Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I would like to compliment our chairman and ranking member and other Members of this body who have worked very hard to try to help families and working individuals across the country.

I would like to talk a little bit about the State of Nevada and some of the challenges that we are facing. State economists today say that they expect that next year our unemployment rate in Nevada should rise to about 8.6 percent and stay there through 2010, a striking example of why we need to pass this legislation. As a Congress, we have failed to pass a comprehensive energy bill, which has caused us serious challenges in Nevada. But let me talk about some of the specifics.

Individuals are not traveling to Nevada as they used to, although now is the time to travel. We have some of the best bargains in the world. But I can assure you that because of the cost of living, the cost of fuel, with the highest foreclosure rate in the country in my district alone, we are having some major impacts occur on our families. We need to find a way to help these families immediately, and I applaud Congress for its actions today, for the relief package for millions of Americans. This is one more step to help those working families.

As I mentioned, we are facing serious economic challenges in Nevada. We have had three bank failures to date, and I have heard from numerous families over and over again and their neighbors and friends as to the impact of the bank foreclosures.

We need to find additional action. This is it. Again, I applaud my colleagues here in Congress for having the foresight, and to the chairman, I appreciate it.

Madam Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to rise today to honor the life of

my good friend, Byron LaRue Miller, by entering his name in the Congressional Record, the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress since 1873. Today, I pay tribute to Byron LaRue Miller for his outstanding contributions to the Boulder City, Nevada community.

Byron had a long and successful career in the federal service, mostly in the electric power industry, but also at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Byron first started his long and illustrious career at the FDIC and subsequently worked at the Bonneville Power Administration before serving in the United States Navy for three years during World War II as a Lieutenant JG.

After serving his country in a time of war, Byron went on to serve in the Bureau of Reclamation (BLM) in Denver, and later Boulder City. While with the BLM, Byron truly distinguished himself, earning the Department of the Interior's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award in 1966. Byron then went on to work with Nevada Power Company, after leaving the BLM, from 1973 to 1983. During his tenure with the Nevada Power Company, Byron was well respected in the field as an authority on electric power marketing, transmission and system interconnection.

In addition to his professional successes, Byron was a dedicated community servant. Among Byron's many philanthropic pursuits were the Boulder City Hospital and Boulder City library, where he sat on the boards, as well as Lend A Hand and Grace Community Church. Byron was also an avid and dedicated Rotarian, serving a number of offices, and being inducted into the Rotary's Hall of Fame after 50 years of service.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor my good friend, Byron LaRue Miller. His dedication to community and serving his country are admirable and should serve as an example to us all. He will be long remembered in the Boulder City community for his hospitality and compassion.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2638--The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009.

Requesting Member: Congressman Jon C. Porter

Bill Number: H.R. 2638--The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009

Account: Army, RDTE account

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Southwest Gas

Address of Requesting Entity: 4300 W. Tropicana, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $2,400,000 to complete funding to continue the stringent 10-ton GEDAC field tests at four military installations. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the Army, RDTE account.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2638--The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009

Requesting Member: Congressman Jon C. Porter.

Bill Number: H.R. 2638--The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009.

Account: Air Force, OM account.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Giant Campus.

Address of Requesting Entity: 3101 Western Avenue, Suite 100, Seattle, WA, USA.

Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $2,000,000 to complete funding to allow for the continuation of an on-base program, offering technology curriculum through in-class study, additional after-school and evening community programs, and a more concentrated series during vacations or school breaks. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the Air Force, OM account.

Requesting Member: Congressman Jon C. Porter.

Bill Number: H.R. 2638--The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009.

Account: Navy, Force Protection Advanced Technology account.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Pierce Targets.

Address of Requesting Entity: 215 Grand Mediterra Henderson, NV 89011.

Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $1,600,000 for the demonstration and evaluation of the self healing target system at Guam and research, development, and testing of next generation large scale self healing targets for bombing ranges. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the Navy, Force Protection Advanced Technology account.

Requesting Member: Congressman Jon C. Porter.

Bill Number: H.R. 2638--The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009.

Account: Army, RDTE account.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Opticomp.

Address of Requesting Entity: 215 Elks Point Road, P.O. Box 10779 Zephyr Cove, Nevada 89448-2779.

Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $2,200,000 to build a WMD-capable optical amplifier system that may be integrated with wave guide-based massively parallel optical

interconnect, MPOI, technology. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the Army, RDTE account.

Requesting Member: Congressman Jon Porter.

Bill Number: H.R. 2638--The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009.

Account: Navy, RDTE account.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Progeny Systems Corporation.

Address of Requesting Entity: 2501 N. Green Valley Parkway, Suite 130-D, Henderson, Nevada 89014.

Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $2,500,000 for Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles PE 0305204N, Project 2478, only to continue Phase III SBIR N04-011 Unmanned Air Systems Tactical Control System ``Open Architecture'' Migration Program in FY09. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the Navy, RDTE account.

Requesting Member: Congressman Jon C. Porter.

Bill Number: H.R. 2638--The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009.

Account: Air Force, AP account.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: ATK.

Address of Requesting Entity: 5050 Lincoln Drive, Edina, MN, USA.

Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $400,000 to complete funding for upgrades to the Podded Reconnaissance System, also known as SCATHE VIEW, to provide ground and air forces critical real-time intelligence for domestic disaster relief operations and war fighter requirements. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the Air Force, AP account.

Requesting Member: Congressman Jon C. Porter.

Bill Number: H.R. 2638--The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009.

Account: Army, RDTE account.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Nevada Cancer Institute.

Address of Requesting Entity: 10000 W. Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas,

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include therein extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I am here today as an honored Member of the United States Congress, and I appreciate, Madam Speaker, your leadership and that of our chairman and our ranking member on an issue I think is very important to every family in this great country, but most important for those families that are trying to adopt a child or those in foster care.

Today, we're recognizing National Adoption Day, which is November 15, 2008. It's for continued awareness of adoption and foster issues.

Madam Speaker, can you imagine that there are children today sitting in a living room somewhere across America, possibly watching television, maybe reading a book or playing cards with their friends or another sibling. But imagine if you're that child and a car pulls up in front of your house, and out of it comes one or two individuals that come and knock at your door and tell you that you have to move. You may have been there for a week. You may have been there for a month. You may have been there for a year with this particular foster family. Imagine the pain of that child, realizing that two strangers are coming to the door to take them to another place to reside.

Now, most children in our country are blessed they don't face that particular challenge. Again, can you imagine if that same child then is removed from that home and moved to another home, without even a medical record, they may have to have additional inoculation, they may not have their glasses, they may not have all their personal belongings.

Madam Speaker, this is why we are recognizing Adoption Day and recognizing foster families across the country, because of the important role that they play in the well-being of our children.

Currently, there are 500,000 children in the foster care system around the United States, and there's 130,000 children just waiting for adoption. At firsthand knowledge, in the State of Nevada, we have about 4,000 children a year that enter into the foster care

system, and last year, many of those children were blessed to find a home; 444 children were adopted.

I have a family that I recognize this week. The Congressional Coalition on Adoption has provided for us as Members to recognize individuals for their help in fostering homes and creating adoptions, and that's Scott and Kathleen Greenberg of Las Vegas, Nevada. They are proud parents of a 15-month-old son, Evan.

They, of course, found it rewarding but also challenging because it took close to 5 years for this loving family to be able to adopt a child. They started in Tennessee. They then worked through Georgia, through different adoption agencies. They now are working through Nevada, but it took 5 years, and each time they had to start over. They had challenges of arranged adoptions; they had challenges of the public system.

Madam Speaker, the reason we're here today is to encourage families to adopt these children, to be patient, but also, the legislation, with the leadership of our chairman and our ranking member, should make it easier now for families like the Greenbergs to adopt children.

In Nevada, I've worked closely with the foster care program, and I think, like most of us, our children keep coming back no matter what age, but for foster kids, at the age of 18, as they move on from the foster care system, many of them do not have a home to come back to. So in the Nevada legislature we passed legislation to create a program for foster children between the ages of 18 and 21, and we created a fund to help these children with education, with training, with housing, with health care. It's funded through a copying of documents in the county of Clark, and we're raising about $1 million a year right now to help these children in transition.

Madam Speaker, I'm here today to ask not only for our colleagues to support this legislation, but in our own districts across the country, remind these moms and dads and these individuals that want to adopt children that we want to make it as easy and safe and a wonderful experience that it can be, and that's why we're recognizing this program today.

