Floor Statements

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

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Chairman Dicks and the ranking member, Mr. Tiahrt, for their leadership on this subcommittee and for their bipartisan approach to these issues. I rise in opposition to the Hensarling amendment. I respect his right to offer the amendment.

I find it interesting that we have a sudden attack of fiscal responsibility on the other side of the aisle after adding $3 trillion in the last 6 years to the national debt. I find it interesting that we suddenly have an attack of fiscal responsibility after a Democratic administration had created almost a $6 trillion surplus, and that has been squandered by the Republicans across the aisle.

I think it is sad that we would object to a small community in rural Arkansas that has put tens of thousands of dollars into this project to preserve a little bit of history and a little bit of heritage in this wonderful community.

Clover Bend was one of the earliest settlements in Lawrence County, serving as a significant river landing for the area's bustling cotton and timber industry. Remote as the settlement was, it clung to existence. In 1829, steamboats were finding their way to its landing. The settlement was established as an important landing in river travel. Some years later, the actual town was moved from the river to the present site about 2 miles east.

The Clover Bend Historic Preservation Association was formed in 1983 at the historic site located on the former Clover Bend school campus. In 1937, a transaction was made through the Resettlement Administration to buy the plantation and establish 86 farmsteads from the original Clover Bend plantation. It gave 86 families in the depths of the Great Depression a new start, a new chance. It created a wonderful rural community where people came together for the common good to get the job done. It is something that is well worth preserving.

On the morning of May 4, 1939, after a decade of near starvation for many Lawrence County farmers, some 36 families gathered on the banks of the Black River to receive keys to their new homes. These were the first families chosen from the many to buy about 45 acres with a house on it. The site contains ten structures and was added to the National Register of Historic Places as an historic district in 1991. Clover Bend is a multipurpose site with a wide range of historical significance. The ultimate goal for Clover Bend is to become a fully functional museum and education center.

Funds will be matched by the State of Arkansas. This assistance is needed in order for the Preservation Association to continue to maintain and promote Clover Bend to the region and to preserve what is there and what the heritage of that place is. Through the countless hours of volunteers in the region and the support of the State, this request will allow the goal of the Preservation Association to become a reality.

As is the case so many times, there is one person, a wonderful woman named Viola Meadows, that has held all this together. Through tons of sweat equity, she has made it possible for us to be here today to see this entire project come to fruition. It is not like they are asking us to pay for the whole thing. They are asking us for just a little bit of help. I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise here today to pay tribute to a dear friend Henry P. Jones III. Henry is the Past President and CEO of the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce and has served the organization since January 1, 1981.

Under his leadership at the Chamber, Jonesboro has become Arkansas' fastest growing city and is home to more than 100 industrial plants and facilities. Henry has been involved in organizational management for over 45 years and was the driving force behind Jonesboro's many economic successes.

Henry Jones has a long list of accomplishments and distinctions. He has been the past president of the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce Executives, the Arkansas Association of Development Districts and the Economic Developers of Arkansas and is a past member of the Board of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce. In 1989, he was presented a Distinguished Service Award by the College of Business at ASU. In 1993, he was awarded a Pioneer Award by the Economic Developers of Arkansas. In 2002, the EDA presented him with the Outstanding Economic Developer Award. In 2004, the ASU College of Business Alumni Association named him the Business Executive of the Year.

Henry Jones has an impressive lifelong resume dedicated to public service. I ask my fellow members of Congress to join me in recognizing Henry Jones III for his tremendous contribution to Arkansas and our country.

Madam Speaker, I rise here today to pay tribute to a dear friend, Jerry Berry of Success, Arkansas, a fine businessman, farmer, friend and devoted family member who spent his entire life serving his community and making others happy.

Jerry was born November 29, 1939, in Success, AR, and lived there his entire life. In 1969, he opened Success Grain Inc., and it has been a family owned business its entire time in operation. In addition to running the family business, Jerry served as mayor of Success, AR, for 12 years. Some of his biggest accomplishments during his time include building a new playground and fire department, installing a new sewer system and paving all of the roads in the city.

