Floor Statements

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

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

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a champion athlete from Georgia's 3rd Congressional District.

Jasmine Clark, a 9-year-old from Tyrone, took her taekwondo skills to the 2007 Junior Olympics in July and came home with a gold medal. Jasmine's victory earns her the title of national champion for female blue belts in her age range.

Jasmine began competing in taekwondo just three years ago but quickly proved to be a natural. Nevertheless, she entered the Junior Olympics as an underdog, and with grit and determination took the gold in the elite open division and then the world class division.

Every champion, of course, has a supporting cast that plays an important role in any victory. For Jasmine, those supporters include her parents, Louis and Yongmi Clark, and her coach at Tiger Martial Arts in Fayetteville, Ehud Kojak. These mentors rightfully bask in Jasmine's reflected glory.

I join Jasmine's peers and teachers at Robert J. Burch Elementary School and the people of Fayette County in stating our pride in Jasmine's gold medal victory in taekwondo at the Junior Olympics. I hope and trust that this is merely the opening of an outstanding athletic career for Jasmine Clark. I congratulate her and wish her the best in all her future endeavors in the sport.

Madam Speaker, Mr. Ryan from Wisconsin said all the relevant fiscal things that I wanted to say, so I want to say this. This is more smoke and mirrors. This has been a smoke-and-mirrors Congress, and this is more smoke and mirrors because it is an illusion that we're trying to sell to the American people. But they've done a good job because evidently they have sold this to the administration.

And I want to say, Madam Speaker, I am totally disappointed in the administration that they have bought this bill of goods. This is nothing but a sham.

I'm from the State of Georgia where we instituted the HOPE Scholarship Program, which worked out great for students. But what ended up happening is the colleges continued to go up on their tuition, costing the taxpayers more and more money because it was not a competitive market anymore. That's what we're fixing to get into colleges and universities all across this country. And taking the private industry out of this, making them responsible for the loans is going to put the taxpayers on the hook. It's going to be a great disaster. And again, I want the administration to know, Madam Speaker, how disappointed I am.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, as I listen to the debate on this bill, and I agree with the majority of this bill, I heard the word ``tribe'' used over and over, and I think that was the intent of this, for Native American tribes to be recognized and be given the housing assistance and also the infrastructure assistance and all the things that they need. And I think it is very important that we recognize exactly who these tribes are.

What this amendment does, it strikes the section about the Native Hawaiians. Native Hawaiians share none of the unique characteristics possessed by recognized tribes in this country. Native Hawaiians never exercised sovereignty over Hawaiian lands or lived as a separate, distinct, racially exclusive community. All Hawaiians were subject to the same monarch in the late 1800s, regardless of race.

Native Hawaiians have never exercised inherent sovereignty as a native indigenous people, and our Constitution seeks to eliminate racial separation, not promote it. How can we promote equality while separating our people?

Tribes seeking recognition after statehood must adhere to a process established by the Federal Government. To be formally recognized, a tribe must demonstrate it has operated as a sovereign entity for the past century, was a separate and distinct community, and had a preexisting political organization. The Native Hawaiian people cannot meet these criteria.

The time for Native Hawaiians to establish themselves as an Indian tribe has since passed. When Hawaii was considering statehood in 1959, there was no push to establish a tribe. In fact, 94 percent of the people in 1959 supported statehood with no mention of being a tribe.

The Supreme Court ruled in 2000 in Rice that Native Hawaiians are an ethnic group and that it is illegal to give anyone preferential treatment on account of their membership in that group. It is unconstitutional to give one ethnic group a special preference over another ethnic group, and the oath of office that we took was to uphold the Constitution.

Therefore, I think it is appropriate, and I would ask all Members, to vote to take the Native Hawaiians out of this very important bill.

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

I thank my friend from Iowa for yielding.

