Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, in spite of the empty rhetoric of politicians who promise now and pay later, not even the United States Federal Government can run from the simple principles of economics. When a family continues to spend more than they make, debt will crush them. It will strain their relationships and consume their thoughts. Parents look at their children and wonder how they will afford college.

Motivated by their love, Mom and Dad pull out the checkbook, they go to the kitchen table, and they make a plan. What are we spending now? How can we spend less? Where can we make do? And how can we put us back in the black? Mr. Speaker, that's called a budget. It works in Indiana. And if it works well enough for us Hoosiers, it's good enough for the Federal Government.

Unfortunately, it's been over 800 days since the Senate even passed a budget. Both parties have their fair share in the blame for running us into the red. A balanced budget amendment, however, ought to get bipartisan support here in Washington.

Now is the time for action.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the proud Representative of Indiana's hardworking Third District and as an original member of the Job Creators Caucus. I have come to the floor today to talk about what makes America great and what we can do to encourage job creation and America's entrepreneurial spirit.

America's curiosity, passion for excellence and drive for efficiency moves every small business owner and entrepreneur in our Nation. Mom- and-pop grocery stores, local mechanics, independent insurance agents, farmers, and countless others make our Nation great. Make no mistake. Our greatness is not attributed to our prosperity. Rather, America is prosperous because she is great, and she is great because she is free.

As a small business owner and a farmer, I have firsthand knowledge of our Nation's unique and wonderful design. Business owners are free to make the countless decisions that they face each and every day. Unfortunately, that entrepreneurial spirit is under attack. Individual Americans are still restless for opportunity, but a threat comes from an excessive government that limits opportunities and stifles job growth.

In 1913, the Ford Motor Company reduced its production time from 14 hours to 1\1/2\ hours. Today, a massive bureaucratic machine produces job-killing regulations at a speed that would make Henry Ford shudder. Every year, unelected bureaucrats issue more than 3,000 final rules, close to 10 rules a day.

I have proudly cosponsored the REINS Act, which would reverse the harmful onslaught of regulation that cripples businesses and thwarts job creation. I know that when government gets out of the way it allows Americans to realize their full potential.

The American entrepreneurial spirit is not dead. Men and women across the

Nation are ready. They want to know if Washington is, too.

I thank the gentlewoman.

It's good to be with you all this evening and talking about the situation that we are currently in in our country. I will tell you, what a sobering moment, being first elected to Washington and coming and finding out about the budget situation that we currently face. This is about our kids' and our grandkids' futures. And I know for myself and for all of you that that is why you run for office, that is why you ran to come to Washington is to address the challenges that we have here in Washington.

It's hard to comprehend the budgeting that has been taking place over the past several years here in Washington, D.C. When we're all back at home and we're facing a tough economy, we're facing a job market that is not that strong, our friends and family, we have people that we know personally that are out of work and are trying to survive in a very fragile economy, yet it seems like we come to Washington and we explain the situation back home and it continues to fall on deaf ears. It falls on deaf ears at the White House. It falls on deaf ears on the other side of the aisle. It falls on deaf ears in the Senate. And ladies and gentlemen, I believe that this is a time for us. This is the greatest opportunity that we will have to change the way Washington works.

We talk a lot about the debt that we are facing here in this country, $14 trillion of debt. We have a debt ceiling, a vote that's coming up here before long. We've almost maxed out the credit cards. And there's just no discussion, no real fortitude to deal with the spending habits of Washington, D.C.

Now, I can tell you that taxes and debt kill jobs, and if we want to get people back to work, we need to tackle both of those and address them in a meaningful way that will produce work for Americans.

I was in a Budget Committee meeting today, and it just is so surprising to me and it just shows the position of so many Washington politicians, that they're out of touch with reality. And that when you have a $1.5 trillion deficit, the quickest way for politicians in Washington is, well, let's just raise taxes. Well, if any taxes go up in this economy, it's going to kill job creation.

