Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 579) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected, 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 resolution under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 579, which would express the sense of the House of Representatives that the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected.

Each year during the month of December, thousands of homes across America are decorated with Christmas trees, lights and festive wreaths. Christmas is the most widely celebrated festival in the world, with traditions and customs that originated long ago and still are very much alive today.

Christmas has long been for giving and sharing and for coming together with family and friends. The tradition is a celebration of the spirit of love which is what makes this holiday so popular throughout the world. I urge all Members to come together to support and protect the pastime and traditions of a holiday that many of us hold very dear.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis).

Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite).

Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Bartlett).

(Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

I could not imagine growing up that some day I would be on the House floor debating the merits of Christmas, and I certainly have great respect for my colleagues and their concern. But what is great about America is we can debate Christmas on the House floor.

But let us talk about a few other things that we do in this House that I am very proud that we have done. We have recognized Korean Americans and the symbols. We have recognized Filipino Americans, ideals, very special weeks that we recognize here on this House floor numerous times. Pancreatic cancer, campus safety awareness. As a matter of fact, one of our next bills this evening is American Jewish Month.

And that is what is great about America. We can have this debate about Christmas, but certainly there are thousands of Americans and there are thousands of people around the world that believe in this tradition. I too say ``happy holidays'' in respect to Chanukah. I say ``happy holidays,'' but I also will say ``Merry Christmas'' because that is what December 25 is about.

Again, I appreciate my colleagues and I think that their point is being well considered. I have great respect for my colleagues across the aisle, but I think it is a very cherished national holiday; and I would certainly encourage that we support this, as we have many other symbols and different groups in this country, because that is what Congress is about.

I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Madam Speaker, I am not sure of the protocol of the debate on the floor.

I would absolutely support a bill that talked about the symbols of Chanukah. Absolutely.

Absolutely.

Madam Speaker, I am, again, not certain this is time for the debate, but I think we should look at all these groups that would like to be considered. Again, this is not a place for the debate, and I would be happy to have this discussion.

But I believe that the gentleman's point is well taken.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Again, I appreciate the comments from our friends across the aisle, and I would be happy to cosponsor those bills that were just mentioned. They certainly have merit and should be considered by this House of Representatives.

This evening we are here to discuss H. Res. 579, as amended, and I believe that it should pass. But I also would suggest we do the same for those other religions that were mentioned, from Kwanzaa to Chanukah, and there are many others that should be considered at some point in time.

This evening I respect the fact that my colleague has presented this resolution and would encourage that Members support it.

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

Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H. Res. 579, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Parliamentary Inquiry

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 315) urging the President to issue a proclamation for the observance of an American Jewish History Month.

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 H. Con. Res. 315.

Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Nevada?

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

Madam Speaker, I stand in support of H. Con. Res. 315, which would urge the President to issue a proclamation for the observance of American Jewish History Month.

The United States Jewish population has made many vital contributions in all areas of our society in such ways as helping to develop the cultural, scientific, political and economic life of our country. In fact, 37 percent of all United States Nobel Prize winners in the 20th century have been representatives of the Jewish community.

Jewish immigration in the 20th century was fueled by the Holocaust, which destroyed most of the European Jewish community. The migration made the United States the home of the largest Jewish population in the world. Starting at the beginning of this century, there was a Jewish population of about 1 million. By the end of the century, the population had grown to almost 6 million Jews residing in the United States of America.

Presently, the Commission for Commemorating 350 Years of American Jewish History has been brought about to encourage and sponsor a variety of historical activities that advance our understanding of the American Jewish experience as it marks this milestone anniversary. Through this initiative, the deep-rooted culture of the Jewish community in our society would be recognized and honored.

I urge all Members to come together to support this initiative to educate and pay homage to the contributions and influence that the Jewish community has had on our country.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, again, I think one of the great things about America and the House floor is we are able to talk about our diverse country and the respect we have for the different organizations, different religions and different groups. Certainly this is another example of this House of Representatives recognizing a very, very important part of our culture and our country and our future.

Again, I urge that all Members support the passage of this particular concurrent resolution.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 587) congratulating Tony Stewart on winning the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship.