Jerry was a man of true character. He was the type of friend that would rush to help you regardless of the time of day or circumstance because he genuinely cared about people. Jerry never had a bad day--he was always upbeat and would put the needs of others before himself because he was truly devoted to helping people.

I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Jerry Berry and celebrating his lifetime of achievements. Jerry was a loyal friend to me and although I am saddened by this loss, I feel very fortunate for the time and friendship we shared together. He will be remembered by many as a devoted community leader, a genuine friend and a great American.

Madam Speaker, I rise here today to pay tribute to a dear friend, Cecil E. Williams, Jr., a lifelong advocate and friend to Arkansas farmers. Williams, who was a West Memphis resident and longtime executive vice president of the Agriculture Council of Arkansas, passed away on April 12 at the age of 74. His death was a great loss to his community, his family, his State and this Nation.

Williams began his agricultural education at a young age on his family's cotton farm in Tyronza, AR. After serving in the U.S. Air Force as a weather observer in Alaska, he moved to Baton Rouge, LA, and enrolled at Louisiana State University where he obtained his bachelor's degree in agricultural economics. During his final year in college, Williams met his wife Barbara. They eventually married and had three sons.

Williams took a job with the National Cotton Council and began traveling to cotton farms around the South, soliciting new members. In return for their membership, Williams kept them informed of new farm technology and techniques that would help farmers run a more efficient and profitable business.

In the mid-1960s, Williams became the executive vice president of the Agricultural Council of Arkansas in West Memphis and served the council honorably for 37 years. Although Williams worked for the council during the day, in his free time he maintained a small family farm because he loved working the land. By maintaining the farm, he gained a firsthand perspective of the challenges Arkansas farmers faced on a day-to-day basis.

Williams' life-long commitment to farming made it easy for him to advocate on the behalf of farmers in Washington. Williams worked as a liaison, advocating for farm policies that would benefit Arkansas' agricultural community to Members of Congress. He would then return to Arkansas and use his natural gift of communication to explain the complexities of farm bills to producers, which helped them understand how the legislation would impact their business.

A devout public servant, Williams was a man of honor and compassion. On behalf of the Congress, I extend sympathies to his family and gratitude for all he did to make our community a better place. His service and friendship will be missed by all.

Madam Speaker, I rise here today to pay tribute to Bly Story, an outstanding citizen from Cave City, AR. His recent death was a great loss to the community and the State of Arkansas.

Bly Story was born on October 18th, 1918, at Cave City, Arkansas. Story was a WWII U.S. Air Force veteran and a farmer. Story strongly believed in giving back to the community, which is why he coached the Tuckerman High School baseball team for 8 years, where he led them to multiple district championship titles and served as the All-State basketball coach for 2 years.

Story also served on the Riceland Food board of directors from 1957 to 2005 and the Arkansas Electric Co-op board of directors from 1999 to 2002.

Bly Story's service to his community and his Nation go far beyond the details enumerated here. He was a great American, a wonderful friend and a counselor to me. He will be missed by all who loved him.

Madam Speaker, I rise here today to pay tribute to an extraordinary student that will graduate from Highland High School in Hardy, Arkansas with thirteen years of perfect attendance. Cody Carithers, a promising young man with an even brighter future, will graduate from High School on May 18th 2007. Along with Highland High School, I am proud to recognize this remarkable young man who is a fine example of the many talented students we have in Arkansas.

Over the years at Highland, Cody has been a member of various clubs and organizations. He played sports, was active in the FFA, and served as treasurer and member of the Opening Ceremonies, Parliamentary Procedures and Show Teams. Cody has also been a devoted member and president of the Rebels Against Drugs (RAD) program and has represented the program for the past four years as a staff member with the Teens of North East Arkansas organization.

In addition to school and extracurricular activities, Cody worked as a volunteer for the Sharp County Library and has been employed at Ivey's Automotive Center in Highland, AR for two years. After graduation, Cody intends to continue working while attending Black River Technical College to pursue a degree in airplane or auto mechanics.

