Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend two organizations from my home district, the State Employees Federal Credit Union (SEFCU) and American Red Cross Adirondack Saratoga Chapter, who are partnering to sponsor a community blood drive to help save lives in my district on Monday, June 23. The blood drive will be held at the Saratoga Springs Public Library in Saratoga Springs, New York.

The theme for the event is ``Give Some Red and Help Save Some Green.'' In keeping with its commitment to the community and the environment, SEFCU will plant a tree for every donor who gives blood on the 23rd. This is one in a series of blood drives within the ``Give 'n Take'' Campaign, which schedules community-based blood drives throughout the calendar year to highlight the importance of donating blood. I note its significance because:

Only about 5 percent of the population in the United States donates blood, though about 60 percent of the population is eligible.

Just one pint of blood can help save as many as three lives.

Approximately every 2 seconds, someone in America needs blood. Every day, about 34,000 donations are needed to help save the lives of cancer patients, accident victims and children with blood disorders in the United States.

Approximately 1 out of 3 people will need blood in their lifetime.

Type O blood can help anyone in need. All patients can receive Type O during an emergency when there is no time to test a patient's blood type.

Donors can give blood every 56 days.

The American Red Cross Adirondack Saratoga Chapter is dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. It is led by a volunteer board of directors with 250 other volunteers and 10 paid employees. The local Red Cross is supported by community donations and provides services to Warren, Washington, Saratoga, Hamilton and southern Essex counties. Last year the Red Cross ran 650 aquatic courses and 1,048 first aid and CPR courses, collected over 19,000 units of whole blood, helped deliver 230 emergency messages for members of our armed forces, and assisted more than 1,200 neighbors who were affected by local disasters.

I am proud to call on residents in New York's 20th Congressional District to join these two partners to help save lives.

Madam Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chairman, my amendment is very simple. It

provides a voice to veteran-owned small businessmen on the newly created Small Business Innovation Research Board.

The advisory board will oversee the design and award process for SBIR grants. By including a veteran-owned small businessman or -woman on the board, we will ensure that the criteria used towards small business grants will include areas for which our veterans specialize, areas such as weapons development and destruction, communications networking, and many more skills that have been uniquely acquired through their military service.

When I was first elected last year, I formed a constituent-based Veterans Advisory Board in my district. Over the past year, I have worked very closely with these men and women to find new ways to better serve them and the veterans of our district throughout our Nation who have sacrificed so much for this great country. It is for this reason that I strongly believe that veterans need advice on the SBIR advisory board and why I have been working with the board to draft legislation to address the problems of homeless vets and to ease the transition from active duty to civilian life.

When our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines leave service after multiple deployments abroad and a tremendous sacrifice by them and their families, the least we can do is to ease their transition and help them get their businesses off the ground.

I, therefore, urge my colleagues to support my amendment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chairman, I yield back my time.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment, and I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

First, I would like to thank Chairman Miller and Chairman Hinojosa and Congressman Bishop for their leadership on this bill. This reauthorization of the Higher Education Act will strengthen the American Dream by allowing millions of young people to better afford college.

I also would like to thank my colleague Congressman Mike McNulty and Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy for their thoughtful work on the issue of campus safety.

Thank you, also, to Security on Campus, Inc., the leading advocacy organization for campus security.

Our country's number one priority is to protect our children from harm so that they can grow up and fulfill their God-given potential. A parent's worst fear is to send their child off to college and to have them become a victim of violent crime. Tragically, this happens far too often. The 10-year span from 1997 to 2006 registered, on average, 20 homicides every year occurring on college campuses.

Furthermore, numerous college students, the majority of them young women, have been abducted, leaving their family, friends, and community searching for years in hopes of solving their case.

Mr. Chairman, this issue has significantly affected the community that I represent.

On March 2, 1998, Suzanne Lyall, a 19-year-old sophomore at SUNY- Albany, was kidnapped and never seen again. Nearly 10 years later, her case remains unsolved.

My amendment is intended to prevent more parents from experiencing the pain that Suzanne's parents, Doug and Mary, must face every day. The amendment that I am offering would ensure that all institutions of higher education have a standing policy outlining the roles and responsibilities for campus, local, and State law enforcement agencies if a violent crime happens to occur on campus.