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 H. Res. 587.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 587, which congratulates Tony Stewart on winning the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship.

Madam Speaker, as a NASCAR fan and frequent patron of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, home of many NASCAR races, I am glad to be speaking on this resolution this evening.

Tony Stewart has become the 14th driver in NASCAR history with more than one championship, despite a 15th place finish at the Homestead- Miami Speedway on November 20. The finish solidified his reign in the NASCAR points chase.

He finished with a 35-point lead over fellow driver Greg Biffle to win the Cup. This is Stewart's second title in 4 years, and he joins Jeff Gordon as they claim the honor of being the only active full-time drivers with multiple titles.

For Stewart, it was the perfect finish to a near-perfect season as he consistently stayed on top of the points board for 13 of the final 14 weeks. He was on top at the start of the 10 race chase for the championship and fell off the leader board just once, when he dropped to fifth place after round two. Stewart soon found his way back to the top a week later and never looked back.

I urge all Members to come together to congratulate Tony Stewart on an unforgettable season by adopting H. Res. 587.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

First, my congratulations to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz). I think it is very appropriate and appreciate her bringing the bill to the floor recognizing such an important part of our culture.

To the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), my ranking member of the subcommittee, I must say I have learned many things from him this year. He truly provides great leadership. He and his staff, too, have been a pleasure to work with, but I say certainly out of all due respect that the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) comes highly thought of to the committee. It has been a pleasure working with him and his professionalism, and I, too, look

forward to 2006 and say that to his staff and to Mr. Davis, of course, the best, a happy holiday season, a very special merry Christmas and happy Chanukah and for the kind words mentioned by some of your colleagues.

We live in such a great Nation with a diverse background. We have had many problems through the years, and we still will have problems in the future; but I think that this body shows consistently, and continues to show, respect for that diversity. So I, again, say thank you and ask for Members to support the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, today I rise with my colleagues, Congresswoman Shelley Berkeley and Congressman Jim Gibbons, to recognize the significant contributions of the Nevada Commission on Tourism in leading the United States in tourism marketing and promotion in China.

Since 2002, the Nevada Commission on Tourism has been instrumental in collaborating with Chinese officials to strengthen international ties with this burgeoning tourist economy. The Nevada Commission on Tourism is the first U.S. tourism entity at any government level to be granted a license by the Chinese government to advertise its tourism attractions to prospective Chinese tourists. All of this was achieved in less than 1 year and with minimal costs to taxpayers.

The result of their efforts has not solely benefited the State of Nevada, but has encouraged tourism to all parts of the United States. Statistically, Chinese tourism to the United States has increased by 20 percent from 2003 to 2004, when Nevada was able to achieve its licensing goals. Therefore, through their innovative efforts, the Nevada Commission on Tourism has paved the way for other States to actively participate in marketing to this uniquely lucrative economy.

We are encouraged by the tremendous growth in Chinese tourism and we recognize that there is fertile ground in this burgeoning international travel and tourism market. Further, we are optimistic that other states will follow Nevada's lead and actively begin to market travel and tourism to China, the world's largest market place.

Mr. Speaker, again, we applaud the uniquely monumental efforts of the Nevada Commission on Tourism and look forward to witnessing an even greater increase in Chinese tourism to our State and other tourist destinations throughout the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my condolences to the family and

friends of James Cashman, Jr. Anyone living in the Las Vegas valley knows of the contributions that James gave not only to the community, but also to his family and friends. He was a native of Las Vegas and a member of a family traditionally dedicated to the development of Southern Nevada and to service to the people of the area.

Born February 19, 1926, James served as a gunnery instructor in the Army Air Corps during World War II, after which he entered the business of his father. In 1945 he married the former Mary Carmichael, who survives him. He was appointed General Manager of Cashman Cadillac and became co-owner of Cashman GMC Truck in 1958. In 1962 he assumed the Presidency of Cashman Enterprises.

James Cashman, Jr. became a true leader of the community and was very active in community service, including the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Nevada Development Foundation, University of Nevada Land Foundation and United Way of Clark County. He was also a member of the Southern Nevada Drug Abuse Council; the Boys & Girls Club of Las Vegas, Executive Board; Boulder Dam Area Council, Boy Scouts of America; the Las Vegas Elks Lodge, and the Las Vegas Rotary Club.

