Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the contributions of a great American, George Small. I honor him today for his service to our great Nation in the United States Army during World War II.

Mr. Small entered active duty from the Army Reserves as a 2nd Lieutenant on April 25, 1941. After receiving training at the Army's Chemical Warfare School, he became Base Chemical Officer in Albuquerque, New Mexico. From Albuquerque, Mr. Small was transferred to Clark Airbase until he was ordered to Bataan in the Philippines on December 24, 1941.

Mr. Small was assigned to the 31st Infantry until the surrender of Bataan on April 9, 1942.

Prior to the 31st Infantry's surrender, Mr. Small was suffering from malaria and malnutrition caused by the malaria. He was released just 3 days before he began what would become known to history as the Bataan Death March. Although weak, Mr. Small survived the death march and the 17-day journey in the infamous ``Hell Ships'' to Japan.

While being held by the Japanese, Mr. Small's weight declined to approximately 98 pounds. He was held as a Japanese Prisoner of War for 3 years and 5 months until his liberation on September 10, 1945.

Mr. Small was awarded the American Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star, an American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars, the Distinguished Unit Badge with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Star, the World War II Victory Medal, and the POW Medal for his meritorious service.

Mr. Small was discharged from the Army on November 26, 1946 and decided to stay in the Army Reserves until his retirement as a Major on March 1, 1968. Mr. Small will celebrate his 98th birthday on February 24, 2006. Mr. Small's will to survive and dedication to the United States Army is a testament to his character, and it is an honor to recognize him today.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and heartfelt gratitude that I salute a great American hero, George Small, for his service and dedication to our great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jo Elle Hurns, an outstanding individual who has given nine years of invaluable service to the Laughlin Chamber of Commerce.

Before joining the Laughlin Chamber of Commerce, Jo Elle Hurns worked for twenty years in the Colorado River Communities, her first five years as a reporter. In 1990, she went to work as Marketing Director for Don Laughlin.

In 1997, Jo Elle Hurns became the Executive Director of the Laughlin Chamber of Commerce. In this position, she began by assisting the community with economic development plans for the region, including creating a consensus among nine different jurisdictions to fund the $28 million reconstruction of Needles Highway. Her efforts in lobbying at local, state and federal levels for major infrastructure improvements in Laughlin included trails, successful multi-million dollar grant attainment and the sale of federal lands for further residential and commercial growth. Due to her heartfelt commitment to raise funds and develop programs for dozens of social service agencies including the Colorado River United Way, she greatly influenced the effectiveness of many organizations in giving service to the area.

Jo Elle Hurns was also very involved in serving the community. From 1995 to 2000 she was on the Laughlin Town Board, and in 2005 and 2006 she was a member of the Nevada Alliance for the Boys and Girls Club. She received the Spirit of the Colorado River Award in 2001, and for the past six years has been the Distinguished Woman of Southern Nevada.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to honor Jo Elle Hurns for her service to Laughlin and the State of Nevada.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to introduce the Sergeant Henry Prendes Memorial Act of 2006 today. This legislation will create a new Federal criminal offense for the killing, the attempt to kill or conspiring to kill, any public safety officer for a public agency that receives Federal funding. This would include State and local police officers, judicial officers, judicial employees, and firefighters

Mr. Speaker, simply put, this legislation makes it a Federal crime to kill a public safety officer of any type. Under this legislation, a criminal convicted of the above charges will be punished by a fine and imprisonment for no less than 30 years, or for life, or sentenced to death.

I have named this vitally important piece of legislation after a constituent of mine, SGT Henry Prendes. Sergeant Prendes of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, was killed in the line of duty on Wednesday, February 1, 2006.

SGT Henry Prendes joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on February 26, 1991. He spent his first years patrolling the east Las Vegas neighborhood surrounding Charleston and Lamb Boulevards and was quickly promoted to Field Training Officer. On January 2, 1999, after working 1 year for the narcotics office as a detective, Henry Prendes was promoted to sergeant. As a sergeant he worked for the Crimes against Youth and Family Department, and later as Patrol Sergeant in the South West Area Command.