This amendment will minimize confusion and delays during the initial investigation of a violent felony, such as a kidnapping. The first few hours and days after a crime is committed are the most critical for solving a case, and the questions involving police jurisdiction should be settled before a crime occurs, not after. My amendment will help facilitate the prompt and sufficient investigation of serious crimes.

In addition, the amendment's provisions have already been signed into law in California, South Carolina, Tennessee, and my home State of New York.

Over 60 percent of postsecondary schools have fewer than 2,500 students. And thankfully, such horrific crimes are rare at small schools. However, many of the small schools do not have a full police force, and the school security force may not be sufficiently trained to handle such a complex investigation.

This amendment will give peace of mind to students and to parents by giving them the knowledge that the best investigative procedures will be followed to solve such terrible crimes.

Mr. Chairman, at this time, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

I would also like to add that bringing attention to the issue of campus safety has been a priority of mine since I entered Congress. Last year, I introduced, and the House passed, House Resolution 303, which called on the President to declare April 6, which is Suzanne Lyall's birthday, National Missing Persons Day. This day will allow all Americans to honor those who remain missing and to remember their families and loved ones who hope and pray every day for their safe return.

April 6 is approaching, and I join with Suzanne's parents in strongly advocating for the creation of this national day of remembrance.

The amendment that I offer today will hopefully prevent future school tragedies from happening. I urge all my colleagues to join me in honoring Suzanne by voting ``yes.''

I yield to the gentleman from California.

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

Madam Speaker, I missed one vote on Tuesday, January 29, 2008. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following way: Final passage of New England National Scenic Trail Designation Act, H.R. 1528 (Rollcall No. 28): I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Ross.

For the sake of our children's future, I'm strongly urging the Senate to ensure that the AMT patch that we're going to be considering this week complies with the PAYGO rules. The House has already passed a responsible AMT bill, which will prevent 23 million taxpayers from being hit by the AMT, while also finding appropriate offsets so that the national debt will not be increased.

I have introduced a resolution, H.J. Res. 45, which is a balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution. If my constituents in upstate New York have to balance their checkbook every month, so should the Federal Government.

The AMT affected 4.2 million Americans last year. If Congress does not act, it will affect 23 million Americans this year, most of them middle-class families.

In my district, 66,000 families will be affected if this bill is not passed. Almost half of the 23 million taxpayers that will be affected are married with children. The average AMT taxpayer will owe over $6,000 in additional taxes. Small business owners are going to be one of the hardest hit by the AMT.

The reason why we have to pay for this and ensure we follow pay-as- you-go standards is because America's debt is over $9 trillion. Our Federal debt increases by $1.4 billion a day, at an astonishing rate of $1 million a minute. Our national debt is equal to over $30,000 for every man, woman and child and infant in this country.

The Federal Government spent over $400 billion last year on interest payments on the national debt. After Social Security, Medicare and defense spending, interest payments on the debt are the third largest expenditure by the Federal Government. The amount of money that we spend on interest payments will decrease the amount of money America will have in the future for spending on our national priorities such as health care, education, energy independence, our troops.

Lowering the debt is essential not only for our economic security, but it is essential for our national security. Foreign governments and investors now hold $2.2 trillion, which is 44 percent of all publicly held U.S. debt. That's up nearly 10 percent from last year. China owns the second-most amount of our debt, and oil exporting countries such as Saudi Arabia account for the fourth-most held U.S. debt.

Paying for AMT is possible. The House has already passed in a bipartisan way a PAYGO-compliant bill. For future generations, we must be responsible and not add to the national debt.

Just to give folks at home an understanding of what this money means, let me just give you a couple of translations. This year we paid $239 billion in interest on the national debt. That same amount of money, if we use it for other purposes, would literally pay for every U.S. family's refrigerator to be stocked for 7 months. It would pay for filling every U.S. family's gas tank for 10 months at today's gas prices. It would pay for providing 4 years of in-state public tuition for 10 million students, and it would pay 1 year's salary for 8 million new teachers.

The Federal Government has sent over $709 billion abroad in the form of interest payments since President Bush took office, $155 billion in 2007 alone. The same amount would fund any of the following: 12,000 new elementary schools, 7,000 new veterans clinics, and all road and bridge construction and improvements for the next 10 years.

