Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Ms. Robin Bohannan, the outgoing executive director of the Boulder County AIDS Project. Ms. Bohannan's career at BCAP is a remarkable example of compassion, public service, and personal dedication.

Ms. Bohannan began her career at the Boulder County AIDS Project in an important and appreciated voluntary role. Still a small organization at this time, BCAP built its foundation on the strength of volunteers just like her. As she spent more time volunteering, Ms. Bohannan became an indispensable part of BCAP and was able to take a full-time paid position as a case manager in 1991.

In the early 1980s and even into the 1990s HIV/AIDS was not only a burgeoning health crisis, it was a defining issue of social conscience. Workplace and housing discrimination, severe social stigma, and public ignorance merged with a terrible and often baffling array of medical challenges to create terrible

obstacles for those living with the illness. Robin Bohannan was an early warrior in the battle against HIV/AIDS and all these years later, her efforts serve as a model for how one person can make a lasting contribution to the greater community.

For her years of service, her devotion to others, her role in building a community of support, and her ability to harbor equal parts courage and compassion, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Ms. Robin Bohannan upon her resignation as executive director of the Boulder County AIDS Project. I am sure that her future endeavors will continue her legacy of service to Colorado.

Mr. Speaker, as obesity and the associated health risks continue to increase in America's youth, it is important to encourage children to participate in physical activity.

To help spread this message, today I am introducing with Congressman Zach Wamp of Tennessee, a resolution urging the declaration of a National Physical Education and Sports Week and National Physical Fitness and Sports Month.

This resolution notes the increase in childhood obesity along with the negative consequences of extremely overweight and obese people including a decrease in the average life span and rising health care costs stemming from obesity related illness. It also includes findings from the United States Surgeon documenting that regular physical activity is associated with improved health-related quality of life. It resolves the sense of the House of Representatives regarding ``National Physical Education and Sports Week'' and ``National Physical Fitness and Sports Month.''

Research shows that sound physical education programs can help students learn healthy habits for life. Through regular exercise and information on proper nutrition, children can develop habits for maintaining a healthy weight into adulthood. We must encourage our children to adopt healthier lifestyles because America's children are experiencing obesity in growing numbers, and data continues to highlight the link between obesity and diabetes, heart disease and other life-threatening medical conditions.

``National Physical Education and Sports Week'' and ``National Physical Fitness and Sports Month'' would remind citizens of the importance of maintaining a consistent exercise program and healthy lifestyle.

I urge the support of this resolution and look forward to its consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize a Coloradan who has made a substantial impact on our State while serving as a role model for achievement in the African-American community. I am proud to acknowledge the accomplishments of Mr. Odell Barry and to congratulate him on his recent election to the Ford-Warren Library's ``Blacks in Colorado'' Hall of Fame. It is a well-bestowed honor, and befitting the life and works of a wonderful man.

Originally from Ohio, Odell Barry began his Colorado experience in a way that ensures the admiration and affection of many of our residents--as a Denver Bronco. Playing in 1964 and 1965, he still holds a place in the Broncos' record books with the second-most kickoff return yards in a season. Mr. Barry's athletic accomplishments are the envy of many, and I am sure he will not mind my saying that I am old enough to recall them.

After his retirement from professional football, Odell involved himself heavily in the civic affairs of Northglenn, CO, a community in my district. He built a successful business with his wife, Glenda, and raised his family. These years were a preamble to his historic 1980 election as the first African-American mayor of Northglenn and the second African-American mayor of a major metropolitan city--after Mayor Penfield Tate of Boulder--in Colorado. As mayor of Northglenn, Odell Barry helped to steer the city through major commercial and economic growth at a difficult time in the history of Colorado's economy. His open and warm-hearted style won many admirers and he was particularly committed to improving recreational opportunities for young people. He was instrumental in advocating transportation improvements, including construction of the new Denver International Airport.

Odell was the first African-American citizen to become a charter member of Rotary International, the first African-American citizen to become president of the Colorado Civil Defense Association, the chair of the Colorado Economic Development Commission, and a crucial advocate for building, and bringing a professional baseball team, the Colorado Rockies, to Colorado.

I have no doubt that Odell and Glenda will continue to accomplish great things, serving as role models for Americans of all ages and colors. In recognition of his latest achievement and for his already secure place in Colorado history, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Odell Barry and congratulating him on becoming the newest addition to the Ford-Warren Library's esteemed ``Blacks in Colorado'' Hall of Fame.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the life of Mr. Cal Frazier, a great Coloradan who passed away on January 30, 2006, at his home in Lakewood, CO. He will be missed by friends and loved ones, and his leadership in civic affairs and education will be missed as well.

Orphaned as a teenager, Cal Frazier studied at Palmer High School in Colorado Springs and earned a scholarship to the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA. There he met his future wife, Jean H. Frazier, and upon graduation became an elementary school teacher. This was the beginning of a long and illustrious career in the education system. While still in Washington, Cal taught high school, became a principal, a special education director, and earned his masters and doctoral degrees in education.