My great appreciation goes out to Scott and Kathleen Greenberg as the proud parents and to all those other families in Nevada that are part of the foster program, to all the professionals across the country that are working hard to make sure that our children have safe homes.

Today, I ask for your support and that of the rest of this body in supporting our resolution which recognizes National Adoption Day for November 15, 2008.

I appreciate this opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately an amendment that I proposed was shut out by the Democratic majority regarding renewal energy projects on public lands.

As you know, Nevada is on the forefront of a renewable energy. We have the third largest solar facility in the world in my district.

I have made some suggestions, so I have had to drop my own bill, since the leadership would not allow this to be heard, to ensure that when leasing or buying Federal lands, developers of renewable energy shall be able to lease or buy the property at existing fair market value.

It would expedite the process. We want to make sure if there is a solar or geothermal facility or wind or, whatever alternative energy, it is an expedited process.

It would direct the Secretary of the Interior to expedite these applications for renewable energy; direct the Secretary to also prioritize Federal land across the country, which could be used for renewable energy projects, and by local governments. It directs the Secretary to identify all Federal lands around the country that are suitable and feasible for alternative projects.

It's unfortunate this would not be heard by the majority party. This is something that is important to move this process along.

Mr. Speaker, Congress needs to act now to encourage the development of renewable resources on Federal lands, but as always bureaucracy and red tape are interfering with the process.

I am proud to introduce legislation that will remove regulatory and bureaucratic delays that are impeding the development of renewable energy projects on available Federal lands in resource rich states like my home state of Nevada.

According to the Department of Interior, there are currently 210 solar energy applications pending with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and 217 applications pending with the BLM for wind energy projects.

My legislation would help alleviate the bureaucratic hurdles and delays and streamline the application process needed to move renewable energy projects forward as we seek to address the current energy crisis.

My legislation will also:

Ensure that when leasing or buying Federal lands, developers of renewable energy projects shall be able to lease or buy the public land at the existing value fair market value, not the price of the land once the plant is built and improvements are made;

Expedite an efficient process for the submission and consideration of renewable energy projects;

Direct the Secretary of Interior to expedite all those applications for renewable energy projects currently in the logjam of bureaucratic delays;

Direct the Secretary to prioritize Federal land transfers for renewable energy projects to local governments; and

Direct the Secretary to identify all Federal lands around the country that are suitable and feasible for alternative energy projects.

A brief reminder of why renewable energy development is important to the Nation:

The economic impact of new renewable energy projects is immense-- hundreds of thousands of jobs to develop and operate these power plants, bringing new tax dollars into rural communities, where unemployment is high and a boost to the local economies are sorely needed.

Renewable power plants reduce the Nation's dependence on fossil fuels and imports, enhancing our national security, improving our balance of payments, and stimulating our economy.

Renewable power plants improve our environment, reducing greenhouse gases and clearing our air.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation,

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of my good friend Barry Becker Jr., who passed away August 12, 2008.

Mr. Becker was born on June 11, 1970 in Burbank, California, and within a year of his birth he was a resident of the Las Vegas community. He graduated from Bishop Gorman High School in 1988. After high school he attended Arizona State University where he earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts. After graduating from college, Barry decided to uphold the endeavors and honorable work ethic of his family by joining their business, Becker Realty Corp. His congenial personality and his strong ties to the community were immediate assets to the company, but they also helped make Barry independently successful.

Through his many humanitarian efforts in community and business activities, he continuously demonstrated the honorable principles and standards championed by the Southern Nevada community. A man of great faith, he truly understood the importance of prayer and positivity and he strived to maintain a positive attitude and uplifting spirit.

As son, brother, husband and friend, Mr. Becker never failed to show the utmost respect, dedication and love to everyone around him. I offer my heartfelt condolences and genuine support to his dear wife Shannon, his brothers Danny and Randy, his parents Sue and Barry, his grandmother Betty and to all those who held him dear, of which there were undoubtedly many.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor the life and legacy of my friend Barry Becker Jr. His work and dedication to the Las Vegas community were commendable and enriched countless lives. Mr. Becker was a great man and he will always be admired for his compassion, dedication to his family, and his generosity. Most of all, he will be profoundly missed.

