Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Loveland, Colorado Valentine Card Remailing Program for their outstanding and creative service to Loveland and to the rest of the Nation.

The Loveland Valentine Card Remailing Program began in 1946. Postmaster Elmer Ivers, Chamber of Commerce president Ted W. Thompson and his wife Mabel were the original founders of this unique tradition. What began as a stamp club project has since grown into the largest remailing program in the United States of America.

In 1947, 40 cards were sent through the Loveland, Colorado Post Office and postmarked with a unique Valentine inked stamp. Now every year nearly 300,000 valentines are sent through the Loveland, Colorado Post Office. Behind the scenes there are about 50 senior citizen volunteers that hand stamp a message of love on the envelopes that are received.

This year's message of love, called a ``cachet,'' was submitted by Diana Reed and reads ``Sweet Promises on Arrows Ride from Loveland's Heart to the Whole World Wide.'' Stephanie Moss submitted the Cachet design. The Cachet design is Dan Cupid holding a heart shaped world in one hand, with doves and mountains framing the verse.

Loveland's official Valentine Card design was submitted by Brenda Crow and pictures two white doves sitting in a bed of lavender flowers below three red hearts framed in flowers. On the inside of the card a Valentine verse reads ``Loveland, Colorado, the Sweetheart City has a Valentine Poem for the Witty. Candy is Sweet, Lemons are Sour, I'll be loving you through the Midnight Hour.'' And was submitted by third grader Shelsey Sybrandts who is the youngest author of the Valentine Verse in the 57-year history of the Loveland, Colorado Valentine Remailing Program.

The modest city of Loveland has created quite a name for itself and is globally known as the ``Sweetheart City.'' Valentines are sent through Loveland from all fifty States as well as 120 countries. The Loveland, Colorado Valentine Remailing Program has been featured globally on PBS, the London Broadcasting Company, radio casts in Australia, and is mentioned in many more newspapers and magazines.

A special Valentine representative is also chosen by a committee to win a $1,000 scholarship and to represent Loveland in various meetings with the Governor of Colorado and will often make speeches in front of the State House of Representatives and the State Senate. In the past, Miss Loveland Valentine has been the only person to be allowed to make a presentation in front of Colorado's State Legislature.

I am so very proud of the humble town of Loveland, where my office headquarters are, and the Loveland Valentines Remailing Program. I ask my colleagues to join me in a unanimous tribute to all of the senior citizen volunteers, the authors of this year's Valentine card: Shelsey Sybrandts, Brenda Crow, Stephanie Moss, and Diana Reed, and to congratulate Sara Craig for being this year's Miss Loveland Valentine. May this noble tradition lift up our hearts and spread love and compassion around the world for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, in March 2003, the House Small Business Committee convened a hearing to review a prospective rule from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This rule was intended to alter the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act.

During the past 2 years, HUD has been working to simplify the real estate settlement process. Their goal is to produce a uniform packaged pricing concept for consumers that incorporates all pricing elements including home inspections, title insurance, and interest rates.

During the March 2003 hearing, HUD officials testified to the Small Business Committee regarding different elements of this initially proposed rule. Much attention focused on the inadequacy of the economic impact study contained within the rule, particularly with respect to the effect on small businesses nationwide. After fielding questions from nearly every Member seated on the Committee, HUD agreed to give additional consideration and possible revision to their prospective rule.

It became evident during review of the initially proposed rule that it would be a step in the wrong direction. Consequently, it had no support from the real estate and mortgage industries, as well as little support from consumer advocacy groups.

During the process leading up to last spring's hearing, the Department of Housing and Urban Development was forthcoming about details of the rule prior to last spring's hearing. But since then, HUD has been virtually silent about changes, despite receiving tens-of- thousands of pages of comments during the extended review period.

Mr. Speaker, it troubles me that, as of late, HUD has been stonewalling Congressional inquiries by not responding to suggested comments, as indicated, and to questions asked during the hearing.

Surprisingly during the recent Congressional winter recess, and without notice to Congress regarding the nature of any changes, HUD submitted their final rule to the President's Office of Management and Budget in December 2003.

Now, executive privilege prevents Congress and the public from reviewing the final rule. While it is HUD's prerogative to forward this rule during Congress' recess, this instance clearly circumvents the intent of congressional oversight for departmental and agency rulemaking.

