Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the volunteers of Woodstock, New York, which is part of the 22nd Congressional District that I proudly serve. Once a year, the Woodstock community joins to honor those members who have given their time and energy to help others. This year, I am proud to commemorate the Fifth Annual Woodstock Volunteers' Day. In the American tradition of ``lending a hand,'' I am delighted to recognize this community's activist history and continued commitment to altruism.

Although people began settling in its mountainous land long before the American Revolution, Woodstock was officially named a township in 1787. At the turn of the twentieth century, Woodstock was a quaint, farming town and an upstate escape for artists and craftspeople. Since those early days, Woodstock has maintained a notable relationship between artists and non-artists, enabling people of all generations to work hand-in-hand for the sake of the community. A Woodstock historian writes, ``More recently, the artists and local people have worked together to better the town, joining in efforts to support the library, local planning, local schools, and governments. Woodstock has become truly a melting pot of a tremendously diverse group of people working together for a better way of life.''

The Fifth Annual Woodstock Volunteers' Day will pay homage to a number of volunteers and volunteer organizations, including the Woodstock Rescue Squad, Meals on Wheels, Family of Woodstock, Woodstock Fire Companies No. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, as well as their Auxiliaries, the Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, the Woodstock Food Pantry, all volunteers for the Town of Woodstock, Friends of the Library, the Woodstock Historical Society and the Boards of the various arts organizations with the Woodstock Arts Consortium.

There is an unparalleled value in the act of giving oneself voluntarily. Volunteerism provides an appreciation for community, instills a respect for life and humanity, and creates a bond that transcends generations. The Woodstock community has demonstrated a strong history and distinguished appreciation for this value, thus I extol their achievements. As thankful members of the Woodstock community gather to recognize the selfless acts of neighbors and friends, let us recognize the voluntary daily acts of kindness here in Woodstock and throughout America that strengthen our foundation. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize the volunteers of Woodstock, New York as they celebrate the Fifth Annual Woodstock Volunteers' Day.

Mr. Chairman, I oppose the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I just want to make it clear that we're dealing with a situation here which is critically important to military personnel both here in the United States and in many places around the world.

I'm sure that the sponsor of this amendment doesn't realize what it's like not to have a roof over your head, but if you're in the military and you're stationed out in places that are difficult and hazardous to deal with, it's important to have these tents.

The particular entity with which we are focusing attention on in this particular earmark to provide these tents is a company that has done so over and over again in the context of bidding--and bidding successfully--for it. The Army and Marine Corps, just as an example, currently have unmet needs for shelters, and those unmet needs are growing.

This year, the tent and shelter industry was informed by the Marine Corps--just by the Marine Corps--of a need of 9,000 tents. Unfortunately, those real priorities are not resulting in production orders. And the main reason they're not resulting in production orders is due to the way in which the Department of Defense has focused on other things and not dealing with this particular aspect of the needs of military personnel in a number of places, here and in a lot of other places which are dangerous around the world, Iraq, Afghanistan, places like that, for example. So without this stop-gap funding for these shelter programs, our troops could literally be without that roof over their head.

The Defense Logistics Agency had stated that the tent and shelter industry is a critical part of the U.S. defense industrial base, and they did that in the context of a report to the Congress. So supporting this amendment by Mr. Campbell will leave the United States military with a smaller, less competitive, and potentially foreign source of this essential material which is needed by our military personnel.

You're dealing with something that is fundamentally essentially important. And in the context of this particular situation, if we didn't deal with it in this particular way, perhaps these manufacturing operations would come from places outside the United States. There are a lot of people here, apparently, who are opposed to many of the things that we're doing, who are not opposed to having manufacturing activities in other parts of the world and not here.

So this is what we are intending to do, to make sure that the military gets the security, the safety that they need and, at the same time, to ensure in every way that we can that the manufacturing process is done here in the United States so that these jobs are going to be an important part of our dealing with this economic recession, which was put forward over the course of the previous 8 years and is now something that we are dealing with effectively.