James received many commendations and awards over the years, some of which include being named the Las Vegas Junior Chamber's Outstanding Young Man of 1955. In 1969, he was named chairman of the United Fund Drive. In 1974, Cashman became president of the United Way of Clark County.

I would like to express my sincere sympathy to the family and friends of James Cashman, Jr. As we move forward in our lives, may we never forget his achievements and contributions. He was a wonderful person, a good friend of mine, and someone I always looked up to. This is a great loss for the state and people of Nevada. He will be greatly missed by all of us.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in tribute to Windsor Freemyer, a dear friend and undeniably one of the most talented, dedicated and trustworthy individuals on Capitol Hill. As my Chief of Staff for the past 3 years, Windsor has continually proven her ability to advise with confidence, and critique with kindness.

Windsor began her career on Capitol Hill with Senator Hank Brown from Colorado in 1992, served as a Legislative Assistant for Scott McInnis from Colorado, and joined the Nevada delegation with now Senator, then- Representative, John Ensign during his freshman year. Windsor quickly advanced and became Representative Chris Cannon's Chief of Staff in 1998. Her final stop before joining my staff in 2002, was a tenure with the Sugar Growers of America.

While Windsor's resume demonstrates her ability to serve various members in many capacities, I would like to briefly mention two of her most significant accomplishments. Windsor was vital in the passage of the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act. Through her efforts, the people of Southern Nevada receive the much needed infrastructure and education dollars that are so important to our dynamic community. I would also like to point to her dedicated opposition to the storage of high-level nuclear waste at the Yucca Mountain Waste Repository. She has proven to be a stalwart force in helping persuade others of the inadvisability of this action. For all of her efforts, I and the people of Southern Nevada thank her.

While I am fortunate that Windsor shared her talents and skills with my office, I have been truly blessed in knowing Windsor Freemyer as a person. She and her husband Allen are the parents of two beautiful and intelligent daughters, Lucy and Lilly. Both are lucky to have inherited the unlikely combination of warmth and sincerity that have made Windsor such a vital member of my staff.

Windsor, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for everything you have done for me, my staff, and the people of Southern Nevada. I wish you all the best in the coming years and am confident that your past successes will only enhance your talents in the future.

Mr. Speaker, Members of Congress search far and wide for the most qualified and talented staff. I was most fortunate to have found the ideal of this in Windsor. I am honored to pay tribute to Windsor Freemyer as she ends her distinguished service on Capitol Hill. Her contributions to my office and this body are immense and her personal friendship has been immeasurable. I ask all my colleagues to join with me in celebrating the career of this consummate professional and extraordinary person.

Mr. Speaker, I too share the pain of those families that were impacted by the terrible storms in the Gulf Coast, having been there within 24 hours after the devastating storm, seeing it firsthand and helping those families. But I stand today to talk about the equitability of this particular proposal.

There is a number of industries that have been impacted from all walks of life, but there are close to 50,000 families that are being impacted by a carve-out in this legislation, 50,000 hard-working moms and dads trying to take care of their kids.

I believe in equitable treatment, and the gaming industry that has been carved is not asking for special treatment. They are asking to be treated like every other business. And as a Member of this body, I believe firmly

that States do have rights, and I believe that local communities have rights, and they have made decisions to allow these businesses to prosper as they are a big part of their economy.

As my colleague from Nevada said, close to $800 million a year into their economy and close to 50,000 jobs. Again, I stand here asking for equitable treatment for a tax-paying business that is approved by State and Federal laws, and they too should be treated equally. I am extremely disappointed, and I believe when we start a carve-out process, it is a slippery slope for this Congress to be telling local governments and State governments who should be receiving these tax credits.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with my colleagues, Representative Jim Gibbons and Representative Shelley Berkley, to introduce the Southern Nevada Readiness Center Act.

The purpose ofthe Southern Nevada Readiness Center Act is to convey 35-50 acres of land from the McCarran Airport Cooperative Management Area Boundary to the Nevada National Guard for the purpose of building the Nevada National Guard Readiness Center. This Readiness Center will serve Henderson and southwest Las Vegas, and will allow the Nevada National Guard to have better access to the facilities and equipment they need for training.