Depending on the contents of this final rule, the largest of the market lenders may seek to establish exclusive relationships with real estate service providers, such as home inspectors, title insurers, mortgage brokers, or real estate agents.

Home inspectors, for instance, would be forced to accept below market pricing for their inspection services, or face difficulty finding work.

Furthermore, large and small businesses alike would spend millions of dollars to change forms and reformat their disclosures, losing valuable time being retrained to present a product they already produce ethically and efficiently. This does not make sense.

Ultimately, consumers would be left with limited choices and higher prices. Smaller businesses unable to compete, due to a lack of sufficient resources, would be forced to close their doors.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage OMB to make the right decision on this delicate matter and to operate transparently and deliberatively when considering rule proposals. The opportunity to purchase a home through easy and equitable transactions may be lost for many, should this final rule become published.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer my gratitude to the chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), the ranking member, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm), the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), and especially to my colleague, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. McInnis).

In the West we care very deeply about this legislation, particularly in Colorado. We have had the Buffalo Creek Fire, we have had the Hayman Fire in Colorado, we have had massive loss in acres of our beautiful forest land. We have had immeasurable damage to the environment, to our water quality.

The Denver Water Board spent over $20 million cleaning up after the last fire. Habitat has been destroyed. Our tourism industry has been harmed greatly. And, more importantly, we have lost the lives of our brave firefighters in Colorado.

We are in strong support, those of us that care about our national forests and our private forests, are in strong support of this conference committee report. And I commend all those who have worked so hard on this conference committee and this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great American, Dr. Edward Rozek, for his years of dedicated service to the cause of freedom and democracy as a soldier, scholar, author, and college professor.

Edward Rozek was 18 years old when Adolf Hitler conquered Poland. He decided to join the Allied forces in the west and escaped through Slovakia to Hungary, where he was captured by the Nazis and spent several months in a slave labor camp.

Upon escaping from the Nazi camp, Rozek made his way to England, where he joined the First Polish Armored Division. He became a tank officer in the Armored Division's Reconnaissance Regiment and fought from Normandy through Belgium. Achieving the rank of Major, Rozek was wounded four times and received four Purple Hearts, three Crosses of Valor, as well as numerous other decorations.

In 1948 Dr. Rozek arrived in the United States without family, money, or profession. He was admitted to Harvard after earning money to pay tuition by working on a dairy farm and then at a gasoline station. In 7 years, he earned a Bachelor of Arts, Magna cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa, Master of Arts, and his Doctorate of Philosophy.

After leaving Harvard, Dr. Rozek became a Professor of Comparative Governments at the University of Colorado. He was Director of Slavic Studies for 25 years and Deputy Editor for one of the most prestigious publications on Eastern Europe in the world, Journal of Central European Affairs. His best-known book is Allied Wartime Diplomacy, for which he received the National Foundation Book Award. The students at the University of Colorado selected him as Professor of the Year and Distinguished Faculty Member.

During the 1980 Presidential campaign, Rozek was a member of Ronald Reagan's Advisory Council on Defense and Foreign Policy and is currently a member of the Reagan Associates. He is an honorary member of Solidarity, and received Knighthood in the Venerable Order of St. John from Queen Elizabeth.

Presently, Dr. Rozek holds the Endowed Garnsey-Rozek Professorship in Economic and Political Freedom at the University of Northern Colorado. He will retire at the end of this year. Dr. Rozek is married to Elizabeth and has two sons and four grandchildren.

On behalf of the countless number of students, citizens, and legislators he has touched, I want to thank Dr. Rozek for his years of dedicated service to liberty through classical liberal education. As the famous philosopher Sidney Hook said of Dr. Rozek in the dedication to his book, Academic Freedom and Academic Anarchy, Ed is truly an ``embattled fighter for free men, free society, and a free university against fascism, communism, and totalitarian liberalism.''

May God bless Dr. Edward Rozek and his epic legacy of service to free people everywhere.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding achievement of

ConAgra Foods--Longmont Facility in Longmont, Colorado in the field of occupational safety and health. I also commend Ms. Stephanie Sparks, the Complex Safety & Health Manager for this facility, and her team for their continued excellence.

Recently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) awarded this facility with the agency's approval as a Merit participant in the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). This exceptional facility joins fewer than 850 worksites under Federal jurisdiction that have received this prestigious award.

To achieve important recognition, ConAgra has demonstrated an exemplary record of workplace safety and health, achieving injury and illness rates well below the industry average.

