Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the sacrifices of our young men and women who are serving in the U.S. military around the world. A dear lady from my district, Mrs. Linda Smith, has two sons serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq. During Sunday school at Vineville Baptist Church a few weeks ago, she made a presentation to the class that I think summarizes the courage and bravery of our soldiers around the world. I wish to insert her comments into the Record, so that people across the country can be aware of the great work, not only of our men and women, but also of their families back home.

When Mrs. Ann asked me to speak to the class today, I told

her that I may cry. I hope I don't, but if I do, I hope you

will understand.

I want people to understand why our country is at war and

why not only my sons, but others are willing to go and fight.

When people hear that I have two Marine sons being deployed

to the same place in

Iraq, they often comment that they didn't think the

government could do that. I tell them that my oldest son was

a drill instructor at Parris Island. When his term was up, he

re-enlisted for a second time and asked to be in the same

unit with his little brother. I am not the only Marine mom

who has more than one son going to war. There are many of us.

Another comment that I often hear is that people don't

think the government should deploy servicemen more than once.

I say to them, ``This is their job.'' That is like saying to

a fireman you have already put out one fire, . . . therefore

you shouldn't have to go to another fire and put yourself in

danger.

My sons and all of the other servicemen and women want

America to stand behind them in this war. None of them enjoy

leaving their wives and children, their moms and dads, or

friends. Believe me, it is very hard. But they know that they

must go. Islamic extremists are dangerous, and they must be

dealt with now. Militant Islam is just as much of a danger to

our country and the world as other radical fascist

governments in the past have been . . . such as Hitler's

Germany, Russia's Stalin, or Lenin or Karl Marx. Militant

Islam no more cares about their religion but only wants total

control. Traditional Islam seeks to teach people to live

according to God's will. Militant Islam aspires to create a

new order, even if it means rewriting Islamic law to fit

their desires. They have tortured and killed many of their

own people to gain control. This is evil and evil can only be

dealt with by force.

So where does this leave us as Christians? I have thought a

lot about that as I pray for my sons. I very seldom pray for

my sons without opening my Bible and reading as I pray. It is

very important that I not take my relationship with Jesus for

granted. I am grateful that both of my sons have a

relationship with him as well.

I have learned to pray for our enemy. I pray that the Holy

Spirit will open their eyes to the truth. Unfortunately, I

fear that many of them are so far into their rebellion

against God that they have allowed their hearts to be

hardened and they may never come to repentance and salvation.

This breaks my heart, because I know that it breaks God's

heart. In Ezekiel, it says that God does not take pleasure in

the death of the wicked.

I pray for my nation. I love her and her people. I pray for

a revival and that those of us who claim the name of Jesus

would truly come back to our first love and burn with a

desire to serve God.

I pray for Israel, God's precious people. I pray not only

for my sons but for all of the troops. My oldest son,

Clayton, is a platoon Sgt. He called home one night a few

weeks before they left for Iraq. Sensing something was wrong,

I asked him what was wrong. My big, burly, tough son broke

down and cried, ``I just want my men to come home. They are

so young. I have trained them the best I can. I just want

them to come home.'' My son is 26.

My youngest son, Mark, is 20. He wants to marry his

childhood friend that he grew up with at church. One night

when he was home for a weekend, we heard him crying in his

bedroom. My heart breaks and I cry out to God.

I never forget to pray for our President. It angers me when

people complain and slander him. He makes mistakes but

supporting him with our prayers is what he needs, not

murmuring against him.

So if you ask me how you can help or support our troops, I

would say first, to give thanks to God and praise him. Love

him with all of your heart. Thank him for what you have.

Thank him for the sweet young men and women he has called to

defend our nation and fight for what is right. Ask God to

reveal himself to our troops . . . that his glory would

shine. That many would see his glory . . . our enemies as

well as our troops. That they would worship him. It is then

that we will have peace and our boys can come home.

Mr. Speaker, there is nothing I can add. May God bless the brave men and women fighting around the world for our freedom, and their families at home. And may God continue to bless America.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4846) to authorize a grant for contributions toward the establishment of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, as amended.

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

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

Woodrow Wilson was this Nation's 28th President, and today I rise in support of a bill that honors his life and his legacy.

As both a statesman and a scholar, President Wilson was a champion of democracy and freedom. He was a fierce advocate of using diplomacy as a tool for foreign policy, and when he led America to fight against Germany in World War I, he did so saying, ``The world must be safe for democracy.''

