Floor Statements

Thank you to my colleague Dan Boren. Thank you so much for your hard work on this.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on the important issue of colorectal cancer, as Congressman Boren also did.

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Every 3\1/2\ minutes, someone is diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Every 9 minutes, someone dies from colorectal cancer. This is a disease that affects both men and women.

This year, an estimated 149,000 new cases will be diagnosed, and an estimated 50,000 deaths will be caused by this cancer. The real tragedy is that many of these cancer cases and deaths occurred needlessly because the vast majority of colorectal cancer deaths can be prevented through proper screening and early detection.

That is why I introduced a resolution recognizing March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and commemorating the 10th anniversary of the first designation of March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

The more we talk about this disease, the more we encourage our family, our friends, and our neighbors to get screened, and the more lives we save.

I hope my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee will discharge House Concurrent Resolution 60 from committee soon so that leadership can schedule the resolution for floor consideration.

Less than half of those who should be screened for colon cancer are screened. Bringing House Concurrent Resolution 60 to the floor next week will encourage even more discussion about this disease that is preventable when detected early.

But talking about colorectal cancer and recognizing Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month aren't enough. We need to increase Federal funding for early detection and screening. Along with my colleague from Rhode Island, Patrick Kennedy, I've introduced a bill that would authorize funding for early detection, screenings, and make preventive care a priority.

Specifically, the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act, H.R. 1189, would establish a national screening program for colorectal cancer for individuals over 50 years of age or those who are at high risk. It would authorize State funding for these screenings and create a public awareness and education campaign on colorectal cancer.

Despite scientific evidence supporting the benefits of screenings, screens for these diseases in this country remain low. Every 5 seconds, someone one who should be screened for colorectal cancer is not. When it's diagnosed late, the survival rate for colorectal cancer is only 10 percent. When it's diagnosed early--before it spreads--the survival rate is 90 percent.

Early detection screening saves lives, and if everyone over 50 years of age were screened regularly for colorectal cancer, the death rate for this disease could plummet by 80 percent.

In addition to screening saving lives, early detection saves money. Treatment costs for colorectal cancer are extremely high and could be greatly reduced if mass screenings occur.

Colorectal cancer treatment costs totaled roughly $8.4 billion for new cases in 2004. The cost of two-thirds of these colorectal cancer cases are borne by the Medicare program.

The Lewin Group recently conducted a comprehensive study of the potential cost savings to Medicare and found that every 10 years a colorectal cancer screening program will result in savings of about 1\1/2\ years worth of Medicare expenses. If screenings were increased among people 50 years and older in the United States, it would save billions of dollars in Medicare expenditures. It would also save thousands of lives.

The Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Screening program ensures that people who are screened will get the full continuum of cancer care, including the appropriate followup for abnormal tests, diagnostic and therapeutic services, and treatment for detective cancers.

If you have not already, I urge you to cosponsor the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act, and join me in observing Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Observing Colorectal Awareness Month provides us with the opportunity to discuss the importance of early detection and screening. It also provides us with the opportunity to thank the thousands of volunteers and national and community organizations for their work in promoting awareness for colorectal cancer.

Dan Boren, I thank you for your time and your work on this.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Texas Pythian Home. The Home, called the ``Castle on the Hill,'' is located in my district in the city of Weatherford, Texas.

The Texas Pythian Home began on March 1, 1909, as a home for widows and orphans of Knights of Pythias members. The Pythians, a fraternal order, made the decision to build the home in Weatherford following a donation of three hundred acres of land.

The main building housed orphaned children on the second floor. The basement was divided into apartments for widows with children. There were soon so many boys that it became necessary to build a boys-only dorm. The boys moved into their new dorm in 1914. In 1925, a girls-only dorm was built. In the early 1970s, widows moved to the completed retirement home in Greenville, Texas.

The Pythian Home School was designated an independent school district on August 1, 1910 and continued until 1972. In 1937, the last high school graduating class walked across the Pythian auditorium stage. It had been decided to send grades 6-12 to Weatherford Independent School District. Grades 1-5 continued to have classes at the Pythian Home until 1972.