ConAgra continually exceeds industry performance records and sets extremely high standards for their competition. I am very proud to represent such a commendable Colorado facility. Congratulations to ConAgra for another job well done.

Mr. Speaker, the House passed its version of the Healthy Forest Initiative in May of this year with an overwhelming majority and bipartisan support. The other Chamber has had our version of the bill for over 6 months and only passed it after fires in southern California scorched almost 1 million acres, destroyed over 3,400 homes, and killed 20 citizens last week.

During a meeting of the Committee on Agriculture, one of our members expressed to us his sorrow that one of his cousins had been burned to death and her sister was burned over 85 percent of her body. One of our own Members lost his home in this tragic event.

After we took this vote in the House, a simple motion to appoint conferees has been blocked by the minority party, preventing the swift conclusion of negotiations. The forest health conditions across the country are too extreme and the threats to our citizens' lives and property too severe for this to be a political football. In Colorado, a beautiful State with beautiful national forests, 7.5 million acres are at risk to fire, insects, and disease. This is more than two-thirds of our forested acres in my State alone.

The need to provide the modest relief provided by H.R. 1904 can best be illustrated by what the people on the front range went through trying to protect their forest. Working in close cooperation with the local community, conservation groups, and Colorado State University, the Forest Service proposed a modest effort to reduce hazardous fuels in this region. After exhaustive NEPA analysis, radical environmentalists filed an administrative appeal, and then a lawsuit.

As the process unfolded, the Hayman fire destroyed the watershed before the project could be implemented. My colleague, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo), described this in July, how devastating the Hayman fire was. Mr. Speaker, 138,114 acres were destroyed, and 132 homes were lost in that fire. In total, in the year of 2002, the damages were 619,000 acres burned, 384 homes destroyed, 624 additional structures demolished and, sadly, nine firefighters were killed in this fire. The damage from the fires closed 26 water treatment facilities. After two smaller fires, the Denver Water Board had to spend over $20 million cleaning up the reservoir.

The crises in our forests warrant action. It is imperative that conferees be appointed. Partisan politics must be put aside, and Congress must act to protect our national treasures.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary group of young dancers from Northern Colorado--the High Country Cloggers.

Recently, these dancers preformed in the Junior Olympic Games in Detroit, Michigan, and won top medals. Dancers from ages 11 to 22 took home silver medals in the a cappella category, bronze in the traditional line-dance competition, and gold medals for best in age group.

Clogging is an old style of dancing, with its roots from the Appalachian region. These award winning young ladies and men are part of its recent revival. Encompassing traditional bluegrass music and dance style, these astonishing dancers are turning clogging into a style filled with country, pop, and even hip-hop.

Among the dancers performing at the Junior Olympics, I would like to honor: Jenna Jordan, Elizabeth Lopez, Dessy Benesh, Jacey

Sisneros, Cynthia Crookston, Meghan Meehleis, Amberley Meehleis, Caitlynn Meehleis, and Ashlee Meehleis.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, I wish to honor Rick and Michelle Meehleis of Fort Collins, Colorado. As the founders of the High Country Cloggers, this extraordinary couple have dedicated themselves to the success of the young dancers. At its inception, 5 years ago, the dance group held evening lessons in the Meehlies family garage.

Rick and Michelle have turned the once family hobby into a family-run business with the participation of tremendous dancers throughout the community. The clogging group now holds lessons in its own studio and performs around the nation.

In addition to performing in Detroit, over the past year they have danced in Branson, Missouri; Atlanta, Georgia; and in Oklahoma.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to honor the High Country Cloggers and the Meehleis before the Congress today because they are remarkable examples of dedication, strong family values, and achievement.

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, October 15, if the voting machine was working properly, it would have recorded my vote in favor of H.R. 1828, the Syria Accountability Act. The Syria Accountability Act is extremely worthwhile legislation and I was proud to cosponsor it on May 22, 2003.

Mr. Speaker, few things that we do in this life have significance as we go 10, 20 years down the road; but the work that we are doing today in this Chamber has enormous significance. Partial birth abortion defies logic. I try to imagine how an individual could even come up with this thing that is called euphemistically a ``procedure.'' I am trying to imagine in my mind how a doctor, who is calling on his or her life to be a healer, to extend life for individuals, came up with this procedure. I am trying to imagine how sticking scissors into the brain of a child that is partially born is called a ``medical procedure'' that is to benefit the life of the mother, the mother whose body is getting ready to birth this child, a woman who is going through all of the things that we have gone through, getting ready to have the child.