After his stint in Washington, Colorado was fortunate to have him back. Cal began to teach in yet another capacity at the University of Colorado-Boulder, giving him experience in virtually all levels of our education system. In 1973, with all of his hard-earned expertise and credibility, he was appointed to serve as the commissioner of the Colorado Department of Education, beginning a 15-year term of service. Even after his official retirement, Cal continued to serve on boards and commissions devoting his life toward improving the education system.

Those who knew Cal Frazier have fond memories of his remarkable impact on the education system. He was a role model and a leader on many levels. Beyond his many accomplishments in life, Cal Frazier taught Coloradans through his deeds as well as his words. He will be remembered as someone who did not need to be in the front of a classroom to be a teacher.

I had the opportunity to work with Cal briefly on the ``Education to Elevate Colorado's Economy (E3) Summit'' last fall. I was struck immediately by his thoughtfulness, wisdom and humor. Given the critical importance of addressing the needs of our Colorado education community, I was heartened to know that people like Cal were at the helm.

If the measure of a life well-led is the impact that a person has on others, then Cal's impact is broad and deep. We all owe him a debt of gratitude and respect, and I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating and remembering a life of service while expressing our deepest sympathies for his family's loss.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of a great city in the Second District of Colorado, the City of Thornton-- and to congratulate its citizens on the 50th Anniversary of the city's official incorporation. I am proud to represent this community in the United States Congress and to share a little of the history of this remarkable Front Range city. What began as a small development project by a local entrepreneur, Sam Hoffman, in the early 1950s--and supported famously by no less a figure (no pun intended) than Hollywood's Jane Russell, it has become one of the most attractive communities in Colorado.

In the early 1950s, a small development project north of Denver was named after Colorado Governor Dan Thornton and targeted toward soldiers returning from World War II. Sam Hoffman created a small community offering these soldiers and their families the opportunity to purchase a three-bedroom brick house for under $10,000. From that modest starting point, Thornton has grown into a community of more than 100,000 people, all of whom can be very proud of the great advancements their city has made since its incorporation on May 26, 1956.

The City of Thornton is still growing and attracting new residents. Located just 10 miles north of Denver, Thornton offers the ideal location for people hoping to experience the vibrancy of city life while still having easy access to skiing, camping, and all of Colorado's other natural wonders. With over 1000 acres dedicated to public parks and a focus on recreation programs, residents can maintain an active lifestyle and still be within driving distance to cultural events in Denver, Boulder, and the larger cities in the area.

Thornton is a perfect example of a small city that has managed tremendous growth in a short period of time. Former Thornton Mayor Margaret Carpenter shepherded the city through its most explosive growth era (the 1980s and 1990s), and today the city boasts premier recreation facilities, a strong business and commercial sector, and a diverse population.

I admire the way that the residents of Thornton have built a strong community with pride and inclusion, and ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the City of Thornton on its 50th anniversary, and I look forward to seeing the city grow for another 50 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to join in expressing my sorrow at the news of the death of Coretta Scott King and my support for the resolution (H. Res. 655) now before us.

By passing that resolution, the House of Representatives honors her life and accomplishments and her contributions as a leader in the struggle for civil rights, and expresses condolences to the King family on her passing.

I wholeheartedly join in that expression of views shared not only by the House but by millions of Americans in Colorado and across the nation.

Mrs. King was no stranger to our state. As noted in today's Denver Post, she paid her first visit to Denver in 1958 and returned to Colorado many times thereafter to further the cause of equality for which her husband and she labored for so long.

Now, in the words of the Rocky Mountain News, our nation mourns her as a champion of freedom, and Coloradans join in that mourning.

For the information of our colleagues, I attach an editorial and a news story from today's Denver daily newspapers.

[From the Rocky Mountain News, Feb. 1, 2006]

Nation Mourns Champion of Freedom

Coretta Scott King, 78, died peacefully at a medical clinic

in Mexico early Tuesday. While she may always be remembered

as ``the widow of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,'' Mrs. King

created an inspiring legacy of her own.

Her tireless efforts convinced lawmakers to recognize her

late husband's place in history with the national holiday

that celebrates his birth. She stood with and spoke for the

downtrodden, in America and around the world.

Mrs. King surely would have lauded the news that the

Smithsonian Institution on Monday approved a site on the

National Mall near the Washington Monument for the National

Museum of African American History and Culture.

We've long supported a moratorium on further construction

on the Mall, which has grown cluttered with newly built

memorials and security barriers over the past three decades.

And so we would prefer that the museum occupy land near but

not on the Mall. But leading museum proponents considered

such an alternative a slap in the face, and the Smithsonian

board foreclosed that option.

So be it. Whatever the museum's location, the construction

of such a memorial is long overdue. The task is to ensure

that it becomes a national treasure, a source of inspiration

for Americans of every heritage.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge Ken Strom, who is this recipient of the National Audubon Society's Golden Egret Award.

Ken is the Director of Conservation and Public Policy for Audubon Colorado, a graduate of Cornell University, and a Viet Nam veteran.

Ken started his Audubon experience at Francis Beidler Forest in South Carolina. For 11 years Ken managed Audubon's Rowe Wildlife Sanctuary, a critical habitat for Whooping Cranes and Sandhill Cranes on the Platte River in Nebraska. Ken's efforts protected hundreds of thousands of these birds so that they could use the same feeding grounds as their predecessors.