Let me say that the chairman of the committee mentioned the overwhelming vote on an amendment, or the gentlelady from Hawaii did. I remind the House that on Wednesday, March 21, H.R. 835, the Hawaiian Homeownership Act of 2007, was defeated in this House. So I wanted to bring that to the attention of everybody.

The gentleman from Iowa said $25 million over the 4 years, and it is actually about $50 million. You know, I will be glad to work with the chairman of the committee or the delegation from Hawaii if they want to let Congress pass something to make them a recognized tribe, but they are not a recognized tribe.

All the discussion I have heard today, everything in this bill is about tribes, recognized tribes by this country. So I just ask that you support the amendment and then we will work out any problems that we can after that.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Percy Sutton, a noted civil rights activist, lawyer and entrepreneur, has had numerous achievements in his lifetime. Today we honor Percy Sutton

with the naming of a post office in his hometown neighborhood of Harlem, New York.

Born in 1920 in San Antonio, Texas, he was the youngest of 15 children raised in a family with strong values in education. He found his niche at a young age with the Boy Scouts and rose to the rank of Eagle Scout. He attended Prairie View A&M University, Tuskegee Institute and Hampton Institute, and he earned his law degree from Brooklyn Law School.

As a teenager, he learned to fly small planes and worked as a stunt pilot at county fairs. Upon the U.S. involvement in World War II, he enlisted with the Army Air Corps but was rejected because of his race. Shortly after, he moved to New York where he was accepted into the Corps and flew with the legendary Tuskegee Airmen. His military service awarded him Combat Stars as an intelligence officer with the 332nd Fighter Group's Black 99th Pursuit Squadron.

Percy Sutton gained national recognition during the 1950s and 1960s as a close friend and lawyer to civil rights leader Malcolm X. Sutton had moved to the Harlem area of Manhattan and formed his own law firm with the help of his brother and a close friend. The area, as well as his firm, quickly became associated with the civil rights movement and current politics of the era.

Sutton ran unsuccessfully for public office, so he formed his own Democratic organization with other notable Harlem community leaders called the Harlem Clubhouse. He tried many cases during the 1960s defending the rights of many fellow African Americans in the Southern States. Still heavily interested in public service, he ran for and won an election to serve in the New York State Assembly in 1964.

His political career continued through the years and ended in the late 1970s. Over time and while still practicing law, he expanded his business by buying a radio station, the famous Apollo Theater, a local newspaper, and a cable television franchise.

Beyond his success in business, he has earned numerous awards for his charitable, civil rights and business achievements. Therefore, it is highly appropriate that we honor him with the naming of this post office.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

September has been recognized by the tourism industry as National Passport Month in an effort to educate the public and increase awareness of the importance of having passports.

The tourism industry brings in more than $80 billion annually to the U.S. economy. In helping our economy thrive, it also strengthens public diplomacy through each visitor. Similarly, Americans can improve foreign relations by traveling internationally and meeting with citizens of other countries.

The opportunities to learn different cultures, view history and exchange ideas are endless for those having passports. Interacting with the global community enables travelers to promote understanding and good will.

National Passport Month educates the public on the value and positive impact international travel has on individuals. Without passports, these opportunities could not be achieved. So, therefore, Madam Speaker, I encourage everyone to support H. Res. 554.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

The massive floods that devastated 20 counties in eastern Kansas this past June left thousands of residents out of their homes. Torrential thunderstorms pounded the area beginning on June 26 and continued for 4 days. In the end, the area was hit with 21 inches of rain, causing rivers to flood, forcing county-wide evacuations, schools and businesses to close, as well as causing a local oil refinery to overflow and release 71,000 gallons of crude oil into an already- flooded area.

The floods left one person dead and more than 3,100 homes and businesses destroyed or damaged. On June 30, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius declared a state of disaster for 17 counties, which President Bush later declared as Federal disasters.

Through the help of local, State and Federal officials and emergency personnel, evacuations were carried out quickly and safely. Order was maintained in the area with the help of the Kansas National Guard and the Kansas Highway Patrol.

