Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor America's 40th President, Ronald Wilson Reagan.

President Reagan was an ordinary man who led an extraordinary life. He came from a middle-American family of modest means to become the leader of the most powerful Nation in the world, inspiring its people along the way.

President Reagan was a decisive leader. He was a strong commander-in- chief. He was a statesman. He was a gifted communicator. He was a skilled political adversary. He was an eternal optimist. He was a patriot. He was, above all, an American. He used these skills, and his love for our country, to change the course of history for the better.

President Reagan accomplished much during his presidency. He helped defeat communism and end the Cold War. He rebuilt our national defenses. He advanced freedom throughout the world. He led the longest economic recovery in our Nation's history. He lowered taxes. He fundamentally changed the way we think about government. ``We meant to change a nation,'' he said in his farewell address to the American people, but instead, ``we changed the world.''

President Reagan literally helped save a world that needed saving.

President Reagan also convinced us to believe in ourselves again. He took charge of a wounded Nation that doubted itself and helped us rediscover our pride and patriotism. He reminded us that America and its people are fundamentally good, decent and deserving of God's blessings. He restored America's greatness and instilled in us his eternal optimism that our best is always yet to come.

President Reagan left America better, stronger, freer and more prosperous than we ever had been. Looking back on his accomplishments in the White House, he said that he was proud that ``we weren't just marking time; we made a difference,'' adding with his usual humility ``all in all, not bad, not bad at all.''

Not bad at all, Mr. President.

President Reagan battled Alzheimer's disease with the same dignity and courage with which he lived his life. He asked us, in his last letter to America, to remember that he had ``the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future.'' We know he loved America. I think it is clear America loved him.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have known President Reagan and am honored to have, in some small measure, done my part to ensure that his vision for America and the world came to pass. We all owe him a debt of gratitude for dedicating his life to improving ours.

In this time of great sadness for the Reagan family and the American people, let us take comfort in the knowledge that the leader we so loved has fulfilled his earthly mission and has finally reached the place of peace in which we all may one day rejoice. May God eternally bless Ronald Reagan and continue to watch over the shining city on a hill he so loved.

Mr. Speaker, I rise proudly today to celebrate the 63rd anniversary of the Battle of Crete, a World War II event of epic proportions that profoundly impacted on the determination of many countries to resist the aggression of Nazi Germany.

It is a story of a battered, but brave, group of individuals thrown together in a combined effort to halt the domination of a smaller and weaker nation by a larger more powerful aggressor. One of those individuals, a true hero of the battle, is with us tonight in the gallery, Mr. George Tzitzikas, who now lives in California.

Today, more than half a century later, the heroic event that took place in the Battle of Crete remains etched in the memory of people around the world. In commemoration of this anniversary, and for the benefit of future generations, I will share a brief account of these events as they unfolded.

Early on the morning of May 20, 1941, Crete became the theater of the first and largest German airborne operation of the war. The skies above Crete were filled with more than 8,000 Nazi paratroopers landing in a massive invasion of the island, which was subjected to heavy bombing and attacks in what became known as Operation Mercury.

Old men, women, and children participated, and used whatever makeshift weapons they could find. They used sticks, sickles, and even their bare hands to fight those soldiers already on the ground. Most of them were illiterate villagers; but their intuition, honed by the mortal risk they were facing, led them to fight with courage and bravery. ``Aim for the legs, and you will get them in the heart,'' was the popular motto that summarized their hastily acquired battle experience.

Although the Germans captured the island in 10 days, they paid a heavy price. Of the 8,100 paratroopers involved in this operation, close to 4,000 were killed and 1,600 were wounded. So injured were the German units that they never again attempted an airborne assault of the magnitude launched at Crete. In fact, it is a lesson taught in almost every major military academy in the world on what not to do.

In retaliation for the losses they incurred, the Nazis spread punishment, terror, and death on the innocent civilians of the island. More than 2,000 Cretans were executed during the first month alone, and thousands more later.

Despite these atrocities for the 4 years following the Allied withdrawal from the island, the people of Crete put up a courageous guerrilla resistance, aided by a few British and Allied officers and troops who remained. Those involved were known as the Andartes, the Rebels.

The German terror campaign was meant to break the fighting spirit and morale of the Andartes. Besides the random and frequent executions, German soldiers used other means to achieve their goal. These actions only made the Cretans more ferocious in their quest for freedom.

Even in the face of certain death, while standing in line to be executed, Cretans did not beg for their lives. This shocked the German troops. Kurt Student, the German paratrooper commander who planned the invasion, said of the Cretans, ``I have never seen such a defiance of death.''

Finally, the Cretan people participated in one of the most daring operations that brought shame and humiliation to the German occupation forces and exhilaration and hope to the enslaved peoples of Europe. Major-General Von Kreipe, commander of all German forces in Crete, was abducted from his own headquarters in April 1944, and transferred to a POW camp in England. The German troops had never encountered such resistance.

Hitler had initially sent 12,000 troops to Crete, thinking the occupation would be swift. By the end of the 3\1/2\ years of occupation, Hitler had sent a total of 100,000 troops to confront the little more than 5,000 Cretan Andarte fighters. These German troops could have been deployed somewhere else. More German troops were lost during the occupation of Crete than in France, Yugoslavia, and Poland combined.

Most importantly, as a result of the battle in Crete, Hitler's master plan to invade Russia before the coming of winter had to be postponed, which resulted in the deaths of many German troops who were not properly prepared to survive the harsh Russian winter.

Mr. Speaker, we must always remember that as long as there are people willing to sacrifice their lives for the just cause of defending the integrity and freedom of their country, there is always hope for a better tomorrow.

May we take inspiration from the shining example of the people of Crete in ensuring that this is, indeed, the case.