Ken coordinated a series of international partnerships for over ten years in which he advised scientists and policy-makers in a number of countries including Russia and Pakistan, countries without a history of wildlife conservation. These unique partnerships allowed Ken to establish conservation strategies for water resources and wetland habitats. Due to his work with Mumtaz Malik in the Northwest Frontier of Pakistan, two protected areas for cranes today exist on branches of the Indus River. In Russia, he was part of team with Serge Smirenski, George Archibald and Noritaki Ishida that established the first private park on the Indus River.

In Colorado, Ken has helped to establish and monitor 53 Important Bird Areas (IBA). Given the state of wetlands in Colorado, this accomplishment stands out. Ken also directed Audubon's highly visible nationwide population and habitat program that engaged hundreds of leaders and 20,000 activists working on education and public advocacy. A result of this significant project, millions of Americans learned about the effects between human population growth and the environment.

Ken served as an instructor and director of Audubon's Ecology Camp in the Rockies, educating teachers, instructors and citizens. He inspired hundreds of people each year to become voices on behalf of conservation.

Ken is also an accomplished writer with a keen sense for describing nature. He is the co-editor with his wife, Pat Waak, of the book, ``Sharing the Earth: Cross Cultural Perspectives on Population, Wildlife and the Environment.'' He is also the author of ``Population and Habit in the New Millennium.''

Ken Strom is effectively working to fight the good fight to protect and win important victories for wilderness, wetlands and other critical habitat areas. As Audubon honors Ken Strom with its highest award, I believe it is fitting for my colleagues to join me in acknowledging a lifetime of achievement in conservation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and praise the extraordinary efforts of so many Department of Energy, DOE, employees in the successful cleanup and closure of the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Facility in Colorado.

Last year, the DOE began the process of certifying the completion of Kaiser-Hill Corporation's cleanup of the Rocky Flats facility. This certification marks the end of an era in our Nation's history. The story of Rocky Flats includes two different chapters that describe human achievement and technological prowess--not only the buildup of our nuclear arsenal during the tense days of the Cold War but also the completion of a remarkably complicated environmental restoration program that is a model for the world.

I believe that the men and women who worked to write both of these chapters in the Rocky Flats story deserve our admiration and appreciation. All involved deserve recognition as heroes of the Cold War era and also heroes in the new era of environmental protection. That includes Federal officials and employees of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board and DOE, as well as officials and employees of Colorado's Department of Health and Environmental Protection and the private-sector employees of DOE's contractors.

In December 2005, Kaiser-Hill rightly sponsored a community event that celebrated these achievements. Invitations went to employees of DOE as well as others, but the DOE Office of General Counsel insisted that DOE employees be charged more than other Federal employees to attend this celebration. I objected to this decision because it did not apply to high-ranking DOE officials who had speaking roles at the event, and struck me as an unduly restrictive interpretation of Federal ethical guidelines that sounded a sour note in an otherwise happy occasion. I felt so strongly about it that I decided against attending the event as a message of solidarity with DOE employees.

In part to reinforce my admiration and respect for the hard work of so many DOE employees at Rocky Flats, and to ensure that this

body fully acknowledges their contributions to our national security and our environment, I will place in the Record the names of DOE employees who deserve our thanks and an acknowledgement of the service they gave in turning Rocky Flats into a success story:

Jeff Allison, Charlie Anderson, Mariane Anderson, Tod Anderson, Robert Birk, Robert Bistline, Ron Bostic, Gerald Boyd, Ken Brakken, Lisa Bressler, Patti Bubar, Roger Butler, George Cannode, Kathleen Carlson, William Casey, Norma Castaneda, Jack Craig, Hank Dalton, Charlie Dan, Gina Dan, Ann Davis, Paul Detwiler, Glenn Doyle, Patrick Etchart, Jim Fiore, Cliff Franklin, Mark Frei, David Garman, Christine Gelles, Dave George, Fred Gerdeman, Mark Gilbertson, Paul Golan, Robert Goldsmith, Dave Grosek, Kent Grover, Tom Grumbley, James Hartman, Art Haugh, Larry Helmerick, Dave Hicks, Richard Hopf, Rod Hoffman, Gary Huffman, Carolyn Huntoon, Brent Johansen, Elizabeth Jordan, Jeremy Karpatkin, Keith Klein, Joe Legare, Gary Lietz, Ellen Livingston, Frazer Lockhart, Paul Longsworth, Tom Lukow, Karen Lutz, Mary Lynch, Larry Maghrak, Barbara Male, Barbara Mazurowski, Matt McCormick, Steve McCracken, Deanna McCranie, Anna Martinez-Barnish, Greg Moore, Gary Morgan, John Mullarkey, Theresa Nash, Robert Nelson, Ricky Newton, Dennis Oba, Shirley Olinger, Mike Owen, Jim Owendoff, Jeff Parkin, Ray Plieness, Lloyd Piper, Jane Powell, Barbara Powers-Hargreaves, Michael Hargreaves, Richard B. Provencher, William Prymak, Don Rack, John Rampe, William C. Rask, Brad Ring, Jessie Roberson, Mell Roy, Norm Sandlin, Dero Sargent, Rich Schassburger, Roy Schepens, Lance Schlag, Gene Schmitt, John Schneider, Gary Schuetz, Clay Sell, Beth Sellers, Warren Seyfert, Frank Sheppard, Mark Silverman, Dave Simonson, Steve Sohinki, Joe Springer, Jim Steward, John Stover, Scott Surovchak, Maryanne Tinney, Ines Triay, Reginald Tyler, Phil VanLoan, David Vaughn, Patty Wagner, Bruce Wallin, Bob Warther, Kerry Watson, Mike Weis, Ed Westbrook, Dotti Whitt, Elizabeth Wilson and Lam Xuan.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a dear friend and a good citizen, Ms. Tina Arapkiles. Tina recently ``retired'' from the Rocky Mountain Regional office of Sierra Club to spend more time with her family and other pursuits. I have known Tina for many years and have the highest regard for her work on behalf of conservation and the environment.

