Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I would like to first thank the gentleman for his work and also our colleague Jerry Lewis for his work.

I rise today in support for House Concurrent Resolution 101. President Ronald Reagan was first known widely to the public as a beloved actor. Ronald Reagan became president of the Screen Actors Guild, a two-term Governor of California, and then a two-term President of the United States.

During his time in office as President, Ronald Reagan tamed inflation, reduced America's tax burden, and faced down the Soviet empire, delivering millions from tyranny.

Speaking at the Berlin Wall on June 12, 1987, President Reagan challenged Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev to bring down the Iron Curtain. Standing at the Brandenburg Gate, Reagan declared, ``If you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.''

Upon his death in 2004, when Ronald Reagan was lying in State in the Rotunda, Gorbachev came and paid silent tribute to his erstwhile adversary. Fittingly, in the same Rotunda, the statue of President Ronald Reagan will remain permanently, with a ring of fragments from the Berlin Wall embedded in its pedestal.

President Reagan once said, ``There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit.'' While placement of the statue in the Capitol Rotunda does not, in my opinion, offer due credit to the 40th President, by recognizing him in this manner the people of California ensure that Ronald Reagan will have a lasting and symbolic presence for the countless future generations of Americans visiting the United States Capitol.

I would like to thank the former First Lady, Nancy Reagan, and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library for their tireless work in this tribute. Along with my colleagues Ken Calvert and Jerry Lewis, they have been a driving force behind this effort.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to introduce the Wind Incentives for a New Decade (WIND) Energy Act of 2009, which would extend the production tax credit (PTC) over the next decade to demonstrate that we are committed to powering our nation with more alternative and clean electricity.

Electricity prices have soared more than 26 percent nationally since 2000. Wind energy and other renewable energy resources are a crucial component to ensuring that Americans have access to clean, reliable, diversified, and affordable electricity. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, wind energy today accounts for approximately 3 percent of electricity produced in the United States. However, wind energy capacity has the potential to significantly increase in the United States in the future--but only if we have a stable investment climate.

A clean, reliable, and renewable energy source, wind-generated electricity produces no carbon dioxide or greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, in 2007, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) estimated that wind energy displaced more than 28 million tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere. A 2007 report compiled by the American Solar Energy Society indicates that widespread use of wind has the potential to displace up to 1,780 million metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2030.

By extending the PTC through 2020, my bill would create long-term fiscal stability primarily in the wind energy market. This certainty is vital to wind energy project planning and development. By providing a long-term credit, wind energy developers can attract investors and plan out schedules for project development, thereby creating an efficient and cost-effective process for allocating resources and encouraging investment in this industry. This alone has the potential to reduce the costs associated with many of these projects thereby making wind- generated electricity more competitive with other types of electricity that is generated.

The wind energy industry currently employs over 85,000 individuals and indirectly employs tens of thousands more in industry-related support services. With a current national unemployment rate of 8.1 percent, which is higher in the construction sector (21.4 percent) and manufacturing sector (11.5 percent), providing long term stability in the tax code for the PTC would help create sustainable, good-paying jobs. In fact, in 2008, AWEA estimates the wind industry invested over $7.8 billion in wind turbines, primarily made of steel, which translated into purchases of more than $3 billion of steel and cast iron components.

Additionally, a report published in 2007 by the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that a 5- to 10- year extension of the PTC, relative to one- or two-year extensions, could reduce the cost of wind projects by up to 15 percent, result in better transmission line planning, enhance private research and development spending, and significantly increase domestic manufacturing of wind equipment thereby, creating American jobs. In addition, this report goes on to indicate that by extending the PTC through 2020, wind energy has the potential to increase in the United States from about 3 percent to 17 percent of our electricity supply by 2030.

Unfortunately, since its creation in 1992, the PTC has been allowed to expire three times, only to be retroactively renewed and extended. In addition, Congress has very nearly allowed this credit to expire many times, but then has passed 11th hour extensions of the provision. The 3-year extension of the PTC included in the recently-enacted stimulus bill is a good start; however, given the history of extending this credit, such uncertainty in this process is a major disincentive to long-term wind and renewable energy development. This situation has led to a boom-bust cycle in wind energy rather than a consistent, longterm investment in one of our nation's limitless green energy resources. For instance, information compiled by AWEA shows that each time the PTC was allowed to expire but then was reactively renewed and extended, the subsequent year wind energy installations decreased 73 percent--93 percent compared to the prior year.