As part of its effort to be self-sufficient, the Home had a large dairy operation for many years. Animals were raised to provide meat.

The Home also had its own garden and orchard. The staff and children kept busy maintaining all of the operations. A change in government regulations in 1972 limited these operations, so the dairy closed in 1976.

There were many changes through the years. The Texas Pythian Home is now the last one in existence. The Home, located on 164 acres, can house up to 62 children. The number of children in residence changes as the economy and family circumstances change.

The Pythian principles of friendship, charity, and benevolence continue to be the driving force behind the organization. The Home is here because it reaches out to those in need.

Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the Texas Pythian Home on the 100th anniversary of its founding and to offer my sincere appreciation for the many contributions that its residents have made and continue to make to the city of Weatherford and the state of Texas.

Madam Speaker, congratulations to the Peace Corps and Peace Corps Volunteers as we celebrate the Peace Corps's 48th anniversary on March 1, 2009. From its beginnings under President John F. Kennedy until now, the Peace Corps has become an enduring symbol of our nation's commitment to encourage progress, create opportunity, and expand development at the grassroots level in the developing world.

As in all things, the strength of the Peace Corps is in its people-- its volunteers. Volunteers have made significant and lasting contributions around the world in agriculture, business development, education and health care.

In fact, Danny and Shirley Sherrod from my district just retired from their careers and have volunteered to spend the next two years serving as Peace Corps Volunteers in Panama. Danny and Shirley said that their conversations with other volunteers made a huge impact on their lives, so they are using this new time out of retirement to volunteer. This is but one example of the selfless dedication that people like Danny and Shirley Sherrod of Fort Worth, TX, commit to bringing to the Peace Corps and to our world.

Through Peace Corps service, volunteers worldwide learn more than 250 languages and dialects, and they receive invaluable training that enables them to succeed in different cultural settings. Returning volunteers often use these skills and experiences to pursue careers in the Federal Government and in the Foreign Service.

As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the State-Foreign Operations, I am proud that this Subcommittee provides the funding and the resources needed to continue the good work that the Peace Corps is doing around the world.

This week, during the National Peace Corps Week, I rise to recognize the achievements of the Peace Corps and honor its Volunteers, past and present, and reaffirm our country's commitment to helping people help themselves throughout the world.

Madam Speaker, consistent with the Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, I offer the following justification for the projects that I requested that were included in H.R. 1105, the Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act.

For the project titled, ``Assistance to Improve Water Quality for Tarrant County, TX,'' in H.R. 1105, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Conservation Operations account, the legal name and address of the requesting entity is Texas AgriLife Research, 113 Jack K. Williams Building 2142 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-2142. The $336,000 in the bill supports specialized studies to improve water quality in North Central Texas. The project aims to create a watershed protection plan and improve the water quality in the five reservoirs that supply water for the majority of Fort Worth and fifty-nine surrounding communities. By implementing a watershed protection plan, water quality can be improved in North Central Texas, thereby protecting supply and quality for over 1.6 million residents in the area. Matching funds are as follows: Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board ($740,000), Texas Water Development Board ($200,000), and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality ($542,000). Tarrant Regional Water District and the Texas Water Resources Institute also provide in-kind support.

For the project titled ``Child Abuse Training Programs for Judicial Personnel: Victims Act Model Court Project'' in H.R. 1105, OJP-Byrne Discretionary Grants account, the legal name and address of the requesting entity is the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, 1041 North Virginia Street, Third Floor, Reno, Nevada 89503. The $920,000 in the bill for this project will be used in planning and programming for work in Model Courts and in jurisdictions nationwide, including site-based and local, regional and national interdisciplinary training programs; Model Court site visits; Model Court cross-site visits; All-Sites Meetings; outreach to national State Court Improvement Programs; direct technical assistance to Model Courts and other jurisdictions nationwide; mentoring of non-Model Court jurisdictions; publications for national dissemination; research to evaluate Model Court work; and networking with national organizations. The project focuses on improving court practice in handling child abuse and neglect cases in jurisdictions across the country, and will have significant impact on the over 513,000 children in the nation's foster care systems. The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges is supported by a number of funders both federal, state and private; and national and state-based that supports related work. Supplemental funding for this project has been applied for in the past, as NCJFCJ continually seeks a variety of funding sources for its projects.