H.R. 4846, as amended, will enable the construction of a Presidential Library and Museum at President Wilson's birthplace in Staunton, Virginia. This facility would provide educational services honoring the ideals and beliefs President Wilson promoted throughout

his life, and I urge all Members to join me in supporting it.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from the Commonwealth of Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte).

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 4846, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2146) to extend relocation expenses test programs for Federal employees.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2146, which was introduced by Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins last December.

This legislation would extend the authority for the General Services Administration to conduct relocation expenses test programs for Federal employees for an additional 4 years.

The Customs and Border Patrol agency has long supported this legislation to help them relocate Border Patrol agents in a cost- efficient and timely manner, thereby allowing the transferee to get settled and focused on the new assignment as soon as possible. The capability to efficiently relocate personnel, while simultaneously minimizing costs, would be a significant benefit to the Federal agencies as they continue to recruit and retain a highly skilled workforce.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to note that the CBO estimates an extension of the pilot program reauthorization would produce savings to the Federal Government of approximately $15 million annually.

It is rare within the Federal personnel world to come across a program that produces a savings for the government and is valued by the workforce.

I urge my colleagues to support S. 2146.

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support passage of S. 2146, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 473) supporting the goals and ideals of Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the concurrent resolution currently under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, research indicates that more than 77,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with reproductive cancer in 2006. The Gynecologic Cancer Foundation works with oncologists, cancer survivors and advocates so that one day these cancers can be prevented or detected at their earliest stages.

I am pleased to speak on behalf of this resolution honoring the 15th anniversary of the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation as well as this mission to raise awareness about the prevention, early detection, and treatment of reproductive cancers.

I urge all Members to join me in supporting the goals and ideals of Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month by agreeing to H. Con. Res. 473.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield to my friend Dr. Gingrey 1 minute.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 473, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 402) supporting the goals and ideals of Infant Mortality Awareness Month, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, in 2002 infant mortality rates increased in the United States for the first time in more than four decades. There are approximately seven deaths per every 1,000 live births, and this recent increase is absolutely a troubling development.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services has designated 2010 as a year by which several health objectives should be met, including objectives to decrease infant mortality rates.

Mr. Speaker, the Nation currently observes the month of October as Sudden Infant Death Awareness Month and November as Prematurity Awareness Month. It is fitting to observe September of 2006 as Infant Mortality Awareness Month, and I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 402, as amended, to do just that.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my distinguished colleague from Georgia, Dr. Gingrey.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the adoption of House Resolution 402, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 748) recognizing the 225th anniversary of the American and French victory at Yorktown, Virginia, during the Revolutionary War.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

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

On October 19, 1781, Mr. Speaker, Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis and nearly 7,100 British soldiers surrendered to General George Washington in Yorktown, Virginia. This surrender almost 225 years ago ended the American and French 9-day siege against the British troops, and it signaled the end of the last major battle of the American Revolution.

This day in history also solidified the political declaration of independence made by the colonies 5 years later, and it opened the door to America becoming the democracy our forefathers envisioned.

We are most fortunate to live in this Nation, and I urge all Members to join me in supporting this resolution recognizing the 225th anniversary of the American and French Victory at Yorktown.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to my distinguished colleague from the Commonwealth of Virginia, Mrs. Davis.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 222) supporting the goals and ideals of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is an enormous tragedy to lose the life of a child, and it is a sad statistic that each year approximately 1 million pregnancies in the United States end in miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of a newborn baby.

As this resolution states, even the shortest of lives are of great value, and the grief of the parents who lose their children cannot be underestimated. The Governors of all 50 States have joined together in designating October 15, 2006, as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day; and I hope all Members will join me in supporting the goals and ideal of this day as well.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my friend and a distinguished member of this House from the State of Iowa (Mr. Latham).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Bilbray).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I want to urge all Members to support the adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 222, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 991) congratulating the Columbus Northern Little League Baseball Team from Columbus, Georgia, on its victory in the 2006 Little League World Series Championship games.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer House Resolution 991, to congratulate the boys of Columbus Northern of winning the Little League World Series. Thousands upon thousands of kids across the Nation take to the baseball fields each year to enjoy America's pastime.

The best of the best get a chance to compete for the title of U.S. Champion. The team that claims that mantle gets the chance to represent the Nation in the world championship game. This year, the American champions hailed from Columbus in Georgia's Eighth Congressional District.

While all of my colleagues from Georgia are certainly proud that the world champions are from our State, all of the Members of the House can take pride in their significant accomplishment.