Kern County, which I represent, is a model of renewable energy resources, and Tehachapi, California, is a leader in wind energy development. In fact, the Tehachapi Wind Resources Area, located in the Tehachapi Mountains of eastern Kern, has attracted wind energy developers because, if you have ever been there, the wind blows nearly all the time through the mountain tops and valleys. Underscoring the vast wind energy potential in this area, over 3,500 wind turbines have already been installed, which produce electricity to power more than 250,000 homes and create more than 650 jobs (both directly and indirectly) in the local communities. In addition, Kern County produces over 30 percent of the total wind-generated power in California, and accounts for about 5 percent of the total wind power generated in the United States. Even with all of this, it is my understanding there is still opportunity for significant expansion of wind power in the Kern- Tehachapi area, which some estimates put as high as bringing an additional 6,000 megawatts of wind-generated electricity online. A long-term extension of the PTC would help ensure that the Tehachapi Wind Resources Area, as well as the United States', vast potential for wind energy can be developed in a reliable and timely manner,

which not only benefits Kern County, but California and the United States.

It is time for Congress to take decisive action to help ensure that Americans have reliable and affordable renewable electricity. A long- term extension of the PTC would help ensure that we can maximize the potential of our American renewable energy resources, such as wind, and create thousands of new, skilled jobs, both in manufacturing and engineering in this country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of a committed public servant, Kevin Petersen, who retires April 3, 2009, as director of NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center located in my district. Kevin has served at Dryden for 38 years and is currently NASA's longest-serving field center director.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a community leader, Sandra Brockman, on her retirement after 27 years of service to the people of Kern County, California, most recently as Chief Deputy Registrar of Voters.

Sandy Brockman began her career with Kern County on February 8, 1982 as a Deputy Court Clerk with the West Kern Municipal Court. In June 1984, she was promoted to Secretary, and five months later transferred to the County Clerk Election Division, where she has worked for over 25 years in the elections

field. Ms. Brockman's position was reclassified to Senior Secretary in 1987, and by taking specialized classes relating to the conduct and history of elections over a two year period, she earned a National Certification as a Certified Elections Registration Administrator. In 1998, she was promoted to Election Process Supervisor and became interim Election Division Chief in 2000, accepting the position as a permanent appointment six months later. Ms. Brockman continued her education by attending classes designed specifically for California election law and became a Certified California Professional Elections Administrator in 2005. She has worked and supervised nearly every section in elections and capped her career off as Chief Deputy Registrar of Voters.

Under her leadership, the Election Division, which conducts all federal, state and local elections in Kern County and maintains voter registration and precinct boundaries, implemented both voter registration and voting systems. She was the right person at the right time for the job; during the past seven years, the Elections Division has experienced more material changes in election law than in the previous 18 years of Ms. Brockman's career.

Ms. Brockman has worked long hours to ensure that the election process has integrity and transparency. Her accessibility and commitment to helping anyone needing information, assistance or direction personifies how dedicated she was as a public servant. Ms. Brockman's institutional knowledge, personality and dedication to the citizens of Kern County will be sorely missed. I thank Sandy for her service to Kern County and wish her the very best in her future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a community leader, Mr. Dennis L. Thompson, on his retirement after 36 years of service to the people of Kern County, California, most recently as Fire Chief of Kern County & Director of Emergency Services.

Chief Thompson began serving Kern County, which I represent, as a seasonal firefighter in 1970 at Station 55 (Mettler). On his first assignment, he burned both of his ears while containing a standing grain fire and although that experience made him question what he was doing fighting fires, he stuck with it. In 1973, Thompson became a full-time firefighter and began his training at Station 44 (Southgate). When he started firefighting, he drove vintage military surplus vehicles from the World War II and Korean War eras that were converted into fire trucks that were older than he was. Thompson also joined the ranks of the ``Smoke Eaters'' as firefighters back then were called because regulations did not require a breathing apparatus. ``Thankfully'', as Thompson says, departmental and state regulations were changed.