For the project titled ``Train-the-Trainer (ALERRT)'' in H.R. 1105, OJP-Byrne Discretionary Grants account, the legal name and address of the requesting entity is the Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, Texas 78666. The $1,200,000 in the bill for this project will enable Texas State University to build ALERRT's Train-The- Trainer capacity to meet the training needs of the more than 650,000 law enforcement agents across the nation. Since 2002, ALERRT has trained more than 16,000 first responding patrol officers. ALERRT is a program designed to train first responders with tactics they will need to effectively respond to active shooter situations. More than 200 law enforcement agencies, including Texas Christian University Police Department and Ft. Worth Police Department, are on the waiting list for training under ALERRT. Funding would allow these departments to receive training. ALERRT has been awarded more than $7 million in federal and state funds to bring this Rapid Response training to frontline officers across Texas and the nation. Texas State will provide any required matching funds.

For the project titled ``White Settlement Emergency Management, Police, and Fire Department Interoperable Communications

Project'' in H.R. 1105, OJP-Byrne Discretionary Grants account, the legal name and address of the requesting entity is the City of White Settlement, 214 Meadow Park Drive, White Settlement, TX 76108. The $500,000 in the bill for this project will allow the City of White Settlement to begin the process of updating the city's radio equipment. The city is currently not capable of transmitting information between agencies due to aging radio systems and lack of funding. Many times, the ability of first-responders to respond to emergency situations would be enhanced by partnering or sharing resources. The goal is to have direct communications with the City of Fort Worth, the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Lockheed Martin, and any other local agencies or cities for rapid response to emergency situations. No matching funds are required for this project.

For the project titled ``America SCORES Fort Worth Expansion'' in H.R. 1105, OJP-Juvenile Justice account, the legal name and address of the requesting entity is the America SCORES, 520 Eighth Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, New York 10018. The $150,000 in the bill for this project will be used to expand the America SCORES after-school program to at least five new public elementary schools in the Fort Worth area, reaching upwards of 125 additional elementary students in the urban center. The America SCORES model has proven very successful in improving academic performance and physical health among participants, reduces the risks of unsupervised playtime, and combats the epidemics of childhood obesity and violence. America SCORES will match the federal funding with $150,000 in private funds. All expenses to maintain the expansion in future years will be provided by non-federal sources.

For the project titled ``Central City, Fort Worth, Upper Trinity River Basin, TX'' in H.R. 1105, Corps of Engineers--Construction account, the legal name and address of the requesting entity is Tarrant Regional Water District, 800 E. Northside Dr., Fort Worth, TX 76102. The aging levee system on the Trinity River is no longer adequate to provide protection for an area adjacent to downtown Fort Worth that is undergoing revitalization. The Army Corps of Engineers recommends in the final Environmental Impact Statement an integrated, comprehensive solution for flood control in this area to include transportation, environmental restoration, and community redevelopment components, including constructing a 1.5-mile flood-control bypass channel. The $6,000,000 in the bill for this project will be used for excavation of the bypass channel. Matching funds for the entire project include $64 million from Tarrant Regional Water District, $10.9 million from the City of Fort Worth, $9 million from Tarrant County, and $80.5 million from the local tax financing district.

For the project titled, ``Farmers Branch, Tarrant County, TX'' in H.R. 1105, Corps of Engineers Sec. 205 account, the legal name and address of the requesting entity is the City of White Settlement, 214 Meadow Park Drive, White Settlement, TX 76108. To improve the channelization of Farmers Branch flowing through the center of White Settlement, the continuing authority provided in this bill will be used for construction of a flood control channel. This channel will mitigate major flooding problems affecting homes and businesses in the area. The City of White Settlement has passed bonds totaling $11.5 million for the project.