Mr. Speaker, I rise proudly today to celebrate the 63rd anniversary of the Battle of Crete, a World War II event of epic proportions that profoundly impacted on the determination of many countries to resist the aggression of Nazi Germany. It is a story of a battered but brave group of individuals thrown together in a combined effort to halt the domination of a smaller, weaker nation by a larger more powerful aggressor. One of those individuals, a true hero of the battle, is with us tonight in the gallery, Mr. George Tzitzikas who now lives in California. Amidst the cataclysm that engulfed the countries of Europe at the time, it seems now preposterous that a small island dared to stand up to the aggressor to preserve its freedom and defend its honor. Today, more than half a century later, the heroic events that took place in the Battle of Crete remain etched in the memory of people around the world. In commemoration of this anniversary, and for the benefit of future generations, I will share a brief account of these events as they unfolded.

In early April 1941, the German army rushed to the aid of their defeated ally, Italy, and invaded Greece. Following a valiant struggle, Greek forces had been pushed entirely off the continent and were forced to take refuge on the island of Crete.

The German army then looked covetously across the sea to Crete because of the British airfields on the island, which could be used by the Allies for air strikes against the oil fields of Rumania, thereby denying this vital war commodity to Hitler's forces now preparing for their attack on Russia. If captured, it would also provide air and sea bases from which the Nazis could dominate the eastern Mediterranean and launch air attacks against Allied forces in northern Africa. In fact, the Nazi high command envisioned the capture of Crete to the first of a series of assaults leading to the Suez Canal. Hitler intended a short, one month, campaign, starting in March. On successful completion, his troops would be re-assigned to Russia.

Crete's defenses at the time had been badly neglected due to the deployment of Allied forces in North Africa. General Bernard Freyberg of the New Zealand Division was appointed by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill as commander of a small contingent of Allied troops which had been dispatched to the island a few months before and re- enforced by additional troops who had retreated from the Greek mainland.

Early on the morning of May 20, 1941, Crete became the theater of the first and largest German airborne operation of the war. The skies above Crete were filled with more than eight thousand Nazi paratroopers, landing in a massive invasion of the island, which was subjected to heavy bombing and attacks in what became known as ``Operation Mercury.'' Waves of bombers pounded the Allied positions followed by a full-scale airborne assault. Elite paratroopers and glider-borne infantry units fell upon the rag-tag Allied soldiers and were met with ferocious resistance from the Allied troops and the Cretan population.

Although General Freyberg had decided not to arm the Cretans because they were believed to be anti-royalist, they fought bravely with whatever was at hand during the invasion. As soon as the battle broke out, the people of Crete volunteered to serve in the militia. Centuries of oppression and several revolts against Venetians and Turks had taught them that freedom is won and preserved by sacrifice, and there was hardly a family without a gun stashed somewhere in the house. For the first time, the Germans met stiff partisan resistance.

War-seasoned men joined the regular troops in the effort to repel the invader. Old men, women and children participated and used whatever makeshift weapons they could find. They pointed their antiquated guns at the descending German paratroopers. They used sticks, sickles and even their bare hands, to fight those soldiers already on the ground. Most of them were illiterate villagers but their intuition, honed by the mortal risk they were facing, led them to fight with courage and bravery. ``Aim for the legs and you'll get them in the heart,'' was the popular motto that summarized their hastily acquired battle experience.

Seven days later, the defenders of Crete--though clinging to their rocky defensive positions--knew that they would soon be overrun. The evacuation order was given, and nearly 18,000 men were rescued. These valiant survivors had bought the Allies a week's precious time free of Nazi air and sea attacks based from Crete. More importantly, they inflicted severe losses on the German airborne forces, the showpieces of the Nazi army. Although well-armed and thoroughly equipped, the Germans didn't break the Cretan's love of freedom.

Although the Germans captured the island in ten days, they paid a heavy price. Of the 8,100 paratroopers involved in this operation, close to 4,000 were killed and 1,600 were wounded. So injured were the German units that they never again attempted an airborne assault of the magnitude launched at Crete. Hitler may have won the Battle of Crete, but he lost the war. The German victory proved a hollow one, as Crete became the graveyard of the German parachute troops. In fact, it is a lesson taught in almost every major military academy in the world on what NOT to do.

In retaliation for the losses they incurred, the Nazis spread punishment, terror and death on the innocent civilians of the island. More than two thousand Cretans were executed during the first month alone and thousands more later. Despite these atrocities, for the four years following the Allied withdrawal from the island, the people of Crete put up a courageous guerrilla resistance, aided by a few British and Allied officers and troops who remained. Those involved were known as the Andartes (the Rebels).

Cretan people of all ages joined or aided the Andartes. Children would pile rocks in the roads to slow down the German convoys. They even carried messages in their schoolbooks because it was the only place that the German soldiers never looked. These messages contained information critical to the Andartes who were hiding in the mountains and would come down for midnight raids or daytime sabotages.

The German terror campaign was meant to break the fighting spirit and morale of the Andartes. Besides the random and frequent executions, German soldiers used other means to achieve their goal. They leveled many buildings in the towns and villages, destroyed religious icons, and locked hundreds of Cretans in churches for days without food or water, but nothing worked. These actions only made the Cretans more ferocious in their quest for freedom.

Even in the face of certain death while standing in line to be executed, Cretans did not beg for their lives. This shocked the German troops. Kurt Student, the German Paratrooper Commander who planned the invasion, said of the Cretans, ``I have never seen such a defiance of death.''

Finally, the Cretan people participated in one of the most daring operations that brought shame and humiliation to the German occupation forces and exhilaration and hope to the enslaved peoples of Europe. Major-General Von Kreipe, Commander of all German forces in Crete, was abducted from his own headquarters in April 1944 and transferred to a POW camp in England.