In 1975, Thompson started his full-time career in the Engineer position in Mettler, and in 1978, he was promoted to Captain for the Randsburg, Ridgecrest and Lebec areas. In 1981, Thompson suffered an on-the-job injury, while he was recouping, he returned to California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) to complete a 4-year degree. He returned to duty at Station 56 (Lebec) and graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration with honors. Thompson became Acting Battalion Chief in 1984 for Battalion 7, which covered northeast Kern County including the Lake Isabella and Ridgecrest areas. In 1985, he became Battalion Chief and Chief Training Officer for Battalion 2 and Battalion 5, which included southern and western Kern County. In 1986, Thompson completed his Master's degree in Public Administration from CSUB. In 1994, Thompson became the Deputy Fire Chief and oversaw Operations, Finance and Administration. In 2002, Thompson became a Chief Deputy at the Department, an Assistant Department Head.

In 2003, Thompson became Kern County's 10th Fire Chief and Director of Emergency Services. Serving as Fire Chief for six years, Thompson oversaw the completion of many significant projects. Thompson reinstated Battalion 5 in August 2007 and made sure that Station 18 in Stallion Springs was open permanently, rather than seasonally for fire season. Thompson also increased minimum staffing levels from 2 to 3 person stations in all but one station. After 4 years of no equipment purchases, Thompson worked to acquire $38.8 million in replacement apparatus and equipment to fulfill the needs of Kern County Fire Department. The capstone of Thompson's career was overseeing, from start to finish, the completion of the Emergency Operations Center that made Kern County's operational area preparedness capability state-of- the-art and viable for the future.

As someone who personally knows our local firefighting community well--my uncle previously held the post of Kern County Fire Chief, my father was an assistant Fire Chief for the City of Bakersfield, and during college I was a seasonal firefighter for the County--I am grateful for the service and leadership that Chief Thompson has given to the people of Kern County. I wish him well in his retirement, and I know he is looking forward to spending more time with his wife, Mary Jo, and their family.

Well, I thank my fellow congressman from California (Mr. Lewis) for the fine work he does for all Americans.

I rise today in support of the motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 1. I would argue that it should be retitled. It should be titled ``People Before Politics.'' All it is asking is 48 hours to see the example of more than 800 pages spending more than $800 billion. It is roughly $1 billion a page. I think the American public has a right to know what is in the bill and what it is being spent on.

When I was watching television today and watching one of the interviews by one of our fellow Senators, one that helped negotiate where this bill currently was, when asked a question, he said, I only agreed to $780 billion. But the score today says $838 billion. When they asked him a question about what has gone in and what has been put in about health care, he said, I never agreed to that. So even the Senators themselves that have been negotiating this bill before it goes into conference are questioning what is in it. I think the American public has a right to know.

I would tell you that a little more than a week ago we sat on this floor and we had an debate about this bill. And unfortunately, there was a partisan vote and then a bipartisan vote about this bill. One side of the aisle almost all voted ``yes.'' That bipartisan vote was a handful of Democrats and Republicans who said ``no.'' And I think their voice has a right to be heard. And their voice of saying ``no'' is not ``let's not do anything.'' We believe there is an ability to do something better. And on this side of the aisle, the Republicans have sat together, worked in a bipartisan group and worked together also in a working group and laid out to this President and have given him the ideas that said how can we improve, how can we move together in moving forward? And what

we are saying with the motion to instruct is let's continue the work, let's improve it and let's make the American people be first and foremost. Let's put people before politics.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Harry Ovitt, a resident and community leader from San Miguel, California, for his outstanding and exemplary service and leadership to the residents of San Luis Obispo County during his tenure as County Supervisor from 1989 through 2008.

Harry has been a longtime leader in local government who has established and participated in a extensive list of civic organizations, all in the pursuit of improving the community he represents. During his 19-year tenure on the Board of Supervisors, he served as Chairman in 1993, 1999, and 2004, and Vice-Chairman in 1992, 1998, and 2003. He also was active on various local boards, including the Children-At-Risk Task Force, the Mental Health Advisory Board, the Economic Vitality Committee, and the Resource Conservation District.

During his time on the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors, Harry devoted himself to many issues to improve the lives of the residents within the County. He worked to secure funds to help construct both the Heritage Ranch Fire Station and the Meridian Fire Station. He established the North County Government Center in Templeton, which has a Sheriff's Substation and a County Agricultural Office. He was also instrumental in bringing a new courthouse to Paso Robles.