Sergeant Prendes was a native of Nevada and graduated from Las Vegas High School where he was vice president of his senior class and captain of the football team. He is survived by his wife Dawn and two daughters from a previous marriage, Kylee and Brooke. Sergeant Prendes, along with his family, was a devoutly religious man. He engaged in bible study at home with his wife and mentored children in his spare time. Before he died, he was in the process of building a 17-acre youth camp in Montana called, Creation Camp Jesus.

SGT Henry Prendes could be described as everyone's friend, always having a smile on his face, and always helping those in need. Some help people because they are police officers, but Henry was a police officer to help people.

Mr. Speaker, the pride I feel today in introducing this vitally important piece of legislation is overshadowed by the sorry I feel for the entire Prendes family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the founding of Toastmasters en Espanol, the first and only Spanish-language Toastmasters club in the State of Nevada.

Toastmasters International is a global organization devoted to teaching communication and leadership skills. It has more than 211,000 members, with 10,500 clubs in 90 countries. Las Vegas is home to 50 of these clubs. With the mission statement, ``to make effective communication a worldwide reality,'' Toastmasters en Espanol was founded by Maite Salazar to improve the public-speaking and leadership skills of the more than half-million Spanish-speaking residents of the Las Vegas Valley, and to help Spanish-language learners improve their skills in a constructive, affirming environment.

Toastmasters en Espanol held its first meeting on October 3, 2005, at the Cambridge Community Center in central Las Vegas. The initial meeting attracted dozens of participants. Within 3 weeks, the club had enough active members to be officially chartered by Toastmasters International.

Today, Toastmasters en Espanol has 31 active members who hail from nearly every country in the Spanish-speaking world, and from every walk of life. The club also includes many native-born Americans who understand the importance of being bilingual in an increasingly interdependent world.

Mr. Speaker, as the world becomes more globalized, communication becomes increasingly more important for peaceful cooperation. I applaud the efforts of Toastmasters en Espanol in this regard and look forward to their continued involvement and dedication to the improvement of their community and the entire State of Nevada.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Earl A. Greene, Jr., Chief, Clark County Nevada Fire Department. Chief Greene is retiring from the fire department after 33 years of dedicated service. He has been involved in all areas of fire services, including: Suppression, Prevention, Hazardous Materials, Logistics, Volunteer Fire, and Administration.

Chief Greene received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with an emphasis on pre-law from Southwestern State College in Weatherford, OK. He is married to the former Susan Enoch and has two grown children, Earl III and Camile.

Among the highlights of Chief Green's career are his involvement in the implementation of the retrofit of building and fire codes that were passed as a result of the MGM Grand and Las Vegas Hilton Hotel fires. Chief Greene was also instrumental in the establishment of the Police and Fire Executives of Southern Nevada, an organization that brings together all sheriffs and police and fire chiefs on a regular basis to discuss and deal with issues common to public safety agencies.

Under Chief Green's direction, the Clark County Fire Department became the first county-level department to achieve Insurance Services Office (ISO) Level 1 status, and in 2003, the department was awarded accredited agency status by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. In August, 2003, Chief Greene was awarded the prestigious Chief Fire Officer Designation by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, an honor bestowed upon only 319 individuals nationwide who have demonstrated personal and professional excellence within the fire service.

Mr. Speaker, Chief Greene is a dedicated officer who has worked diligently for Clark County, NV. I ask my fellow colleagues to stand with me today and honor all fire fighters across the country, like Chief Greene, who have dedicated many years in protecting the residents of their community and State.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the contributions of Ellen Knowlton, who retires from the Federal Bureau of Investigations on February 3, 2006, after 24 years of dedicated service.

Special Agent in Charge Ellen Knowlton, is a graduate of California State University, Sacramento, where she received a bachelors of science in business administration. She also obtained a master's degree in business administration from Saint Mary's College, Moraga, California. Prior to joining the Federal Bureau of Investigation, she worked in the Insurance Industry as a Claims Supervisor.

Agent Knowlton has served in many offices and many positions throughout her years as an FBI agent. She has traveled the world on assignment and lived in many cities and countries as demanded by her job. Mrs. Knowlton's first assignment was to the FBI's Sacramento Field Office, where she was responsible for investigating bank robbery, fugitive, and kidnapping matters. She was later transferred to the Oklahoma City Field Office, where she was responsible for investigating white-collar crime matters.