Cody's determination to make it through all thirteen years of school without missing a single day is impressive--but it was not easy. About two years ago, Cody was diagnosed with a brain tumor near his optic nerve, which caused debilitating headaches. Despite numerous trips to the Children's Hospital for MRIs and consultations with Neurosurgeons, the Children's Hospital worked with him to schedule all of his appointments in the evenings and on school holidays so he could achieve his goal of having an unblemished attendance record.

Cody is the first student in the Highland Public School district who has maintained perfect attendance for all thirteen years. I am asking Congress to join me in recognizing this amazing young man, who despite hardships, has already accomplished so much in his academic career. Although he will be graduating with a diploma this spring, I'm positive this is just the beginning of many other successes to come in his future.

Madam Speaker, I rise here today to pay tribute to a dear friend, Donald Lyle Waterworth Sr. Don is a man who exemplifies the definition of public service. He has dedicated many of his God given talents to serving our country and making his community a better place for all. Don Waterworth is an example of what it means to be a true American.

Don is a decorated war veteran, who served our country in both World War II and the Vietnam War. Some of his most notable honors from the United States Air Force include the Good Conduct Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Award, World War II Service award, and the Victory Medal.

Although Don has dedicated 30 years of his life to serving our country in the military, his commitment to serving others began at a young age. At the tender age of 6, Don volunteered to help his first grade teacher, Ms. Swanson with classroom chores. She later told his mother she had never had a student that was so helpful. After Don finished school, he volunteered with the United States Army and later joined the United States Air Force in 1953.

After he retired from the military, Don continued his service to our country in a different capacity. He immediately became a full-time volunteer and started his own non-profit organization called The Good Earth Association, which focused on restoring old farm machinery. While in Vietnam he organized a group to train troops in aviation skills so they could become pilots once they returned home from the war. While in Taiwan, he created a program to fund operations for crippled and disadvantaged children. The Freemasons recognized Don's lifetime of outstanding civic service and presented him with their most prestigious honor, the Solomon Award.

Despite his busy schedule, Don continues to give his time to a variety of organizations including the American Retired Military Association, Randolph County Food Bank, and The Randolph Chapter of the AARP. For over 20 years, Don has been a member of the local Masonic lodge and an observer for the Randolph County National Weather Service. He also worked for the Red Cross in Randolph County by helping families of dead or wounded soldiers get the resources they needed to care for their loved ones.

He has been married to his wife Elisabeth Waterworth for 35 years. They have 4 children, 1 foster daughter and 9 grandchildren. Don's commitment to our country through his decades of military and volunteer service is a remarkable achievement. I ask my fellow members of Congress to join me celebrating his extraordinary life on his upcoming 80th birthday.

Madam Speaker, I rise here today to pay tribute to a dear friend, Bill Thomas. Bill was known throughout Northeast Arkansas for his unwavering dedication to his community. His gracious spirit and his friendship will be missed by all.

Bill Thomas was a successful, independent businessman in Wynne, Arkansas. Bill built a reputation as a leader in economic development through his work as president and executive director for the Cross County Economic Development Corporation. His initiatives, which revitalized Cross County were considered a model for the entire state of Arkansas.

Bill believed that in order for a community to flourish, active involvement was essential to success. As chairman of the Parks and Recreation Commission in Wynne, he helped develop a new baseball and softball facility. Bill was also on the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club, Workforce Investment, the Crossroads Coalition, and was president-elect of the Arkansas Economic Developers. Often, Bill went above and beyond the call of duty because he was committed to a life of public service and making his community a better place.

Bill Thomas was born and raised in Cross County and graduated from Parkin High School, in 1970. He attended the University of Arkansas and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. Bill later earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Mississippi, in 1975.

He is survived by his wife, LaRand Ozier, two sons, Charles Randolph Thomas of Fayetteville, William Brett Thomas of Wynne, and sister, Ann Dawes Thomas of Wynne. Bill was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Wynne. Bill's memory will continue to live through his legacy of civic service and the positive influence he had on so many lives, including my own.