The German troops had never encountered such resistance. Hitler had initially sent 12,000 troops to Crete, thinking that the occupation would be swift. By the end of the three-and-a-half years of occupation, Hitler had sent a total of 100,000 troops, to confront a little more than 5,000 Cretan Andarte fighters. These German troops could have been deployed somewhere else. More German troops were lost during the occupation of Crete than in France, Yugoslavia and Poland combined.

Most importantly, as a result of the battle in Crete, Hitler's master plan to invade Russia before the coming of winter, had to be postponed, which resulted in the deaths of many German troops who were not properly prepared to survive the harsh Russian winter.

As we Americans know from our history, freedom does not come free. For their gallant resistance against the German invasion and occupation of their island, Cretans paid a stiff price. Within the first five months of the Battle of Crete, 3,500 Cretans were executed and many more were killed in the ensuring three-and-a-half years of occupation.

Mr. Speaker, there are historical reasons why we Americans appreciate the sacrifices of the Cretan people in defending their island during the Battle of Crete. We have a history replete with similar heroic events starting with our popular revolt that led to the birth of our Nation more than two centuries.

We must always remember that as long as there are people willing to sacrifice their lives for the just cause of defending the integrity and freedom of their country, there is always hope for a better tomorrow. May we take inspiration from the shining example of the people of Crete in ensuring that this is indeed the case.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 605) recognizing the importance of increasing awareness of autism, supporting programs for increased research and improved treatment of autism, improving training and support for individuals with autism and those who care for individuals with autism, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 605, a resolution that recognizes the importance of increasing awareness of autism, supporting programs for increased research and improved treatment of autism, and improving training and support for individuals with autism and those who care for individuals with autism.

Autism is a developmental disability that usually appears, unfortunately, in very young children. We all have friends who are experiencing the tragedy, and God knows it is a tragedy, of having a child diagnosed that is autistic. What that does to a family we can only try to imagine. The least that we can do is to encourage more research and awareness and education among all families.

The disease impacts the normal development of the brain that controls social interaction and communication skills. Autism is four times more prevalent in boys and knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries.

More than 500,000 people in the United States today have some form of autism, making it the third most common developmental disability. Many people are surprised to learn that autism is more common than Downs Syndrome.

While we are finding better ways to understand and work with autistic individuals, the disease is still greatly misunderstood. The majority of individuals, including health care professionals, are still unaware of how autism affects people and how to effectively work with the individuals with the disease.

However, some progress has been made. A few years ago, most people with autism were eventually placed in institutions. Today, even the most severely autistic disabled can be taught skills to assist their development due to the development of individualized services and programs.

We are all extremely concerned about this disease. This resolution stresses that early diagnosis and treatment are essential to ensuring a better quality of life for individuals with autism. However, early diagnosis and treatment can only occur with increased awareness, and that is much of what we try to do with this resolution; and that is why, Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this good bipartisan legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry), a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), who, along with the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Tierney), is the author of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3\1/4\ minutes to the gentleman from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Mr. Murphy) where I grew up.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon).

Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to have heard the gentleman's remarks. I know we all are.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Daniel Bertoch, a dentist in my congressional district who routinely provides free dental services to those in his community who cannot afford them.

I met Dr. Bertoch and his staff several years ago while visiting businesses in my congressional district. Dr. Bertoch's office, located in Citrus Park, serves many of my constituents in Northwest Hillsborough County. He told me then that he believed in the importance of civic responsibility and helping those in need.

I am pleased to say Dr. Bertoch has acted on that belief. He recently invited a group of less fortunate children from the community to his office for free dental services. He and his staff (Dr. Maria Egir, Mary Anne Futch, Valera Senden, Janice Jonasson, Leigh Allen, and Maria Goetz) treated 17 children over the course of an entire day. They provided comprehensive exams to the children, gave them fluoride treatments, filled their cavities, and provided each child with a full dental treatment plan and copies of their x-rays. They also served breakfast and lunch to the group with the help of local businesses and hired someone to paint faces and make balloon animals for the children. As Dr. Bertoch said, ``a great time was had by all.''

Dr. Bertoch told me that he realizes that charity is not a health care solution. He added, however, that along with proper funding, communities can find ways to help underserved children who need basic health and dental care.

Mr. Speaker, Dr. Bertoch and his staff of caring professionals exemplify the spirit of generosity and compassion which forms our country's foundation. I am proud to know them and commend their work to our colleagues as we continue our efforts to make health care more accessible and affordable.

Mr. Speaker, for all of my 22 years in Congress, I have constantly and loudly proclaimed the need for a peaceful reunification of the Republic of Cyprus. That unification must be just and balanced.

Thus I rise here today to voice my serious concerns with the Annan plan for the reunification of Cyprus. I believe that the final version of the plan which was submitted on March 31, 2004, is unbalanced and biased against the Greek-Cypriots.

There are a number of provisions in the Annan plan that do not alleviate the basic fears of the Greek-Cypriot community. These concerns were not appropriately resolved and may very well lead the Greek-Cypriots to reject the Annan plan. Security issues regarding the number of troops that will remain on the island and clarifying the Treaty of Guarantee to exclude military intervention are two major concerns for the Greek-Cypriots because Turkey insists that it will continue to have the right to intervene militarily in Cyprus. This Turkish arrogance increases the Greek-Cypriot fear of a repetition of the 1974 invasion and its tragic consequences.

The plan also would permit the vast majority of approximately 115,000 Turkish settlers who are now illegally in Cyprus to stay in Cyprus. At the same time, the plan sets complicated and restrictive provisions regarding the right of Greek-Cypriot refugees to return to their homes in the north. Additionally, the Annan plan makes the eventual return of territories from the northern part of the island to the Greek-Cypriot constituent state dependent upon the goodwill of Turkey and Turkish- Cypriots.