I beseech the Senate to follow a fiscal, responsible and prudent course of action and pay for the AMT.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of Mr. Murphy's resolution to strongly urge the President to give our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines the pay raise that they deserve.

The military families in my district have sacrificed more than any of us could ever imagine, for mothers and fathers who have to run households while their spouses are deployed over and over again, to parents and grandparents that watch the news every night with dismay, to returning soldiers that have to piece together their lives upon the return from a war zone.

These families deserve more than just the cost-of-living adjustment proposed by the President. They deserve a raise. While the 3.5 percent increase that we are able to add to the defense authorization bill is a good start, there is much more that we can and should do. Yet the President may still veto this raise.

I urge my colleagues to vote for this resolution, to tell the President to lift his objection to this well-deserved raise for the brave men and women who serve in our military.

Mr. Speaker, please let the Record show that I missed one series of votes on Tuesday, November 6, 2007, because I was in my home district voting on Election Day.

Had I been present, I would have voted in the following way:

Motion to Table H. Res. 799, the Kucinich Resolution--I would have voted ``yea.''

Motion ordering the Previous Question, the Kucinich Resolution--I would have voted ``aye.''

Motion to Refer to the House Judiciary Committee, the Kucinich Resolution--I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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

First, I would like to thank my fellow New York colleague, Chairwoman Velazquez, for her leadership on this bill and for her constant effort to help our small businesses grow and prosper in America.

Small businesses are the foundation of upstate New York's economy. Small businesses represent over 99 percent of all employers and half of all private sector employees. More importantly, small businesses generate up to 80 percent of new jobs in America.

The bill that is on the floor today would allow upstate New York's small businesses to have increased opportunities to compete for Federal contracts against larger companies. Last year small businesses received only 21.5 percent of Federal contracts, which is much too small; and I look forward to this bill's passing on the floor that will allow our small businesses, especially disabled veteran-owned businesses, to compete for Federal contracts.

My amendment to this bill is very simple: businesses that continue to break the law by hiring illegal aliens should not be eligible for Federal contracts.

Mr. Chairman, we must reward businesses that play by the rules and punish those who do not. It is important that we fix our broken immigration system, and an important component of that is to cut off availability of jobs for undocumented workers, which can only be done when employers refuse to hire them. There are an estimated 12 million illegal aliens in this country; and if jobs are not available to them, then there will not be an incentive for them to come or remain here in America illegally. Hiring illegal aliens is against the law in America, and my amendment ensures that employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens cannot have access to the over $400 billion in Federal contracts that are awarded each year. This amendment will ensure accountability with taxpayers' money by preventing businesses who hire illegal aliens from receiving Federal contracts.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

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

I thank the gentleman and I thank Madam Chairman.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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

First, I would like to thank Congressman Cooper for his leadership on this bill and for his constant effort to promote accountability and transparency in the Federal Government. I also want to thank Chairman Towns and Chairman Waxman for moving this legislation through committee and for their support of my amendment.

I rise today to offer an amendment to save the taxpayers money by increasing transparency, accountability and oversight over Federal agencies' spending practices. We all know that the U.S. Government spends too much of our constituents' hard-earned taxes in ways that are not always the most efficient manner.

For too long, Federal agency spending has been left unchecked with little public scrutiny on the findings of the Inspectors General investigations. It is time to shine some light on how the government is spending your money.

When the Inspector General Act of 1978 became law, the Internet did not exist and people did not have personal computers. Now, 30 years later, the Internet has grown into one of the many mediums where Americans receive information, and it is time that we bring this law up to date so the American people and the media will be able to easily find audits and reports that Inspectors General issue, and for Americans to have the ability to anonymously report waste, fraud and abuse that may be occurring in the Federal Government.

Inspectors General are an important part of every Federal agency, and I am pleased that this legislation will decrease the amount of waste of taxpayer dollars. In 2006, the work by Inspectors General resulted in $9.9 billion in potential savings from audit recommendations; $6.8 billion in investigative recoveries; 6,500 indictments and criminal information; 8,400 successful prosecutions; and 7,300 suspensions or debarments. This legislation will yield even more savings to the American people by allowing Inspectors General to be more independent and accountable.

