutional right to bear arms.

Tort law rests upon a foundation of individual responsibility where a product may not be defined as defective unless there is something wrong with the product, rather than with the product's user. It is ridiculous to allow such lawsuits to clog our courtrooms and hinder those with valid claims from receiving justice.

Today, this Congress has the opportunity to address unfounded lawsuits and guard a legal and law-abiding industry. We should pass this legislation to protect the rights of citizens who own and operate firearms in a legal manner, and to free up our courtrooms for those legitimately harmed by defective products.

I urge my colleagues to vote for this sensible legislation and set a precedent of respect for an industry which has done nothing wrong. We should hold individuals responsible for their crime, not the product manufacturer.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincerest condolences and sympathies to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. With the recent devastation of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, our Nation has reached a state of emergency. My thoughts and prayers are with those who have been tragically uprooted from their communities, or have lost loved ones in the path of the destruction. I wholeheartedly support the effort to provide food, water, and daily necessities to these victims, as well as the long-term effort to rebuild our Gulf Coast and house the now-homeless.

As we move forward with the effort to provide for families and to rebuild, it is Congress' job to ensure that federal aid and taxpayer dollars are spent appropriately and are reaching the truly needy. Last week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency was spending just over $500 million a day, an unprecedented rate, and over the weekend spending reached $2 billion a day. Over $60 billion in emergency appropriations has been allocated, a record for disaster relief, and Congress is expected to authorize more funds in the coming weeks.

I strongly urge that future spending bills for Hurricane Katrina include controls on how the money will be spent; that this spending is offset with reductions in other programs, just as Congress did following the California earthquake and the Oklahoma City bombing; and that Federal resources are allocated for rebuilding only where State and local governments and the private sector cannot provide the funds.

Additionally, I encourage accountability and meticulous record keeping within the federal organizations funding the emergency and rebuilding efforts. I feel it is imperative that the Department of Homeland Security and other related agencies help these citizens and rebuild these towns, but in a financially responsible manner, ensuring every dollar is spent wisely and fairly in an effort to best help the victims of this tragedy. In this time of disaster, it is important that we do not saddle future generations with unmanageable debt, but rather work together to exercise fiscal responsibility.

Mr. Speaker, one year ago Chen Shui-bian was re-elected as President of Taiwan. The election was evidence that Taiwan is a vibrant democracy in an area of the world where totalitarianism is still the rule for the vast majority of the people in East Asia.

I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the one year anniversary of President Chen's re-election, to offer my congratulations to the people of Taiwan and to reflect on the current state of affairs on Taiwan and across the Taiwan straits with China.

Earlier this year China passed its anti-secession law, codifying the use of force if Taiwan moves toward independence. At the moment, there is a heated debate on Taiwan regarding the recent visits of Taiwan's two opposition leaders to China. This debate is further evidence of the strength of Taiwan's democracy. President Chen and other opponents of reunification have been steadfast in demanding that the people of Taiwan must be safeguarded. I am confident President Chen will not waiver on his longstanding position of protecting Taiwan.

Mr. Speaker, Americans treasure our affiliations and relations with Taiwan just as we admire Taiwan's political and economic achievements of the last two decades. Taiwan today is a beacon of democracy and an island of prosperity to many developing countries in East Asia and throughout the world.

The Taiwanese people, as Americans know, strongly value their democratic way of life and their independence. It is vital that no action be taken which would compromise these long cherished principles which were developed after decades of hard work. I also applaud President Chen for pointing out the critical differences between democratic Taiwan and autocratic China and the importance of conducting direct talks by elected leaders in Taiwan and China.

Mr. Speaker, while we do not know when the leader of Taiwan and the leader of China will have direct talks, I believe it is critical for China to immediately withdraw its missiles which are deployed on the other side of the Taiwan Strait and establish stable mechanisms for cross-strait interaction. These actions will go a long way toward reaching a permanent peace and creating sustainable development in the Taiwan Strait.