Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a personal friend of mine, Reverend Everett Kelley, upon his retirement from the Anniston Army Depot and the Federal Government.

Mr. Kelley was born on February 24, 1957, in Goodwater, Alabama. In 1971, his family moved to Sylacauga, Alabama, where he graduated from Sylacauga High School in 1975. Later he enlisted in the United States Army and served three years at Fort Campbell in Kentucky.

In 1981, Everett began working at the Anniston Army Depot and on March 2, 2012, retired from Federal services with 34 years of service. While employed with the Anniston Army Depot, Everett was Program Specialist for the High School Co-Op Program and President of the AFGE Local 1945 for nine years. During his career he also held positions of Shop Steward, Chief Steward and Vice President of AFGE Local 1945.

During his career, Everett has served as Senior Pastor at St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church for the past 25 years.

Upon his retirement, Rev. Kelley will continue assisting Federal employees as National Vice President of AFGE District 5.

Mr. Speaker, I offer my congratulations to Reverend Everett Kelley and thank him for his outstanding service to our community and our nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend an outstanding young woman who attends Auburn University, which is located in my district in east-central Alabama. Auburn's Political Science Department recently started a new award that recognizes a student leader who excels in both the classroom and the community. It's my privilege to announce the first winner of Auburn's Political Science Leadership Award, Ms. Emily Scammell. A faculty committee selected her in recognition of her superb credentials.

Hailing from Daphne, Alabama, Emily is a junior political science major. She's minoring in hunger studies, which is part of the Universities Fighting World Hunger Initiative between the World Food Programme and Auburn University. Emily has a 3.9 Cumulative Grade Point Average and has made the dean's list for six consecutive semesters. She is a student in the Honors College at Auburn, won the Phi Kappa Phi First Year Award and is a recipient of the Spirit of Auburn Founder's Scholarship and the Academic Enrichment Scholarship.

Emily is active in student government, having served as director of honors activities and assistant director of organization programs. She is co-founder and vice president of the Campus Kitchen/Hunger Studies Group and an officer in her sorority. Emily volunteers at the East Alabama Food Bank and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Auburn. She has also worked at the Bay Area Food Bank in Theodore, Alabama, and the World Food Programme in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Speaker, I offer my congratulations to Emily and thank Auburn University for producing such outstanding students and citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a very special occasion today--the 50th wedding anniversary of Toby and Dianne Miller. This event will take place on March 13th.

Toby and Dianne were married in Buchanan, Georgia on March 13, 1962, and have three children, Hugh Dudley Miller, II, Alesia Miller Sherrow and Patrick Dean Miller. They have also been blessed with eight grandchildren.

Toby and Dianne first met on at Sunday afternoon at a local restaurant in Anniston, Alabama, The Goal Post. Toby attended school in Oxford and Dianne attended Anniston High.

In 1970, Toby and Dianne established Miller Funeral Home. In 1972, Congressman Bill Nichols selected Toby to be Oxford's Outstanding Young Man of the Year.

Toby also organized the Oxford Rescue Squad which operated out of the funeral home. It is the only independently owned and operated funeral home in Calhoun County. In 2010, Miller Funeral Home was awarded Calhoun County's Sustaining Business Award. Dianne Miller operated Miller Florist which was founded in 1983.

I salute this lovely couple on the 50th year of their life together and join their friends and family in honoring them on this special occasion.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to request the House's attention today to pay recognition to the G.W. Carver Wolverines Men's Basketball team in Montgomery, Alabama, who recently won the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 6A State Championship.

After years of state tournament disappointment, including the last two seasons, the Wolverines grasped their first state title since 1984. The Wolverines record was 29 wins and three losses, but ended the season with a 23-game winning streak. Mr. James ``J.J.'' Jackson is the Head Coach. The members of the team are: Jeremy Johnson, Anthony Jarrett, Zachary Rumph, Craig Sword, Brandon Davis, Tony Armstrong, Brandon Murphy-Blackmon, Brandon Austin, Jose Duncan and Tony Cole.

All of us across Montgomery County and east Alabama are deeply proud of these talented young Alabamians. I'd like to congratulate the team, coaches and G.W. Carver High School on this outstanding achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to request the House's attention today to pay recognition to the Jacksonville High School Lady Golden Eagles Women's Basketball team in Jacksonville, Alabama, who recently won the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 4A State Championship.