Harry understood the importance of having adequate transportation infrastructure, and worked tirelessly to ensure residents had sufficient and safe roads as the County continued to grow. To that end, he has been a passionate advocate of making State Highway 46 safer for drivers through a widening project of this 2-lane highway as well as developing the North County Shuttle. He also worked to obtain mobile healthcare units, which visit communities around the County to provide basic medical services to residents so they do not have to incur the cost of traveling long distances to obtain medical services. Harry also worked to improve water quality and accessibility in the County. He formed the North County Water Forum, which examines the impacts of residential and agricultural development on the Paso Robles Water Basin, chaired the Lake Nacimiento Commission that has worked on the Nacimiento Water Pipeline Project, and is chairman of the North County Water Task Force.

Prior to serving on the County Board of Supervisors, Harry was a Paso Robles City Councilman, a member of the Paso Robles Airport Planning Commission, and a past chairman of the Paso Robles Planning Commission. In addition to the public offices he has held, Harry always remained active in the local community. He was the Elks Club Citizen of the Year in the late 1980s and an Outstanding Jaycee of the Year. He was also a member of the Paso Robles Historical Society, the Santa Lucia Boy Scouts Executive Council, the Paso Robles Trail Riders, and a past chairman of the United Way North County Campaign. He is also a founder of the Clark-Ovitt Foundation, a nonprofit organization that has served the County since 1992.

A true mark of leadership is the generosity of time and talents that one gives on behalf of his neighbors and community. Harry Ovitt exemplifies this time-honored tradition. I commend Harry for his service and leadership in San Luis Obispo County, and wish him well.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Frank Mecham, a resident and community leader from Paso Robles, California, for his outstanding and exemplary leadership while serving as the mayor of Paso Robles from 2000 through 2008.

Frank has been a longtime leader in local government, reflecting the same success, enthusiasm, care, and commitment to his community as nine generations of Mecham Californians and five generations of San Luis Obispo County Mechams before him. His great-great grandfather, Don Joaquin Estrada, was a member of the first County Board of Supervisors in 1852, and his father was Fire Chief at Fort Hunter Liggett for over 20 years. Carrying on this tradition of public service, Frank served our country in the United States Navy and later began his political career on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the Planning Commission for the City of Paso Robles. He was elected to the City Council in 1998 and served for two years. In 2000, Frank was the first mayor of Paso Robles to be directly elected by the voters (in the past, the mayoral post had rotated between elected city councilmembers).

In 2003, Paso Robles felt the devastating effects of the San Simeon Earthquake. Frank showed strong leadership and composure throughout this natural disaster and guided the City through the aftermath and recovery efforts. Through his tireless efforts, the City of Paso Robles was able to rebuild faster and move forward onto the road to recovery quicker than anyone had expected. In addition, as mayor, he also oversaw the completion of the Barney Schwartz Park, the Public Safety Center, the Robert Rader Memorial 13th Street Bridge, and the Niblick Bridge expansion.

In addition to his public service, Frank has also remained active in the Paso Robles community. Frank is a member of the Twin Cities Community Hospital Board of Governors, the Nacimiento Water Commission, and the Paso Robles High School Technology Academy. He has also coached youth baseball and football for over two decades in the community, established a youth football league which continues to this day, and created the first Youth Commission for the City in 1999. In 2004, Frank was honored by the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce as Roblan of the Year in recognition of his outstanding service to the local community.

In a City named for its strong oak trees, Frank has stood strong in times of challenge, and helped create prosperity through a commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparent and accountable government. I commend Frank for his service and leadership as mayor of Paso Robles, and wish him and his family well as he continues to serve our community as a supervisor on the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor those brave men and women who have been wounded while serving our country in the United States Army. SPC Jamin Y. Moore is one such individual who, while serving in Iraq, sustained serious injury after his platoon hit an improvised explosive device. SPC Moore is a graduate of Liberty High School in Bakersfield, California and I wish to honor him and his duty and sacrifice to our country by inserting into the Congressional Record a poem he wrote on Saturday, May 20, 2006, on why he joined the United States Army.

I go because . . .

I go for a multitude of reasons; many which make sense to me

alone and cannot be expressed in words, for words can

never describe the deepest truisms in life.

I go to serve my country and to protect those I love.