I thank the gentleman from south Arkansas, and I certainly appreciate his leadership in this matter.

I would also encourage everyone that can hear my voice to keep in our hearts and minds and certainly in your prayers our men and women in uniform, especially those on the battlefield this evening. Reach out to them and their families and let them know that you understand and appreciate the sacrifice and commitment they make out of the goodness of their hearts.

My esteemed colleague from south Arkansas is absolutely correct. We have these horrible tornados almost every year in Arkansas. We had two in the First Congressional District that I am privileged to represent last year. We have had as many as a hundred in one day all across Arkansas.

I have served in this Congress since 1997, and from 1997 to January of 2001 we had a director of FEMA that remains distinguished to this day and always will. His name was James Lee Witt. He knew how to run an agency. He didn't make excuses. When a tornado hit, you didn't have to call FEMA, you didn't have to call the director, you didn't have to call anybody. They would just show up, Johnny-on-the-spot. They knew what they were doing. They were trained. They could make decisions. They helped people start putting their lives together. They helped communities and local governments clean up the mess. They provided the necessary financing to get the economy going again. They worked with the public schools to get them repaired and back in order.

Today, FEMA is a worse disaster than the storms. If they show up at all, which they haven't in Desha County, and my colleague, Mr. Ross, is absolutely right, I just live right across the river from Desha County, it is part of my home. Today, if they show up at all, it is for a photo op. I saw this past Saturday on CNN, FEMA has a new truck, a communications truck. They were so proud. They were explaining that this communications truck, and I would love to know how much it cost, was the secret to their success because they were going to be able to use that truck to take pictures and broadcast them back to FEMA headquarters and they would get the same information they could have gotten from CNN 3 hours ago. All of this would be hysterically funny if it was not so tragic.

This is not a funding issue. It is just a simple matter of incompetence from the top to the bottom. This administration simply does not know how to run a government agency.

I have not talked to Mr. Paulison. I have talked to him on previous occasions, and he defines the word ``bureaucrat,'' which is a sad thing to have to say about anyone. It is the job of the Congress to hold these people accountable.

I have had conversations with Secretary Chertoff. And he assures me that these trailers that are down in Hope, we are going to take care of those. This was over a year ago. He appeared before the Appropriations Committee and explained that in just a few months these were all going to be moved out and everything was going to be wonderful. They are just sitting down there going to ruin. Nobody is using them. But they wouldn't let the victims of tornados in my district last year use them. They won't let the good people of Desha County use them this year. This just doesn't make any sense.

It is the job of the Congress, and that is the reason my colleagues and I are here this evening, to begin the process to hold these incompetent bureaucrats accountable for the terrible way they are running this agency. For crying out loud, if you can't do anything else, give us a ``no'' answer. Tell us something. Don't just let it stay out there and twist in the wind.

I can tell you this: You don't have to be all broke out in brilliance to look at these pictures or drive through that community and know a terrible disaster took place, and they are deserving of the help of the Federal Government. What a sad thing it is to go from an agency and a government only 6 years ago that would come to the aid of the people when a disaster happened, to this horrible mess that we call FEMA today that is so incompetent all they can do is spend money where it doesn't help the people. It is time that they at least appeared before this Congress and make some kind of a pathetic explanation as to why they are operating the way they are at this time. And let's hope that by some stroke the administration and the White House, who is ultimately in charge, will at least have the credibility and feel responsible enough to get control of that agency, because we know there will be more disasters that will happen to the American people, and we are going to need help from our Federal Government.

We cannot continue to operate this way. What a sad thing it is to see this agency and the way they treat people who have had their lives destroyed, their jobs destroyed, their homes destroyed, and yet they are not even deemed worthy by the director of FEMA or the Secretary of Homeland Security of a little bit of help and a little bit of recognition by the Federal Government so they can get some help on their own.

And can you imagine, if the Secretary of Homeland Security can't see that FEMA works, can you imagine the mess that the rest of Homeland Security is in? What a terrifying thought that these people are in charge of anything, but certainly in charge of our homeland security and in charge of the very Federal agency that is charged with bringing assistance and helping the people when these tragedies take place.