For the project titled, ``Upper Trinity River Basin, TX'' in H.R. 1105, Corps of Engineers Investigations account, the legal name and address of the requesting entity is U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, 819 Taylor Street, Room 3A32, Fort Worth, TX 76102- 0300. The $382,000 provided in the bill will be used to continue various Corps of Engineers studies in the Upper Trinity River Basin. No matching funds are required.

For the project titled ``Cook Children's Medical Center, Ft. Worth, TX for facilities and equipment'' in H.R. 1105, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services account, the legal name and address of the requesting entity is the Cook Children's Medical Center, 801 Seventh Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76104. The $666,000 in the bill for this project will be used to purchase Magnetoencephalography (MEG) technology in order for Cook Children's Medical Center to continue their research in the neurosciences. MEG technology, combined with Cook Children's existing iMRI and pediatric neuroscience resources, will provide the best available treatment to cure Texas children afflicted with epilepsy, brain tumors, and other devastating neurological disorders. Funds will be used for the purchase of equipment and the construction costs necessary to install the MEG technology. In addition to the federal funding for this project, Cook Children's plans to raise at least $5,803,000 in the local community.

For the project titled ``Harris Methodist Ft. Worth Hospital, Ft. Worth, TX for facilities and equipment'' in H.R. 1105, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services account, the legal name and address of the requesting entity is the Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital, 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76104. The $618,000 in the bill for this project will be used for the renovation and construction of a 16-bed palliative care unit. Palliative care is healthcare that specializes in the relief of suffering and the achievement of the best possible quality of life for patients with advanced illness and their families. It is offered simultaneously with all other appropriate medical treatment. Currently, the Harris Methodist Health Foundation is seeking community donations as part of a $2.2 million campaign. To date, $537,000 has been raised to help fund the palliative care unit and significant pledges have been made.

For the project titled ``Texas Wesleyan University, Ft. Worth, TX for purchase of equipment for the doctoral program in nurse anesthesia practice, including curriculum development'' in H.R. 1105, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services account, the legal name and address of the requesting entity is the Texas Wesleyan University, 1201 Wesleyan St., Fort Worth, Texas 76105-1536. The $247,000 in the bill for this project will be used by Texas Wesleyan University for equipment costs to support the new on- line Doctorate program in Nurse Anesthesia Practice. Harris Methodist hospital is the primary clinical site for Texas Wesleyan University's nurse anesthetist program. Funding will be used to upgrade the network and enhance current audio/visual technologies for curriculum development and deployment to support instructional needs for the new doctoral program. This project will support Texas Wesleyan University's new Doctorate Program of Nurse Anesthesia Practice, the second doctoral program of its kind in the United States. The objective is to develop a distance learning program (utilizing recent advances in distance learning methodologies) that will provide extended education to full time employed Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists who are located in rural or metropolitan areas of the United States. This project provides education via new technologies, including distance learning methodologies, and addresses the Healthy People 2010 goal set by HHS to eliminate health disparities. Texas Wesleyan University has provided $360,000 in private matching funds for this project.

For the project titled ``Alliance Airport, Runway Extension, TX'' in H.R. 1105, FAA--Airport Improvement Program account, the legal name and address for the requesting entity is Alliance Airport and the City of Fort Worth, TX, 2221 Alliance Boulevard, Ste 100, Fort Worth, TX 76177. The $1,750,000 for the project in this bill will be used to extend the existing main runway. The extension project includes lengthening the runway by 1,400 feet to 11,000 feet and includes extension of taxiways, relocation of FM Road 156, relocation of a Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail line, and extension of Eagle Parkway. The local share of the project cost will be between $50 million and $60 million.