So if you're opposed to this earmark, it really doesn't make any sense. If you're opposed to the amendment, that makes perfect sense. And that is exactly what we're doing, for all of the

good reasons that I have stipulated, and that's why this amendment should remain as an important part of this absolutely essential piece of legislation.

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

I want to express my appreciation to Chairwoman Slaughter for yielding me this time.

Madam Speaker, I would like to commend Chairman Mollohan for doing an outstanding job with this year's Commerce, Justice, and Science bill, and I intend to vote for it and to support it enthusiastically. I know that he had to make some hard choices, and I am pleased that he was able to fund nearly all of the administration's requests, in particular, for the National Science Foundation.

However, a provision in the report concerning materials research has just been brought to my attention, and I am hopeful that, as this bill moves to conference, we might be able to address this language.

The basic research and fundamental science funded by the National Science Foundation are vitally important to the future of our Nation. However, there is language in the report eliminating the President's proposed increase in the NSF's Materials Research budget ``in light of similar investments in basic energy sciences,'' allegedly, at the Department of Energy.

It is my understanding that this may not be the case. The National Science Foundation's Division of Materials Research funds research on the fundamental behavior of matter and materials that lead to the creation of new materials and new technologies. In addition, Materials Research supports instruments and facilities, including the Cornell Electron Storage Ring and the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source, located in New York. They are crucial, both of them, for advancing this scientific field.

Until this year, the Cornell facilities had been funded by the NSF's Division of Physics. They are currently transitioning to the Division of Materials Research, which may have caused some confusion. The President asked for an increase to support research and development at these Cornell facilities. The Department of Energy does not have a facility comparable to Cornell's, and as far as we know, the work done at Cornell is the most advanced in the world.

I would be happy to discuss this further, and I hope that we can work together to clarify the report language on the NSF Materials Research budget so that it will not affect the work of these important facilities.

Mr. Speaker, I can't say how much I've been amused by the statements that we have heard from our dear friends across the aisle. They know very well what kind of economic circumstances this country is in. They know very well that this administration and this Congress inherited one of the largest national debts in the history of our country from the previous administration and from their 12 years in Congress. And they are, amusingly, fighting to prevent us from trying to overcome the circumstances that they have brought about and that we have to deal with.

Yes, we have to deal with this huge economic problem, and we are dealing with it. We're dealing with it by investing money in the internal needs of this country, by bringing about better systems of education and health care, creating new technologies and new industries and huge numbers of jobs as a result of those investments, all of which they are opposed to.

You have to ask yourself, why would they be opposed to someone else trying to correct the problems that they initiated? Well, I think the answer to that is very clear. They would like to see the efforts to correct these problems stopped over the course of the next couple of years, and they would be then able to say that what we have tried to do was not successful. They wouldn't admit that they stopped it if they were able to do it, but that's exactly what they were trying to do.

They're trying to prevent intelligent economic investment in the internal needs of the American people. They're

trying to stop intelligent internal investments in the economy of our country. They're trying to stop the creation of new jobs. They're trying to stop the upgrading of the quality of the infrastructure of our Nation. They're trying to stop improvements in education. They're trying to stop improvements in health care, all of which they had the responsibility for bringing about over the course of the last 8 years.

So that's the situation that we're dealing with. This particular bill is a very strong investment in the internal needs of America. They want to halt it as much as they can, drag it out as long as possible; and if they were successful with this appropriations bill, then they would try to do the same thing with every single other appropriations bill, the appropriations that the people of America need and need badly as a result of the huge debt that they brought about and what we are trying to overcome. And we will overcome it. We will overcome it in large measure with some of the things that have been done: the economic stimulation bill, which they were opposed to, which is having a very positive effect on the economy in this country; and furthermore, the economic stimulation that will occur in each one of these appropriations bills.