As my friend from Wisconsin was talking earlier about the comparison between Walmart and Kmart, he hit the nail on the head. You raise prices, people are going to go somewhere else. And the solution to the Democrats here in Washington is, well, let's just raise taxes to pay for the deficit that we have.

Let me just give you a quick comparison--and I will end briefly here--is that if you are making about $2,000 a month but you are spending $3,500 a month, you are in a pretty deep hole. And every American knows it. We all know that if you are spending $1,500 more than what you are taking in a month, that's a recipe for disaster and bankruptcy. That's where we are at in Washington. The Federal Government is spending $1,500 a month more in comparison to what we're taking in in a month.

Now, their solution is taxes. Their solution is to increase the debt. Neither one of those is the right solution. I believe for us to get jobs back in our economy and job creators who are working, whether it's down at the McDonald's and it's those who are going to be, you know, making the Big Macs there at McDonald's and providing a job for a high school kid or for a college kid, that's what people are looking for. They are looking for confidence in this market.

Ladies and gentlemen, it's good to be with you this evening. I'm thrilled that you are here and that you are spreading the message of what needs to happen here in Washington. I look forward to more discussion.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to honor a native member of Indiana's Air National Guard today. Staff Sergeant Andre Carboneau was recently awarded Indiana Air National Guard Airman of the Year for 2010. The honorable award is designed to recognize members that are hardworking, are involved in the community, and have continued to advance themselves in education. After members compete on a quarterly basis, they compete at the State level to become the airman of the year.

Carboneau received his award Friday, May 20, at Victory Field in Indianapolis. He is from Warsaw, Indiana, and a phase aircraft mechanic for 122nd Fighter Wing in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is also a full-time student at Indiana State University, where he is majoring in professional aviation.

I congratulate Staff Sergeant Andre Carboneau for his achievements and am proud of Indiana's 14,700 members of the Indiana Army and Air National Guard.

Our Nation owes endless gratitude to these men and women in uniform who have devoted their lives to our security and the preservation of our liberty.

Mr. Speaker, I stand honored to represent Indiana's Third Congressional District, which is home to one of the United States Armed Forces' finest members, Army National Guard Specialist Terrance McKinney.

After a 2-day competition between 14,000 soldiers at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Indiana, from April 18-19, National Guard Specialist Terrance McKinney earned the title of Indiana's Army National Guard Soldier of the Year.

McKinney, at age 25, is now joined with 54 others as the best National Guard soldiers in the country.

McKinney was also recognized for his exceptional achievement Friday, May 20, 2011, at Victory Field in Indianapolis and moves on to compete at the regional level.

McKinney is from Fort Wayne, Indiana, and a member of Detachment 18 Recruiting and Retention Command out of Muncie, Indiana.

I congratulate Army National Guard Specialist Terrance McKinney for his achievements and am proud of Indiana's 14,700 members of the Indiana Army and Air National Guard.

We owe endless gratitude to these men and women in uniform who have devoted their lives to our security, brought justice to the leader of al Qaeda, and continue to bring justice to those who seek to destroy us.

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

I find it very interesting in listening to the discussion here today about whose responsibility it is to feed those who are hungry. I don't think anybody on this floor would say that we don't want to help someone who is in need of food or basic essential services. I think what this is is a discussion about the difference in philosophy in Washington about the role of government in Washington.

There is plenty of blame to go around for all of the spending that has come out of Washington over the last decade--the last 30 years, actually. What we are doing is we are sinking our Nation and our children, the children that we are talking about and whom we want to help and feed. We are actually giving them over $40,000 of debt. Each child that is born in this country is saddled with $40,000 of debt because of government spending that continues to grow more and more every year.

I can tell you as an American farmer in Indiana that myself and many other American farmers and individuals are much better suited to help those who are in most need, in helping in the community, donating food, being a part of a food pantry. We are a generous Nation, and what has become of our ability to help is that we have a Federal Government that continues to saddle us with more and more debt, more and more taxes and regulation, making it much more difficult to make the profits with which we can then turn around and help our communities with food, with the basic services that our churches, our charities and many other organizations in our local communities provide.