I would join my colleague in recognizing tragedies that took place in Alabama and Georgia and the loss of life and how terrible that was, and we hope they get treated better. They certainly deserve to be treated well. They deserve all the help it is possible to give them at this time.

Let's hope that we are not back here in 2 weeks to hear stories from Alabama and Georgia about how, well, FEMA came and they had their picture made with us and they gave us a big hug, and then they left and nothing happened. They deserve better. And let's hope that they get better. We also deserve to have help for the people in Desha County in south Arkansas in the First Congressional District. They deserve to be treated better, also.

And, Mr. Speaker, I can tell you that my colleague, Mr. Ross, will not rest, nor will the Arkansas delegation, nor will the Governor of the State of Arkansas rest until we see the recovery taking place and the wonderful community of Dumas, Arkansas, begin to be restored and the economy begins to prosper again, and the people begin to put their lives back together.

I thank my colleague for his leadership, and I will yield back.

I thank the gentleman from California.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage everyone to keep in your hearts and minds, certainly in your prayers, our men and women in uniform and their families, especially those on the battlefield today; and to reach out to them and their families, and let them know that you understand and appreciate the sacrifice and commitment that they make out of the goodness of their heart.

Our Kansans have done their part to protect our freedom, contributing heavily to the war efforts since the conflict began. Our State alone has roughly 1,500 soldiers currently overseas, we have deployed 15,000 since September 11, 2001; 45 of our Kansans have paid the ultimate price, and 350 more have been seriously wounded. Congress cannot forget the sacrifice of these men and women. We will continue to support our Nation's servicemembers and provide them with every resource that they need.

After listening to President Bush's recent proposal to escalate troop levels in Iraq, I am even more concerned with his failure to recognize the severity of this conflict and what it really means.

Recent short-term troop escalation proposals in Iraq have not stopped the violence from getting worse. President Bush has said nothing to convince me, or almost no one else, that his latest strategy will result in success.

Our military forces deserve a policy commensurate with the sacrifices that they have been asked to make and have made. Regrettably, the President has not provided that policy or plan. Our leaders need to think long term and make strong commitments to diplomacy with all of the other countries in the region and the world community. Our credibility as a Nation must be restored.

As the Iraq Study Group concluded, this is an international conflict that cannot be solved by U.S. military strategies alone. Furthermore, President Bush's proposals will create additional strain on our military readiness, as well as our military personnel and their families.

There is already a shortage of military equipment that jeopardizes the safety of our men and women in uniform. We cannot and should not send more troops overseas without providing the equipment and support they

need to safely and effectively accomplish the mission that is charged to them.

I oppose this escalation, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. God bless the men and women in uniform.

Madam Speaker, I rise here today to pay tribute to a dear friend, Marzee Ann Hyneman, of Jonesboro, Arkansas. Marzee was not only a devoted mother, grandmother and wife; she was someone who spent her entire life working to make a positive impact in her community.

Marzee was born on August 28, 1919 in Jonesboro, Arkansas. After her father's death in an accident, she was raised by her mother, Carrie Rains Holt, and stepfather, William Charles Holt. She graduated from Jonesboro High School in 1936 and got her degree from Arkansas State University in 1940. While in college she was a member of the Alpha Tau Zeta and Phi Gamma Mu sororities, the French and Home Economics Club, and was selected as Journalism Queen. After college, Marzee married Frank Hyneman on December 12, 1943, just before he was sent overseas to fight in World War II. Upon his return they resided in Trumann, Arkansas.

Throughout her lifetime, Marzee was a civic leader who constantly worked to make positive changes in her community. She was an active member the Century Arts and Civic Club and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She also generously opened her home in Weona, Arkansas to host the Trumann Fine Arts Council Mayfest musical celebration for several years. Marzee was also president of the Trumann Parent Teacher Association in 1961-62 and coordinator of Trumann's celebration of the USA Bicentennial in 1976. Because of her leadership, she was the first recipient of the ``Woman of the Year'' award given by the Trumann Jaycettes.