Madam Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to rise today to honor my friend Duncan McCoy by entering his name in the Congressional Record, the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress since 1873. Today, I honor Duncan McCoy for his service to the Boulder City community and congratulate him on his retirement.

Duncan has dedicated his life to enriching the lives of others and sharing his passion for reading. Duncan is a veteran librarian with over 38 years of experience and he became Director of the Boulder City library in 1989. Upon becoming Director, Mr. McCoy has continuously and tirelessly advocated for the Boulder City Library. His tenacity and hard work paid off when he was able to secure bond funding to help the library move into a much larger building to expand its growth.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor my friend Duncan McCoy. His vision and commitment to excellence have greatly enriched the Boulder City community and allowed many of our friends and neighbors to experience the joys of reading. I applaud his efforts and wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to rise today to honor the former First Lady of Nevada, Dema Guinn, by entering her name in the Congressional Record,

the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress since 1873. Today, I pay tribute to Dema Guinn for her outstanding service to the State of Nevada.

Mrs. Guinn has served the Nevada community in countless ways including her fundraising campaigns for both the Nevada State Museum and the Keck Mining Museum. Her efforts in bringing Nevada's second statue, Sarah Winnemucca, to Statuary Hall of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. and her renovation of the Governor's Mansion to better reflect Nevada's history were both great successes. While First Lady Dema Guinn has been involved in many projects, her largest contribution has been her continued support of Nevada's health care system. Having lost a cousin to breast cancer in 1995, Mrs. Guinn recognized the hardships and suffering felt by many Nevadans in similar situations. The real tragedy is that Mrs. Guinn's cousin did not have health insurance and never had the chance to have a mammogram performed, which could have staved off this vicious disease. From this devastation, First Lady Dema Guinn was able to found the Mammovan, a traveling health care van that provides free mammograms to uninsured women.

The Mammovan began touring Nevada in January of 2000. During Mrs. Guinn's tenure as First Lady, the Mammovan assisted more than 17,000 women. In 2007, after many successful trips throughout the state visiting rural areas of Nevada, it became necessary to acquire a new van to continue this vital service to our State.

A community partnership was formed with Harrah's Foundation and the Nevada Health Center to help finance a new Mammovan. This improved van will have the ability to help even more women. Mrs. Guinn's many accomplishments during her term have extended far beyond her duties as First Lady. Today, her tireless generosity continues as she works to assist many citizens in our great State. Dema Guinn's endeavors leave behind the legacy of a compassionate woman and a dedicated Nevadan.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Dema Guinn. Her dedication to our community, and specifically the health care system, has impacted countless Nevadans. I applaud her successes and thank her for her dedication to Nevada.

Madam Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to rise today to honor the Nevada delegation from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. I am delighted to have my colleagues in the Nevada Congressional Delegations, Representatives Shelly Berkley and Dean Heller, join me in recognizing the advocacy efforts of the AIPAC delegation.

The Nevada delegation from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) recently visited Washington, DC to advocate on behalf of Israel and ensure that American support for Israel remains strong. AIPAC is working to promote strategic cooperation between the two nations, to develop sound U.S. anti-terrorist policies, to share homeland security techniques and technologies, and to stop rogue nations such as Iran from acquiring weapons of mass destruction.

Following several days of meetings and speakers, the Nevada delegation visited with their Congressional Representatives to advocate on behalf of these ideals and share their views with the Nevada Congressional delegation. It is truly an honor to meet with such dedicated advocates. AIPAC has a strong record of creating citizen advocates who are passionate about pro-Israel issues and are dedicated to learning how they can affect Israel's future and security by promoting strong ties with the United States.