The Lady Golden Eagles are the first girls' basketball team in Calhoun County history to win a state title. The team began the season unranked, but proved during the season and post-season to be number one. Their overall record was 31 wins and four losses. The Lady Golden Eagles are led by Head Coach Ryan Chambless and his assistants Nate Lyons and Megan Snider.

All of us across Calhoun County and east Alabama are deeply proud of these talented young Alabamians. I'd like to congratulate the team, coaches and Jacksonville High School on this outstanding achievement.

I want to talk today about gas prices.

I represent a poor, rural congressional district where, unlike in the big

cities, you have to have an automobile to get around. In the 10 years I've been in Congress, I have not had any issue that has upset my constituents more, including the wars, than the gas prices we had 3 years ago. Yet here we are back in the same situation, with the prices of $105 for a barrel and $3.75 for a gallon of gas, and nothing has been done over the last 3 years by this administration to deal with this issue. More recently, the Keystone pipeline, which would have helped bring a lot more oil into the marketplace by bringing it down from Canada to our refineries on the coast, has been denied by the President.

He needs to be doing some things to help us. He says that people say, Drill, drill, drill, and that that won't solve our problem. Well, the fact is it might have if we'd started 3 years ago when we had the last burst of high gas prices. He's right, it won't help deal with the current problem, but this is going to continue to be a perpetual problem if he doesn't make some changes. He needs to authorize the drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf and in ANWR, and he needs to pass the Keystone pipeline.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a very special occasion today--the 65th wedding anniversary of Douglas and Katie Jo Medders. This event will take place on March 15th, but family and friends are celebrating the event on March 17, 2012.

Douglas and Katie Jo were married in Anniston in 1947 and had three children, Douglas Wayne, Danny and Pamela. The Medders have lived in Anniston all their lives.

Although now retired, Douglas worked at Lee Brass for 43 years retiring in 1990 and Katie Jo owned KaPam Beauty Shop for 28 years until her retirement. They are the proud grandparents of eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

I salute this lovely couple on the 65th year of their life together and join their friends and family in honoring them on this special occasion.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the 80th birthday of Mr. Eugene Champion.

Mr. Champion was born on February 20, 1932, in Crenshaw County, Alabama to Leon and Carol Champion. The son of a farmer and teacher, Eugene finished high school and served in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He attended and graduated from the University of Alabama on the GI Bill.

Eugene was married to his high school sweetheart, Bobbie Royal, in 1951. They had five children, Cindy, Mac, Becky, Amy and Bob. In 1976, Bobbie passed away. In 1979, Eugene married Margaret Scott and added her three children, Duane, Emalyn, and Derek to the family.

Mr. Champion received his CPA and worked as an accountant for several businesses as well as the State of Alabama.

After retiring from the State, Mr. Champion opened his own accounting firm. Although now retired, he still helps out friends with their taxes each year.

Eugene and Margaret are very involved in the First Baptist Church of Prattville. He is also an active member of the Lion's Club. Eugene is a proud grandfather and great-grandfather, who enjoys spending time with his family.

On February 19, his friends and family will celebrate his birthday in Prattville, Alabama. Today I would like to wish Eugene Champion a very Happy 80th Birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a constituent of mine, Mr. Jack Cline, who retires from the Anniston Army Depot in April.

Jack Cline is a native of Anniston, Alabama. Upon his honorable discharge from the United States Navy in 1979, he came to work at Anniston Army Depot March 1981.

Jack began his career at the depot as an Electronics Worker in the Missile Guidance Branch, Directorate of Maintenance. He also worked in Directorate of Mission Plans and Operations as a Planner. In 1991, he became the Division Chief for Weapon Systems. In 1996, he became the Deputy Director for Production, and in 1999 served as the Division Chief for Tracked Systems. In 2001, he was promoted to Director of Production and Jack currently serves today as the Deputy to the Commander.

Among many educational and professional accomplishments, Mr. Cline attended Army Management Staff College in Fort Belvoir, VA; and the Depot and Arsenal Executive Leadership Program at UNC, Chapel Hill.

Married to the former Jeni Guthrie of Oxford, Alabama, Jack has one daughter Beth Williams, a teacher, married to Brad who serves as a Youth Minister. They have one granddaughter Savannah. Jack also has one step-son, Matthew, who is a Chemical Engineer. Jack and Jeni are active members of the Harvest Church of God in Anniston.

