Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my great sorrow at the passing of Dr. Norman Borlaug, and to honor his great contributions to biotechnology and battling famine around the globe.

Dr. Borlaug's development of high-yield wheat varieties and his introduction of modern production techniques in Mexico, Pakistan, and India led to the ``green revolution,'' a worldwide movement that greatly increased food security and improved the lives of millions of impoverished and hungry people on every continent.

For his efforts, Dr. Borlaug was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal, and the Nobel Peace Prize. To this day, farmers and elected leaders alike look to Dr. Borlaug's accomplishments both as a matter of practice and inspiration. While his work has shown us how to better feed ourselves, his life has shown us that one man can improve the lives of millions more vulnerable.

I thank you for this time, Madam Speaker, and I thank Dr. Borlaug for his services to our Nation and to our world.

Madam Speaker, I rise here today to pay tribute to one of our Nation's largest and most successful veterans advocacy organizations, the American Legion. Since the Congressional charter was issued on September 16th, 1919, the American Legion has worked tirelessly to serve American veterans and communities across the nation. Arkansas has the honorable distinction of becoming the first American Legion Department in the United States to be incorporated.

The American Legion was founded under four principles or pillars: The care for our veterans, the care for our children, a strong national defense, and the promotion of Americanism. Over the years, the American Legion has become a preeminent community-service organization, which includes more than 2.5 million members at over 14,000 American Legion posts worldwide.

Every year, members of the American Legion donate thousands of hours of community service in veterans' medical facilities and homes to care for our nation's heroes. They remain committed to upholding the ideals of freedom and democracy, strive to improve the overall quality of life to our nation's servicemen and women, and tirelessly work to make a difference in the lives of fellow Americans.

Today, on American Legion Day, we now have an opportunity each year to come together and celebrate the organization's long history and distinguished service to the community, state and nation. Millions of people who have been positively affected by the American Legion, as well as the American people are grateful for their efforts in serving our country. On behalf of the United States House of Representatives, we thank you for your courage, your character, and your service to our country.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I certainly want to thank our distinguished chairman and ranking member of this committee and the staff that's done magnificent work preparing this bill and getting it to the floor. We all appreciate them and what they've done.

I try to never rise to speak that I don't encourage anyone that will listen to me to keep in their hearts and minds and in their prayers our men and women in uniform and their families. I am delighted to be here to not only hopefully defend this amendment against attacks but I have heard my friend from Arizona's complaints.

I would refer him first of all to article I, section 9 of the United States Constitution that says no money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in consequence of appropriations made by law.

It says, ``No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in consequence of appropriations made by law.'' I don't think the bureaucrats have the authority under the Constitution to appropriate money. That's the job of this Congress, this House, and the Appropriations Committee.

And I know my friend from Arizona means well. He has good intentions. He does these things in a spirit of camaraderie and never gets too vicious with his attacks. And I appreciate that. He is indeed a good fellow. But my mother used to tell me that the road to the bad place was paved with good intentions.

These people this truck driving course takes care of, the people that it makes possible for them to get trained, they're trained for good jobs that already exist. They're not going to get trained and then be out of work. They're going to be trained to operate vehicles over the Nation's highways in a safe manner.

This program helps to filter out any people that would not be suitable for that type work. That's part of what it does. This is a need that has existed for many, many years, and we have put lots and lots of State money, a lot of local money into this program and this community college, which does an outstanding job--and it has other programs where it trains people for jobs that already exist, and this is just one of its programs.

It would be absolutely foolish for us to deny this little bit of funding for a place that has worked so hard, has a very difficult time economically, and does only take up an effort to try to improve the lives of the people that want to work hard and participate in these programs and be trained for a good job.

And so I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I would urge my colleagues that choose to oppose earmarks--I like to call them Member- directed spending--but I think the Constitution is very clear on who's supposed to do that. If they would choose to be opposed to these Member-directed spending in these bills, then they need to go back to the Constitution and see where it says bureaucracy or bureaucrat or Federal agency or the executive branch or anything like that. It doesn't say that. It says the Congress has to pass these laws and make this money available.

So, I'm delighted to be here and appreciate the opportunity to speak against this amendment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment.

I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank our chairman Mr. Visclosky, Mr. Pastor and ranking member Mr. Frelinghuysen for putting together a really good bill, and the staff has done an outstanding job with all of this, and we certainly appreciate all the hard work that they've done and continue to do. It would be the most foolish thing we could possibly do in this country. We have economically succeeded and lived off of the great research--most of it that was begun during World War II, continued after World War II and made us the technology leaders of the world. It has tremendous economic benefits. For us to now pursue a course to say that we don't need to do research, that it doesn't serve a good purpose.