I go to honor those who have served and fallen before me, not

only those of this country; but of all who paid with

blood to make the world better.

I go because I believe that I must be willing to fight and

die for what I believe, or I am nothing.

I go because I have been called upon to serve.

I go because I will gain a deeper understanding of who I am.

I go because I realize that a constant battle is raging

between good and evil, hope and despair, life and

death.

I have chosen my side and go to fight in the War of Life.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Harold Meek, a community leader and entrepreneur from Bakersfield, CA, on his retirement after over 35 years with the Three-Way Automotive Group.

Born in Oklahoma, Harold moved to Bakersfield in 1958 to work with his brother, Leo, in the automotive industry. After 17 years with his brother's dealership, Harold joined Three- Way Chevrolet, later the Three-Way Automotive Group, in 1973. With his business prowess and entrepreneurial skill, he become General Manager just 2 years later, was made a partner shortly thereafter, and, in 1996, was appointed president/dealer operator.

Under Harold's leadership, the Three-Way Automotive Group, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary by opening a second Chevrolet dealership at the Bakersfield Auto Mall, has been internationally recognized and awarded numerous industry awards for outstanding service. For the past 7 years, Three-Way Chevrolet has been the number one Retail Volume Chevrolet Dealer in California and was the number one Retail Chevrolet Dealer in the world in June and July of 2005. In addition, Harold has received the prestigious Time Magazine 2003 Quality Dealer Award and, for the last 8 years, the General Motors' Jack Smith Dealer of the Year Award, all a recognition of his commitment to exceptional sales performance and superior customer service. Over his long career, he has also served on or chaired numerous State and regional automotive industry dealership associations.

A successful entrepreneur in Bakersfield, Harold has also been active in the local community. Harold has served on the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Kern County Law Enforcement Foundation, and is a charter member of the Bakersfield Better Business Bureau. He also is a strong advocate for and has supported numerous civic and charitable organizations. Harold has supported and been involved in more than 250 civic and charitable organizations in the community, including numerous youth and sports programs as well as the American Cancer Society, the Bakersfield Women's Business Conference, the Kern County Fair, Relay for Life, Link to Life, the YMCA, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

A dedicated Republican, Harold has been active in local, State, and national Republican politics. He has served on the steering committees of numerous gubernatorial and presidential campaigns in California, and has managed several local campaigns, including city council, county supervisor, and sheriff's races. Harold also served as campaign chairman for former California State Assembly member from 1988 to 2000.

Harold exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit and a dedication to community that has made this country great. I wish Harold the best in this new chapter of his life, and I know he looks forward to spending more time with his wife Kay; children Joi, Mark, and Vivienne; and grandchildren Clint, Cody, Jordan, and Julia.

Madam Speaker, consistent with House Republican Earmark Standards, I am submitting the following earmark disclosure information for project requests that I made and which were included within the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment for H.R. 2638, the ``Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009''.

Requesting Member: Congressman Kevin McCarthy.

Bill Number: H.R. 2638.

Account: Military Construction, Air Force.

Project Amount: $6,000,000.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Edwards Air Force Base.

Address of Requesting Entity: 1 S. Rosamond Blvd., Edwards AFB, CA,

Madam Speaker, consistent with House Republican Earmark Standards, I am submitting the following earmark disclosure for two project authorization requests that I made and which were included within S. 3001, the ``Duncan Hunter Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009.''

Requesting Member: Congressman Kevin McCarthy.

Bill Number: S. 3001.

Account: Military Construction, Air Force.

Project Amount: $6,000,000.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Edwards Air Force Base.

Address of Requesting Entity: 1 S. Rosamond Blvd., Edwards AFB, CA,

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments, SLOCOG, on its 40th anniversary. SLOCOG was established in 1968 as an area-wide planning and coordinating council responsible for a wide variety of transportation, housing, water and sewer, open space and other programs in San Luis Obispo County. SLOCOG served as the overseer of the region by adopting an area-wide infrastructure plan.

In 1973, SLOCOG became a Regional Transportation Planning Agency and developed the region's first Regional Transportation Plan. Its plan addressed all modes of transportation, and it has continually updated the community schematic to address the changing needs and priorities of the area. In 1978, SLOCOG was designated the lead agency responsible for complying with the provisions of the 1977 Federal Clean Air Act and subsequently adopted the region's first air quality attainment and monitoring plan.