Tina's reputation for gentle, but persuasive, advocacy is well known in Colorado and I think it is fair to say that she has admirers from across the broad spectrum of public opinion, and not just from within the environmental community. Certainly, her reputation with members of the Colorado Congressional Delegation (past and present) from both parties has been above reproach.

Advocacy in the public arena is all too often characterized by angry debate and an unhealthy appetite for making villains out of those with whom one disagrees. This has never been Tina's way, and it is much to her credit that she leaves her service at the Sierra Club with a well- deserved reputation for thoughtfulness and respect for others. Her example of quiet, but determined and passionate advocacy, is one I greatly admire.

For the last 20 years, she has been a consistent advocate for protecting the West's land, air, water, and wildlife. She began her work on these matters with a lobbying trip to Washington to help pass the Superfund law in 1985. In 1989 and 1990, she worked with Congress to revise the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act. She has worked to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge since the inception of the campaign and has been a staunch supporter of Utah wilderness.

She also helped pass the California Desert Protection Act and the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993. In fact, Tina, some say, single- handedly gained protections for the Wheeler Peak area. She also worked to designate Colorado's first Wild and Scenic River--the Cache la Poudre along Colorado's northern Front Range just north and east of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Because of her work on environmental issues and her reputation for thoughtful advocacy, Tina was invited to be a member of the Denver Post's Community Roundtable in 1995 to discuss international trade issues. She was also appointed in 1992 to the Board of Editorial Contributors for the Rocky Mountain News to offer regular perspectives on environmental policy.

In January of 2000, Tina directed the Southern Rockies Wolf Restoration Project, a coalition of groups and individuals that played a strong role in the Colorado Wolf Working Group, which pushed the State to allow wolves to roam freely throughout the State. Her essay on wolves and camping with her family appears in the recently published collection Comeback Wolves.

She highlights working with Sierra Club volunteers as one of the best memories of her job, as well as attending the signing of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 in Colorado by President Clinton.

In addition to her work in the public arena, Tina has perhaps the more important distinction of successfully raising two children. For anyone who knows Tina, it is clear that her passion for the natural world is directly related to her interest in humanity. She cares deeply about Mother Earth, not because trees are more important than people, but because people need trees and all the other wonders of the natural world in order to be fully human.

Although she is leaving a distinguished career of service on behalf of the environment, and will be missed at the Colorado State capitol and in the halls of Congress, I know she will continue to be active in all the causes that she believes in, and I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing her the very best in her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Ronald Neely. Ron passed away in January. He was a passionate and effective leader of historic preservation and community betterment in Georgetown, Colorado, an historic mining town nestled in the Clear Creek Valley along Interstate 70 just east of the Continental Divide.

Ron established a distinguished career in Georgetown on a number of projects, and was known throughout the state as a champion of preserving local history. His accomplishments were recently acknowledged through his selection as the recipient of three simultaneous awards in Colorado: the Stephen H. Hart Award from the Colorado Historical Society, the Dana Crawford Award for Excellence from Colorado Preservation, Inc., and the President's Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. No one has ever received all three awards before, which underscores his influence for enhancing community quality of life and historic appreciation, not only in Georgetown, but throughout Colorado and the nation.

Much can be said of Ron and how he affected the lives of many people. Perhaps the best synopsis comes from The Denver Post columnist Joanne Ditmer. In a column appearing in The Denver Post in late November, she wrote:

Counting our Thanksgiving blessings usually is a litany of

material things, as well as family and friends who enrich our

lives. But this year I'm giving thanks for the people who

have vision, commitment and practical know-how to make our

communities the best possible places to live.

A sterling example is Ron Neely of Georgetown, who for 35

years has had one goal: to keep that splendid old Victorian

mining town as a wonderful place to live and visit. He's a

historic preservationist, not just for saving beautiful old

buildings, but for preserving and nurturing the unique man-

built qualities that make his town one of the most attractive

and healthy in the state.