On the issue of property rights, the Annan plan allows for one-third restitution and two-thirds compensation for property owned in the north by Greek-Cypriots who will be losing the use of their properties. The funds for the restitution and compensation will be guaranteed by the Federal State and the Constituent State. Since nine-tenths of the Federal State's resources and 100 percent of the Constituent State's resources will be derived from Greek-Cypriots, they will be paying for, to a large extent, their own loss of property.

Mr. Speaker, in closing I would like to state that the Greek-Cypriots are asked to trust, to trust the Turkish Government and to have faith that the Turkish-Cypriot leaders will keep their promises. The problem is that since 1974, neither the leaders of the Government of Turkey nor Mr. Denktash has ever given the Greek-Cypriots any reason to trust them.

Each side will decide whether the plan would be beneficial for them and for the future of their children. Even though both sides knew they were not going to get everything they wanted, each side was guaranteed a fair plan and one that would be immediately functional. Unfortunately, I do not believe the Annan plan is balanced, and we should not be surprised if the Greek-Cypriot people do not support it.

The Cypriot people hold the future in their hands. During this difficult time, it would be inexcusable, Mr. Speaker, for foreign governments or organizational heads to exert excessive pressure or to issue ultimatums to the people and President of Cyprus to vote one way or the other. They must be free of pressure and free to vote with their conscience. If the plan is voted down, it would be an indication that the Greek-Cypriots, whose country suffered an illegal invasion in 1974, and a community which has for three decades advocated for a settlement, felt that they

would be giving up far more than they would be gaining, and that cost, Mr. Speaker, is just too high.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my support for the Isakson amendment because it attempts to maintain the status quo for all the donor States by including earmarks and Projects of National and Regional Significance in the SCOPE of programs covered in the Minimum Guarantee program.

In TEA-21, 93 percent of the programs were included in the Minimum Guarantee, including the High Priority Projects. In TEA-LU, as written, the SCOPE is reduced to 84 percent of the programs. For Florida, that means $860 million in lost guaranteed funds over 6 years. This would be a huge step backwards.

Mr. Chairman, it's simple math. H.R. 3550 keeps the equity guarantee at 90.5 percent, but reduces the coverage of the guarantee to a smaller piece of the total pie. This will cause Florida and other States to lose hundreds of millions of dollars.

The Isakson amendment requires no additional funding. This amendment simply asks that we keep things the way they were in TEA-21. I urge my donor States colleagues to support this amendment, for the sake of their State.

Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the amendments offered by my good friend Mr. Isakson to address the backwards slide in minimum guarantee that this transportation reauthorization bill would impose on a number of States--including my home State of Georgia.

Simply put, previous transportation bills have asked the hard- working folks in Northeast Georgia's 9th District to send more money to Washington . . . and see less money find its way back.

But this bill (H.R. 3550, TEA-LU), asks those same hard-working folks to send even more money to Washington . . . and see even fewer of their tax dollars make their way back to Northeast Georgia to improve the roads and conduct essential transportation improvements . . . and that's just as wrong as the day is long.

Consider the numbers. Under current law, every State is guaranteed a 90.5 percent return on each dollar of gas taxes it submits to the Federal government. And when the 1998 TEA-21 language became the law of the land, 93 percent of programs were included in the minimum guarantee, including high priority projects and projects of national and regional significance that are important to Georgians and others from States who pay so much more than ever comes back.

But under this bill, under TEA-LU, States' core funding programs would be decreased from a 90.5 percent share to only 84 percent of the programs. Don't forget, this includes ``High Priority Projects and Projects of Regional Significance.''

For the average State, this reduction in scope will result in the loss of $300 million over the lifespan of the six-year legislation. In fact, the State of Georgia could stand to lose between $500 and $600 million.

Mr. Chairman, I have stood on this floor time and time again to preach the need for this Congress, and this Federal government, to exercise fiscal responsibility and live within our means--much like Georgians and all Americans do every single day. I also clearly recognize the need to meet this Nation's critical transportation infrastructure funding needs. Taking money from Peter to pay Paul, accomplishes neither objective . . . and in fact, only seriously jeopardizes the future infrastructure needs for millions of Americans.

Mr. Chairman, it is absolutely imperative to include high priority projects as well as projects of regional and national significance in the Scope formula for H.R. 3550. Make no mistake, we can do better . . . but by at least returning to a 90.5 percent minimum guarantee on 93 percent of the programs addressed in the Transportation Reauthorization Act, this Congress rights a major wrong contained in TEA-LU.

I urge my colleagues to do just that by supporting the Isakson amendment.

Madam Speaker, first I would say that I am very pleased to be doing this special order in conjunction with the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), who has been very stellar, a great friend of both republics, Greece and Cyprus, all through the years. And today I too proudly rise to celebrate Greek Independence Day and the strong ties that bind the nation of Greece and the United States.

One hundred and eighty-three years ago, the people of Greece began a journey that would mark a symbolic rebirth of democracy in the land, in the land where those principles of human dignity were first espoused.

They rebelled against more than 400 years of Turkish oppression. The revolution of 1821 brought independence to Greece and emboldened those who still sought freedom across the world.

I commemorate Greek Independence Day each year for the same reasons that we celebrate our July 4. It proved that a united people through sheer will and perseverance, can prevail against tyranny.

Men such as Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, and Euripides developed a then-unique notion that men could, if left to their own devices, lead themselves rather than be subject to the will of a sovereign. It was Aristotle who said, ``We make war that we may live in peace.'' On March 25, 1821, Archbishop Germanos of Patras embodied the spirit of those words when he raised the flag of freedom and was the first to declare Greece free.