It is important that we recognize the general support of the many volunteers, private and corporate donors, religious groups and other charitable organizations who assisted the communities in their time of need. The actions of many public servants, neighbors and community leaders helped thousands through this hardship.

This resolution expresses our sincere sympathy for the victims of this devastating storm.

Madam Speaker, I would give the gentleman from Kansas as much time as he may consume, my good friend (Mr. Tiahrt).

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to another gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran).

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and so I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Tragedy strikes every day as teen drivers, just on the cusp of adulthood, are killed at an alarming rate each year, causing grief and profound sadness for their families and communities.

Motor vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults in the United States.

In 2005, almost 7,500 drivers between the age of 15 and 20 were involved in fatal crashes across the United States. Many of these deaths are preventable, and it is imperative that we do all we can to improve the safety of our roads and highways for all drivers.

H. Con. Res. 165 supports the ideals and goals of National Teen Driver Safety Week, an important event that will go a long way towards educating our young people and their families about safe driving practices.

The statistics of teen driving are simply staggering. This age group makes up only 7 percent of licensed drivers but suffers 14 percent of fatalities and 20 percent of all reported accidents.

Based on miles driven, drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 have four times the mortality rate than drivers older than 25 and up.

Most important of all, the number of teen drivers on the road is expected to grow to over 32 million by 2010, meaning that, unless we take action, this tragic problem will only get worse.

National Teen Driver Safety Week seeks to reverse these alarming trends by concentrating national attention on the development and communication of effective interventions to help reduce crashes involving teen drivers. Teens will be taught about safe driver practices that will prevent many of these accidents from occurring. Efforts will be made to encourage teens to wear seatbelts, as nearly two-thirds of all teenagers killed in motor vehicle accidents have been reportedly not wearing seatbelts.

Finally, National Teen Driver Safety Week will echo other groups in warning about the dangers of drunk driving, nighttime fatigue and other use of electronic, handheld devices. By educating teens, along with their families, we can possibly make a lasting change in teen driving behavior that will lead to safer roads for all of us.

Therefore, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Con. Res. 165, supporting the goals of the National Teen Driver Safety Week.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize my friend from Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent) for as much time as he may consume.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the great State of Tennessee (Mr. Duncan).

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

Madam Speaker, I would just like to offer my condolences to the Gillmor family at this tragic time in their life.

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

I am honored today to speak about a highly esteemed former Senator, distinguished war veteran, astronaut, businessman and educator, John Herschel Glenn, Jr. He is well-known throughout the history of this country through both his career in Congress and his legendary work with NASA. John Glenn has served his country profoundly for decades and remains an active leader in his community.

A lifelong resident of Ohio, he attended Muskingum College to study chemistry. Shortly after the attacks on Pearl Harbor, he enrolled in the Naval Aviation Cadet Program and earned a commission in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1943. He served his country in World War II as a fighter pilot, flying 59 combat missions.

After returning to the U.S., he was transferred to the Naval Air Station, Maryland, where he has soon earned the rank of captain. His military service continued, and he saw battle in North China and Guam. He fought in the Korean War, participating in 63 air combat missions. His experience in combat fighting furthered as he attended additional flight training in Maryland. It was there that he tested flying planes at altitudes very high.

In 1957 he completed the first supersonic transcontinental flight, code named Project Bullet. This historic flight was one of many great achievements for John Glenn's career in aviation.

While still serving with the Marines Corps, Glenn was assigned to NASA as one of the legendary group of astronauts involved with Project Mercury.

As a member of this elite group of astronauts, Glenn piloted the first American manned orbital mission in 1962, which I remember very well. It was the third mission.

His mission brought him national fame and recognition as he was seen as an American hero. He resigned the NASA program in 1964 and one year later from the Marine Corps at the rank of colonel.