The National Guard is our Nation's first line of defense in an ever- changing world. As the Guard's role expands, it is important that they are given the facilities and equipment they need to protect both Nevada and America at large. This Readiness Center will help Nevada's National Guard to achieve this goal, and I look forward to working with Congress to pass this bill into law.

Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to have introduced the ``Abolishing Aviation Barriers Act of 2005''.

Currently there are two laws governing commercial aviation in the U.S. based on miles of flight restrictions. One governs the use of New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and the other governs usage of Washington, D.C.'s Reagan National Airport (DCA). Restrictions exist at LaGuardia on the departure or arrival of non-stop flights to or from airports that are farther then 1,500 miles from LGA. Reagan National has a similar restriction for non-stop flights to or from airports 1,250 miles from DCA. These restrictions are commonly referred to as ``perimeter rules.''

The original purpose of these perimeter rules was to restrict LGA and DCA airports to business travelers flying to and from East Coast and Midwest cities and to promote traffic to other, newer airports by diverting long haul flights to Newark and Kennedy airports in the New York area and Dulles airport in the Washington, D.C. area. However, over the years, the federal government has made many changes and granted numerous exceptions to the perimeter rule at DCA because the air traveling public is eager for travel options.

Today, there are nonstop flights between Washington Reagan National and Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Seattle. LGA's rule was enacted by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey with an exception already contained therein--for flights between Denver and LGA. It was justified on the basis of ground congestion, i.e. automobiles. The old road network that gave rise to this excuse has long since been replaced with the help of federal money.

In fact, a 1999 study by the Transportation Research Board stated that perimeter rules ``no longer serve their original purpose and have produced too many adverse side effects, including barriers to competition . . . The rules arbitrarily prevent some airlines from extending their networks to these airports; they discourage competition among the airports in the region and among the airlines that use these airports; and they are subject to chronic attempts by special interest groups to obtain exemptions.''

That same year, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) stated that the ``practical effect'' of the perimeter rule ``has been to limit entry'' of other carriers. The GAO found that airfares at LaGuardia and Washington National are approximately 50 percent higher on average than fares at similar airports unconstrained by the perimeter rule.

Mr. Speaker, I have introduced this legislation to promote more consumer choice and lower airfares for not only my own constituents, but for all of our air travelers.

Mr. Speaker, protecting our Nation's natural resources is one of the greatest gifts that we can give to future generations. When one thinks of our national resources, images of Yellowstone National Park, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, or the Grand Canyon National Park often come to mind. However, in recent years, these areas have all experienced the devastating effects of invasive plant species such as salt cedar, or tamarisk.

This is why I rise today to announce the introduction of the Natural Resource Protection Cooperative Agreement Act.

Invasive plant species know no boundaries. According to the Department of the Interior, the National Park Service currently manages 388 units, comprised of 84.4 million acres of land throughout the United States. Of these units, 196 have been cited as having ``serious problems'' due to invasive plant species.

Today, I am introducing the Natural Resource Protection Cooperative Agreement Act.

The purpose of this bill is to allow the National Park Service to enter into cooperative agreements with State, local, educational, and Tribal experts to restore and protect these lands from the effects of invasive plant species. The goal of this legislation is to allow the National Park Service to work with those who are best able to remove these species before they enter federal units, putting the National Park Service into a better position to preserve our native species.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to speak on this important bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the contributions of a great American Lieutenant Commander Wilbur Roberts Jr. I honor him today for his service to our Nation in the United States Navy.

Lieutenant Commander Roberts has dedicated 28 years of his life to the United States Navy and as of November 1, 2005 will be officially retired from service. LCDR Roberts' career began as an equipment operator in the Seabees in 1977 after joining the Navy from his home town of Wells, Nevada.

During his service in the United States Navy Lieutenant Commander Roberts has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Science from Oregon State University. He also attended the Naval Post Graduate School, in Monterey, California, where he earned a degree in Operations Logistics. Over the course of his 28-year-career, he has served in a number of positions such as, a Communications Officer, Replenishment at Sea Equipment Officer, and Operations Officer in a number of areas supporting naval operations.