Revolutions embody a sense of heroism, bringing forth the greatness of the American spirit. As Thomas Jefferson once said, ``To the ancient Greeks we are all indebted for the light which led ourselves,'' American colonists, ``out of gothic darkness.'' Quoting Jefferson on the anniversary of Greek Independence is particularly appropriate. Jefferson and the rest of the Founding Fathers looked back to the teachings of ancient Greek philosophers for inspiration as they sought to craft a strong democratic state. In 1821, the Greeks looked to our Founding Fathers for inspiration when they began their journey toward freedom.

Although many lives were sacrificed at the altar of freedom, the Greek people rallied around the battle cry, ``Eleftheria I Thanatos,'' ``liberty or death,'' mirroring of course the words of American Patriot Patrick Henry who said ``Give me liberty or give me death.'' These words personified the Greek patriots' unmitigated desire to be free.

We all know that the price of liberty can be very high. History is replete with the names of the millions who have sacrificed for it. Many great scholars throughout history warned that we maintain democracy only at great cost. The freedom we enjoy today is due to a large degree to the sacrifices made by men and women in the past, in Greece, in America, and all over the world.

Freedom is America's heart. It is central to our being, and from the beginning we have recognized that freedom is not just an American right, it is a God-given right to every citizen of the world.

We must never forget that freedom must be constantly guarded. It is a noble but fragile thing that can be stolen or snuffed out if not protected. We cannot take for granted that we are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights. We enjoy our freedom only because we have been willing to fight and die for it just like our forefathers and the valiant Greeks in 1821.

Mr. Speaker, on this 183rd birthday of Greek Independence, when we celebrate the restoration of democracy to its conception, we also celebrate the triumph of the human spirit and the strength of man's will. The goals and values that the people of Greece share with the people of the United States reaffirm our common democratic heritage. This occasion also serves to remind us that we must never take for granted the right to determine our own fate.

Madam Speaker, today I proudly rise to celebrate Greek Independence Day and the strong ties that bind the nation of Greece and the United States.

One hundred and eighty-three years ago, the people of Greece began a journey that would mark the symbolic rebirth of democracy in the land where those principles to human dignity were first espoused.

They rebelled against more than 400 years of Turkish oppression. The revolution of 1821 brought independence to Greece and emboldened those who still sought freedom across the world. I commemorate Greek Independence Day each year for the same reasons we celebrate our Fourth of July. It proved that a united people, through sheer will and perseverance, can prevail against tyranny. The lessons the Greeks and our colonial forefathers taught us provide hope and inspiration to victims of persecution throughout the world today.

Men such as Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, and Euripides developed the then-unique notion that men could, if left to their own devices, lead themselves rather than be subject to the will of a sovereign. It was Aristotle who said: ``We make war that we may live in peace.'' On March 25, 1821, Archbishop Germanos of Patras embodied the spirit of those words when he raised the flag of freedom and was the first to declare Greece free.

Revolutions embody a sense of heroism, bringing forth the greatness of the human spirit. It was Thomas Jefferson who said that, ``One man with courage is a majority.'' Quoting Jefferson on the anniversary of Greek independence is particularly appropriate. Jefferson, and the rest of the Founding Fathers, looked back to the teachings of ancient Greek philosophers for inspiration as they sought to craft a strong democratic state. And in 1821, the Greeks looked to our Founding Fathers for inspiration when they began their journey toward freedom.

The history of Greek independence, like that of the American Revolution, is filled with many stories of courage and heroism. There are many parallels between the American and Greek Revolutions.

Encouraged by the American Revolution, the Greeks began their rebellion after four centuries of Turkish oppression, facing what appeared to be insurmountable odds. Both nations faced the prospect of having to defeat an empire to obtain liberty. And if Samuel Adams, the American revolutionary leader who lit the first spark of rebellion by leading the Boston Tea Party, had a Greek counterpart, that man would be Alexander Ypsilantis.

Ypsilantis was born in Istanbul, and his family was later exiled to Russia. Ypsilantis served in the Russian army, and it was there, during his military service, that he became involved with a secret society called the ``Philike Hetairia,'' which translated means ``friendly society.'' The ``friendly society'' was made up of merchants and other Greek leaders, but the intent of the society was to seek freedom for Greece and her people.

The group planned a secret uprising for 1821 to be led by Ypsilantis. He and 4,500 volunteers assembled near the Russian border to launch an insurrection against the Turks. The Turkish army massacred the ill- prepared Greek volunteers, and Ypsilantis was caught and placed in prison, where he subsequently died. However, the first bells of liberty had been rung, and Greek independence would not be stopped.

When news of Greek uprisings spread, the Turks killed Greek clergymen, clerics, and laity in a frightening display of force. In a vicious act of vengeance, the Turks invaded the island of Chios and slaughtered 25,000 of the local residents. The invaders enslaved half the island's population of 100,000.

Although many lives were sacrificed at the altar of freedom, the Greek people rallied around the battle cry ``Eleftheria I Thanatos'' ``liberty or death,'' mirroring the words of American Patriot Patrick Henry who said: ``Give me liberty or give me death.'' These words personified the Greek patriots' unmitigated desire to be free.

Another heroic Greek whom many believe was the most important figure in the revolution was Theodoros Kolokotronis. He was the leader of the Klephts, a group of rebellious and resilient Greeks who refused to submit to Turkish subjugation. Kolokotronis used military strategy he learned while in the service of the English Army to organize a force of over 7,000 men. The Klephts swooped down on the Turks from their mountain strongholds, battering their oppressors into submission.