Columbus Northern fought hard through the American playoffs. They lost one game, but they did not lose their fighting spirit. They came back with a vengeance and captured the American championship. Then they faced a strong Japanese team in the grand finale in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

It was a defensive struggle, and pitcher Kyle Carter held the Japanese batters to one run, and catcher Cody Walker provided the winning margin, belting a two-run homer.

The boys of Northern Columbus showed that they are winners not only on the field, but also off the field. They demonstrated sportsmanship and Southern hospitality after the game by going to the Japanese dugout and inviting their opponents to run the victory lap around the field with them.

A historical perspective puts the significance of this victory into better focus. Though this country is the home of baseball, it is not often that the American Little League team hoists the world championship trophy.

Since 1980, only eight U.S. teams have won. I might add here, Mr. Speaker, that two of those teams hailed from Georgia. For Georgia, this victory shows the world that our athletes and coaches are among the best that play the game. The coaches and players of Columbus Northern can take pride in knowing that they have become the symbol of Georgia's athletic prowess.

But even more important than that, the boys of Columbus Northern will have memories to last a lifetime. They have had the extraordinary opportunity to live the dream of every American boy who has ever slipped on a glove or swung a bat.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Columbus Northern, the American and World Champions, by supporting House Resolution 991.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for those kind words and remarks. The gentleman is exactly right about the number of youth that should be playing Little League.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey).

Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers. I want to urge all Members to support the adoption of H. Res. 991, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5108) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1213 East Houston Street in Cleveland, Texas, as the ``Lance Corporal Robert A. Martinez Post Office Building''.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, a native Texan, Robert Martinez, known as Robbie, was a young Marine with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. He was based at the Marine Corps Air Ground and Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California.

Lance Corporal Martinez was a dedicated soldier who wanted nothing more than to serve his country and make a difference in the world. Upon commencement of his senior year of high school, he had already signed up for the

Marines. Two days after his high school graduation, in 2003, he left for basic training.

Before his second deployment, Lance Corporal Martinez was stationed for 7 months in Iraq on the border of Syria. It was late in his second deployment to Iraq in the city of Fallujah when he and nine fellow Marines were killed by an improvised explosive device. The date of this attack was December 1, 2005; and, tragically, he was only weeks from returning home to his family and friends.

In honor of this soldier's great courage and patriotism, which will not be forgotten, I ask all Members to join me in supporting H.R. 5108.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to my good friend and distinguished judge from the sovereign State of Texas (Mr. Poe).

Mr. Speaker, we have no other speakers, and I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 5108. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring a momentous occasion in my district to the attention of the House. It is not every day that any corporation in the United States reaches the milestone of 100 years in business. And Mallory Realty Company in my district has reached that milestone this year while still being operated by the same family.

LaGrange, Georgia was a very different place than it was when Arthur Eugene Mallory started his business in 1906 after graduating from business school in Atlanta. The Mallorys were not new to LaGrange. They had first come in 1827 and had been involved in the community for years.

1906 was boom time for LaGrange with the opening of new cotton mills and lots of construction of additional houses. It was the perfect time to open a realty business, and Arthur Mallory quickly became busy buying lots and managing rental properties.

As the business grew, more of the family became involved, and its influence in the community also grew. The Mallorys have served in the military, served on boards of local banks, and helped bring economic development to LaGrange.

Three generations of the Mallory family have served the community by working for Mallory Realty. Today, Mallory Realty is the oldest continuously family-owned business in LaGrange. Today they handle over 600 rental units for 52 property owners.

Mr. Speaker, I hope the entire House will join me in congratulating Mallory Realty on its 100 years of service, and wishing them all the best as they move into their second century of service to my state and our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize one of the cities in my district, and its commitment to advancing the true ideals of the American Dream.

Columbus, Georgia, was founded on the Chattahoochee River, and was the birthplace of the Coca-Cola formula. But it achieved another vital distinction earlier this year, when Columbus was recognized as Georgia's largest city to achieve the ``Entrepreneur Friendly Community'' designation by the Georgia Department of Economic Development's Entrepreneur and Small Business Office.

Columbus and its Chamber of Commerce have worked closely to develop a Small Business Development Center and encourage the location of businesses in Columbus. So far, the Business One Stop Shop has helped more than 850 small businesses in the city.

Achieving this designation and involved a lot of hard work and effort. But it also demonstrates the spirit of the people of Columbus-- working hard, helping their neighbors, and doing everything possible to ensure that the American Dream is encouraged.