The research that is being done at Arkansas State University, by the Arkansas Biosciences Institute that was created and funded by the State of Arkansas, and tremendous investments have gone into that institute and great work is being done there, some of it, a very small part of it, is being funded by the Federal Government. That is most appropriate. What this does is to make it possible to take the straw that is left after you harvest an acre of rice, and convert it to 270 gallons of ethanol. That's after you take the grain off of it.

It makes all the sense in the world to do this, and this would also be applicable to other crops.

So we are talking about using something right now that just lays there and rots and turning it into fuel that is environmentally friendly. And it makes absolutely no sense not to continue this research, bring it to fruition and put it on the ground and make it work for the American people and reduce our need for foreign oil.

So I rise in strenuous opposition to this amendment. I would ask the House to join me in being opposed to this amendment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I continue to be opposed to this amendment.

I'm very proud of the work that has been done at the Arkansas Biosciences Institute. I think it is the kind of investment that this government needs to make in research and development to make sure that we continue to be the leader in the world in these areas.

With that, I ask my fellow Members to vote against this amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman, the gentleman from West Virginia, and congratulate him on putting together a good bill and bringing it to this House floor and moving it forward.

My colleagues across the aisle, as they have suffered in the minority, talk more trash than a $3 radio. It's amazing. Actually, it would almost be funny if it were not so serious. But they took over this country in January of 2001 with a balanced budget, a $5 trillion surplus and the votes to pass anything they wanted to pass, and they did. And they imposed their will on the American people. Their idea of how to grow an economy is, give as much money as you can to the rich people. Don't regulate them at all. Let them do anything they want to, and hope Wall Street takes care of you. Well, we all see what happened.

This year we find ourselves in the worst economic circumstance that anyone can imagine. It's happened one other time in this country. As I've listened to the debate, it sounds like a ghost from the Hoover Republicans trying to stop Franklin D. Roosevelt from rebuilding this country, making it a great Nation again, and putting it in a position where it could fight and win World War II. What he did was invest in the people and invest in the country, and we did it, and it worked.

I make no apologies for our attempt to invest in the children of the Grand Prairie in Stuttgart, Arkansas. So I rise today in support of funding for the Art Center of the Grand Prairie. The Art Center is a nonprofit organization that provides after-school and summer programs for troubled youth.

While the Art Center provides valuable artistic instruction and activities,

we don't need to turn this into an argument over whether the Federal Government should be a patron of the arts. We need to look at the real point of the program, engaging at-risk youth and preventing crime. That is the benefit the Federal Government and society as a whole will derive from this project. It is a worthwhile investment in our children. The funds for this project come from the Department of Justice, specifically the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Program. According to DOJ's own description of the program, Juvenile Justice grants support ``prevention and early intervention programs that are making a difference for young people and their communities.'' The Art Center of the Grand Prairie is a perfect example of this type of program.

During the school year, the Art Center's after-school programs can serve as a valuable supplement to each child's education by emphasizing task-oriented instruction, learning to create a project from start to finish and supplementing critical reading and writing skills in the process.

Most importantly, these programs engage children off the streets during afternoon hours between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. They're primarily staffed with many good, hardworking people that volunteer their time. It's well known by law enforcement that this is the prime time for juvenile crime, vandalism and violence.

Outside of the school year, the Art Center's summer art program provides week-long programs for youth, engaging them with positive educational activities that stimulate creative thinking, get children reading and writing, and stem the summer brain drain. These summer camps are open to youths who would not ordinarily get the opportunity to attend this type of program or any other program, as evidenced by the fact that approximately 65 percent of the attendees are on full scholarship. Federal funding for the Art Center of the Grand Prairie will ensure that these programs can continue to grow and make a positive impact on the lives of even more young people.

The amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas would not save the taxpayers a dime. I ask that this amendment be defeated.

I thank the gentleman from West Virginia for his time.

Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably absent on the afternoon of April 29, 2009, and on April 30, 2009. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote 223, against final passage of H.R. 1913. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote 228, for final passage of H.R. 627.

Madam Speaker, I rise here today to pay tribute to one of Arkansas's finest educational institutions, Arkansas State University. The University will commemorate its 100th anniversary this month. This achievement is a significant milestone for this school and all who helped shape its history.

On April 1st, 2009, the Jonesboro Community will gather at Arkansas State University to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the passage of Act 100, which established the first four agricultural schools in Arkansas. Over the past several decades, ASU has been the beneficiary of a foundation of excellence, built by the hard work and dedication from faculty, alumni, administrators and the community. Many individuals have invested in ensuring the success of the school, and thanks to their efforts we are also here today to thank them for their service.

To build a great school, time and patience are needed to attract and sustain a great faculty, develop a strong academic program, and foster an alumni network. The process is long and arduous, but Arkansas State University is resilient and continues to produce distinguished alumni and groundbreaking achievements year after year.