For the project titled ``CNG Bus Replacement, Fort Worth Transportation Authority, TX,'' in H.R. 1105, Federal Transit Administration--Bus/Bus Facilities account, the legal name and address for the requesting entity is Fort Worth Transportation Authority, The ``T,'' 1600 E. Lancaster Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76102. The $1,425,000 in this bill will be used to continue the replacement of the Fort Worth Transportation Authority's aging bus fleet and pay for the cost of replacing approximately 3-4 buses with clean-burning natural gas vehicles, wheel chair accessibility and complete with security cameras for driver and passenger safety. This will help advance the T's overall initiative to make the entire bus fleet 100% wheel chair accessible. Local share of the project cost will be $1.64 million.

For the project titled, ``Interstate-35 W Congestion Relief, TX,'' in H.R. 1105, Federal Highways Administration--Interstate Maintenance account, the legal name and address for the requesting entity is City of Fort Worth, TX, 1000 Throckmorton Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102. The $1,800,000 in the bill will be used to provide congestion relief for I- 35W between downtown Fort Worth and SH 114 near the Denton/Tarrant County line. These funds are for engineering and design. Relief of regional congestion along this road segment is critical and would address significant emissions concerns. Additionally, this eventual expansion of I-35W would also continue facilitating economic expansion of north Fort Worth, the Alliance Airport area, northern Tarrant County, as well as enhance access to the renewal work of the Trinity River Vision project. Local share of the project cost will be $2 million by the Denton County Commissioner's Court, which is significantly more than the statutory 20 percent.

For the project titled, ``Henderson Street Bridge Construction at the Trinity River, Fort Worth, TX,'' in H.R. 1105, Federal Highways Administration--Transportation Community

Systems Preservation account, the legal name and address for the requesting entity is City of Fort Worth, TX, 1000 Throckmorton Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102. The $1,520,000 in the bill will be used for the construction of SH 199 (Henderson Street) and US Business 287 through the Trinity Uptown area of the Trinity River Vision. The aging levee system is no longer adequate to provide protection for an area adjacent to downtown Fort Worth that is undergoing revitalization. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommends in the final Environmental Impact Statement an integrated, comprehensive solution for flood control in this area to include transportation, environmental restoration and community redevelopment components in constructing a 1.5 mile flood- control bypass channel. Local share of the project cost is $21.485 million.

For the project titled, ``City of Fort Worth, TX--Economic Development Initiatives,'' in H.R. 1105, Housing and Urban Development--Economic Development Initiative account, the legal name and address of the requesting entity is City of Fort Worth, TX, 1000 Throckmorton Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102. The $285,000 in the bill will be used for property acquisition for land that will be needed to construct the bypass channel of the Trinity River. The aging levee system is no longer adequate to provide protection for an area adjacent to downtown Fort Worth that is undergoing revitalization. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommends in the final Environmental Impact Statement an integrated, comprehensive solution for flood control in this area to include transportation, environmental restoration and community redevelopment components in constructing a 1.5 mile flood- control bypass channel. The local share of the project cost is $15 million.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 57, I was absent from the House. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Madam Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 54, 55, 56, 58, and 59, I was absent from the House. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the courage of a brave and dedicated hero of the state of Texas and of our nation.

Sergeant John J. Savage was a soldier in the United States Army and a true American hero. John gave his life in the service of his country on December 4, 2008, when an explosives-laden SUV broadsided Sergeant Savage's armored vehicle in Mosul, Iraq.

Assigned to 103rd Engineer Company, 94th Engineer Battalion, Sergeant Savage did his part during a time of war, an action that speaks volumes far greater than words about his character and patriotism.

A native of Weatherford, Texas, John had aspirations for a life in the military from a young age. As stated by his mother, ``He loved the military. It was a lifelong dream of his.''

John had been on active duty in the United States Army for six years. He spent three years stationed in Germany prior to his first deployment to Iraq in 2005 and was then deployed for a second tour in September of 2007.

Sergeant Savage's three-year-old daughter, Nicole, will continue to learn of her father through family and friends. John's father, who is the son of a retired Master Sergeant from the United States Army himself, commented on his own son by stating, ``His family was his number one priority.''