When assigned to the San Francisco Field Office, she was responsible for investigating foreign counterintelligence and white-collar crime matters. In the New Orleans Field Office, she supervised the White- Collar Crime Squad. Later, she became Unit Chief in the Criminal Investigative Division at FBIHQ. Other managerial positions Mrs. Knowlton held were Assistant Special Agent in Charge, FCI ASAC, and Criminal Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Office, Inspector, and Deputy Assistant Director of the National Security Division, Counterintelligence Operations Support.

In May of 2002 Agent Ellen Knowlton moved with her family to Las Vegas in order to begin her job as Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Las Vegas office. During her tenure, Agent Knowlton has earned the respect of her colleagues and community leaders.

Mr. Speaker, we have been fortunate to have Ellen Knowlton in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the state has benefited from her knowledge and skill as an FBI agent. It is with great pleasure that I recognize Agent Knowlton today, and I ask my colleagues to join with me in honoring all FBI agents, like Agent Ellen Knowlton, who have dedicated years of their lives to protecting the residents of our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Charles and Patricia Williams, retirees from the Las Vegas community, who have given countless hours of service in helping preserve the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

Chuck and Pat moved to Las Vegas in 1995 and started their love affair with the canyon. They enjoyed hiking there every weekend and, after Chuck's retirement in 1999, they decided it was time to repay Red Rock Canyon for the enjoyment that they had received. They began regularly volunteering their time and have since contributed over 13,000 hours of service dedicated to area preservation, improvement, and restoration.

Both Chuck and Pat are active in the volunteer organization Friends of Red Rock Canyon, a group of volunteers dedicated to preserving the canyon. They perform a wide range of tasks including removing graffiti and trash, maintaining the authorized trail system, and rebuilding and repairing miles of trails. Chuck was president of the group from 2000 to 2002 and continues to participate in cultural site documentation and monitoring, trail rehabilitation and work event coordination; Pat has been the membership coordinator since 2000 and was elected president in 2004.

In 2002, Chuck and Pat were recipients of the Bureau of Land Managements National Volunteer Award, ``Making a Difference on Public Lands,'' and later in 2004 they received ``The Presidents Call to Service Award,'' for their volunteer contributions.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to honor this couple and their contributions to the protection of the environment of the state of Nevada.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Edna Harris who died Sunday, January 29, 2006 after battling cancer.

Edna recently retired from the City of Las Vegas in January 2005, after serving 25 years in the Alternative Sentencing & Education Division of Las Vegas Municipal Court, as the Supervisor of Misdemeanor Programs. In the workplace, she was known for her fight to reduce the incidence of domestic violence. She was appointed to serve on the State of Nevada Committee on Domestic Violence, on which she served since its inception. She also chaired the Municipal Court's annual Domestic Violence Conference.

Edna was well known for her smile and humor. She always had a song to give you or a word of inspiration. Near and dear to her heart was her love for family and the church where she was first lady and also active as an evangelist. Edna will be missed but never forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, Edna Harris was a shining example of diligent public service. Her legacy will long be remembered by the State of Nevada. I am grateful for the opportunity to recognize her on the floor of the House in front of my colleagues.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Robert ``Nolan'' Carwell, Postal Inspector, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nolan is retiring from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service after twenty five years of dedicated service.

Nolan Carwell began his career as a Postal Inspector in May of 1980 when he accepted an assignment with the Seattle Division. In April 1983, he transferred to the Oakland/San Francisco Division 976 as a reserve officer and in November of that same year, he transferred to the Los Angeles Division where he was assigned to the External Crimes and Violent Crimes Division. He remained in Los Angeles until 2000 when he accepted a transfer back to the field as a Multi-Functional Team Leader with the Las Vegas Domicile Division.

Nolan has received the Vice President's Award for the Department of Justice Task Force, investigating conspiracy allegations into the Dr. Martin Luther King assassination; the Meritorious Service Award for the investigation of the Los Angeles riots; the Los Angeles Federal Bar Association Distinguished Achievement Award; and the Chief Inspector Performance Award, serving as an Instructor with FLETC, teaching classes in crime scene investigation, crime scene preservation, drug abuse, fingerprints, death investigation, rape investigation and burglary, photography, undercover technical investigations equipment, and labs and practical exercise programs to over 15,000 students representing over 70 federal law enforcement agencies.