I can think of no other individual who has made such an

impact on the looks and spirit of this historic community. He

is a visionary, hard-headed and practical, with financial

savvy. All over Colorado, those with similar interests see

Georgetown as the example of how to get it right, despite

some really tough battles along the way.

I agree with these reflections on Ron and his work.

In 1966, Georgetown was named a National Historic Landmark District, among the first designated by Congress. Shortly thereafter, Ron founded and became executive director of Historic Georgetown Inc. (HGI) in 1970. The next year, HGI bought the 1867 Hammil House and converted it into a museum, which showcases how wealthy mine owners and others lived in the harsh environment of the west at the turn of the century. From there, Ron and others went on to purchase and protect a number of historic structures throughout the town.

In addition, Ron helped lead an effort to stop the building of a condominium complex on a mountain above the town. Following that success in 1982, Ron and HGI helped to buy the land on which the development would have occurred in order to keep it as open space. Presently, HGI has secured 2,000 acres of open space on the mountainsides towering above the town. This will not only preserve the historic feel of the area, but it also will protect some of the old mining artifacts and workings on these open spaces.

In 1995, Ron worked with HGI to purchase an old filling station right of the interstate. His vision was to turn this into a Gateway Visitors Center to create an inviting first impression for visitors to Georgetown. Together with HGI and the Colorado Department of Transportation, Ron's vision became a reality when this facility was opened in 2003. Now, the Center sees 300,000 visitors annually.

I had the pleasure of knowing and working with Ron. He continued to work steadfastly on projects and efforts to preserve, protect and enhance the Georgetown community. The town will reap the benefits of his work for years to come. I also had the chance to thank him personally at the ceremony early this year where he received the three awards.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the life and achievement of Ron Neely. His legacy will live on in Georgetown and in others who work to preserve our past and make our communities vibrant places to live, work, raise a family, and appreciate. I have also included a story from the Rocky Mountain News regarding his death and life's work.

[From Rocky Mountain News, Jan. 14, 2006]

Neely Helped Create Historic Georgetown

(By Mary Voelz Chandler)

Ronald J. Neely's passion for preservation led to the

founding of Historic Georgetown, new life for numerous

buildings and stature as a wellspring of information for

others who battle to save historic sites.

Even a diagnosis in June of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,

the progressive neuromuscular disease also known as Lou

Gehrig's disease, didn't temper his love of talking about

preservation battles past or present--or future.

But complications from the disease ended his life Friday

morning at Lutheran Medical Center. He died at age 66 of

respiratory failure.

``Ron is the epitome of a leader who takes on a community

with pride and passion and takes it light-years ahead,'' said

Dana Crawford, a preservationist and developer, as well as

president of Urban Neighborhoods. ``He did so much for that

community and for others.''

Mr. Neely moved out of Denver to work at Loveland Ski Area

in the late 1960s, tired of the city and eyeing a life on

skis. Soon after, he settled in Georgetown and, with friends,

in 1970 founded the preservation group that is credited with

being the oldest in Colorado.

``A town like this kind of grabs you in a hurry,'' Mr.

Neely said last year in an interview with the Rocky Mountain

News.

A few weeks before, he had been honored by three

preservation groups with the Colorado Historical Society's

Stephen H. Hart Award, Colorado Preservation Inc.'s Dana

Crawford Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation, and

the National Trust for Historic Preservation's President's

Award.

During the emotional program at the Oxford Hotel, Crawford

looked out at the crowd and said, ``I feel we all went to

college together--at Ron Neely University.''

The line brought laughter then; on Friday it brought

agreement.

``He was one of the early preservation pioneers in the

state and set the standard for the rest of us to follow in

how you do it, in what grass-roots preservation is all

about,'' said Barbara Pahl, head of the Mountains/Plains

Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. ``He

was one of the best and one of our state's treasures.''

Mr. Neely and Historic Georgetown worked to preserve

several buildings in that city and were in discussions about

buying and restoring the town's 1874 school building.

His wife, Cynthia Neely, said Friday that effort will

continue. When she told the school's owner of Mr. Neely's

death, ``He said, `This will be a different place without

him.' And he's right. This will be a different place without

him.''

Passion and determination are words that come up often in

conversations about Mr. Neely.

``The loss of Ron is a tremendous loss on so many levels,''

said Mark Wolfe, director of the State Historical Fund. ``He

symbolized the determination preservation needs to be

successful with sensitivity and generosity. I think that is a

unique combination. He sincerely cared, not just about

preservation, but the way it affected people.''

Survivors include his mother, Fran Phipps, of Arvada; wife,

Cynthia, of Georgetown; son, Ronald J. (Burr) Neely Jr., of

Fairbanks, Alaska; sister, Cherie DeAngelis, of Arvada;

stepson, Ted Wadsworth, of Boston; close friend, Christine

Bradley, of Georgetown; and several nieces and nephews.

A tribute will be next week at the Hamill House in

Georgetown, though the date has not been set, said Dana K.

Abrahamson, executive director of Historic Georgetown Inc.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. John Tweedy on the success of his documentary film-making company, Landlocked Films. His work is deserving of recognition for its superb quality, emotional realism, and the depth and diversity of its subject matter. John Tweedy's Boulder-based independent documentary video company is co-owned and run in collaboration with his wife, Ms. Beret Strong.