Our thoughts and prayers are with Sergeant Savage's daughter, parents, siblings, and all of his family and friends. His community and nation honor his memory, and we are grateful for his faithful and distinguished service to America.

Sergeant Savage will not be forgotten. His memory lives on through his family and the legacy of selfless service that he so bravely imprinted on our hearts.

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule for the consideration of the SCHIP bill we will be considering later today.

The rule does not allow for the consideration of any amendments, and it bars the Republican motion to recommit. That is not a good way to reauthorize what has been a bipartisan program.

In its original form, the SCHIP program is an excellent program that ensures medical care is available to uninsured children. During my first time in Congress, I voted to help create the SCHIP program, and I believe we need to responsibly reauthorize it. That is why I have introduced a bill to expand the SCHIP program to cover millions of uninsured kids. It is a bill that is paid for without budget gimmicks and without raising taxes.

My bill, the Kids First Act, expands SCHIP by $19.3 billion over the same 4\1/2\-year period as the Democrat bill. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Kids First Act will cover 3.6 million previously uninsured children. Without raising taxes and without budget gimmicks, the Kids First Act truly puts kids first, eliminating nearly all adults from this program designed for children so that more children can be covered.

I urge my colleagues to oppose this rule as well as the majority's SCHIP bill and, instead, to support the Kids First Act.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the loyal service rendered to the City of Fort Worth, Texas by Mr. Joe Paniagua from 1986 until his retirement in December 2008.

As a former member of the city council and Mayor of Fort Worth, I had the opportunity of working directly with ``Joe P.,'' as he is known by all at City Hall.

Although a native of Corpus Christi, Joe P. joined the City of Fort Worth's employment rolls in 1986 as a Municipal Courts customer service representative. He held a series of positions before being promoted to be the city's chief state and federal legislative program coordinator and grants manager. In that capacity, he faithfully and tirelessly represented the city through six Texas Legislative Sessions, from 1991 through 2001.

Joe P. spent countless hours driving that long and lonely stretch of I-35 back and forth each week between Fort Worth and Austin in loyal service to our city. I have heard stories of his sleeping on friends' couches in Austin in the early days in order to save the city money.

His hard work paid off on many issues that benefitted our community including the successful passage of legislation creating a revenue- sharing program between Fort Worth and Dallas, which supports DFW Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world. Joe P. also worked to streamline Texas crime district laws and to secure legislation allowing municipalities to include ``best value'' as consideration for purchases.

Joe P. was promoted to Assistant City Manager in September 2001 and retired as First Assistant City Manager on December 31, 2008.

Not only has Joe P. been a loyal public servant to our city, but he and his wife Elsa and their two children, Jose Francisco and Elissa, are well known and beloved citizens of our community.

In closing, I can say without reservation that the City of Fort Worth, Texas and our community at large have benefitted from the service of Joe Paniagua. I invite my colleagues to join me in honoring Joe Paniagua and his family upon the occasion of his retirement.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 8 and 9 I was absent from the House on official district business. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the courage of a brave and dedicated hero of the State of Texas and of our Nation.

Sergeant John J. Savage was a soldier in the United States Army and a true American hero. John gave his life in the service of his country on December 4, 2008, when an explosives-laden SUV broadsided Sergeant Savage's armored vehicle in Mosul, Iraq.

Assigned to 2nd 103rd Engineer Company, 94th Engineer Battalion, Sergeant Savage did his part during a time of war, an action that speaks volumes far greater than words about his character and patriotism.

A native of Weatherford, Texas, John had aspirations for a life in the military from a young age. As stated by his mother, ``He loved the military. It was a lifelong dream of his.''

John had been on active duty in the United States Army for 6 years. He spent 3 years stationed in Germany prior to his first deployment to Iraq in 2005 and was then deployed for a second tour in September of 2007.