Mr. Speaker, Nolan Carwell has worked diligently with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for twenty five years I ask my fellow colleagues to stand with me today to honor him, to thank him for his service, and to wish him a long, happy and healthy retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Florence Murphy who died Monday January 22, at the age of 94. I recognize Florence for her accomplishments in aviation and business, and for paving the way for other women as one of Nevada's first female pilots and the first woman to be vice president of an airline company.

Florence Murphy attended the University of Nevada, Reno, for 2 years before meeting her husband, John Murphy. He worked for the State Highway Department and she was a legal secretary when they first got the chance to fly in 1936. Two years later they each had their pilot's licenses. Murphy earned her flight instructor's license in 1941, and 3 years later she became the first woman in Nevada to earn a commercial pilot's license.

She was not always welcomed in the male-dominated field of commercial aviation, especially when she took the controls of an airliner. At times, she had to board the plane before the passengers so they could not see that a woman was flying the plane.

In 1941, Florence Murphy, her husband and their friend Bob Barrett built Sky Haven Airport, which is now North Las Vegas Airport. The airport opened on December 7, 1941. The festivities came to an abrupt end when an unscheduled military plane landed and shut down the airport with the announcement that Pearl Harbor had just been bombed. Florence's husband and Barrett then went to Arizona as civilian flight instructors. Florence stayed behind to keep the Sky Haven running during World War II.

After the war, Florence met Ed Converse, a Navy veteran who had started Bonanza Airlines. She joined the company and eventually became vice president, the first woman to hold such a position with an airline. She stayed with the company until 1958, when she started a real estate company with another friend, Larry McNeil. She remained active as a licensed pilot until the age of 82 and as a real estate executive until 93.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I have the opportunity to honor the memory of Florence Murphy, and her achievements, in front of my colleagues of the house.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Tyronne E. Doram, Sr., who retired on January 20, 2006, after twenty-two years of teaching in the Clark County School District.

Mr. Doram has been a role model, mentor, and constant example of what is good in education. In 1994, he was honored as Kiwanis Teacher of the Year, and when many people are winding down their careers, Mr. Doram was instrumental in expanding the Culinary Arts program at the Area Technical Trade Center (ATTC), in North Las Vegas. His senior students have had the opportunity to complete internships in various hotel culinary departments both on and off the Las Vegas Strip. Many of his graduates have secured positions in the industry immediately after graduation while other students have continued their education in postsecondary institutions. Mr. Doram and his students were recognized by President Clinton for their contributions to the 1995 White House Christmas celebration. Graduates from the 2004 and 2005 ATTC culinary arts program have received over $90,000 in scholarships, due mainly to Mr. Doram's fine teaching.

Prior to becoming a teacher, Mr. Doram served our country for twenty years in the United States Air Force. He retired as a Master Sergeant, with his most notable tours of duty being Vietnam and Thailand. Mr. Doram was honored by President Ford for his ideals and recommendations that saved the country money in the operations of the culinary departments, throughout the United States Armed Forces.

The Clark County School District will greatly miss Mr. Doram, who during his years as a teacher was an outstanding educator who deeply cared about the youth of Nevada. Yet his legacy of service to the community will be seen for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor that I am able to recognize Tyronne E. Doram today, on the floor of the House in front of my colleagues. I commend Mr. Doram for his fine example and exemplary service to the State of Nevada.

Mr. Speaker, on January 31, 2006, a woman of grace and dignity passed from this life to the next. Today, with the passage of House Resolution 655, we honor the life and legacy of Mrs. Coretta Scott King and her contributions as a leader in the Civil Rights struggle.

There are few whose life and example transform a nation. Dr. Martin Luther King was one of those few whose exemplary life gave the promise of hope and equality to every race and color of people. But the struggles he endured as a national leader were not suffered alone. By his side stood a woman of gentleness and grace who joined triumphantly in his victories and suffered greatly in his pain.

Mrs. King embraced the principles and themes of nonviolence that her husband fought to bring to the forefront of the American psyche. After Dr. King's death in 1968, it was Mrs. King who kept his work and legacy alive. Through her, Americans were challenged to remember the sacrifices that her husband made for nonviolence, peace and equality.