Mr. Chairman, my amendment simply requires Inspectors General to do something that is very commonplace in the 21st century: making information easily accessible online.

My amendment would require the IG of each agency to post, within one day after being made publicly available, all reports and audits on the Web site of the Office of Inspector General. The report or audit must be easily accessible and include a summary of the findings of the IG. The IG of each agency must provide a service on their Web site to allow individuals to receive information when a new audit or report is made available on their Web site. And the IG of each agency must establish a process that allows individuals to anonymously report waste, fraud and abuse that may be occurring in a Federal agency.

It is important to remember that the American people voted for change last November. They voted for more accountability, more fiscal responsibility, and for the new Congress to clean up Washington.

My commitment to my constituents is that I will offer a transparent and accountable office to them. I am one of a handful of Members in the House to post my public schedule online every day and was one of the first, next to Mr. Cooper, to post a list of all earmark requests online. I do this because I have found that it allows my constituents more information which allows me to better represent them here in Washington.

With a $9 trillion debt, it is clear that the Federal Government spends too much. The fiscal year 2008 budget is $2.9 trillion, and if that is indeed what we will spend, then it is important that the money is spent responsibly.

My upstate New York constituents pay too much in taxes to Washington, and it is an insult to them when the Federal Government squanders their hard-earned money. This amendment will save taxpayers money, increase government oversight and accountability, and promote transparency in government. I urge all my colleagues to vote ``aye'' on the amendment.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of House Resolution 634, encouraging participation in hunting and fishing activities and supporting the goals and ideals of National Hunting and Fishing Day.

This past weekend Americans all over our great Nation celebrated National Hunting and Fishing Day.

In 1971, Senator Thomas McIntyre of New Hampshire and Representative Bob Sikes of Florida introduced a joint resolution authorizing National Hunting and Fishing Day on the fourth Saturday of September. In 1972, President Richard Nixon signed the first proclamation recognizing National Hunting and Fishing Day.

Thirty-five years later, thousands of events have taken place at hunting clubs and sportsmen's stores nationwide, bringing communities together in a grass-roots effort to promote outdoor activities and conservation.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that we, the United States Congress, should highlight these historic national pastimes by recognizing the contributions that hunters and fishermen have on America's rich culture, and encouraging participation in hunting and fishing as a way to promote family values, environmental conservation, and stewardship of our national resources.

Each year, over 45 million Americans take part in these traditions. Many of these sportsmen and -women live in my district in upstate New York. When I hold a town hall meeting in the Hudson Valley, constituents tell me about the economic impact that these sports bring to our rural communities. I also hear from them about the need for strong conservation policies so that they may continue the tradition of sportsmanship in their families.

Many of the folks that I have had the opportunity to speak with have lived all of their lives in New York's rural communities and view hunting and fishing not only as a pastime, but also a reflection of upstate New York's historic character.

One week from today, turkey season will begin in upstate New York. Every year my mother and brother are among the very first in the woods when the season begins. My mother takes great pride in her ability to shoot a turkey for our Thanksgiving dinner every year.

I now have the honor to represent over a dozen hunting wildlife management areas in three of New York State's environmental conservation regions. Nearly 700,000 New Yorkers participate in hunting and fishing each year and contribute extensively to our local and national economy through licensing, educational courses, and equipment purchases.

The promotion of hunting and fishing activities coincides with environmental stewardship. Hunters and fishermen were among the first to call for policies to protect our environment and, to this day, continue to advocate for land protection and preservation efforts to maintain our wildlife and environment for our future generations.

I want to take this opportunity to encourage all Americans to get into the outdoors and enjoy all that God has provided us.

I thank my colleagues for their support of this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Davis for his support of this resolution and for generously yielding.

I've introduced House Resolution 303 in order to allow all Americans to honor and reflect on the number of Americans who remain missing, and to remember their families and loved ones who hope and pray every day for their safe return.

This issue is especially significant for my constituents. On March 2, 1998, Suzanne Lyall, a 19-year-old sophomore at SUNY Albany, was kidnapped and never seen again. This crime captivated the country's attention and has left a permanent mark on the community that I serve. Over 9 years later, her case remains unsolved.