In addition to his service as an Operations Officer, Lieutenant Commander Roberts has served as the Executive Officer of the USS Sacramento and in 2003 reported to Commander, Carrier Strike Group Three as a Maritime Operations Officer. He ends his career while serving CCSG-3 as Assistant Chief of Staff for material, N4.

Lieutenant Commander Roberts has earned a number of awards throughout his career including, the Navy Meritorious Service Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, two Good Conduct Medals and a number of other unit awards.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and heartfelt gratitude that I salute Lieutenant Commander Roberts for his service and dedication to our great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 484) supporting efforts to promote greater awareness of effective runaway youth prevention programs and the need for safe and productive alternatives, resources, and supports for homeless youth.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 484, which seeks to promote greater public awareness of effective runaway youth prevention programs and the need for safe and productive alternatives, resources, and support for youth in high-risk situations. I would like to thank the leadership for allowing this resolution to come to the House floor as it highlights a very tragic and very important issue.

Runaway and thrown-away episodes among our Nation's youth are serious and widespread, with one of every seven children and youths in the United States running away or being turned out of the home before the age of 18. A recent study by the Federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention estimates that nearly 1.7 million youth experienced a runaway or thrown-away episode in a single year. The prevalence of runaway and homeless youth in the Nation is astounding, with studies suggesting that between 1.6 million and 2.8 million young people live on the streets of the United States of America each year.

The primary factors of running away or being thrown away are severe family conflict, abuse, neglect, and parental abuse of alcohol and of drugs. In the wake of massive loss of life and property after the recent natural disasters, we can expect these numbers to rise. We must congratulate service providers for their response to the increased numbers of displaced youth as a result of these terrible tragedies.

In the district I represent in southern Nevada, the statistics are similar. In 2003, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reported 4,527 runaways. There were approximately 3,500 children who required emergency shelter; 1,800 of these children were placed in foster care. In addition to that, the Clark County School District estimates 3,500 of our students were homeless.

These astonishing statistics highlight the need for our support of those very important programs that seek to prevent these types of incidences. Many of the conditions that lead young people to leave or be turned out of their homes are preventable through interventions that strengthen family and support youth in high-risk situations. Successful interventions are grounded in partnerships among families and community-based human service agencies, law enforcement agencies, schools, faith-based organizations, and the business community.

The National Network For Youth and the National Runaway Switchboard are collaborative since 2002 in cosponsoring National Runaway Prevention Month during the month of November. National Runaway Prevention Month is a public education initiative aimed at increasing the awareness of issues facing runaways, as well as making the public aware of role they play in preventing youth from running away.

As a result of this collaboration, communities across the country have undertaken a range of activities to commemorate National Runaway Prevention Month. Preventing young people from running away and supporting youth in high-risk situations is a family, community, and national concern. Please join us in encouraging all Americans to play a role in supporting the millions of young people who have run away, who are at risk of doing so each year.

H. Res. 484 supports efforts to promote greater public awareness of effective runaway youth prevention programs and the need for safe and productive alternatives, resources and supports for youth in high-risk situations.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3549) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 210 West 3rd Avenue in Warren, Pennsylvania, as the ``William F. Clinger, Jr. Post Office Building''.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill now under consideration, H.R. 3549.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3549, authored by the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. English). This bill would designate the post office in Warren, Pennsylvania, as the William F. Clinger, Jr. Post Office Building. All Members of the Pennsylvania delegation have cosponsored this legislation.

Former Representative Bill Clinger was born and raised in Warren, Pennsylvania, where he attended local public schools and graduated from Hill High School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Bill Clinger was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1965, and then enjoyed a career in private law practice. On January 3, 1979, Bill Clinger was elected to the 96th Congress and was reelected to eight succeeding Congresses.

During this time, Mr. Clinger showed his perseverance in serving the citizens of Warren, Pennsylvania, by working towards accountability in government during his time as a member of the Committee on Government Reform. As a distinguished long-time member of the committee, Clinger served as the ranking member during the 103rd Congress as well as the chairman during the 104th Congress. One of his many accomplishments in Congress was the passage of the Clinger-Cohen Act, which transformed the way the Federal Government plans for, acquires, and manages information technology.