As a nation, we must embrace the challenges that Dr. King and Mrs. King laid before us. At the advent of African American history month, we must remember the struggles for freedom that slaves and abolitionists jointly fought for to achieve emancipation and we must remember the struggles for equality that the many African Americans and civil rights leaders sought to escape during the Jim Crow era.

Even as we work to advance freedom and democracy to the Iraqi people and the many oppressed men and women in the Middle East and throughout the world, we must not forget our own dark history of oppression and how it has shaped our united push for freedom. The realities of our past are a scar to our Nation, but a reminder of what we can overcome as a Nation united in a common cause. We must continue to work for freedom and opportunity for every American of every race, color, gender and ethnicity. We must do so for the posterity of our Nation and for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I thank you and my colleagues for passing this resolution in honoring the life and legacy of a virtuous woman whose pearls of wisdom and dedication to truth, equality, and nonviolence are an example for us now and for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the contributions of a great American, Chief Master Sergeant Ralph J. Celento III. I honor him today for his 30 years of service in the United States Air Force.

Chief Celento's most recent assignment was flight chief, vehicle operations for the 99th Logistics Readiness Squadron, 99th Mission Support Group, 99th Air Base Wing, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. In this position Chief Celento was responsible for all enlisted matters and he assisted the flight commander in daily missions. In addition, Chief Celento directed over 150 personnel, ten sections, and ensured that vehicle management services to Nellis AFB were complete.

Chief Celento was born in Rochester, New York and entered the Air Force in 1976. His Air Force career has included assignments in various transportation and logistical programs on bases in North Carolina, California, Washington, Maryland, and Mississippi. Chief Celento also served overseas in Japan, Germany and the Republic of Korea.

Chief Celento has been awarded over 19 major awards and decorations during his distinguished service in the Air Force including the Bronze Star, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and more.

Chief Celento's accomplishments also include the White House Communication Agency Award, Best Vehicle Operations Flight in Air Education and Training Command, Verne

Orr Award for Most Productive Unit, and the Best Vehicle Operations Flight in the Pacific Air Forces Command among others.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and heartfelt gratitude that I salute Chief Celento for his service and dedication to our great nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the extraordinary efforts of Easter Seals in Southern Nevada. Their numerous programs provide the kind of community-based relief for individuals with disabilities and their families.

Unfortunately, one of these most valuable programs is facing significant financial hardship. This particular program has provided after school activities for children with disabilities from the age of 6 to 18 for the past 15 years. Without the help of business leaders and private individuals in the community, these children and their families will lose this most important resource. As a whole, Easter Seals is Nevada's largest community-based organization serving over 2,000 persons with disabilities and their families each year. Their efforts on behalf of individuals with disabilities bring greater self- sufficiency and most importantly greater dignity. We must work to ensure that these resources continue to be available in the community.

Mr. Speaker, I hope to bring to the attention of my colleagues the wonderful services that Easter Seals of Southern Nevada provides to the most vulnerable in our society. The needs of this single program highlight how we, as Members of Congress, must continue all of our efforts to strengthen the resources available to the neediest in our communities.

Easter Seals of Southern Nevada represents the ideal of a community- based care provider for disabled children. Without the generosity of all the individuals who make this dream a reality, these most valuable resources would fail to exist. I am confident that, during this holiday season, the businesses and individuals of Nevada will show their support for this important program and continue to demonstrate the generosity of my home community.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3508) to authorize improvements in the operation of the government of the District of Columbia, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise today in support of H.R. 3508, the 2005 District of Columbia Omnibus Authorization Act, introduced in July by Chairman Tom Davis and Congresswoman Norton and approved by the Committee on Government Reform in September of this year.

This is the second year in a row that Congress has moved an omnibus authorization bill for the District. The purpose of H.R. 3508 is to provide a process by which Congress works with the District to consider annually or biannually any changes that need to be made to Federal laws regarding the District.

H.R. 3508 contains many provisions that will help the District manage its operations more effectively. Also, the legislation will help Congress in its oversight of the affairs of the Nation's capital by permanently creating a D.C. Chief Financial Officer, which will be fully accountable to this Congress, and I urge my colleagues to support

Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support passage of H.R. 3508, as amended; and I yield back the balance of my time.