Tragically, similar situations occur every day in America. On any given day, there are as many as 100,000 active missing-person cases in the United States. In addition, missing-adult cases often go unreported in the media. Even though the first few days after a crime is committed are the most critical in solving a case, there can be significant delays in beginning the search for someone over the age of 18 who has gone missing. Sadly, in New York there are over 3,500 missing-person cases, including nearly 1,400 cases involving New Yorkers over the age of 18.

Furthermore, the statistics show that a disproportionate number of adults reported missing are college-aged women. Currently in New York State, over two-thirds of the college-aged individuals reported missing are female, and this group also makes up approximately half of all missing adults. It is important that the Federal Government partners with local law enforcement to protect young women as they attend college or enter the workforce.

I am honored to represent Suzanne's parents, Doug and Mary, who are leaders in New York and around the country in bringing attention to crimes involving young adults. They have used their personal nightmare to assist other parents and families who have had loved ones go missing. They founded the Center for Hope, an organization with the mission of providing resources to educate, assist, and support families and friends to cope with the disappearance of a loved one. The center works with the New York State and Federal Government to improve our laws in order to prevent future abductions.

In 1983, President Reagan established May 25 as the National Missing Children's Day, and last May Americans marked the 25th National Missing Children's Day. This important day is set aside to draw attention to children who are still missing, whether they have been missing for a few days or for decades.

Yet a day has not yet been set aside to remember those Americans who are over the age of 18 and are missing from their families. With over 100,000 Americans unaccounted for, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, and daughters, a day must be established to remind the public of those missing and our country's dedication to solving their cases and, hopefully, reuniting them with families and loved ones.

In 2001, former Governor George Pataki established April 6, Suzanne's birthday, as the State's Missing Persons Day in New York. It is my hope that this date can also become the national day of remembrance for all missing Americans. This day will allow Americans to appropriately remember the victims, their families, and the efforts of local law enforcement and the community.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in unanimously approving this resolution and that the President will soon establish a day to bring awareness to the issue of missing persons.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Reverend Richard David Turpin, who has so eloquently provided the blessing to open the House this day.

Reverend Turpin serves as the pastor of the Second Baptist Church in beautiful Catskill, New York, just across the Hudson River from my home in New York's 20th Congressional District. And I welcome his beautiful family, who has joined us in the gallery.

The Reverend is a native of New York's capital region and has been an influential force in the Catskill community since he assumed his current position in the Second Baptist Church in 2000.

As preacher and counselor for the prison ministry at Albany Correctional Facility, chaplain for the Albany Rescue Mission, president of the Hudson River Frontier Missionary Baptist Association Laymen Ministry, and athletic coordinator for the Youth Department of the Empire Missionary Baptist Convention, Reverend Turpin has touched the lives of young and old throughout upstate New York.

I thank him for his service to our district, for his dedication to his faith, and for taking the time to travel with his family from Clifton Park to address the House of Representatives today.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my fellow colleague from upstate New York. I want to echo the sentiments of Congressman Arcuri.

Upstate New York dairy farming and small dairy farming across the country is in grave need of consideration. I was very, very grateful for the leadership of Subcommittee Chairman Boswell, who really extended an enormous amount of advocacy on behalf of dairy farmers throughout the country.

I also want to thank Chairman Peterson and the other members of the Agriculture Committee who really thought through the needs of dairy, and made sure that MILC was preserved in this farm bill.

But the issues are very serious. Last summer, the price of milk was $12 a hundred weight, and the cost of producing that milk was between $16 and $18 a hundred weight. The cost of feed, the costs of fuel have continued to escalate. This summer, if you go to a gas pump, it is over $3.50 a gallon; that is the way it was last summer. Now, we are very thankful because we have high milk prices. But this constant fluctuation is a problem that we need to address, and I am going to work with

Chairman Boswell and Chairman Peterson over the next several years to look at milk policy, how we can improve the market order system and how we can improve dairy pricing throughout our country.

I thank the gentleman for the time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of the newest centenarians my congressional district, Mr. Raymond Henry Wood of Glens Falls, New York.