When Chairman Clinger left Congress, he continued contributing to his community. He is a senior fellow at the Center For the Study of American Government at Johns Hopkins University where he lectures frequently and works with students on their master's theses. Further, he spends his summers in Chautauqua, New York, where he is the chair of the Board of Trustees of the Chautauqua Institution. William Clinger was an example and an inspiration to all as he demonstrated his strong and respected leadership abilities during his time in the U.S. House of Representatives.

I join the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. English) in recognizing the accomplishments of former Representative Clinger and I urge all Members to do the same.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Mr. English).

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Mr. Peterson).

Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 3549, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3830) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 130 East Marion Avenue in Punta Gorda, Florida, as the ``U.S. Cleveland Post Office Building''.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3830.

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

I rise in support of H.R. 3830, introduced by the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley). This bill will designate this post office in Punta

Gorda, Florida as the U.S. Cleveland Post Office Building. All members of the Florida delegation have co-sponsored this legislation.

Ulysses Samuel Cleveland was born September 7, 1919, in Boca Grande, Florida, to Cleve and Jean Cleveland. At the age of 2, Cleveland moved to Charlotte County's Punta Gorda with his family, the town that he would later dedicate a lifetime to preserving its history.

In 1941, U.S. Cleveland was drafted and was later commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He oversaw 20 radio crews with the 3103 Signal Service Battalion. He was a part of the secret disinformation campaign that misled the Nazis and helped contribute to the success of the Normandy invasion. Mr. Cleveland and his unit were credited by Supreme Commander General Dwight Eisenhower with saving the D-Day landing.

After World War II, Cleveland returned to Punta Gorda and became the assistant postmaster. He worked for the U.S. Post Office for nearly four decades. During that time he devoted much of his life to archiving old photos, newspaper clippings, and all kinds of Charlotte County records. With all of his historical records he co-authored two volumes of local history entitled ``Our Fascinating Past.''

Besides being a well-known historian, U.S. Cleveland also dedicated much of his time to various charities within the community. He produced monthly newsletters for the American Legion Post in Punta Gorda and provided and managed sound systems for various community events, including the Florida International Air Show. He was also the treasurer for the Punta Gorda Historical Society, historian for the Kiwanis Club, and a charter member of the Punta Gorda and Charlotte County Historic Preservation boards.

Although U.S. Cleveland passed away this year at the age of 85, his legacy of public service lives on in Charlotte County, Florida. His vast historic collection, now in storage, will be added to by his fellow historians in time to come. I urge all members to join me in honoring this fine man and his quest to preserve the history of his hometown of Punta Gorda, Florida.

Madam Speaker, I support H.R. 3830, and I salute the sponsor, the gentleman from Florida, for his work on this measure.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3853) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 208 South Main Street in Parkdale, Arkansas, as the Willie Vaughn Post Office.

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 H.R. 3853.

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

I rise in support of H.R. 3853, introduced by the distinguished gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Ross). This bill will designate this post office in Parkdale, Arkansas, as the Willie Vaughn Post Office Building.

Willie Vaughn was born in 1904 in Thomasville, Alabama. He later moved to the State of Arkansas where he spent the better part of his life. Although Mr. Vaughn has little formal education, his dedication and perseverance in bettering his community earned him the undying respect and admiration of his peers. As a farmer who raised hogs, chickens, and cattle, he provided for his family, as well as anyone in need. He was always willing to lend a hand whether it be listening to and counseling members of the community or helping grieving friends plan funerals.

Mr. Vaughn was active in his local church and held various positions within the congregation. As a delegate to the 1945 CME convention, he led the church from the Colored Methodist Church to the Christian Methodist Church. At 101 years of age, Willie Vaughn has experienced life-changing periods such as segregation, reconstruction, the stock market crash, the Great Depression, the civil rights movement, and much more. He is truly a man that has contributed to his community by his commitment to humanity and family and has become an icon in Parkdale, Arkansas. I urge all Members to come together and honor the life of this dedicated humanitarian.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 3853. I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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