This years Nevada AIPAC delegation included: Ms. Ariel Shalin, Miss Heather Brown, Ms. Adriel Espinoza, Mr. Michael Roitman, Mr. Andrew Spivak, Mr. Michael Thomas, Ms. Sara Kantor, Mr. Max Berkley, Dr. Stanley Ames, Mrs. Georgia Ames, Mr. Allen Anes, Mrs. Eileen Anes, Mr. Eli Applebaum, Ms. Vanessa Aragonez, Mr. Jerome Blut, Mrs. Arlene Blut, Rabbi Hershel Brooks, Ms. Diane Brounstein, Mr. Jonathan Craft, Mr. David Dahan, Mr. Bob Dubin, Mrs. Shelley Dubin, Mr. Peter Dubowsky, Mr. Leslie Dunn, Mrs. Joan Dunn, Mrs. Liz Goodman, Mr. David Jacobson, Mrs. Jewell Jacobson, Ms. Eva Kallick, Ms. Stephanie Lehrner, Dr. Larry M. Lehrner, Dr. Marc Leitner, Ms. Terri Greer, Ms. Vivian Perlmutter, Mr. Brett Primack, Mrs. Christina Primack, Mr. Joshua J. Primack, Mr. Jordan Primack, Mrs. Deborah Primack, Mrs. Laurie Robinson, Dr. Joseph Shalev, Mrs. Batsheva Shalev, Ms. Lisa Skurow, Ms. Nicole Steiner, Mr. David Stone, Mr. Steven Strasser, Mrs. Sharon Strasser, Mr. Stuart Blake Tener, Mr. Sam Ventura, Mrs. Rachael Ventura, Mr. Michael Werner, Mrs. Dana Werner, Mrs. Lynn Wexler, Rabbi Yitzack Wyne, Mr. Benny Yerushalmi, Mr. Elad Yerushalmi, Mr. Jeff Zucker, Mr. David-Jacques Farahi, Ms. Parinaz Farahi, Mr. Hy Kashenberg, Ms. Brenda L. Nelson, Ms. Tali Farahi, and Mr. Faramarz Yousefzadeh.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognizes the Nevada AIPAC delegation. These individuals have dedicated themselves to a very worthy cause, and I applaud their efforts and wish them the best in their future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to rise today to honor my friend Father Joseph P. Annese by entering his name in the Congressional Record, the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress since 1873. Today I pay tribute to Father Joseph P. Annese for his years of dedicated service to the Boulder City community.

Father Joe has dedicated himself to the St. Andrew Catholic Community for thirty years. His passion for helping the community and his dedication to his calling has made Father Joe an essential part of the community.

Father Joe started his seminary years in the Divine World Seminary and was ordained in 1962. He then taught high school seminary in Erie, Pa., then in Bordertown, New Jersey, and finally in Verbum Dei High School in Watts, California. Before coming to Boulder City, Father Joe joined the Diocese of Reno/Las Vegas in 1971. He then became an associate pastor at St. James Parish in Las Vegas in 1971, where he served for one year, and was named an associate pastor at St. Christopher's Parish in North Las Vegas for five years. In 1978, Bishop McFarland assigned Father Joe as Pastor of the St. Andrew Catholic Community in Boulder City, Nevada to build an entirely new complex of church offices, parish halls, multi-purpose classrooms, and a pastor's residence. The entire parish center was built and dedicated in 1981.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Father Joe for his thirty years of service. Words cannot express how much Father Joe has done for the people and the city of Boulder City. His quest to touch the lives of and help as many people as possible, his devotion to his work, and his zeal to better the community are truly commendable and I applaud all his efforts.

Madam Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to rise today to honor Mr. Robert James Garlow by entering his name in the Congressional Record, the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress since 1873. Today, I honor Mr. Garlow for his extensive service to both our country and community.

Mr. Garlow joined the U.S. Air Force on October 19, 1966. He graduated Officer's Training School in 1967 and earned his Master's in Engineering Facilities in 1974. Mr. Garlow's service as an engineer in the Air Force took him and his wife Susan around the globe, with assignments in Texas, New Mexico, Japan, North Dakota, Ohio, Germany, Panama City, and Spain before his arrival at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada in July of 1983. Since that time, Robert and Susan have called Boulder City, Nevada home. During this time, Mr. Garlow received his Nevada registration as a Professional Civil Engineer.

In 1986, Robert retired from the Air Force as a Civil Engineer Officer with the rank of Major after 20 years of service. Since his retirement from the military, Robert has worked in the Las Vegas Valley as a Director of Facilities for numerous companies and most recently retired from the City of North Las Vegas where he worked as a Senior Project Manager.

Mr. Garlow is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Military Order of the Cootie (MOC), Vietnam Veterans of America, and Scottish American Military Society (SAMS). He has served as Chairman of the Nevada Veterans Assistance League and the Veterans Cemetery Volunteer Group. Mr. Garlow volunteers a great deal of his time to these two organizations and has been an advocate and supporter to our veterans in Southern Nevada.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Mr. Robert James Garlow for his most recent retirement, his continued volunteerism in the community, and wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to rise today to honor my friend Mary Eaton by entering her name in the Congressional Record, the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress since 1873. Today, I pay tribute to Mary Eaton of Boulder City, who celebrated her 100th birthday on April 14, 2008.