So that is basically the situation that we're dealing with here, and that is why we have to have this rule and this bill, because of the needs of our country and because of the intelligent, reasonable and effective way in which we are addressing those needs.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment, first of all, to express my appreciation to Chairman Waxman for supporting this resolution and for helping to bring it to the floor today. Also, I would like to thank Mr. Hoyer for his determination in bringing this measure to the floor to honor National Women's Health Week, despite the very crowded schedule that we have.

I would also like to thank Chairman Pallone and all the fine members of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee for their work on women's health issues and for making it possible for this resolution to reach the floor.

Finally, and most importantly, I would like to thank my good friends Congresswoman Lois Capps and Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack for taking the lead with me on this resolution for the fourth time in a row. And Marsha, I thank you very much also for your statement today and your participation in getting this legislation passed.

This resolution has the bipartisan sponsorship of 117 Members. The National Council of Women's Organizations fully endorsed this bill on behalf of its more than 200 member organizations representing more than 10 million women nationwide.

National Women's Health Week begins annually on Mother's Day. This year marks the 10th annual National Women's Health Week that we have experienced and honored.

National Women's Health Week is a week celebrated across America. During this week, families, communities, businesses, government, health organizations, and other groups work together to educate women about steps they could take to improve their physical and mental health to prevent disease and to enable them to live longer and stronger.

This week is also used as an opportunity to educate the entire population of our country about important health issues that women face.

This resolution recognizes the importance of a number of things, including preventing diseases that commonly affect women, federally funded programs that provide research and collect data on common diseases that women are subject to, and also calls on women to observe National Women's Check-up Day by receiving preventive screenings.

It is vitally important that women have knowledge about the health risks that confront them and that they know they can greatly reduce those risks through preventive measures such as a healthy lifestyle and regular medical screenings.

Healthy habits should begin at a young age; therefore, it is imperative that we take the time to educate young girls on the benefits of exercise and proper eating. If these habits start at a young age, it is more likely that they will continue throughout their lives.

It is important and essential that we do everything we can to prevent disease. In this spirit, I encourage women to get the necessary checkups and preventive screenings from their health care providers so they can live long, healthy, and productive lives.

I urge full support and passage of this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I very much appreciate the opportunity to speak about this important issue, and I very much appreciate everything that has been said here by Members focusing attention on this critical issue.

I rise today as a representative of the 22nd Congressional District in the State of New York, which includes that wonderful, magnificent City of Binghamton.

Now, less than 4 weeks ago, this proud community suffered a devastating tragedy. On the morning of Friday, April 3, 2009, a single gunman entered the offices of the American Civic Association and there murdered 13 innocent people and seriously wounded four more. I am here today on behalf of Congress to offer our formal condolences, to honor the victims of this tragedy, and to express gratitude to the heroes who responded.

With this resolution, we remember those who were lost that day, offer our condolences to their families, express our hopes that those wounded and touched by this tragedy are on the path to recovery, and thank all those who responded. I want to thank Chairman Towns and Ranking Member Issa for their support in allowing this resolution to come to the floor. I also want to express my appreciation to our Speaker and to our majority leader who assisted us with this resolution.

Binghamton, New York, is a close-knit, diverse community with a long history of welcoming people from all backgrounds, all nationalities and religions, as well as immigrants and visitors from anywhere abroad. It's a place where those looking for a better life are welcomed with open arms and where being a part of a community means being part of a family.

The American Civic Association performs no small role in this process. This organization, the American Civic Association, has proudly served the community since 1935. It offers immigrants and refugees critical services such as counseling, language education, and family reunification in order to help people realize their own American dreams. Their noble work is lauded in the community and supported by people from all political parties and all backgrounds.