Tweedy's films have won both national and local awards and have been screened at film festivals both in the U.S. and abroad, as well as being broadcast on over 100 Public Broadcasting System affiliates in the U.S. and Canada. Before moving to Boulder, Tweedy received his law degree from Stanford University Law School and an M.A. in Sociology from Brown University. In addition to practicing law and making films, he has worked for the court system of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on Saipan. His films are as broad-ranging as his background and are inspiring and evocative.

``Lieweila: A Micronesion Story,'' is an apt example of Tweedy's ability to render a compelling history through his art. Using historical footage, old photographs, and the voice of a Refalawasch narrator, Tweedy helps an indigenous people give their history and describe their struggles with colonialism and modernization, creating an educational and inspirational film experience.

His films on the education of children include ``Song of Our Children,'' ``The Dance of Conversation: Strategies for Encouraging Children's Language Development,'' and ``Training 3, from C to B: Age Transitions for Kids with Special Needs.'' John actively participates in local education, serving on the boards of Sojourner Charter School, Horizons Alternative School, and Kids Connections.

In another film, ``Streams of Gold,'' Tweedy makes himself a subject of his own filmmaking. Traveling to southern Ecuador, Tweedy uncovers a piece of his own history by documenting the story of an Andean gold mining town in which his grandparents lived and worked for nearly 30 years. The result is a personal and informational film that has much to say about economics and the modern world.

Landlocked Films also produces videos profiling non-profit organizations, schools, and companies in a way that projects more heart than glitz. Each of the promotional videos is designed and produced as a mini-documentary, allowing the viewer to experience the organization from the inside out. Among recent promotional efforts are ``Mothers Acting Up,'' showing this organization's actions to redefine

the priorities of our national government, and ``Teaching from the Heart: Celebrating Ten Years of Horizons Alternative,'' a film that guides the viewer from the school's founding with archival footage through the present with student interviews.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing our gratitude to John Tweedy for making films that speak to our community socially, culturally, and artistically. We thank him for his film achievements and look forward to appreciating his films for many years to come. I wish him, his wife Beret, and his children, Paige and Marcus, good health and happiness in their future.

Mr. Speaker, I occasionally use this forum to acknowledge the contributions my fellow Coloradans make on behalf of Colorado and our country. Today, I rise to commend the service of just such a person, my former colleague, State Senator Norma Anderson.

Last month, Senator Anderson announced her retirement from the Colorado State Senate after nearly 20 years of uninterrupted service as a legislator. Both Democrats and Republicans lauded her record, and I wanted to lend my name to her long list of unabashed admirers. While we have served in different political parties and held separate offices in the public arena, I have always admired Norma Anderson's direct and honest approach to public service. She is the kind of person who speaks her mind, knows the rules, respects the needs of her constituents and above all, she is the kind of leader who is not afraid to let the chips fall after making a decision. Norma has never suffered fools and she is not one to be intimidated. In my brief service in the Colorado General Assembly I came to deeply respect her judgment; I appreciated her way of dealing with colleagues, and I still consider her a friend.

A respected Denver Post columnist, Diane Carman, has called her ``an old-fashioned Republican with a sharp tongue, impeccable taste and a stubborn independent streak.'' I don't believe I can improve on this description of Norma except to add that she has always struck me as a formidable and principled woman, and her record of accomplishment and service to Colorado has few equals.

[From the Denver Post, Jan. 4, 1906]

Senator Wielded Grace, Independence

(By Diane Carman)

She's an old-fashioned Republican with a sharp tongue,

impeccable taste and a stubborn independent streak.

In a lot of ways, that explains it all.

Norma Anderson retired Tuesday after 19 years in the

Colorado legislature, saying only, ``It's the right thing for

me at this time.''

She's not sick, the vibrant 73-year-old said. She's not

angry or frustrated or bored. She's simply finished.

The fact that a successor to her Senate seat will be

appointed under a Republican governor and will have the edge

of incumbency in the next election surely must have crossed

her mind, though, as well as the inescapable reality that

with the Republicans in the minority again this session, she

wouldn't be wielding any gavels in the last months of her

term-limited legislative career.

Still, she exited gracefully with a subtle nod to partisan

interests, a private party for her supporters and a firm

commitment to personal priorities.

No news conferences with TV cameras trained on her face. No

razzmatazz.

It was pure Norma, her ego in check.

Many times over the years, she has been on the short lists

to run for the U.S. Congress, for governor or for other

statewide offices. She never caught the fever.

``At one time I was thinking about secretary of state. I

sat down with Donetta Davidson: We talked a little bit, and I

just said, `You do it, Donetta.' ''

Being a state legislator was enough, she said, ``I never

had any desire to do anything else.''

Not that it's been all bill-signing galas and warm

accolades.

Anderson is known for her ability to irritate her fellow

lawmakers, maybe especially those in her own party.

In the 1990s, when Colorado Republicans started leaning

decidedly far to the right, Anderson remained a moderate--and

a sometimes exasperating one at that.

