Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to recognize before this House Eric Voight who was recently awarded Hometown Radio's Employee of the Year honors for his extraordinary servIce.

Hired straight out of college, Eric Voight had a dream of being in radio programming one day. In just four short years, Voight worked his way up the ladder of success at Hometown Radio, first as a member of the sales team, to sales manager, and now as operations manager. In fact, because of his hard work, Voight is now responsible for the sound of the entire four station cluster operated by Hometown Radio.

Those who know Eric Voight appreciate the little things that make him so deserving of the Employee of the Year award. His motivation, proud Wisconsin work ethic and dedication got him where he is today and I'm sure this is just the beginning.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Mr. Voight on receiving this outstanding honor, and wish him continued success in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I was excused from Washington on Thursday, September 28, 2006, to attend a funeral in Wisconsin. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes No. 495, No. 496, No. 497, No. 498, No. 499 and No. 500. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 495, No. 496, No. 497, No. 498, No. 499 and No. 500.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and privilege to recognize before this House the courageous men and women of the Wisconsin National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry who recently returned from their deployment overseas.

For over a year, the 127th Infantry was based at Camp Navistar on the border of Kuwait and Iraq. The vast majority of their missions were near Camp Cedar, otherwise known as the ``Cedar Run,'' where they served under perilous conditions as escorts for military and civilian convoys in armored trucks. The infantry was also called on to take longer missions into war-torn Baghdad, battling deadly roadside bombs and surprise enemy attacks. These brave men and women put their lives on the line each and every day to fight for democracy and freedom. But their commitment wasn't without heartache. Three courageous members of the 127th Infantry lost their lives carrying the torch of liberty in Iraq and their service will always be remembered.

Mr. Speaker, there's no question the 127th Infantry helped nourish the seeds of liberty in Iraq, and their service and sacrifice are to be commended. It is my honor to recognize their brave efforts today, and on behalf of the citizens of Wisconsin's Eighth Congressional District, I say thank you and welcome home. You truly are our heroes.

Madam Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Tuesday, September 26, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall vote Nos. 474, 475, 476, 477 and 478. Had I been present, I would

have voted ``aye'' on rollcall Nos. 474, 475, 476, and 477. I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 478.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Tuesday, September 26, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes Nos. 479 and 480. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall Nos. 479 and 480.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Monday, September 25, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes 471, 472, and 473. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall 471, 472, and 473.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to recognize before this House TDS Telecommunication Corporation's President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) James Barr III.

For seventeen years, James Barr has been an exemplary leader of a growing Wisconsin business and has served the telecommunications industry with both integrity and distinction. He has played an integral role in the development of TDS Telecom, quintupling annual revenue to more than $900 million and successfully elevating the company to the sixth largest independent telephone company in the country.

Not only did Barr build a customer-focused organization that has won many awards for customer care, he touched the lives of numerous employees which helped him create a vibrant organization with 3200 employees serving 1.2 million customers in 29 states.

But beyond his hard work and dedication on the job Barr is above all else an upstanding person. Barr has been an excellent leader of several telecommunications boards and service organizations including the United Way of Dane County as well as a caring and supportive husband, father and grandfather.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Barr should be commended for his outstanding contributions to the telecommunications industry as well as the great state of Wisconsin. I congratulate him on his years of service and exemplary citizenship and wish him the best in his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4844, the Federal Election Integrity Act.

Mr. Speaker, our democracy can withstand many things and that is what our history shows. But one thing it cannot withstand is doubt over the outcome of elections. We have to know whoever wins, your guy, my guy, conservative, liberal, Republican or Democrat, he or she really won. Won, in fact. It is the only way our leaders have the moral authority they need to take on the great challenges of our times.

As others have noted, we have had far too many elections in recent years where serious questions have emerged over irregularities and even fraud. During the last Federal election in 2004 in my home State, Wisconsin, Wisconsin found itself mired with out-of-date voter lists, fake names, invalid addresses, double and triple voting, and ballots cast by convicted felons. Our State's largest newspaper found almost 300 cases of felons voting illegally, at least 100 cases of double voting, and 1,200 votes from invalid addresses. And the list goes on and on and on.

Every one of those illegal votes cancels out a vote legally cast, cancels out a vote from a citizen for whom that right is so precious and so fundamental to our Nation's future.

A photo ID will not solve all of these problem, not by a long shot. But it is definitely a step in the right direction, a step that I believe most Americans support, a step that I know most Wisconsinites support. That is why last year I introduced comprehensive election reform legislation that would have required a valid photo ID to vote in any Federal election.

It is also why I am proud to support this legislation from Chairman Hyde. It is legislation whose time has come. It is a way of ensuring integrity in elections.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Tuesday, September 19, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes Nos. 451, 452, and 453. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall Nos. 451, 452, and 453.

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize the Marinette Marines from Marinette High School and the Menominee High School Maroons as they prepare for the 100th meeting of their football teams.

This celebrated gridiron contest began over a century ago when the teams first met on Thanksgiving Day in 1894. Over one hundred years later, the Marinette and Menominee High School football game is one of the oldest interstate high school football rivalries in the nation.

In true Midwestern football spirit, the historic game between Marinette and Menominee is one of the biggest events of the year for locals. While many shops and factories close for the day to enjoy the game, others decorate their storefronts with school colors. Without a doubt, the stands are filled each and every year with screaming fans-- all anxious to show pride in their school and town.

Mr. Speaker, it's my pleasure to recognize this historic football game and pay tribute to the one hundred years of tradition surrounding it. On behalf of the residents of Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District, I want to say congratulations, best of luck, and go Marines!

Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Wednesday morning, September 13, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes Nos. 438 and 439. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall Nos. 438 and 439.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Tuesday, September 12, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes Nos. 436 and 437. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall Nos. 436 and 437.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Wednesday, September 6, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes Nos. 427, 428, and 429. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall Nos. 427, 428, and 429.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Thursday, September 7, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes Nos. 430, 431, 432, 433, 434 and 435. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall Nos. 430, 433, 434, and 435. I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall Nos. 431 and 432.

Mr. Speaker, today I'd like to recognize the Sister Cities Organization of Crivitz, Wisconsin and Crivitz, Germany, which is celebrating five years of friendship and diplomacy.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the People to People program in 1956 to promote cultural awareness and diplomacy through the actions of ordinary citizens. As the program expanded, Sister Cities International was founded to encourage sister-city partnerships between the U.S. and international communities.

Today we celebrate the partnership of two towns who share one name. The northeastern Wisconsin community of Crivitz was founded in 1883 and named after F.J. Bartels's hometown in northeastern Germany. While the two communities are separated by many miles, they share a proud heritage and desire to further connect their citizens not only through a shared name, but with a cross-cultural relationship that continues to grow and expand.

It is truly an honor and pleasure to recognize the Sister Cities Organization of Crivitz, WI and Crivitz, Germany, and thank the citizens who continue to promote President Eisenhower's vision of peace through understanding.