The 13 individuals who lost their lives that day ranged from the age of 22 to 72 and included a mother of three, a newly-wedded bride, a student, a teacher, and many others, all of whom were hardworking individuals who had the same goal of being able to offer a better life for their children, their families. I would like to take a moment to pay respect to those 13 victims:

Parveen Ali, Almir Alves, Maria Sonia Bernard, Marc Henry Bernard, Li Guo, Lan Ho, Layla Khalil, Roberta King, Jiang Ling, Hong Xiu Mao, Dolores Yigal, Hai Hong Zhong, Maria K. Zobniw.

Shirley DeLucia was among the four who were wounded. She showed her bravery that day by placing the 911 call after being shot in the abdomen.

I would like to thank those who showed swift and decisive action that morning. First and most importantly, I would also like to offer my utmost gratitude to the law enforcement agencies who responded so quickly and professionally to this major event. The City of Binghamton Police, led by Chief Joseph Zikuski, worked in conjunction with the Broome County Sheriff's Department, the New York State Police, and other neighboring municipalities to heroically address the critical needs of the city and the people.

I would also like to make mention of the help afforded us by our Federal agencies, notably the Department of Justice for its swift action during the immediate situation and to the State Department and the Bureau of Customs and Immigration for their assistance during the difficult aftermath. I would like to thank Binghamton Mayor, Matthew Ryan, and Governor Paterson for their efforts in organizing local and State resources in a very effective and efficient way. I would also like to thank the White House for its direct response and particularly Vice President Biden for reaching out and helping to coordinate agencies on the Federal level.

Many lives were lost that day, but many more could have been lost were

it not for the brave and effective actions of our men and women in uniform. They deserve our highest level of respect and gratitude.

While we must continue with our daily lives, let us not forget those who have had their lives permanently altered by this event, and let us also use this tragedy as a daily reminder of how fragile life is and how to make the most of the time that we have.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in the context of a deep tragedy that struck the 22nd Congressional District in New York, and particularly the wonderful city of Binghamton.

Less than 3 weeks ago, this proud community suffered a devastating tragedy. On the morning of Friday, April 13, 2009, a single gunman entered the office of the American Civic Association and murdered 13 innocent people. He murdered 13 innocent people, and wounded four more. This was a horrendous act of violence, one that no community should ever experience.

Next week, I will be presenting a condolence resolution on the floor which will convey sympathy to the families of these victims, express hope that those wounded and touched by this tragedy are on the path to recovery, and to thank all of those who responded to the scene and secured the security and helped the victims.

Today, I would like to take a moment to honor the 13 individuals who lost their lives that day. The victims ranged in age from 22 years to 72 years. They included a mother of three, a newly wedded bride, a student, a teacher, and many others, all of whom were hardworking individuals who had the same goal of being able to offer a better life for themselves and their family.

At this time, Madam Speaker, I would be very grateful to request that Congress take a moment of silence to reflect on this senseless loss of life, and to pray for the victims and their family and friends.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to the County of Sullivan in New York State on the occasion of its Bicentennial. I am delighted to add my voice to those recognizing this milestone, and I am proud to join the residents of Sullivan County in commemorating this significant anniversary.

Created from neighboring Ulster County on March 27, 1809, Sullivan County was named in honor of American Revolutionary War leader, Major General John Sullivan. Since that time, Sullivan County's natural beauty and abundance have greatly influenced its development. Early settlers focused their efforts on tapping the generous natural resources of the region and building vibrant timber, bluestone, and tanning industries. These early commercial activities were replaced by growing agriculture and tourism sectors starting in the mid-Nineteenth Century. Sullivan County also served as an important transportation corridor and link between the Hudson and Delaware Rivers. Transportation projects such as the Newburgh-Cochecton Turnpike, the Delaware & Hudson Canal, and the New York & Erie Railroad helped to develop the region and fuel the expansion of metropolitan New York seventy miles to the County's south.