Sergeant Savage's three-year-old daughter, Nicole, will continue to learn of her father through family and friends. John's father, a retired Master Sergeant from the United States Army, commented on his son by stating, ``His family was his number one priority.''

Our thoughts and prayers are with Sergeant Savage's daughter, parents, siblings, and all of his family and friends. His community and Nation honor his memory, and we are grateful for his faithful and distinguished service to America.

Sergeant Savage will not be forgotten. His memory lives on through his family and the legacy of selfless service that he so bravely imprinted on our hearts.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Colonel Raymond Anthony Celeste, Jr., who is retiring from the United States Marine Corps after more than 26 years of faithful service.

Colonel Celeste attended Officers Candidate School in October 1982 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in December 1982. In 1983, he graduated first from The Basic School and later from the Field Artillery Officer Basic School. His first fleet assignment was at Marine Corps Base, 29 Palms, California in January 1984, where he served first with 4th Battalion 11th Marines and then with 5th Battalion 11th Marines as a platoon commander in 8 inch self-propelled Howitzer Batteries. During his time as a platoon commander, he participated in numerous Combined Arms Exercises, learning the great capabilities of the Marine Air Ground Task Force.

In May of 1985, then-First Lieutenant Celeste transferred to Camp Pendleton, California, where he served in the Tactical Exercise Control Group and assisted in organizing field and staff exercises worldwide. In September of 1986, First Lieutenant Celeste reported as the first Operations Officer of the 1st Remotely Piloted Vehicle Company, where he became one of the first members of the newly established unit. In this assignment, he assisted in integrating Unmanned Aerial Vehicles into the Marine Air Ground Task Force and received an award for his meritorious service. Because of his expertise in this area, an article he wrote on the subject was published in the Marine Corps Gazette.

In September of 1988, then-Captain Celeste transferred to the Marine Corps Reserves. In January of the following year, he joined 3rd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company where he deployed and participated in numerous bi-lateral exercises in Korea and Japan. During the first Gulf War, Captain Celeste was a commander in charge of training more than 200 Marines for deployment to the Middle East and received an award for his meritorious service. In January of 1992, Captain Celeste transferred to Hotel Battery (155 mm Howitzers), 3rd Battalion, 14th Marines where he acted as Platoon Commander and Forward Observer. In June of that same year, he was selected to be the Executive Officer of Delta Company, 4th Light Armored Infantry Company. In 1993, he became the Commanding Officer of Delta Company and served in that capacity for over two years. Concurrent to his assignment as Delta Company's Commanding officer, Captain Celeste served as the Headquarters Marine Corps counterdrug officer where he monitored Marine Corps counterdrug operations.

In 1995, then-Major Celeste was assigned as the Officer-in-Charge of the Department of the Navy Gulf War Declassification Project where he was responsible for the declassification of tens of thousands of pages of Gulf War I operational records. He subsequently received an award for meeting the mandated declassification deadline as established by the Deputy Secretary of Defense. Due to his expertise in the area, in May of 1997, Major Celeste was assigned as an investigator to the Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses. At this assignment, he assisted in the investigation of the causal factors for Gulf War Illnesses using the documents that he and his team helped to previously declassify. In order to widely disseminate the findings of the investigation, they were published on the World Wide Web which, at the time, was a novel medium for this purpose.

In August of 1999, then-Lieutenant Colonel Celeste was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps (Office of Legislative Affairs) where he served as a Congressional Affairs Officer. In this capacity, he assisted in the answering of high level congressional inquires, led the Marine Corps Congressional Fellowship Program, and assisted in the organizing of congressional outreach programs to include the following: The Congressional Marines Group, The Capitol Hill Running Club, Congressional Marine Day, and programs for Veterans Service Organizations and Defense Industry representatives.

Colonel Celeste served in Iraq from February to August of 2007 as the Marine liaison between the Commanding General, Multi-National Forces West and the Commanding General Civilian Police Assistance Training Team. During this period, Colonel Celeste was a member of the Green Zone Council, which supports the Boys and Girls Scouting programs in Iraq. He was also involved in supporting a local orphanage in Baghdad by coordinating and soliciting donations from family and friends.