Arkansas State University with its first-rate, innovative style of education provides an unparalleled learning experience for their students. The growing strength of the school is demonstrated by the success of its students after they graduate and its world renowned reputation. Most importantly, the ideas and achievements from ASU's alumni will continue to transform and benefit our nation for generations.

I stand here today to ask my colleagues in the United States Congress to join me in congratulating Arkansas State University on this significant milestone. Arkansas State University has been powering the minds of its students for 100 years. The University has come a long way, has much to celebrate, and more successes to anticipate in the years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise here today to pay tribute to a dear friend, Dr. John Grobmyer Tedford. His successes are many, but it is his outstanding service to the field of medicine that demands recognition. I am proud to honor Dr. Tedford for his lifetime of service to his patients, his community and our country.

Dr. Tedford was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1941 to William L. Tedford and Dorothy Grobmyer Tedford. Aside from his time in college and serving our country in Vietnam, he spent his entire life in Little Rock. He attended Hall High School but graduated from Forrest City High School after Governor Orval Faubus closed Little Rock's high schools in 1958-59 during the school integration struggle. He later went to college to study pre-med at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. At the age of 20, he went to the University of Arkansas School of Medicine and received his medical degree in 1966. After meeting through some mutual friends, Tedford married Judy Stoltz on October 28, 1993.

Dr. Tedford was a simple man who avoided fancy material possessions. Instead, he preferred to go to his favorite place, which was a cedar house his family built for him and spend time with nature. He especially enjoyed bass fishing and turkey and duck hunting. In addition, he enjoyed playing doubles tennis with his wife.

Although Tedford enjoyed sports and hunting, his patients were always his first priority. For example, in 1968 he joined the Navy and asked to be sent to Vietnam with the Marines to serve as a doctor, taking care of sick and injured troops. While in Vietnam, Tedford and his battalion were struck by a bomb. Despite his severe injuries, he refused to be evacuated and continued to treat the injured soldiers until he lost consciousness from internal bleeding. For his valiant efforts he was awarded the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.

Dr. Tedford embodies the old fashioned values of service, leadership and commitment to his community that has made our State and our Nation great. He has dedicated his life to serving people and we are grateful for the impact he left on the lives of all he touched. He will be greatly missed.

Madam Speaker, the current conflict in Gaza has drawn international attention. Congress must stand in solidarity with Israel and recognize the operations in Gaza as acts of self defense.

For 8 years, Hamas has conducted rocket and mortar attacks into Israeli communities with increasing intensity and range. Hamas fired without concern for civilian casualties and it is time to put an end to Hamas's attacks.

Israel has had no choice but to take military action in order to protect and defend its people.

A permanent cease-fire must be reached but we must work to create a peace that is ``durable and sustainable'' and that starts with an end to Hamas's attacks on Israel.

We in the United States must continue to stand in support our friend and ally Israel.

Madam Speaker, I rise here today to pay tribute to a dear friend, Rosalyn Ann Lowe. I am proud to recognize Mrs. Lowe in the United States Congress for her invaluable contributions to our community, our State and our Nation.

Mrs. Rosalyn Ann Lowe was born Nov. 8, 1946, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas to W.A. ``Red'' and Sallie Mary Wingfield. She was a retired teacher and an active member of the Gillett, Arkansas United Methodist Church. Her death took a pillar of the community from us. She lived her life as a true example of how we should serve others.

From high school students in her home economics class to her precious preschoolers, she positively influenced the lives of many children with loving guidance and patience. As a home economics teacher she used the opportunity to teach and mentor her students to provide her real life lessons that would prepare them for the future. She had a special gift of making each child feel special and important, which is one of many reasons she was an exceptional teacher.

Mrs. Lowe was the kind of citizen every community wishes they had more of. She served the city under a mayor and city council who had a vision for our small farming town during a transitional time in our community. Because she believed it was the right thing to do she was an active part of the leadership that brought positive changes to Gillett, Arkansas.

As we recall Mrs. Lowe's exceptional career, we find her accomplishments as a teacher pale only in comparison to her strong devotion to her family, her church, her community and our nation. On behalf of Congress, I offer my friend, Rosalyn Ann Lowe my deepest appreciation and gratitude for her tireless dedication and service to the children of Arkansas. We are grateful for the time she spent with us. Most importantly, we are all better people because of the time she spent with us. She was a great friend who will be missed by many.

Madam Speaker, I rise here today to pay tribute to a dear friend, Mr. Lee Bass. His successes are many, but it is his unabashed willingness to serve Arkansas that demands recognition. I am proud to honor Lee Bass for his 34 years of federal service as Chief of the Operations Division of the Little Rock Army Corps of Engineers.

Mr. Bass holds a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Arkansas and has completed postgraduate courses from the University of Arkansas, University of Denver and the University of Santa Clara.