Mary moved to Boulder City with her husband, Bruce Eaton, on July 4, 1932, where Bruce worked on the Hoover Dam project. Mary cared for their children and stayed home until Bruce enlisted in the Army in 1942. Mary stayed in Boulder City and began working as a home economics teacher, and continued to teach middle school and high school for 13 years. She eventually became the first president of the classroom teachers, the union at the time, and also participated in many groups, such as Volunteers of America, Eastern Star, Rainbow Girls. She was a charter member of Grace Community Church.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Mary Eaton for her achievements and dedication to the Boulder City community. I applaud her efforts. I wish her a happy centennial and all the best in her future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to rise today to honor Bob Stoldal by entering his name in the Congressional Record, the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress since 1873. Today, I honor Bob Stoldal for his devoted service to the Las Vegas community and congratulate him on his retirement.

Bob has been an institution in journalism circles in Las Vegas for five decades, most recently as the top news executive for KLAS-TV Channel 8. Bob began his career in journalism as a typesetter for the Las Vegas Review Journal in 1960, and later moved from print media to radio working as a reporter for KLAS radio in the early 1960s. In 1966, Bob moved to what is now KNTV Channel 13 as a part time sports reporter and weatherman and later moved to KLAS-TV as a reporter and anchor. Over the course of his career, Bob has been dedicated to providing accurate reporting on important events and correcting historical inaccuracies about the Las Vegas area. Bob's knowledge of history and events in Las Vegas are irreplaceable, and the passion and ethics he brought to the field has shaped hundreds of journalists.

Bob also serves as the Chairman of the Nevada State Museum and Historical Society as well as the Las Vegas Historical Preservation Commission. Additionally, Bob served as a historian for Las Vegas' centennial celebration in 2005.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Bob Stoldal. His journalistic practices serve as an example for the next generation, and I applaud him on his success. I also commend Bob for his dedication to history and his efforts to ensure its accuracy for posterity. I wish him the best in his retirement and with his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this opportunity--and to my colleagues, in a bipartisan effort--to make sure we can maintain restrictions on off-reservation casinos and gambling.

I want to point out five key areas, Mr. Speaker, that, I think, are part of the argument.

First and foremost, I do support tribal gaming. I think it's been very successful. As a matter of fact, a number of our properties from Nevada are partners across the country with tribal gaming establishments. So, when the rules are followed, I think it's a very appropriate approach to revenues for the communities.

But first of all, Mr. Speaker, the bill authorizes an unprecedented expansion of off-reservation gaming. Never before has the U.S. Congress been in the business of deciding whether a community should and can have a casino. I don't think it's the job of the U.S. Congress to make decisions for local and State governments. Does that mean someone from Iowa or from Illinois or from Arizona could come in and request to have a casino in their back yard? I don't think that was the intent of the Tribal Gaming Act. And this is a dangerous precedent. It permits unlimited expansion across this country.

Number two, it overrides a careful review process. Currently, Mr. Speaker, if a tribe wants to build a casino, there is a process in place. All the rules must be followed; all inspections must be done. I think that's an appropriate use of the process that's available currently under U.S. law.

Number three, it also violates the 1993 Tribal Compact by the Michigan tribes. I know there are arguments on both sides of that, but there was an agreement made in 1993.

Number four, as a Member of Congress from the great State of Nevada, one of my jobs is to make sure we can uphold the wishes of a particular State. This legislation overrides the wishes of Michigan people. In 2004, there was a referendum that limited gaming to specific areas that were approved by local and State governments. This has not happened in this case.

Number five, I know my colleague from Nevada, Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, talked about the validity of the land claims. There is a question.

But the bottom line, Mr. Speaker, is, should Members of Congress be making a decision for local communities and for State governments on whether there should be tribal gaming or whether there should be expansion? I stand here today in a bipartisan effort with my colleagues from across the aisle, asking for the balance of this Congress to vote ``no.'' It establishes a dangerous precedent expanding casinos across our country without following the proper rules and regulations.