Mr. Speaker, Columbus is an example to our entire Nation of the possibilities that can be achieved. And their work will not stop now, but will continue as Columbus continues to grow.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer a tribute to a great Georgian and a great American. Larry Sanders has been a fixture of the Columbus community for more than 20 years.

Larry moved to Columbus 22 years ago and began to work with the Columbus Regional Healthcare System and eventually moved to the CEO and board chairman positions. Throughout his service, Larry has been involved in a wide spectrum of community activities, including serving as chairman of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, and serving on the boards of the Boy Scouts, Columbus Rotary, and Leadership Columbus.

He was recently recognized as a recipient of the Chattahoochee Council of the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award. In receiving that award, he joins the ranks of such luminaries as former Senator Sam Nunn. The

Chattahoochee Council gives the award to recognize an individual or group that undertakes outstanding service to our Nation, the state, or the local community. By presenting the award, the Chattahoochee Council calls attention to the honors, contributions, and good works of individuals.

Mr. Speaker, Larry's service to our state and Nation definitely sets an example for young people across the country. As the Distinguished Citizen this year, I call the House to remember his accomplishments and service as we all continue serving our states and this country.

Mr. Speaker, over the last year, House Republicans have focused on common sense energy solutions to help lower gas prices, create jobs for American workers, and reduce America's reliance on foreign energy sources. And what have the Democrats done? Democrats voted against the Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act, which would create thousands of family wage American jobs and allow more of our energy resources to be produced in the deep seas while empowering States to protect their coastlines.

Democrats voted against the Refinery Permit Process Schedule Act, which would encourage new refinery capacity in order to increase gasoline supplies and drive down high prices.

Democrats voted against the American-Made Energy and Good Jobs Act, authorizing environmentally safe energy production in ANWR, creating 1 million family wage jobs and increasing the supply of American-made energy to lower gasoline prices.

Mr. Speaker, I keep hearing from the other side of the aisle this refrain of the ``do-nothing Congress.'' I would say it is more the ``do-nothing Democrats.'' Republicans have a strong record in passing commonsense energy solutions, something Democrats can't claim.

It is time for the other side to quit whining and start working.

Permission to speak out of turn.

Mr. Speaker, this week the House will take up the Federal Election Integrity Act. The Federal Election Integrity Act will ensure American elections of Americans, for Americans, and by Americans. This measure promotes fairness and simply assures compliance with U.S. law. All citizens in this country hold a stake in our electoral system, and we owe it to our constituents to crack down on voter fraud.

For these reasons, I have long supported photo ID requirements for voters in Georgia. In fact, Georgia enacted into law such a requirement in the past year. Nearly all voters already have a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or a passport.

Georgia made photo IDs available to all citizens and offered them for free to those who could not afford the nominal fee. With these safeguards in place, it makes no sense to argue that photo ID requirements disenfranchise certain segments of our population.

Photo ID requirements actually protect the sanctity of every legal vote. The greatest threat to the constitutional right to vote is voter fraud. A legal voter whose ballot is canceled out by the ballot of an illegal voter has effectively been disenfranchised. We seek not to suppress the vote to promote the sanctity of the vote.

The Federal Election Integrity Act will require in the 2008 election that voters show a photo ID. In 2010 it will require that voters show a photo ID that could not be obtained without proof of citizenship. I have supported such efforts in the past, and I will support this bill.

Though I have acted consistently throughout my career in public service to promote fair and accurate election, I fear the House debate will be rife with irony. You see, just 2 months ago, this House voted by a lopsided margin to trample the equal protection clause of the Constitution and to violate the sovereignty of the State of Georgia by extending the Voting Rights Act for 25 years.

I joined several of my colleagues from Georgia on this floor to educate Members of the House on our State's tremendous progress on voter equity. We presented hard evidence that the Georgia of 2006 is far removed from the Georgia of 1964. We proved that Georgia is no different than any other State when it comes to voter equality.

After I defended the honor and integrity of my State, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee slurred my State's record. He entered into the Record a statement that said: ``The record since 1982 makes clear that Georgia and its political subdivisions have not progressed beyond the need for the temporary provisions of the Voting Rights Act.'' As evidence of ongoing problems in Georgia, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee and others cited Georgia's photo identification law.

Now, the nearly 400 Members who voted to penalize Georgia should reflect on that vote. They need to ask themselves what changed between July and September of this year. Why was it bad in July to have a photo ID requirement for my home State of Georgia, but okay in September to have a photo ID requirement nationwide?

Make no mistake, I will be voting for the Federal Election Integrity Act. I only wish it went further, to make all sections of the Voting Rights Act applicable to all States and to make all ballots be in English only