Instead of us always looking to the government for that assistance, let's back off of the American people and let them help themselves, when they are capable and when they are willing to do it, rather than continuing to put them further and further into debt.

The Democrat Party talks about, Where are the jobs? Well, government doesn't provide jobs. Indeed, the private sector, people in our communities, entrepreneurs, people that want to expand their businesses to provide a job for that family that needs to provide for their children, they need the job, and there is not going to be enough government jobs to give them that opportunity. Instead, every time we take dollars away from the private sector, that individual who is out working hard, working 50 to 60 hours a week just trying to make ends meet, we are putting them in a very difficult position where they are not able to pay the bills because we continue to make it much more difficult for businesses to be successful here.

Small businesses are the backbone of this country, and until Washington, DC, backs off, the American economy is going to continue to struggle and families are going to continue to struggle.

I believe that this is a responsible bill that will instead help the American economy to grow and help Americans.

I thank the chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 802, as amended, as this bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish an award program to recognize businesses that excel in hiring veterans.

We all know the unemployment problems facing many of our veterans. Our youngest groups of veterans have the highest unemployment rates among all the veterans, while older veterans between the ages of 35 and 64 make up two-thirds of the unemployed veteran population.

As we look for ways to increase veteran employment rates, it is absolutely appropriate that we honor those businesses that make the effort to hire veterans and to emphasize and to recognize their efforts. This award not only highlights employers who currently hire veterans, but it is my hope that it will also serve as an incentive for other employers to hire more veterans as well.

At the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity legislative hearing on the bill, some witnesses suggested that the program would be appropriately sponsored by the Veterans Employment and Training Service. While not required by the bill, I hope that the VA will consult with the Department of Labor during the selection process.

I can tell you as a small business owner and one that highly values the service of our veterans to our country, I believe that this is a wonderful measure to recognize those businesses that not only go out of their way but make it a priority to hire veterans to work at their businesses.

So, Mr. Speaker, highlighting businesses for their support of veterans seeking employment is the right thing to do, and I urge my colleagues to support Ranking Member Mr. Filner's bill, and I appreciate him bringing the bill forward.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of Chairman Runyan's H.R. 1407, as amended, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of- Living Adjustment Act of 2011.

In addition to authorizing a cost of living increase for VA disability compensation for FY 2012, which I support, the bill contains provisions introduced by my Ranking Member Braley of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, as the Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act. These provisions would extend the Temporary Residence Grant commonly called the TRA grant program for five years.

The TRA program offers severely disabled veterans the opportunity to use a small portion of their Specially Adapted Housing grant to renovate the home of a family member to assist the veteran while the veteran is residing in the home on a temporary basis.

This program is needed because many severely injured veterans need temporary housing while their long-term home is adapted to meet their disabilities. For some veterans that temporary residence is that of a parent or sibling.

Anyone who attended the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity's hearing on Mr. Braley's bill could not be impressed by the courage shown by Mr. Connolly and his wife, Jennifer. Mr. Connolly is a former member of the Iowa National Guard unit that had the longest tour of duty in Iraq of any Guard unit.

Unfortunately, he has been diagnosed with cancer of the spine and is confined to a

wheelchair. His young son is also wheelchair-bound and is afflicted with a disease that requires the child to be on a respirator around- the-clock for life. That we would not extend a benefit that would make life better for Mr. and Mrs. Connolly is unthinkable and I applaud Mr. Braley for his work.

I also thank Chairman Miller, Ranking Member Filner, and Chairman Runyan for including the provisions of the Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act in this must-pass legislation. I urge all Members to support H.R. 1407 as amended.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of Chairman Miller's manager's amendment to H.R. 1383, the Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011.

The bill would increase the cap on tuition and fees set by the Post- 9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2010, passed by Congress on December 16, 2010, as signed into law by President Obama as Public Law 111-377.

The new law made several changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill, including imposing a national cap of $17,500 per academic year on tuition and fees paid to private institutions. Unfortunately, the cap will reduce VA payments on behalf of up to 30,000 veterans already enrolled in these private schools by thousands of dollars in at least seven States. Those States would include New York, Texas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, South Carolina, and New Hampshire.