The first of Sullivan County's grand hotels was constructed in 1846 and over the next century, hundreds of additional hotels, camps, bungalow colonies, and resorts were constructed. During the peak decades of Sullivan County's resort industry, the communities in the Catskills surged each summer with an influx of families looking to enjoy Sullivan County's tremendous beauty and many offerings. The County became increasingly popular as a vacation destination for Jewish families, who helped to build up the entertainment and hospitality industry that came to define the Catskill region. Sullivan County became widely known as part of the Borscht Belt, and its resorts and hotels helped to launch the careers of many of this country's most beloved comedians and entertainers in the decades following the Second World War.

Sullivan County is renowned for its profound beauty and tremendous natural assets, including the picturesque Catskill and Shawangunk Mountains and Delaware River Valley. The Delaware River Valley in Sullivan County is designated by the National Park Service as part of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River and recognized for its incredible recreational, historic and cultural resources. This River corridor, located in close proximity to the New York metropolitan area, continues to attract many thousands of visitors who are drawn by the area's fishing, hunting, boating, golfing, and other activities.

Tourism remains a vital part of the economy for Sullivan County today. As the birthplace of fly-fishing, the County continues to attract sportsmen from around the world to the area's famous trout streams. The Town of Bethel in Sullivan County, once the site of the legendary Woodstock Music Festival in August 1969, now hosts the stately Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, which attracts nationally renowned performers. Sullivan County has worked diligently to build upon its historic legacy and its impressive surroundings and revitalize its economy with new industries, including green technology and a new generation of hospitality businesses.

Madam Speaker, I am delighted to offer my congratulations and best wishes to the residents and businesses of Sullivan County as they celebrate this Bicentennial and as they continue to build upon the region's rich history to ensure that Sullivan County remains an extraordinary place to live and to visit.

Madam Speaker, I just want to say a few words in favor of what is attempting to be done here in the context of this bill.

The TARP situation, which, as we remember, was set up last fall and, in effect, was rammed through here by the then-Secretary of the Treasury, authorized the expenditure of $700 billion, and under the last administration, about $380 billion had already been

spent. So what we are trying to do here now is to make sure that the rest of this money is spent in appropriate ways.

We have already set up the Special Inspector General, establishing that piece of responsibility here, and now what we are doing in the context of this bill is putting into effect all of the measures that are going to ensure the effectiveness of that Special Inspector General to make sure that he has the ability to carry out his responsibilities--to oversee the way in which this money is being allocated, how it is being used, what the impact of its use is. None of that was included in that TARP bill which the previous Secretary of the Treasury came here and, in effect, forced through the Congress.

So this is an essential element here. This legislation is critically important. We need to make certain that these economic circumstances are dealt with but that they are dealt with responsibly and effectively, and that is what this legislation is going to do. I cannot see any reason why anyone would object to it, why anyone would put any opposition to it, why anyone would try to slow it down in getting effect. All of this is absolutely essential on behalf of the people of this country.

We heard some statements being made just a couple of minutes ago about money being spent and allegations about how that money is too much. Well, $380 billion, yes, spent by the previous Secretary of the Treasury is much too much. We need to make sure that this is done in the proper way, and that is why this legislation needs to be adopted.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Mohonk Mountain House, a National Historic Landmark located in Ulster County, New York, which is part of the 22nd Congressional District that I proudly serve. This year marks the 140th anniversary of the founding of the Mohonk Mountain House, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to recognize the resort's rich historical heritage, continued vitality, and its many important contributions to our local community.

Founded as a modest retreat in 1869 by Albert Smiley with his purchase of 280 acres of land and a 10-room tavern, the Mohonk Mountain House has grown into a world renowned resort with over 2,200 acres and 265 guest rooms. Adding to the splendor of this mountaintop resort are an array of award-winning amenities including a state-of-the-art, eco- friendly spa, an outdoor ice-skating pavilion, and a warm and welcoming professional staff. The Mohonk Mountain House is also acclaimed for its many charming attributes such as the numerous and stately wood-burning fireplaces, balconies with glorious views and the 19th Century tradition of afternoon tea. Also, during a stay at the Mountain House, guests can get a glimpse of the resort's historic past in the enhanced museum located in the National Historic Landmark Barn.