As a member of the First United Methodist Church in Trumann, Marzee served as choir director for 17 years and believed that her tenure as the director was perhaps one of her proudest accomplishments.

Marzee and her husband Frank Hyneman have two sons and daughters-in- law, Ben and Janet Hyneman and Hal and Pam Hyneman of Jonesboro. They also have five grandchildren, Brian Hyneman, Matt Hyneman, Lindsey Ann Hyneman, Hunter Hyneman and Camden Rains Hyneman and three great-grand children. They carryon the family tradition of community responsibility and activism.

I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Marzee Ann Hyneman. She was an incredible woman who made a difference in the lives of so many Arkansans. She will be remembered as a great friend and will be missed by all who knew her.

I thank the gentleman, my colleague and friend.

Mr. Speaker, as I have listened to this debate, and I am the only registered pharmacist in the 110th Congress. I can tell you one thing for certain, my distinguished colleagues across the aisle, while well meaning, absolutely don't know turnip greens from butter beans about what they are talking about.

They have claimed to be concerned about our seniors. They have claimed to be concerned about our neighborhood pharmacies. Their bill, passed in 2003, assaulted our seniors and our neighborhood pharmacies.

I assure you, that bill has done more to threaten those small businesses and the health care and well being of our senior citizens more than anything that is ever been done by this United States Congress, and they should be ashamed of themselves. They should be running to punch the green light as we come to the conclusion of this debate.

It was their party that held the vote open for 3 hours just for the opportunity to perform this assault on our seniors and on our neighborhood drugstores.

If they were concerned, they would not have passed that bill. They would not have made it possible for the PBMs to rob our neighborhood pharmacies and our senior citizens.

I can tell you this, our pharmacists provided millions of dollars in medicine out of the goodness of their hearts and a moral obligation to see that the senior citizens of this country were taken care of when this plan was implemented.

They did some wonderful humanitarian work. They deserved to be treated better than what this Medicare modernization act did. They are the victims, along with our seniors. The Republican motion to recommit is nothing more than charade intended to prevent Medicare from providing lower drug prices to our senior citizens.

I urge everyone in this House and everyone that cares about our senior citizens and the cost of prescription drugs to vote ``no'' on the motion to recommit and to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts, and I certainly appreciate his leadership in this matter.

Mr. Speaker, as I hear this discussion today, it is a heartbreaking thing to see this body completely engaged in partisan politics because it does not matter to the American people when they cannot afford their medicine, when they cannot afford health insurance anymore.

Health insurance, the cost has doubled under the Bush administration. They come and pretend and posture and try to give the impression that they care about what happens to the American people.

When America fails, we all share in that failure. We all suffer. We all get part of the pain. When we cannot afford to fill our automobiles up with gasoline, we all suffer. When Social Security is threatened, we all suffer. When the minimum wage is not raised to a reasonable level, we all pay the price.

It is very distressing to know that under the Bush administration and the majority Republican Party leadership in this Congress that we have failed on every count. Not only can we not afford our gasoline or our health care or to educate our children because they have raised the cost of student loans, we know what a mess we have in Iraq. We know what a failure our borders have been under the direction of the Bush administration and the Republican majority in this Congress.

It makes me very distressed to know that we are going to leave here this week very likely without doing anything substantive on any of these issues.

The good news is this: we can go in a new direction. We know how to provide health care to the American people. We know how to provide gasoline they can afford. Is it not a sad state of affairs when we think $2.15 gas is a good deal? We know how to provide prescription medicine to our people at a fair and reasonable price that they can afford and they will not need any government help to purchase it.

One of the great Arkansas companies just came out with a new plan this week that demonstrates the power of massive buying. That is Wal- Mart, and they have a new prescription drug plan that they are going to present to America.

All of these are good things.