Madam Speaker, H.R. 1383, as amended, would raise that cap to $27,000 for a period of 3 years for veterans already enrolled in these private schools as of April 1, 2011. Veterans who enroll after that date would be subject to the $17,500 cap on tuition and fees.

In determining the amount of the new, temporary cap, we found that the College Board data showed that the average net tuition and fees charged to independent students attending the most expensive tier of private schools was roughly $22,540.

Therefore, we believe that when combined with other Federal benefits like Pell Grants and the post-9/11 G.I. Bill's Yellow Ribbon program, the vast majority of veterans attending private institutions would not experience out-of-pocket costs. I would also point out that the Yellow Ribbon program offers schools the opportunity to make up any difference between the basic benefit and actual charges by sharing the difference dollar for dollar with the VA.

Finally, I support the revised PAYGO offset. By meeting this change, we meet our statutory budget rules and allow veterans monthly stipends to reflect the most current amount of basic allowance for housing paid to servicemembers at the E-5 with dependents rate.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1383, as amended.

I thank the chairman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support for H.R. 1657 that would revise the enforcement penalties for misrepresentation of a business concern as a small business concern owned and controlled by a veteran or a small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans.

Section 502 of Public Law 105-50 set a goal for all Federal agencies to spend at least three percent of their procurement funds with small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans. On October 21, 2004, President Bush reinforced the Federal Government's 3 percent goals by signing Executive Order 13360. According to the Small Business Administration, at the time of that executive order, the overall Federal procurement from service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses was about .38 percent, or about one-tenth of the goal set by statute and executive order. Even the VA was short of the goal, spending about 1.3 percent service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

To help VA meet the goal, section 5 of Public Law 109-461 gave some new

tools to the VA contracting staff that essentially gave service- disabled veteran-owned small businesses preference in small business set-aside contracts while not ignoring the VA's other statutory set- aside goals such as for firms qualified as HUBZone and minority-owned small businesses. As a result, SBA data for fiscal year 2009 shows that overall Federal spending with service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses was about 1.98 percent, and VA spent nearly 17 percent with service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

Clearly, the law was having a positive result for veteran-owned small businesses. Unfortunately, as James Earl Jones said in ``Field of Dreams'': ``If you build it, they will come.'' The ``they'' in this case are unscrupulous businesses that falsely claim veteran and disabled-veteran-owned status and the veterans who front for them.

The GAO did a review of 10 firms claiming to be service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and found that none of them qualified as service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. Since then, staff has continued to meet with the GAO and VA's Inspector General, and it is fair to say that there is no shortage of businesses fraudulently claiming to be veteran and/or service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

The original legislation merely authorized the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to debar these frauds for a period determined by the Secretary. However, given the continuing exposure of firms trying to steal contracts from legitimate veteran small businesses, I feel it necessary to provide some teeth to the law. My bill will direct the Secretary to debar these fraudulent firms and their principals for 5 years, and it would also set a schedule to speed up that action.

Madam Speaker, I note that the VA did not support the bill, citing a one-size-fits-all approach could harm firms who make an honest mistake in claiming status as a veteran or service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. I again invite the VA to work with us to perfect a bill that will discourage frauds while protecting these contracts for valid veteran and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

I believe that at a time when the economy is very difficult and veterans are looking to either start their business or go back to work, this bill will ultimately meet the need and protect those veterans and the businesses that are available to them.

I thank my distinguished ranking member, Mr. Braley, for his bipartisan support, as well as Chairman Miller and Ranking Member Filner for bringing H.R. 1657 to the House. I urge Members to support the bill.

Thanks to my colleague from Arkansas. I appreciate his comments and what he is saying, and I agree with him wholeheartedly. I can tell you as a small business owner from Indiana, coming from a family farm background and having a small trucking operation, all of the talk here on this floor and in Washington doesn't make a lot of sense to a lot of Hoosiers. Growing up in the agricultural industry, it's hard work. And I know that my granddad and my father and other family members, my brothers, they're all willing to work hard. But I can tell you what: When the government makes it difficult, it's tough to go out there and say, I'm going to keep doing it. When the government comes in and says, We're going to make it harder for you to do your business, you start thinking twice, Do I really want to do what I love to do.