Not surprisingly, some of the most remarkable attributes of this Victorian castle retreat are not inside the resort but surrounding it. The Mountain House is situated at the heart of a 26,000-acre natural area which is comprised of private preserves, a state park preserve and the resort property, all within the majestic Shawangunk Mountain range. Equally beautiful during all four seasons, this extraordinary landscape affords resort guests the opportunity to swim in a glacial lake, horseback ride on miles of natural trails, enjoy the bountiful gardens and hike the many and varied trails, both on the resort property and throughout the surrounding preserves. In addition, guests and local residents alike can enjoy opportunities to participate in rock climbing, caving, golfing, cross-county skiing and snowshoeing.

Since its inception, Mohonk Mountain House and its owners, the Smiley family, have been active stewards of the land. In 1963 the Smileys, working with Mohonk Mountain House guests, established the non-profit Mohonk Trust. The goal of this trust was to protect and manage the land for public use. Renamed in 1978 as the Mohonk Preserve, the mission of the Smiley family has continued, and, in fact, sets the standard for mountain stewardship by using science to guide land management. These efforts have helped to ensure that this remarkable landscape is preserved for generations to come.

Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize the Mohonk Mountain House as it enters its 140th year as a family owned and operated resort. I am confident that the Smiley family will not only continue to be outstanding stewards of the land, but also leaders in the hospitably industry and in the management of this National Historic Landmark.

I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, since the bailout bill was passed last year, about $350 billion of the $700 billion that was allocated in that legislation has been authorized and effectively spent through the Treasury Department. However, there's very little information with regard to who are the recipients of that $350 billion and for what purpose they receive that money and how they spend it.

So this amendment just asks and makes it clear that upon the passage of this legislation, that the Secretary must provide information with regard to where that money has gone and how that funding was spent. And then, 30 days later, within 30 days after the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall promptly submit to the appropriate committees here in the Congress that information: Where the money was allocated and for what purposes it was spent.

I think this is a very essentially important piece of information. I expect that it will be passed by the House.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I think the amendment that we have here is very clear and puts forward some necessary information which must be received by the Congress, especially prior to the enactment of the remaining $350 billion, just making it clear that we need to know how much money has been spent and where it has been spent

and for what purpose, and it stipulates that the Secretary of the Treasury must submit that information within 30 days after the enactment of this legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield to the chairman.

And it is unclear to me whether the gentleman is opposed to putting this information forward or not. I think that everybody here should be in favor of addressing this issue in a responsible way, saying we need to know where the money has been spent, who it has been allocated to, and what has been the result of the expenditure.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Well, I thank you very much, and I very much appreciate your taking the time and providing us with the opportunity to say a few things about our close friend and ally Mike McNulty, someone with whom we have worked for a long time, and I say that myself because Mike and I have been working together first in the State legislature in Albany since 1982, and I think about 6 years later, 1988 he was elected to the Congress of the United States. And I'm happy to say that I was very envious about the fact that he left Albany and came to Washington, and I tried to follow him. It took me a few years to do it, but in 1993, I came down here and I've been serving with him ever since, both of us here in this Congress.

He's an extraordinary man, someone with a very remarkable history. He started out in public office because of his strong desire to serve other people as the town supervisor in Green Island. At the age of 22, he was elected to be the town supervisor, and when he was elected at that age, he was the youngest town supervisor elected in any town in the State of New York.

So from the very beginning, when he first became involved in public life and working on behalf of the general public, he started off in a very remarkable way.

After being town supervisor, he was elected mayor, and then as I said, he was elected to the State Assembly in Albany and served there in a very, very envious sort of way, a remarkable kind of way, one that made us all pay attention to him. He was a very, very strong leader in Albany, New York, in the State Assembly.