We know how to get the job done, and the Democrats cannot wait to get started to see that our people do not have to go to bed wondering if they are going to be able to afford their medicine or their gasoline or their light bill, thinking that they are going to work tomorrow and still be working for $5.15 an hour, wondering if Social Security is going to be there for them. That should be something that there is no question about.

As I said, the Democrats cannot wait to get started in the right direction. We know how to do these things. We are excited about being part of it, and to continue to play these political games on the floor of this great institution is a sad commentary on the corruption of absolute power.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage everyone to keep in their hearts and minds and certainly in your prayers our men and women in uniform and those on the battlefield this morning.

Mr. Speaker, it is time, it is time for a new direction. It is time for health care that the American people can afford.

It is time for Social Security that we can depend on. It is time to have jobs that do not disappear. And it is amazing, it demonstrates the way the big oil companies have managed to abuse the American people to the point where they think $2.15 for gasoline is a good deal. That is shocking.

It is time for us to go in a new direction: Leadership that honestly serves our goals of peace and prosperity, security by getting the job done rather than blaming somebody else because of the failures of this administration.

It is time to go in this new direction, and we should not recess this Congress until these goals are reached.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the city of Pocahontas in Randolph County, Arkansas, which will celebrate its 150th anniversary this year. This is a significant milestone for the community and for all who helped shape the city's history.

Pocahontas has a long history dating back to the 1700's when the region was occupied by the French and a number of Indian tribes, including the Osage and Cherokee. The city's first settler, Ransom S. Bettis, arrived from Greenville, Missouri, in the early 1800's and is credited with helping establish Pocahontas as the county seat.

Pocahontas began as a significant river port and the first supply stop in Arkansas for travelers coming down Old Southwest Road. Several famous frontiersmen, including Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, General Ulysses S. Grant and others, made stops in Pocahontas during this time. Even today, the city continues to serve as a strategic educational and agricultural center for Randolph County and the state.

The city constructed its first courthouse in 1837, a 40 feet by 40 feet two story structure. After the courthouse collapsed in 1870, Pocahontas residents replaced the structure in 1875 with the historic courthouse that remains today. The courthouse is a central landmark in Pocahontas' historic downtown business square with most of the commercial outlets renovated to compliment the building.

Pocahontas served as a major recruiting, training, and supply center during the Civil War. The city housed as many as 10,000 men after Arkansas withdrew from the Union on May 6, 1861. These men helped the state prepare for combat and secure the northern border from invasion. Federal troops even burned a section of the city, including the Pocahontas newspaper office, during the conflict.

The late nineteenth century through the mid-1920s marked a golden age for Pocahontas. The city had seven hotels and forty-three steamboats that navigated the Black River and turned Pocahontas into an important port of commerce. During this time, Pocahontas landed the Hoxie, Pocahontas, and Northern Railroad in 1896, completed the Hauk Railroading Company's connection of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, to Pocahontas in 1902, and watched the San Francisco Railroad construct a new railroad bridge across the Black River in 1911. Other early industries included four button factories, a brick company, Hanauer's cotton gin, the Grafton Stave and Heading Company, and the Pocahontas Bending Works, which made wooden parts for wagon wheels around 1901.

Development slowed during the 1920s and 1930s until several industries began to locate in the area. In 1942, Pocahontas landed a factory that made powdered eggs for the army and employed about 500 residents. Brown Shoe Company came to the area just a few years later, becoming the largest employer in Pocahontas. Other factories came in the 1960s including McGee, Aircraft Engineer, Cinch, and Pro Group, followed by Amerace ESNA in the 1970s.

Pocahontas continues to benefit today from its central location between the hills of the Ozarks to the west and the rich farmland of the Delta to the east. Tourists and residents flock to the region's five rivers year-round for all types of recreational activities including fishing and canoeing. The city is also home to the Black River Technical College which contributes significantly to the region's educated workforce.

This month, friends and residents of Pocahontas will kick-off a three week long celebration honoring the city's 150 years of history. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Pocahontas, Arkansas, on this significant milestone. We send our appreciation to the city's citizens for years of hard work and dedication to their community, and wish Pocahontas many more years as a wonderful place to live and raise a family.