Bass is recognized as a leader throughout the Corps of Engineers and has received numerous performance awards in a variety of jobs and districts. He received two Hammer Awards from the Office of the Vice President of the United States and was once recognized as Civilian of the Year. His staff nominated him for Federal Manager of the Year in Arkansas, which he won. He was recognized and inducted into the Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineers. He is a past president and regional director of the State Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He was the chapter director of the Arkansas Society of Professional Engineers, and served in various offices of the Razorback Post of the Society of American Military Engineers.

Lee Bass's career has numerous milestones but he will be remembered most for his dedication to excellence and his vision of serving the Army Corps and his employees to the best of his ability. His wide- ranging experience in civil works activities far exceeded the norm and has allowed the region to plan, build and operate many water management projects in the Arkansas.

On behalf of the Congress, I extend deep appreciation to Lee Bass for his decades of leadership and his dedication to the area's infrastructure. We salute his efforts that have made Arkansas' waterways safe and efficient and we thank him for making our state and nation a better place to work, live and raise a family.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a fellow Blue Dog, a gracious friend, and a great American.

Since 1991, this gentleman has served his home state of Alabama as an outstanding Member of Congress, and before that served our country as a member of the United States Army and Army Reserve.

He has been a champion of child protection--reflecting his roots as founder of the National Children's Advocacy Centre--and a true promoter of our space program. He is a long-time supporter of national defense measures, and a tireless advocate of fiscal responsibility.

Robert Edward Cramer, Jr.--our friend Bud--has plenty of folks both home in Huntsville and here in Washington, DC who admire and appreciate him, but I ask you to join me again today in congratulating him on a job well done and a journey well traveled.

Our prayer is offered this morning by Pastor Chuck Coffelt, my pastor from my home church, the United Methodist Church of Gillett, Arkansas. He pastors a community where they still know when you are born and they care when you die, where happiness and sorrow are shared by the community and where a helping hand is offered when needed. We are delighted to be joined this morning online by the Gillett School and their mascot, the Wolves, to show support for our special community.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding.

I never rise that I don't encourage anyone that can hear me to keep in their hearts and minds and in their prayers our men and women in uniform and their families, and especially those on the battlefield today.

Having said that, it is interesting to hear our colleagues on the other side of the aisle talk about fiscal responsibility. It is interesting to hear them suddenly have an attack of concern about our children and grandchildren and the debt that is going to be passed on to them which includes pretty close to $8 trillion that their party has built up and their Presidents have built up.

It is clear and has been for many years that the Republican Party intends to destroy Medicare any way it can. ``Let it wither on the vine'' were the very words that they used.

The interesting thing about this is we know how to fix these things. Health care is not so complicated we can't fix it. It is a matter of getting the collective, bipartisan political willpower to do the right thing.

This particular problem can be fixed with a very simple thing, just do away with the overpayment to the private health care plans, $4.6 billion we overpay the private plans. Why would we want to be so generous to the insurance companies?

I certainly don't like the idea of my children and grandchildren having to pay off a debt that we incurred because we overpaid the insurance companies. What is so special, I wonder, about the insurance companies that we can't resist to take care of them over and over again?

I urge my colleagues to vote against this provision.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great Arkansan and a fine citizen of Marshall, Arkansas. I am proud to recognize Dr. Charles Daniel in the United States Congress for his four decades of service to Arkansas. He has made numerous invaluable contributions to his community, his State and our Nation.

Dr. Charles Daniel was born in Marshall, Arkansas on July 1, 1940 and currently resides there today. After graduating from Marshall High School in 1958 as valedictorian, he received his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 1967. He married his wife Sharon Guthrie in 1964 and they have two children.

In addition to his decades of service to the community as a leading medical professional, Dr. Daniel has dedicated 40 years of service to both the Rotary Club and the Searcy County Economic Development Commission. He was a leading advocate for the construction of the Searcy County Civic Center and was recognized by the Searcy County Economic Development Commission as Citizen of the Year in 2007.

Dr. Daniel is one of the few remaining genuine, southern gentlemen. He is a humble man who goes out of his way to help others simply because it is the right thing to do, never for personal gain. Dr. Daniel's office was always open to people in need of medical attention. Often he would keep his doors open well into the evening and would visit with patients at their homes on weekends to ensure they received the care they needed. Not only does he epitomize what a family doctor should be, he is the living example of how we should treat our neighbor.

Dr. Daniel embodies the old fashioned values of service, leadership and commitment to his community that has made our State and our Nation great. He has dedicated his life to serving the people of Searcy County as a leader in both his profession and his community. On behalf of the United States Congress, I extend congratulations and best wishes to my good friend Dr. Charles Daniel for a lifetime of outstanding personal and professional achievements.