Following the enactment of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, ISTEA, SLOCOG expanded significantly in order to develop a comprehensive, interconnected, intermodal transportation system in the county. The agency then developed the region's first compliance plan for the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Beginning in 1993, SLOCOG prepared the region's first Federal Transportation Improvement Program, FTIP, and has updated the plan every 2 years to address the changing community needs and to ensure San Luis Obispo County's infrastructure conforms to Federal policies. Demonstrative of SLOCOG' s ability to handle a big workload: the most recent FTIP consisted of 99 construction projects.

In 1998, following enactment of the Transportation Efficiency Act for the 21st Century, TEA2l, the role of SLOCOG as the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the region was reinforced through the continued emphasis on the intermodal planning process established in

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 998, which would direct the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution to collect and preserve audio and video recordings from individuals who were involved in the civil rights movement.

In 1954 the Supreme Court landmark decision, Brown v. Board of Education, served as a beacon of hope to those who had longed for racial equality in this Nation, and is largely credited with beginning the period commonly referred to as the civil rights movement. Rather than viewing the case which provided for the desegregation of public schools in the United States as the end of a journey, supporters of the civil rights movement recognized the Court's decision as the beginning of a long and difficult road ahead.

The years that followed brought many hard battles, from the Montgomery Bus Boycott that was a result of Rosa Parks' brave refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger, to the march in Selma, Alabama, during which our own colleague, Congressman Lewis, suffered severe physical trauma in defense of voting rights. Congressman Lewis' recollections of this time have often brought those who have heard him speak to tears. It is exactly those types of oral histories that are in danger of being lost in the absence of a concerted effort to preserve them. We cannot afford to lose those accounts of extraordinary courage in the face of profound injustice.

With the passage of time, generations of Americans have now been born with freedoms that would not have been possible without the struggle and sacrifice of those who participated in the civil rights movement. The audio and video recordings preserved as a result of this bill's passage will be an invaluable resource from which those young people who may learn about the struggle for racial equality and will serve as an inspiration to all Americans as they reflect upon this pivotal time in our Nation's history.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 388, which would express the sense of Congress that the Department of Defense and the Federal Voting Assistance Program should take additional measures to ensure that members of the Armed Forces and their dependents are provided with reasonable information on voting in the 2008 general elections. This bill will also extend information to civilians living abroad for the same purpose.

Mr. Speaker, recent data compiled by the Election Assistance Commission found that less than 17 percent of the 6 million citizens eligible under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act chose to participate in the 2006 general election. Of the 48,600 Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act ballots that were not counted by States and local jurisdictions in the November 2006 elections, 70 percent were not counted due to incorrect or undeliverable addresses. It is simply unacceptable that thousands of the brave men and women who fight for our freedom each day were denied a voice in the electoral process due to incorrectly filling out a ballot.

In September 2007, the EAC also found that ``the third largest reason for rejected ballots was that they were received by election offices after the deadline stipulated by State law.''

I have introduced H.R. 5673, the MVP Act, to ensure that military personnel are not left out of the elections process while serving their country overseas. Although my bill has been endorsed by the Vets for Freedom, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars called it ``an important piece of legislation ensuring that the men and women who wear our Nation's uniform are not left out of the election process while serving in harm's way,'' the MVP Act has not yet been brought before the House for consideration. However, I am hopeful that this resolution will create awareness of this issue and lead to more comprehensive reform that will provide a solution to this problem.

In addition to meeting ballot deadlines and correctly completing absentee ballots, there is also an issue with

military personnel receiving information from the Federal Voting Assistance Program. A survey conducted recently by the Inspector General for the Department of Defense analyzed the effectiveness of the Federal Voting Assistance Program during the 2006 general election and found that only 40 percent of members of the Armed Forces received voting information from the military and only 33 percent were aware of the Federal Post Card Application.

We must ensure that the Federal Voting Assistance Program improves their communication efforts and promotes the Federal Post Card Application and the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot so that our service men and women are aware of the resources available to them during an election.

This year, perhaps more than any other year in recent memory, our Nation's electorate is excited to cast their ballots for the candidates of their choosing. For those serving their country overseas, and for civilians living abroad, we must do everything in our power to ensure that they have the information necessary to do so.

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