Who creates jobs? Is it the government? I know some in this town believe that the government creates jobs. Well, how do they create that job? They take your dollar, my dollar, they collect it in taxes, and then they put it in a pot, and then we have this large entity we call Congress and bureaucracies, and our Federal Government decides we're going to pick and choose what type of jobs we're going to create. We're going to take those dollars that we've collected from the hardworking taxpayer and create a job.

Well, that's not creating wealth. The folks in my district who build cars, they build steel, RVs, and medical devices that help enhance the quality of life. Agriculture. Boats. We're one of the largest manufacturing districts in the country. That's where wealth is created. That is where jobs are created. The government doesn't build any of that stuff. And they shouldn't. They can't do it as well as what the private sector can. But what the government does is spend money. That's why our jobs are looking somewhere else--because of the threat of higher taxes, the threat of regulation.

We've got the EPA that comes in. Most of the folks that come into our office since I've been elected to Congress--this last year, I would say 90 percent of them come in and start talking about the regulation that the EPA and the enforcement attitude that the EPA has on our small businesses. How can any small business grow to be a big business if they're going to continually be hampered by our own government? FDA, OSHA mandates. We're going to be talking about Medicare. What is that going to look like in the future? And taxes.

We hear our colleagues on the other side of the aisle talk about the way government can grow business. The best way is to get out of the way. Right now, America has the highest corporate income tax in the industrialized world. Look at the other countries, whether Japan, Greece. All these other countries are finally figuring out because of just natural economic laws that you can't spend more money than you take in. Why would we want to raise taxes even more when people are starting to say, I'm out of here. I'm tired of doing business here. I don't think my dollar is safe in this country. And they're going to start taking their money overseas. That's why our jobs are leaving.

I believe it's important that we have a flattened tax policy--one that is fair to everybody across the country, one that is not going to pick and choose winners.

I appreciate what you're saying because jobs are not created by the government, they're created by Americans just like Henry Ford. The government didn't subsidize Henry Ford in creating the combustion engine. They didn't go out and subsidize Henry Ford in creating the Ford Motor Company. How many other small businesses started? So many American businesses started in a garage or somebody's shop and grew into some of the greatest companies in the world. But our government now wants to go in and make it more difficult for them and for small businesses.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true American hero, Lance Corporal Brandon Joseph Long of the 3rd battalion, 5th Marines, ``Darkhorse'' Lima Company from my district in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. On September 27, 2010, while out on point in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Brandon stepped on a pressure plate which nearly cost him his life. He died four times on that day. He said the thought of Nicole and his child Clair kept him alive and that he left his body, but when he rose up to Heaven they told him that it was not his time. He has been part of one of the most courageous units, losing over 150 United States Marines. In a few short months he has come so far and a large part is due to his family. His lovely supportive wife and new born child have put a smile on his face and given him something to live for. Some people are put upon this earth to teach us and inspire us. Well, Brandon is one of those people. In honor of Brandon, I ask that this poem, penned by Albert Caswell, be placed in the Record.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with concern over oil prices and the effect these high prices have on the American consumer.

In my district in northeast Indiana, fuel prices are around $4.10 a gallon. Just this morning, WANE TV reported gas prices in northeast Indiana will be at $4.29 by the end of today. At $4.29 a gallon, many of my constituents will not get out of the gas station for under $80.

The Third Congressional District of Indiana is rural and geographically expansive, causing many constituents to fill up their gas tanks two to three times a week simply from commuting to and from work. For many, this cost makes their total monthly expenditure for gas at or above their rent or mortgage payment.

When President Obama took office, we saw gas prices at a national average of $1.84. Now we are told gas prices could be as high as $5 by Memorial Day. We cannot continue the status quo and expect Hoosiers to pay at the pump.