In one memorable stand against the party juggernaut, she

voted against a bill to outlaw same-sex marriage. In another,

she opposed a bill to require students to say the Pledge of

Allegiance in schools.

She wasn't being obstinate, she said, she just didn't

believe the government should be messing around in people's

personal lives or requiring people to repeat pledges. She'd

done her homework, she said, and it didn't seem right.

She accepts credit for marshaling support for dozens of

bills over the years, for establishing the state departments

of transportation and human services, and for breaking untold

barriers that kept women out of legislative leadership

positions for decades.

There are a few episodes she doesn't recall fondly,

however, and one of them was the infamous midnight

gerrymander.

Anderson played a crucial role in slamming through the

Republican redistricting scheme in the last three days of the

2003 legislative session, though she was clearly ambivalent

about it.

Sure, her expertise with Senate rules and circumventing

them was critical to passage of the last minute bills, and

she presided over most of the chaotic sessions. But she was

not happy about it.

In the midst of the nasty political uproar, she even

declined to return a call from Bush adviser Karl Rove, who

was either the mastermind of the ham-handed strategy or

simply an interested observer, depending on whose spin you

believe.

That may have been her proudest moment in the whole mess.

``It was pretty common knowledge that I had concerns,''

Anderson told me back then, ``but I was elected to lead my

caucus, and that's what I did.''

Months later, when the state Supreme Court threw out the

redistricting plan and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear

the Republicans' appeal, she didn't join the party bigs in

fulminating about judicial overreach and legislating from the

bench. She kept quiet.

She respected the process. She believed in the democratic

system. And if some folks think that's being stubbornly

independent, she's OK with that.

In a lot of ways, that explains it all.

Mr. Speaker, on December 13th, I was serving on a jury in Colorado and so was not able to be present for several votes.

Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: Rollcall No. 623, H. Res. 487--Supporting the goals and ideals of Korean American Day-- ``yes.'' Rollcall No. 624, S. 1047--Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005-- ``yes.'' Rollcall No. 625, H.R. 3422--Small Public Housing Authority Act--``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, this conference report has flaws, and I dislike the way it was developed. But I think it deserves to be approved, and want to highlight a few reasons why.

First, the conference report includes the original McCain amendment related to treatment of detainees, with additional language agreed to by the conferees and the Administration that provides our military and intelligence personnel with criminal and civil defenses modeled on those already provided to military personnel under the Uniformed Code of Military Justice in specific circumstances.

I strongly supported the McCain amendment because, while it's said actions speak louder than words, reputations depend on both--and, fairly or not, for people around the world the actions of a few Americans at Abu Ghraib have left a stain on America's reputation and have made it harder for our troops to win the war against Islamic terrorists. Erasing that stain and protecting our soldiers from abuse will take both respectable actions and credible words--and enactment of this part of the conference report will give credibility to our words.

I also am glad to note that the conference report includes the language adopted by the Senate saying that says 2006 should be a period of significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty, with Iraqi security forces taking the lead for the security of a free and sovereign Iraq, thereby creating the conditions for a phased redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq, and requiring quarterly reports until all combat brigades have been redeployed from Iraq.

With my colleagues Representatives Osborn, Tauscher, and Schwarz, I urged that this be retained in the conference report as a step toward the greater unity among Members of Congress and the Administration that I think will be needed for a successful outcome in Iraq. So, its inclusion is another reason I support the conference report.

There are also many broad provisions in the bill that benefit our troops. An important one increases the end strength for the Army and Marine Corps by 30,000 and 4,000 respectively, thereby helping to ease the strain on our troops. I'm also glad that the bill includes provisions to increase recruiting and retention incentives, increase the death gratuity to $100,000, and provide a 3.1% pay raise for members of the armed forces. The bill also provides better force protection for our troops, including nearly doubled funding for up- armored Humvees.

Also critical is the report's provision authorizing reservists who agree to continue service to buy into a government-subsidized TRICARE healthcare program for themselves and their families. Along with many of my colleagues in the House, I have fought for some time to expand TRICARE for the Guard and Reserve, so I take great pleasure in knowing that the report includes this provision that will improve healthcare access for our men and women in the Selected Reserve. As long as our Nation continues to use our reserve components in the same capacities as active duty troops, they deserve similar benefits for similar service. The needs of our Reservists will continue to grow as we continue to call them to service in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Also important--especially at this time of budget tightening--is the report's focus on reining in costs of major procurement programs, particularly the Future Combat Systems and other programs that have relied on immature technology. Similarly, provisions included to reform the acquisition system will strengthen current law governing cost overruns.

I am also pleased that the report fully authorizes Cooperative Threat Reduction funding as well as additional funding for a Department of Energy nonproliferation program to implement agreements between the U.S. and Russia. One of the biggest dangers we face is the threat of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the hands of terrorists, yet the CTR program is currently funded at a lower level than it was before September 11th. So I am glad that report conferees recognized the importance of increasing CTR funding.