But then when he came down here to Washington, he started off in something else that was even more dramatic. Shortly after he was elected and came here, he became a member of the Ways and Means Committee, one of the most important and significant committees here in this Congress. And as a member of that committee, he has done an extraordinary job.

He is now chairman of the Subcommittee on Social Security, and he has done a very wonderful piece of work, strengthening Social Security, protecting Social Security, protecting it from people like the President of the United States who in 2005 wanted to

privatize Social Security. And if you think about the economic consequences that we're experiencing today as a result of the huge declines in financial institutions, you can imagine what the Social Security system would look like if it hadn't been for people like Mike McNulty standing up and defending Social Security and making sure that it wasn't privatized and that it remains strong and went on to the people of our country.

One of the ways in which Mike has served here is to be the acting Speaker of this Congress, this House of Representatives, and he did so I think probably more than anyone else that I know of, all the time that he spent there and doing that leadership position in such an exemplary way.

So he is someone who has set an example for all of us, from the first time he was elected to be town supervisor, then as mayor, then as a member of the State legislature, and then coming here to serve in this House of Representatives and to do it in a very remarkable way.

He's also a person who has demonstrated what it's like to be a strong family man. He is married to Nancy Ann Lazzaro, and he and she have been married now for 37 years. Mike and Nancy have four daughters: Michele, Angela who's often called Jody, Nancy and Maria. They have five grandchildren: Lola Madelon and Daniel Patrick Sovie, and Teigin Michele, Elijah Michael, and Morgyn Jean Legault. A wonderful family, and I can only say how happy I am to have served with him, both in Albany and here in this Congress of the United States.

He has been here for 20 years. And I must say that I'm sorry he is leaving, but I understand that he feels the responsibility to spend a little more time at home. And that is something, again, that I admire in him, again, for the leadership that he is providing.

So I must say, Mr. Speaker, that this gentleman from the State of New York has set a wonderful example for anyone who wishes to serve the people of their communities, their State, and their country by the example that he has set in all of those areas.

Michael, I thank you. I thank you for everything that you've done. I thank you for your friendship, for your leadership, and for the example that you have set for all of us to hopefully follow and be as good in our service as you have been in yours. Thank you, Michael, for everything that you've done.

I yield back the time.

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to stand here this evening with my friends and colleagues and particularly with my friend and colleague, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, to voice my support for H.R. 998, a bill which she has produced and which will enrich the lives of future generations. This bill will collect oral history records from those whose struggles made them among America's most notable heroes, the leaders of the civil rights generation.

The civil rights movement has strengthened our social fabric by extending basic rights to all of America's people through the right to employment, the right to buy or rent a home, the right to education, rights that are the most basic and fundamental in our country.

It is imperative that we collect oral history in order to preserve the rich cultural heritage of our Nation. Preserving oral history gives those in the future a firsthand account of the struggle that Americans went through to change the laws and the lives of our people and our government. These great Americans stood up to violence, they stood up to death threats, they stood up to local, State and government oppression and opposition, and they risked their own economic well- being so that our great Nation could fulfill its promise to all of its people. We must preserve that history that explains the hardship and sacrifice that many African Americans and others went through to get equal treatment under the law.

This history can be most richly delivered by the people who led the movement themselves, those who fought so valiantly, and who can give their account firsthand. This bill will preserve an important part of our heritage through the process of collecting this oral history and making it available. Firsthand accounts, which include the honesty, emotion and accuracy are needed as an important part of our historical record.

Collecting these first person accounts from the civil rights movement will also give generations, those in the future, inspiration and motivation to uphold and strengthen America's promise for equal opportunity and to be sure that that promise is fulfilled.

It is my hope that our future generations will always be able to access oral histories and will blaze new trails that promote equality and richness in diversity.

Again, I'd like to thank all of my friends who were involved with this bill, especially my colleague and friend, Carolyn McCarthy, for including me to celebrate the culture that makes America the great Nation that it is by taking further steps to allow future generations to learn from our notable American heroes.