For more than 26 years, Colonel Celeste's great sense of duty and exceptional work ethic have benefitted his fellow Marines and his nation. We thank him for his steadfast dedication and wish him fair winds and following seas as he starts the next chapter of his life.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the courage of a brave and dedicated hero of the state of Texas and of our Nation.

Staff Sergeant Anthony L. Mason, known as Luke to his family and friends, was a soldier in the Texas National Guard and a true American hero. Luke gallantly and selflessly gave his life in the service of his country on September 18, 2008, when his helicopter went down near Tallil, Iraq.

It was his second tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Assigned to 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation, 36th Combat Aviation Brigade as a helicopter engineer, Luke did his part during a time of war, a fact that speaks volumes about his character and patriotism.

As a Staff Sergeant, he was a leader and mentor to the younger members of his unit. His fellow soldiers admired him for his professionalism, technical knowledge, and his approachable character.

During his civilian life, Luke was a friend to many. His positive influence is evidenced by his community's response to his death and the support they have readily offered to his family.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Staff Sergeant Mason's wife, his four daughters, his parents, and all of his family and friends. His community and Nation honor his memory and we are grateful for his faithful and distinguished service to America.

Staff Sergeant Mason will not be forgotten. His memory lives on through his family and the legacy of selfless service that he so bravely imprinted on our hearts.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the courage of a brave and dedicated hero of the state of Texas and of our Nation.

Captain Robert Vallejo II was a soldier in the Texas National Guard and a true American hero. Robert gave his life in the service of his country on September 18, 2008, when the helicopter he was co-piloting went down near Tallil, Iraq.

Assigned to 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation, 36th Combat Aviation Brigade as a pilot, Captain Vallejo did his part during a time of war, a fact that speaks volumes about his character and patriotism.

Robert graduated from Brewer High School in 1998 and graduated from Texas Christian University as part of the Reserve Officer Training Corps in 2005. After graduation from college, he attended flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Becoming a pilot fulfilled his long-time dream of flying. Becoming a military pilot fulfilled his desire to, as his mother put it, ``be a part of history and leave his mark.''

He served as a soldier for nine years and was on his first overseas tour when he died.

Shortly after Robert's death, his family learned that the baby his wife is expecting in January would be a boy. Captain Vallejo's son will be named Robert Cale Vallejo III and will learn of his father through his family and friends, who described Robert as a kind, outgoing, and intelligent man with a wonderful sense of humor.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Captain Vallejo's wife, sisters, parents, and all of his family and friends. His community and nation honor his memory and we are grateful for his faithful and distinguished service to America.

Captain Vallejo will not be forgotten. His memory lives on through his family and the legacy of selfless service that he so bravely imprinted on our hearts.

Madam Speaker, consistent with the Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, I submit the following justification for the project I received in the FY2009 Homeland Security Appropriations bill.

Project name (as it appears in the bill): Tarrant County, TX Pre- Disaster Mitigation

Amount received: $1 million

Bill number: FY2009 Homeland Security Appropriations bill

Account: Pre-Disaster Mitigation

Legal name and address of entity receiving Earmark: Tarrant County, 100 E. Weatherford, Fort Worth, TX 76196

Description of how the money will be spent and why the use of federal taxpayer funding is justified: Tarrant County, TX, will use this funding to plan localized flood control and storm water management projects and will bring municipalities under its jurisdiction up to national standards. This flood control and storm water management work is very important for Tarrant County because the west fork

of the Trinity River flows through the county. Enhanced flood control and storm management would positively impact the lives of county residents as well as other Texans that reside downstream on the Trinity River. The funding plan will be adjusted accordingly for whatever final funding level is provided in the agreement.

Description of matching funds: It is my understanding that Tarrant County will provide at of the least 25 percent of the matching funds, as prescribed in FEMA PDM Program Guidance.