On a less positive note, I am concerned that the report authorizes nearly $50 billion in a ``bridge fund''--over and above the $440 billion in the regular bill--for FY06 supplemental appropriations for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the global war on terror. While inclusion in the report does mean that the authorizing process has been followed to an extent, still, the additional money in this bridge fund should be included in the regular budget request, since there is nothing unexpected about the need for these funds. The ``emergency'' label that these funds bear hides the fact that they do increase the size of the budget deficit. I don't believe this is a responsible way for us to pay for our military operations.

And I have concerns about the provision related to the ability of detainees at Guantanamo Bay to seek judicial review of their situations. My understanding is that this could have the effect of allowing use of evidence obtained by coercive interrogations. At least one lawyer who represents detainees at Guantanamo has described the combination of the McCain amendment and this provision as one step forward and two steps back. I think we must carefully monitor implementation of this provision and be prepared to consider revisions in the near future.

Further, Mr. Speaker, as a new Member of the Armed Services Committee, I want to express my appreciation to Chairman Hunter and for working with me on a number of provisions in the report that are important to me and my state of Colorado.

In particular, I am pleased that the report includes favorable language on the Pueblo Chemical Depot, a former chemical weapons site located in southeastern Colorado. Coloradans were alarmed last year when the demilitarization project was put on hold, so they want to see that the Defense Department is committed to using the neutralization technology to destroy the 2,600 tons of mustard agent stored at Pueblo--not transporting the weapons to a different site for destruction. The Colorado delegation has worked hard to put the project back on the right track, so I am grateful for language in the bill directing the Secretary of the Army to continue to implement fully the neutralization technology at Pueblo.

And, finally, the conference report includes provisions dealing with a matter of particular interest to Coloradans--the future of Rocky Flats.

Located at the edge of the Denver metropolitan area, Rocky Flats formerly was part of the complex of sites where nuclear weapons were made. After that use ended, the Department of Energy and its contractors worked to have the site cleaned up and closed. That monumental task is now complete, and when the regulatory certification of cleanup and closure is issued, and most of the site will be transferred to the Interior Department for management as a national wildlife refuge pursuant to the Rocky Flats Wildlife Refuge Act.

That Act, which I sponsored with Senator Wayne Allard, includes some provisions related to the non-Federal minerals--primarily sand and gravel--at Rocky Flats. The purpose of those provisions is to make clear that while these mineral rights are to be respected as private property, their future development could have adverse effects on the land, wildlife habitat, and other values of the future wildlife refuge. I think the best way to avoid that is for the Federal Government to acquire the minerals. This conference report will facilitate acquisition of part of those mineral rights, and while I think its terms leave room for improvement its enactment will enable valuable progress to be made.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I think the conference report deserves enactment and I urge its approval.

Mr. Chairman, while there is much in this bill that concerns me, I will vote for it because its primary purpose is to make necessary improvements in securing our borders, which I think is needed as part--but only part--of immigration-reform legislation.

To be frank, however, if this bill represented our last word on immigration reform, I would vote against it. By focusing exclusively on the question of border security and immigration enforcement, the House Republican leadership is ignoring the most difficult and challenging aspect of immigration reform, namely the question of how to deal humanely and effectively with the estimated 8-11 million illegal immigrants currently living and working in this country.

Moreover, I am not in favor of making every man, woman and child who overstays a visa or resides in this country illegally a criminal. By making any violation of immigration rules a criminal rather than a civil offense we may only end up discouraging law enforcement from discovering real threats of terrorism or violent criminal conduct. Driving illegal immigrants deeper underground, even more than current law, which keeps them in the shadows, is a terrible tactic if our overarching goal is national security.

So, Mr. Chairman, there are some strong reasons for voting against this legislation. It offers no full solution to the problem of illegal immigration; it is unnecessarily punitive toward otherwise law-abiding individuals, and it unwisely commits this country to the construction of a costly border fence that many security experts believe will divert resources away from more important homeland security needs.

My readiness to support this bill was also reduced by the rhetoric of some who are most vocally in support of it. There is perhaps no more divisive issue in our country than immigration, and sadly, the tone and content of much of the debate in the House has only fueled the division. I discussed the tone and substance of this debate with a good friend and colleague from the Republican side of the aisle and found that we agreed that the House was missing an opportunity to unite the country and pass a sorely-needed comprehensive immigration reform bill.

Despite these concerns, I will vote in favor of this bill because we have to make necessary investments in border security and enforcement. The 9/11 Commission has recommended increased immigration enforcement personnel, stronger surveillance, tougher entry-and-exit procedures and the use of better technologies to enhance our border security. This bill addresses these concerns and I favor all of these provisions.

Finally, I am convinced that reassuring the American people that we have taken strong action to strengthen enforcement and secure our borders is a necessary predicate for the harder and more complicated task of addressing the problem of existing illegal and undocumented workers.

With stronger border security and enforcement established we can work with the Administration and our colleagues in the Senate to build a consensus for the harder task of clarifying the status of existing illegal immigrants, most of whom are hard-working and otherwise law- abiding people, in a humane and thoughtful way that will protect children, include guest-worker needs and establish a fairer process for legalized entry. If that effort succeeds--as I think it can and am convinced it must--the result not only will be better than the bill before us, it will be a measure that deserves to be sent to the President for signing into law.