One battle in particular, where Kolokotronis led his vastly outnumbered forces against the Turks, stands out. The Turks had invaded the Peloponnese with 30,000 men. Kolokotronis led his force, which was outnumbered by a ration of 4 to 1, against the Turkish army. A fierce battle ensued and many lives were lost,

but after a few weeks, the Turks were forced to retreat. Kolokotronis is a revered Greek leader, because he embodied the hopes and dreams of the common man, while displaying extraordinary courage and moral fiber in the face of overwhelming odds.

Athanasios Diakos was another legendary hero, a priest, a patriot, and a soldier. He led 500 of his men in a noble stand against 8,000 Ottoman soldiers. Diakos' men were wiped out and he fell into the enemy's hands, where he was severely tortured before his death. He is the image of a Greek who gave all for love of faith and homeland. While individual acts of bravery and leadership are often noted, the Greek Revolution was remarkable for the bravery and fortitude displayed by the typical Greek citizen. This heroic ideal of sacrifice and service is best demonstrated through the story of the Suliotes, villagers who took refuge from Turkish authorities in the mountains of Epiros. The fiercely patriotic Suliotes bravely fought the Turks in several battles. News of their victories spread throughout the region and encouraged other villages to revolt. The Turkish Army acted swiftly and with overwhelming force to quell the Suliote uprising.

The Suliote women were alone as their husbands battled the Turks at the front. When they learned that Turkish troops were fast approaching their village, they began to dance the Syrtos, a patriotic Greek dance. One by one, rather than face torture or enslavement at the hands of the Turks, they committed suicide by throwing themselves and their children off Mount Zalongo. They chose to die rather than surrender their freedom.

The sacrifice of the Suliotes was repeated in the Arkadi Monastery of Crete. Hundreds of noncombatants, mainly the families of the Cretan freedom fighters, had taken refuge in the monastery to escape Turkish reprisals. The Turkish army was informed that the Monastery was used by the Cretan freedom fighters as an arsenal for their war material, and they set out to seize it. As the Turkish troops were closing in, the priest gathered all the refugees in the cellar around him. With their consent, he set fire to the gunpowder kegs stored there, killing all but a few. The ruins of the Arkadi Monastery, like the ruins of our Alamo, still stand as a monument to liberty.

News of the Greek revolution met with widespread feelings of compassion in the United States. The Founding Fathers eagerly expressed sentiments of support for the fledgling uprising. Several American Presidents, including James Monroe and John Quincy Adams, conveyed their support for the revolution through their annual messages to Congress. William Harrison, our ninth president, expressed his belief in freedom for Greece, saying: ``We must send our free will offering. `The Star-spangled Banner' must wave in the Aegean . . . a messenger of fraternity and friendship to Greece.''

Various Members of Congress also showed a keen interest in the Greeks' struggle for autonomy. Henry Clay, who in 1825 became Secretary of State, was a champion of Greece's fight for independence. Among the most vocal was Daniel Webster from Massachusetts, who frequently roused the sympathetic interest of his colleagues and other Americans in the Greek revolution.

It should not surprise us that our Founding Fathers would express such keen support for Greek independence, for they themselves had been inspired by the ancient Greeks in their own struggle for freedom. As Thomas Jefferson once said, ``To the ancient Greeks . . . we are all indebted for the light which led ourselves . . . American colonists, out of gothic darkness.'' Our two nations share a brotherhood bonded by the common blood of democracy, birthed by Lady Liberty, and committed to the ideal that each individual deserves the right of self- determination.

We all know that the price of liberty can be very high--history is replete with the names of the millions who have sacrificed for it. Many great scholars throughout history warned that we maintain democracy only at great cost. The freedom we enjoy today is due to a large degree to the sacrifices made by men and women in the past--in Greece, in America, and all over the world.

I recount these stories because they pay homage to Greece's absolute commitment to freedom and liberty and the common bonds which we share. Unfortunately, our devotion to the principle of freedom is not shared by many people whose interests are better served by applying oppression to their own people and spreading terrors elsewhere.

Freedom is America's heart. It is central to our being, and from the beginning we have recognized that freedom is not just an American right. It is a God-given right to every citizen of the world.

We must not overlook those who are still fighting for their independence in other parts of the world, such as in the Republic of Cyprus. Turkey still illegally occupies Cyprus, as it has since its invasion in 1974. Finding a fair resolution for Cyprus will help stabilize a region marked more often by conflict than accord.

As with so many international issues, U.S. leadership is essential to urge Turkish and Turkish Cypriot leaders toward peace. One year after United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan proposed his plan as a basis for negotiations between the Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots, the Turkish Cypriot leadership finally agreed to restart the negotiations. The proposed plan aims at reuniting the island under a government of shared power and having the united island admitted to the European Union on May 1, 2004. This is a vision worthy of our attention and full support because it has the potential to end the illegitimate division of Cyprus, improve the relations between Turkey and Greece and promote stability in the sensitive region of Eastern Mediterranean.

We must never forget that freedom must be constantly guarded. It is a noble but fragile thing that can be stolen or snuffed out if not protected. We cannot take for granted that we are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights. We enjoy our freedom only because we have been willing to fight and die for it, just like our forefathers and the valiant Greeks in 1821.

Mr. Speaker, on this 183rd birthday of Greek Independence, when we celebrate the restoration of democracy to the lands of its conception, we also celebrate the triumph of the human spirit and the strength of man's will. The goals and values that people of Greece share with the people of the United States reaffirm our common democratic heritage. This occasion also serves to remind us that we must never take for granted the right to determine our own fate.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3926, the Organ Donation and Recovery Improvement Act. I recently introduced this legislation, which reflects a bipartisan, bicameral agreement that was reached with the Senate late last year. I am urging all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this timely legislation.

Most of us are well aware of the great need for donated organs and tissue. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, there are 84,138 people currently waiting for a transplant. Only 23,387 individuals had received a transplant between January and November of 2003. Additionally, 12,133 individuals had donated their organs within that same timeframe. Tragically, 6,187 individuals died in 2002 while on the waiting list.