Ray was born and raised in Wells, New York, on July 26, 1907. He was married to Irene (Robbins) for over 50 years, before she passed away several years ago. They had two daughters, Beverly Palmer, who passed away in June of this year; and Bonnie Dow, who resides with her husband Ralph in Gansevoort, NY. Ray has several grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Ray worked many years delivering milk in the local area for Borden's Dairy. He loved to

attend auctions and estate sales where he would purchase antiques. He refinished many of the treasures he discovered in his workshop, for his home or to resell. Ray was a high scoring bowler into his late 90's, bowling a 207 at the age of 95, and won the senior's league award. He is still an avid coin collector and has the latest set of the ``State'' quarters. Ray also loved to play pool, and often invited his friends and neighbors to play on his table in his basement.

Ray resides on Raymond Avenue in Glens Falls, New York, where his neighbors were blessed with his invariable kindness and generosity for over 50 years. He always included his neighbors' sidewalks when clearing snow with his snowblower. He was quick to assist any and all whenever he saw someone who needed aid in any fashion. It was after his 95th birthday that he told a friend that he regretfully could no longer push his snowblower or mow his lawn. Ray is a true gentleman with a great sense of humor, and a beguiling sparkle in his eyes.

Ray will be honored at an open house on Saturday July 28, 2007, at the Gansevoort Fire House, to celebrate his 100th birthday. Ray's daughter Bonnie and her husband Ralph Dow will host the party.

Madam Speaker, I would like to urge all of my colleagues to join me in wishing Ray Wood a most happy 100th birthday and to thank him for his innumerable acts of kindness to neighbors and strangers alike over his long life. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I've offered H. Res. 521 to celebrate Lake Placid's prominent place in Olympic history. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the 1932 Olympic Games and the beginning of Lake Placid's storied history in American hearts and minds.

In the midst of a worldwide depression, 252 athletes from 17 countries participated in the 1932 Winter Olympic Games held at Lake Placid. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, whose home is just a few hours south of Lake Placid in Duchess County, officially opened the third ever Winter Olympic Games and the first one ever held in the Western Hemisphere.

Despite fierce competition from around the world, Lake Placid was once again chosen to host the Winter Olympic Games 48 years later, in 1980. This time, 1,072 athletes from 37 nations participated in the Games, and the question, ``Do you believe in miracles?'' forever became ingrained in the American consciousness. The American hockey team's victory over the Soviet Union permanently linked Lake Placid with one of the greatest triumphs, and prideful moments, in American sports history, with the ``Miracle on Ice.''

Lake Placid, a small village in the Adirondacks, is the only location in North America to have hosted the Winter Olympic Games more than once. Their success is phenomenal, when one considers that fewer than 2,700 residents live in the village.

I'm so incredibly fortunate to represent the citizens of Lake Placid and Essex County. Every year, Mayor Jamie Rogers and the villagers of Lake Placid welcome over 2.2 million visitors from all 50 States and countries all over the world. Lake Placid has been one of my favorite vacation places since I was a child, and I still enjoy taking my son there every year.

I strongly encourage all Americans to visit the state-of-the-art Olympic facilities in Essex County. The New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority, or ORDA, operates the various venues used in the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Games. Athletes from around the world come to Lake Placid to train and compete at these facilities, in addition to sports enthusiasts, young and old.

In addition, Lake Placid is the home of one of three U.S. Olympic Committee's national training centers, an honor that allows upstate New York to mold the next generation of gold medal winners. The facilities at Lake Placid allow every American to step into the shoes of a professional athlete. It's thrilling to skate at the Herb Brooks Arena where the miracle on ice took place, or skate at the Olympic Speed Skating Oval where America's speed skater, Eric Heiden, won an unprecedented five gold medals in 1980.

Visitors can try out the ski-jumping complex or sharpen their bobsled and luge skills. The beautiful Adirondack Mountains offer cross-county or alpine skiing on Whiteface Mountain, one of the top resorts in all the Nation, all with spectacular pristine views.

Lake Placid admirably hosted the Olympic games twice in the past. I hope the U.S. Olympic Committee will consider having Lake Placid represent the United States in a future bid for the Winter Olympic Games.

I congratulate the Village of Lake Placid as they celebrate the 75th anniversary of the 1932 Winter Olympic Games. I thank everyone in the House of Representatives for supporting this resolution that honors Lake Placid's continued distinguished place in American Olympic history.