That is why, Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 1229, the Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act, and H.R. 1231, Reversing the President's Offshore Moratorium Act, sponsored by Mr. Hastings of Washington. These bills, along with H.R. 1230, the Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act, that the House passed last week, will help us move away from our dependence on foreign oil by opening restrictions placed on the Outer Continental Shelf, allowing us to tap into our domestic resources. Doing this will provide jobs to more Americans and lower our gas prices.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the State of Indiana, Governor of Indiana Mitch Daniels, and Indiana State Legislature's accomplishments this past session that just ended.

I believe it is important to reflect momentarily on the achievements made in Indiana to give promise and hope that the same can be done here in Washington. Something I'm particularly proud of is the fact that Governor Daniels and the legislature have passed the fourth straight gimmick-free balanced budget for the State of Indiana which will give Indiana a budget in the black 8 years running. We can do the same here in Congress.

This legislative session in Indiana has also produced real education reform that was passed to usher in real choice for students and parents. Governor Daniels led the charge for full funding for kindergarten, the Nation's most expansive voucher program, more charter schools, and rewarding our teachers based on their effectiveness. We can do the same here in Congress.

As we discuss tax reform and how to do it here in Washington, Indiana's already done it. They have done it by lowering corporate tax rates, lowering property taxes to give a great place for businesses to do work. We can do the same here in Congress.

As a former State legislator in Indiana under the Daniels administration, I rise today because, in the midst of despair and partisan bickering, I know we can do the same here in Congress. We must do better.

I thank my colleague, Congressman Burton, for his comments.

What a momentous day, as he said, that we can all take courage and to look to the future, but as well as celebrate the ending of a chapter that has caused so much pain and so much fear in the lives of many Americans.

Three weeks after my wife and I had our first born child, our American homeland was attacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001. As I held my baby boy, I knew that I had to do something, and ensuring the future security of my two sons is the reason I ran for the U.S. Congress.

The terrorist attacks on 9/11 tested our security, our defense, and our fortitude in protecting our country, but we have not stood idly by. For nearly 10 years now, our American soldiers have given their lives every day in Operation New Dawn, Operation Enduring Freedom, and now Operation Odyssey Dawn to protect our Nation and to secure justice. Their service demands respect and admiration.

Last night, justice was served. bin Laden has been the leader and the symbol of al Qaeda for more than 20 years, continually plotting attacks against the United States and its allies.

The word ``Qaeda'' means foundation or base. Osama bin Laden was the head of this foundation, the face of terrorism around the world, a foundation upon which its members expected to erect a vigorous, widespread network spreading terror around the world.

Well, folks, we have beheaded their foundation. We have beheaded al Qaeda. And should they continue, we will be glad to bring justice and help them join their leader once again if they so choose.

We must continue to fight. Our third President, Thomas Jefferson, said this: ``Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.''

We must use our strength and cultivate our relationships with the people around the world to ensure we take a stand against cruel dictatorships, tyranny and radical Islam.

As I work with Congress and military commanders, I will fight to honor those who have died to secure our freedom because they deserve our utmost respect, and we should only be so grateful.

I congratulate the men and the women of our military and intelligence communities who have devoted their lives to this mission. For this, our soldiers have America's boundless gratitude.

I also want to commend and congratulate President Obama and President Bush for their determination and their willingness to continue the fight, to pursue Osama bin Laden, who has been the eluding terrorist, the face of terrorism around this world. And today, freedom has been victorious.

I am honored to represent the people of Indiana's Third District and am proud of Indiana's 14,700 members of the Indiana Army and Air National Guard. It is the dedication of these men and women and their families who have brought the leader of al Qaeda to justice and will continue to bring justice to those who seek to destroy freedom and destroy America.

As Winston Churchill once said: We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.

So, Mr. Speaker, today is one of those days that I didn't know that I would ever see, but stand here knowing that we have been victorious, but also know that the fight in front of us is not over with; that we will continue to be vigilant; that we will support our troops, our men and our women, our Commander-in-Chief in this fight on terrorism.