It is our duty to do everything in our power to prevent these oftentimes needless deaths from occurring. That's why H.R. 3926 is so important. This legislation targets federal dollars into areas that we feel will have a substantial impact in increasing organ donation rates in this country. For example, living donors represented over half of all donors in the first nine months of 2003. That is why H.R. 3926 authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants for the purpose of covering travel and subsistence expenses incurred by living organ donors. While the decision to become a living organ donor is an intensely personal one, I feel that it is our responsibility to remove any financial barriers that might prevent someone from making the ``gift of life.''

H.R. 3926 also provides the Secretary with $15 million in new grant authority to assist state governments and public and nonprofit private entities in developing innovative initiatives designed to increase organ donation rates, including living donation. I am hopeful we will learn some valuable lessons from these demonstration projects that we will be able to apply on a national scale.

I also want to point out for my colleagues that this bill contains important evaluation mechanisms, so we can ensure that our targeted federal assistance makes a demonstrable impact on increasing organ and tissue donation rates. I think these provisions are critically important and will help us monitor the effectiveness of these new programs.

I would like to take a moment to note that section 4 of this legislation is modeled after the Floyd D. Spence Organ Coordination Improvement Act, which Congressman Joe Wilson introduced in the 107th Congress. I know he's worked very hard with Congressman Jay Inslee in this area, and I'm pleased we were able to include this important provision in our broader bill.

H.R. 3926 is widely supported by the transplant community and takes a positive step forward in our effort to ensure that every American has access to a donated organ or tissue when they need it.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take my special order at this time.

Madam Speaker, some military retirees, individuals who are eligible for military retirement benefits as a result of a full- service career, are also eligible for disability compensation from the VA based on a medical problem they incurred while in the service. Due to a 19th Century law, these service-disabled retirees must surrender a portion of their retired pay if they want to receive the disability compensation to which they are entitled.

Nationwide more than 550,000 disabled military retirees have been required to give up their retired pay in order to receive their VA disability compensation. For nearly 2 decades, Madam Speaker, I have introduced legislation to correct this longstanding problem, commonly known as concurrent receipt, in the House of Representatives.

Last year our Republican Congress and President George W. Bush reached an historic agreement that changes the 100-year-old practice of having disabled veterans pay for their VA disability out of their military retirement. The new law greatly expands the Combat-Related Special Compensation Program, which we refer to as CRSC, by repealing the 60 percent minimum disability requirement which was set forth in the 2003 Defense Authorization Act. Effective January 1, 2004, earlier this year, CRSC is payable to any military retiree, including personnel who qualify for reserve retirement, who has at least 20 years of service, a Purple Heart and/or injuries sustained while performing military duty in a combat situation or with military equipment or during military training. Retirees must apply to their military service for CRSC payments, but there is no phase-in period for the CRSC benefit.

The new law also phases in full concurrent receipt benefits over the next 10 years for those who have service-connected disabilities rated 50 percent or higher. In addition, the law extends concurrent receipt and CRSC coverage to Reserve and National Guard retirees who were inadvertently excluded from the CRSC program when it was originally enacted. I am pleased to report that on February 1 approximately 150,000 disabled retirees began receiving their new benefits.

Unfortunately, Madam Speaker, the issue of concurrent receipt has become something of a ``political football.'' Some of my Democratic colleagues have been working hard to convince our Nation's veterans that they are truly dedicated to keeping America's promise to them. I find it highly ironic that these Members are now commending themselves for their recent leadership on an issue that I have been

pursuing for 18 years and I have a simple question for them: ``Where have you been all of these years?''

For the 40 years that the Democrats had nearly exclusive control of Congress, they never sent a bill, never sent a bill, to end this unfair practice to either a Republican or Democratic President. Moreover, the House Democrats have never included one penny for concurrent receipt in any of their annual budget proposals. For the first 9 years that I worked on this issue, I was stymied at every turn by the party who controlled Congress. My 1993 Discharge Petition was signed by a small fraction of those who last year expressed a sudden interest in the issue by signing the Democrat Discharge Petition. Not a single disabled retiree, Madam Speaker, received any concurrent receipt benefits under the Democratically controlled Congress.

However, Democrats are now shamelessly attempting to hijack this issue in an effort to portray themselves as friends of disabled military veterans. It was not until the Republican Party took control of Congress in 1995 that we have made significant progress, a step-by- step advance towards full concurrent receipt. The Republican-controlled Congress has acted on five separate occasions to address the concurrent receipt issue.

Republicans also fulfilled the pledge given to millions of military retirees that they would receive lifetime medical coverage in exchange for their selfless military service to the Nation with the enactment of the TRICARE-for-Life program. Moreover, spending for veterans' health care programs has grown by 49 percent over the past 5 years, grown by 49 percent over the past 5 years. So I ask which political party has been the true, underline ``true,'' friend of our Nation's military retirees and veterans?

Despite this breakthrough, full concurrent receipt does remain a priority goal for all of us who have been involved in the campaign to provide equity to America's disabled military retirees. In the interim, Madam Speaker, of reaching our ultimate goal, I would say that I am very proud of our accomplishments on behalf of the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for our great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Tarpon Springs, Florida, High School girls' soccer team, which recently won the class 4A state soccer championship.

I am especially proud of the Spongers, as they are known, because I am a resident of Tarpon Springs. I know how important athletics are to these young student-athletes and how their accomplishments reflect positively on our community. I am fortunate to have been able to attend many athletic events at Tarpon Springs High School over the years and always have been impressed with the spirit, determination, and skill of Sponger teams, both boys and girls.