It is an important thing in this Nation today that we have acknowledged what this really is, and it is a good day in America when our President will sign the partial-birth abortion ban into law.

Mr. Speaker, I admire altruism. I am very impressed when people want to help other individuals. I am very skeptical of altruism when it is funded with other people's money.

When we look at this Medicare prescription drug benefit, I think we ought to think about the young families in our country that are working very hard to make ends meet. Many of them are in their 30s, their 40s. They have young children. They are trying to figure out how they are going to pay for their little guy's glasses, the little boy in the second grade that cannot see

the bulletin board. They are trying to figure out how they are going to have any quality time together because mom is working and dad is working and somebody has got to pick up the kids and somebody has got to buy the groceries. They are frazzled young families. They are trying to do the right thing by their family, but they are also trying to figure out how they are going to pay their taxes and they are going to make ends meet.

When we look at these families and look at families where people are working in their late 50s and early 60s and they do not really have a very good prediction, good future for their retirement and they are working on because they are trying to make ends meet also, maybe we ought to think about those people before we try to figure out how we are going to give a benefit to the wealthy that do not even need it, the wealthy Americans who, God bless them, have been successful.

I am all for people accumulating wealth and enjoying it and being very prosperous, especially when they have made good plans and in the elder years of their lives they are reaping the benefits. But it makes no sense to me to increase the tax burden on our working families to give a benefit to people that have not asked for it that are going to try to figure out how many weeks they are going to spend on their yacht. This does not make sense.

I support the Flake motion. We need to have a means testing. It is common sense. That is how we need to be responsible with the only way government gets its money: from taxing our citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 1078.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution calling for Taiwan to become a member of the United Nations.

The resolution states that it is the sense of Congress that ``(1) Taiwan and its 23 million people deserve full and equal membership in the United Nations and other international organizations; and (2) the United States should take a leading role in gaining international support for Taiwan's participation in these organizations.''

Taiwan, a strong advocate of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and a bastion of economic strength, deserves the same privileges as all other thriving democracies. With the election of its President, Mr. Chen Shui-bian, in a free and fair election in March 2000, Taiwan continues to strengthen its democracy by improving safeguards for human rights and contributing to the international community.

Taiwan was driven out of the United Nations in 1971 and, since then, has continually tried to regain admission. The People's Republic of China (PRC) has blocked those efforts. The PRC, one of the five permanent Security Council members, which determines new UN membership, continually pressures other nations not to support Taiwan's membership.

The 23 million people of Taiwan have much to contribute, both intellectually and financially, to many international organizations, including the UN. Clearly, the people of Taiwan should also benefit from any positive work these organizations engage in as well.

It is unreasonable for the people of Taiwan to be excluded from full participation in international institutions. Denying Taiwan membership in the United Nations and other international organizations, such as the World Health Organization, is unacceptable.

For the past several years, both Houses of the U.S. Congress have consistently introduced and passed legislation supporting Taiwan's meaningful participation and membership into the United Nations and the World Health Organization. This important legislation restates our support and our commitment to the progress of Taiwan's democracy.

I believe that Taiwan's full and equal membership in the United Nations and other international organizations is long overdue. Now is the time to right the wrong committed in 1971, by granting Taiwan the status it deserves.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Anna Charlotte Jilg Koslowske who will turn 100 years old on September 29. She was born near Florissant, MS, to the family of Adolf and Caroline Jilg. Her father had immigrated as a child to America from Austria in 1859. The family had a vegetable farm outside of St. Louis, and the eleven children all learned the meaning of hard work and its rewards. They were all expected to help in the fields and in preparing the produce for market. Anna's father would drive the mule-drawn wagon into St. Louis to deliver the fresh produce. This way of life supported the family for many years.

Like many people from those days, Anna is pretty much self-taught, as children were needed to help at home or find work at an early age. Her teacher arranged for Anna to complete grades seven and eight in 1 year so the teacher could claim an eighth-grade graduate. After her graduation, Anna was hired by a family in St. Louis to care for the gentleman's terminally ill wife. Her compassionate and caring nature, in addition to her experience of living and working within a large family, made her an excellent candidate.