John Glenn entered the private sector working for Royal Crown Cola. But his passion for public service soon got the better of him and he decided to run for public office in 1964. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1974 after years of campaign-related setbacks. He served in the Senate for 25 years. During his last term of office, he was invited by NASA to rejoin the space program that he had helped to create, therefore becoming the oldest person to travel into space at age 77.

Upon retiring from the Senate, he moved back to Ohio permanently, where he and his wife founded the John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy at Ohio State University.

The institute, which later became the John Glenn School of Public Affairs, educates and prepares students for careers in public and nonprivate sectors. Throughout his military career, his history with NASA, and upon retiring from the Senate, John Glenn has earned numerous prestigious awards, some of which include earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal and the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

In 1990, he was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. It is with great pride that we continue to honor his service to this country, and to his community through the naming of this post office in his hometown.

Madam Speaker, with that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and so I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise this afternoon, again, to pay tribute to another remarkable soldier and another true American hero. At the age of only 21, Staff Sergeant David Nord from Ferdinand, Indiana became a genuine war hero. On June 23, 1969, he was killed in Vietnam War action while serving with the U.S. Army.

Staff Sergeant Nord was born and raised in Ferdinand, Indiana, sharing his younger years with his one brother and three sisters. After graduating in 1967 from St. Ferdinand High School, he worked in the Ferdinand furniture factory.

Staff Sergeant Nord was drafted into the Army where he was assigned to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at Camp Blackhorse, Vietnam. With his positive attitude and hard work he rose quickly through the ranks and served as a scout section leader. After serving several months, Staff Sergeant Nord was granted a 21-day home leave, and it was during that time that he married Louann, his long-time girlfriend. Sadly, only three weeks after returning to the battlefield, he and most of his

crew were killed when a grenade hit the tank that he was commanding. He left behind his family, his new wife and a baby, David Lee II, who he never got to meet. Staff Sergeant Nord was also the first member of the Ferdinand Post 124 of the American Legion to be killed in action. He showed outstanding bravery, courageous leadership and heroism which earned him nine medals that were awarded to his family, his wife and his son after his death. The awarded medals were the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Vietnamese Campaign Ribbon, the Good Conduct Ribbon, the Combat Infantry Badge, National Defense Service Ribbon, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Expert Badge with Rifle Bar and the Sharp Shooter Badge with Rifle Bar.

It is for those reasons that we name this post office for Staff Sergeant David Nord in his hometown of Ferdinand, Indiana. And, Madam Speaker, I hope that all of our colleagues will vote for this unanimously.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers. I yield back the balance of my time.

Offered By: Mr. Westmoreland

Amendment No. 7: Page 18, strike lines 1 through 6.

Mr. Speaker, my mama always told me that your actions speak louder than your words. I am sure many of your mothers have told you that your actions will speak louder than your words.

Let me just read you some words. This comes from Speaker Pelosi. ``Bills should generally come to the floor under a procedure that allows open, full and fair debate consisting of a full amendment process that grants the minority the right to offer as alternatives including a substitute.'' What? Whoa.

``We intend to have a Rules Committee that gives opposition voices and alternative proposals the ability to be heard and considered on the floor of the House.'' The majority leader Steny Hoyer. What? Whoa.

``I want us to work together,'' Mrs. Slaughter, Rules Committee chairwoman. What? Whoa.

``Members should have at least 24 hours to examine bill and conference report text prior to floor consideration.'' Speaker Pelosi. What? Whoa.

``Rules governing floor debate must be reported before 10 p.m. for a bill to be considered the following day.'' Whut? Whoa.

Mr. Speaker, we need to let our actions match our words.

I thank my friend from Florida for yielding.

I want to read one thing. ``Every person has a right to have his or her voice heard, respectful of both the wishes of the Founders and the expectations of the American people. We offer the following principles for restoring democracy in the people's House, guaranteeing that the voices of all the people are heard.'' That quote is from Speaker Nancy Pelosi; yet the Republican substitute to this bill was not allowed.