I also am heartened that these fine young women recognize and acknowledge the importance of faith in their lives. Team members prayed together regularly and wrote the words ``faith'' and ``believe'' on their shin guards so that they remembered the importance of their commitment to themselves, each other, and their faith.

I want to congratulate Coach John Freiermuth, and assistant coaches Jaimie Adkins and John Freiermuth, Jr., on leading their charges to victory and teaching such a fine group of young women about competition, sportsmanship, and excellence.

I also want to congratulate each of the team's members on their fine season: Kara Torasso, Brandi Bianco, Whitney Gause, Rebecca Smith, Giana Kase, Valerie Viggiano, Paige Beyer, Savannah Brum, Ashley Jeffris, Jordan Beyer, Katy Conrad, Maria Tagaropoulos, Kristen Freiermuth, Kaitlyn Dassat, Libby Gianeskis, Jessica Miller, Jessica Lukas, Brittany Gomez, Barbara Packard, Lindsey Davis, Alexia Berg, Megan Nowikowski, and Jamie Ouverson.

Mr. Speaker, I hope our colleagues will join me in commending the Tarpon Springs High School girls' soccer team for winning the class 4A state girls' soccer championship and for the outstanding example they have set for us, their peers, and my community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Justin Gregorich, one of my young constituents who recently saved someone's life.

Justin was walking home from football practice last week when he witnessed an elderly man lose control of his car, drive into a retention pond, and begin sinking in the snake and alligator-filled water. Justin instantly dove into the water, and with the help of two other passers by, pulled the man from his submerged car to safety.

Justin's two helpers, Michael McBayer and Shawn Brady, live in Chairman Bill Young's congressional district, which borders mine. Justin credited Mr. McBayer and Mr. Brady for saving the car's driver, though he said his only thought when he saw the crash was that ``I gotta save that guy.'' I think that Justin's mother, Alice, must have taught her son to be humble and help others, which is exactly what he did that day. She certainly deserves credit for raising such an outstanding young man.

Mr. Speaker, Justin, Michael, and Shawn are heroes in the truest sense of the word. They disregarded their own safety for that of another. Their selfless actions should remind us all of the fundamental goodness and humanity that so many of our countrymen exhibit everyday. I urge our colleagues to join me in thanking them for their actions and for reminding us of the spirit of compassion and courage which makes our country great.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jennifer Hunter, one of my remarkable young constituents who had an outstanding accomplishment.

Jennifer is a 12 year-old little leaguer in my hometown of Tarpon Springs, Florida. In April of last year, she used her 60 mile per-hour fastball to throw a no-hitter against one of her team's opponents. She had a 6 and 3 record and a 2.10 Earned Run Average in 54 innings last season. Baseball fans know that these are tremendous accomplishments. They are especially impressive considering Jennifer is playing against boys.

Jennifer, you see, loves baseball and wanted to test her skills against her peers, both male and female. Her teammates were unsure about having a girl on their team at first, until they saw her play. Jennifer recently told Sports Illustrated that ``they thought I wasn't going to be any good.'' However, she says, they became closer once they saw her play, particularly after her no-hitter. Jennifer wants to play in the Women's Professional Baseball League next year, and though the league has no players younger than 18, I am confident that she will give the older women all they can handle.

Mr. Speaker, Jennifer Hunter has shown me, my friends, and neighbors that hard work, determination, and perseverance can help us achieve what many, if not most, thought impossible. I congratulate her and her family and urge our colleagues to wish her luck in her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lowell Stanberry, a good friend and great American who has dedicated his life to helping others and fighting for what he believes.

Lowell is a legend in Dade City, Florida, which I formerly represented. He has worked hard his entire life and has been vitally important to the city's economic prosperity. He has volunteered in various capacities for numerous volunteer, civic, and philanthropic organizations which work to improve the lives of those who have lived in Lowell's community.

Lowell also has been a lifelong conservative. He was a Republican long before it was politically-expedient. ``I think politics is kind of like religion,'' he says. ``If you were born a Republican, I think you die a Republican.''

He certainly has made his mark on local, state, and national politics. He helped make the Pasco County Republican Party what it is today. He has helped elect numerous public officials. I am unsure whether I would have won my first congressional election had it not been for Lowell's support. He also has been actively involved in other gubernatorial and presidential campaigns in Florida.

The East Pasco Republican Club recently honored Lowell with its Lincoln Heritage Award, which the group gives to an outstanding individual who upholds the ideals of service and intelligent compassion. I cannot think of a more deserving recipient than Lowell Stanberry.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud and honored to call Lowell a friend and fellow Republican. He has taught everyone with whom he has come into contact the importance of charity and of maintaining the courage of your convictions.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Richard Silver, a public servant who has dedicated his life to caring for and comforting our country's veterans.

Dick Silver has worked in various capacities for the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs for more than fifty years. During that time, he has served as the director, assistant director, administrator, and personnel services officer at VA hospitals in Massachusetts, Washington D.C., New Jersey, North Carolina, and eventually, in Florida.

Dick was appointed Director of the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa, which is near my congressional district, in 1979. The hospital, and its associated outpatient clinics, nursing homes, and domiciliaries, serves many of my constituents and has grown dramatically during his tenure. He has guided the hospital through trying times with humor, grace, and an abiding respect for the men and women who seek care at his facilities.

I worked closely with Dick over the past decade to build a spinal cord injury unit at the Tampa VA. Dick's guidance, wisdom, and knowledge were instrumental in helping me secure the necessary Federal funding for the project. He oversaw construction of the unit which, in the words of VA Secretary Principi, provides the best care in the country for veterans with spinal cord injuries and dysfunction.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to know and have worked closely with Richard Silver for so many years. His leadership, dedication, and professionalism have been an asset to me, our country, and those for whom he and his staff care.