Mr. Speaker, I want to express my appreciation to Chairman Rahall for his leadership and for the good job that he has done with this bill and to Speaker Pelosi for her leadership in putting this together.

It has taken some time, but nevertheless, we have now a good, forward-looking piece of energy legislation, and it's high time. We know that we have, roughly, 3 percent, actually less, of the known oil reserves around the world, and we are now importing about 70 percent of the oil that we're consuming. Obviously, just those numbers tell us clearly that we have to be moving in a different direction.

So this bill makes it a lot easier for us to drill for our own oil, and it makes that oil more accessible. Already we've

seen what has happened. The price of a barrel of oil has dropped down by more than 30 percent even though a price of a gallon of gasoline has dropped only by 12 percent, which is interesting since the oil companies are continuing to exploit the situation.

The fact of the matter is and, I think, one of the main parts of this bill which really needs our attention is the way in which it is moving us toward energy independence, energy independence on alternative renewable energy, which this bill opens up in a way that has never been opened up before. That is extremely positive and very good for us.

What we really need here is a new industrial revolution, an industrial revolution which will enable us to develop all of the energy that we need from solar, from geothermal, from wind.

I think solar is the primary way, and that has been obvious to a lot of people, including somebody like Thomas Edison in 1933, who said it very clearly back then, solar energy is the one reliable form of energy. It ought to be increasingly clear to all of us now. And this bill opens that up. It is going to make solar energy real, significant, less expensive, and move us toward energy independence. And at the same time it does that, it will have a very positive effect on our economy. The likelihood is over a relatively few years, if we do this properly, solar energy will produce more than 1 million jobs in America.

So I thank you for the job that you have done. You are finally moving us in the right direction.

Madam Speaker, I am please to congratulate my constituents, Lew and Amy Kirschner, on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary. Mr. and Mrs. Kirschner are venerated members of our community, and I am proud to recognize their commitment to each other.

Amy and Lew Kirschner are a remarkable couple, who have dedicated themselves to each other and to the greater good of their community. In each endeavor they undertake, their remarkable sense of purpose and loyalty shines through. Over the years they have invested much of their time in serving their community in various manners. Lew's work on the boards of many area organizations and Amy's dedication to a variety of community based organizations has kept them at the heart of all of the most pressing issues facing our city. Their advice and firm support have been invaluable.

Lew and Amy have truly achieved a tremendous accomplishment in being able to look back and celebrate fifty-years of shared love, personal growth and hard work, knowing that they have remained steadfast in their commitment to one another, their family and their community.

Madam Speaker, I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Lew and Amy for more than thirty years. They have been good friends and outstanding citizens. I am pleased to be able to recognize and congratulate them on this momentous occasion.

Madam Speaker, It is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize Frank Berrish, the president and CEO of Visions Federal Credit Union, headquartered in my district in Endicott, NY, on his recent election to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Federal Credit Unions, NAFCU.

Frank's election to the NAFCU board is just one more accomplishment to be added to a

long list. His illustrious career includes service as president and board member of LICU Corporate FCU, as director and chairman at the NY Branch Sharing Corp, and as a member of the Federal Reserve Board Thrift Institutions Advisory Council.

As the president/CEO of Visions Federal Credit Union, Frank has focused on ensuring his members receive helpful, personal service that caters to the needs of individual members and their financial goals. He has made many contributions to the credit union community through the years and his over 30 years of service at Visions Federal Credit Union have been exemplary.

Frank's commitment to improve the lives of others has been recognized with a number of recent awards including the 2008 Tioga County Corporate Citizen of the Year, the 2007 NAFCU Credit Union Professional of the Year, and the 2007 Greater Binghamton Chamber Corporate Citizen of the Year.

It is because of the good work and leadership of Frank and others like him that the credit union community enjoys the success it has today. Such service is the hallmark of credit unions and I wish Frank the best of luck in his new role as a member of the NAFCU Board of Directors.