As a young woman Anna journeyed to Zap, ND, to visit her sister and while there, met the Rev. George Koslowske, a pastor in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. They were married on May 17, 1925, and to this union came seven children, all of whom are still living.

Anna moved with her husband from North Dakota to Waco, NE, where they served a rural parish, St. Johns, for 20 years. In 1950 they moved their family to Big Springs, NE, answering God's call to Zion Lutheran Church. During his ministry there, George was called home by the Lord in 1958, leaving Anna to provide for the two youngest children, ages 13 and 15. Anna worked then as a cook in the local Dairy King. Once the children were on their own, she served as a nanny for several families until 1974, when she moved to Holyoke, CO where she still resides.

Anna has been blessed with 15 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. She also has one living sister, Lillian Dueker, who recently celebrated her 102nd birthday.

Anna and her children are grateful for the Lord's blessings during her 100 years. She has led a quiet, prayerful life. She was an excellent mother and mentor to her children, always stressing a Christian attitude. Her favorite reprimand was ``If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.'' She continues to be an example and joy to those around her.

I am proud to honor Anna on the occasion of her 100th birthday. Anna is a self taught, hard working compassionate Christian mother and grandmother who is the embodiment of all the values that have molded America into the great nation it is today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Marine Staff Sgt. Brian Ivers for his bravery in the face of combat during Operation Freedom in Iraq. Mr. Ivers is a resident of Fort Collins and is a Police Officer of that fair city.

Serving his country on active duty in the Fox 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 1st Division, his company was ordered to rescue a group of Marine artillerymen who took a wrong turn in the town of Al Gaharraf. Encountering a near blinding sand and rain storm as they entered the town, no air support could be provided.

Staff Sergeant Ivers' platoon came under fire as they entered Al Gaharaff. As the first platoon dismounted, they immediately engaged with the enemy. Sergeant Jim Cawley's platoon worked to suppress the enemy long enough to allow Sergeant Ivers' platoon to enter the town.

Sergeant Cawley's platoon fought a gun battle while occupying a building. A grenade was launched into the building and leveled many of the marines because of the concussion. Enemy fire had increased all around them while they were returning fire. One of the marines was trapped inside the building.

Staff Sergeant Ivers attempted to rescue him. In his own words, Brian said, ``I got up to get him as I thought I could just grab his hand and drag him out. As I moved along the wall, rounds began to punch holes out of the concrete in front of me. I turned to go back to where I had just come from and was struck in the side with a round. The force of it spun me around and at the time I thought I had been hit in the kidney.''

Later, Brian would realize that the bayonet had taken the impact of the round, deflecting it to his flack jacket, thus saving his life. His platoon was in contact with the enemy for over a half hour and was running low on ammunition. They were finally told to pull out because air cover was expected. A tank showed up about 40 minutes later.

Brian's ribs were blue with bruises. Months later, Brian found out that he had broken the eleventh rib--a good reminder that their battle had saved a unit of the eleventh Marines.

Because he received a wound while in combat, Staff Sergeant Brian Ivers will receive the Purple Heart. Mr. Speaker, we are so fortunate to live in this great country where freedom is something that we rarely have to think about and often take for granted. It is simply a way of life for us, and we are truly blessed

to live in a country that honors its citizens for their spirit, their ideas, their individuality, and their courage.

I am so proud of Staff Seargeant Brian Ivers. Along with a grateful district, state, and nation, I applaud Brian Ivers for his courage and selfless dedication to duty. He has helped protect our democracy and kept our homeland safe by placing his life on the line.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a truly outstanding part of this nation's defense--the 137th Space Warning Squadron based in Greeley, Colorado. For the second time in three years (an unequaled achievement), that unit has won the Distinguished Mission Support Plaque given by the National Guard Association of the United States.

This national award is given to only five outstanding units throughout all the Guard both Army and Air.

In addition to Colonel William Hudson, I would like to recognize the leadership at the 137th of Major Daniel Salgado and Major David Simmons for their outstanding work, as well as Brigadier General Mike Edwards (at the 140th Wing, Buckley AFB) and Major General Mason Whitney (the Colorado Adjutant General). The award shows the outstanding ability, competence, and potential of our Colorado Guardsmen at the Greeley location.

Additionally, the 137th in 2002 received many accolades for inspections, conversions,

support, and community service. I am so proud that this unit is in the Fourth Congressional District and going above and beyond in its defense of the United States of America. May God bless them for their service.