We congratulate Jack on his retirement today and thank him for his steadfast and dedicated service to our nation. On behalf of everyone at Anniston Army Depot, we wish him the best.

Mr. Speaker, we have now reached a thousand days since the Congress of the United States has adopted a budget. It's not the fault of the House of Representatives. We passed a budget. We passed one last year and are going to pass another one this year. The President has proposed a budget every year, and nobody here much liked it. That's okay. He at least proposed a budget. What we haven't seen is the other body at the other end of the Capitol adopt a budget at all. They don't like the House budget; they don't like the President's budget. And they don't do anything.

The fact is, if we're ever going to get our financial house in order, we have to have a budget, just like families, just like businesses. It's time for the other body to pass a budget. It's time for the President to call on the other body, which is controlled by his party, to pass a budget. I hope he'll do that tonight. Because the fact is we've got to get this country working again. It's all about jobs. And the fact that the Congress can't operate under a budget and get its fiscal house in order is hindering that job growth because it's affecting the financial markets in a negative way.

So to the other body: Pass a budget.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to an upcoming celebration of the Tuskegee Airmen, which will be held on January 20th when the George Lucas film ``Red Tails'' makes its national debut.

The movie will highlight the heroic Tuskegee Airmen who served our country with honor and distinction even though they faced great challenges back at home. The Tuskegee Airmen flew over 15,000 missions and were awarded the Congressional Medal in 2007.

Across Tuskegee and Alabama, friends will honor this tribute by wearing red and hanging red ribbons across the community. There will be a red ribbon hanging in my Washington, DC office as well.

In 1998, the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site at Moton Field in Macon County was established. This site draws people from all over to come and visit.

It is with deepest appreciation and honor that we celebrate the Tuskegee Airmen for the film ``Red Tails'' filmed in their honor. This tribute should be another great way to help continue to tell their story for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to the life of Mr. Jock Smith who passed away on January 8, 2012.

Mr. Smith was born in Manhattan, New York, on June 10, 1948, and graduated from Tuskegee University and later the University of Notre Dame Law School. He returned to Alabama after receiving his law degree.

Mr. Smith was an attorney and senior partner at the National Law Firm of Cochran, Cherry, Givens and Smith, P.C. He also worked as a sports agent for Cochran Sports Management, Assistant Attorney General of the State of Alabama and as a professor of political science at Tuskegee University.

Mr. Smith was a member of Christian Life Church in Montgomery, Alabama. He was married to Yvette Smiley-Smith and had a daughter Janay Johnson.

We honor the memory of Mr. Jock Smith today.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the managers on the part of the House have until midnight tonight, December 12, to file the conference report to accompany H.R. 1540.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to request the House's attention today to congratulate Handley High School of Roanoke, Alabama, on winning its first Alabama Class 3A championship football title in 90 years.

Rallying from a 14-7 deficit late in the fourth quarter, Handley came back to win the game 20-14 in stirring fashion with a goal-line stand in the final seconds. Led by their coach, Mike Battles, this team showed the type of grit and determination that we should all try to emulate during these difficult times.

Originally opened in 1848 as the Roanoke Academy, it was the first school in the city. After various changes through the years, the name of the school finally settled on Handley High School in 1910 to honor the memory of a Confederate soldier, Captain William Anderson Handley. The late Captain had gifted the land which supports the campus today in exchange for one dollar.

Known for its strong music, band and theatre department, Handley has always been known to offer its students excellent opportunities to pursue artistic endeavors. Now it has a football program it can brag about too.

Congratulations to Handley High School, Principal Gregory Foster, Superintendant Chuck Marcum and all their fans on their State Championship. Go Tigers!

Mr. Speaker, I would like to request the House's attention today to pay recognition to the special life of Ruby Hartley Barton of Talladega, Alabama.

Mrs. Barton was born on December 15, 1911 in Georgia to James and Victoria Hartley. Mrs. Barton's father died while she was a baby, and her mother raised her and her six brothers and sisters. Mrs. Barton grew up in a fanning and textile family.

She was married to the late B.W. Barton for over 50 years and was blessed with two sons,

Charles D. Barton and Larry H. Barton and one daughter, Edith Barton Bishop. Mrs. Barton now has three grandchildren, three great- grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Mrs. Barton worked at Bemis Mills for close to 40 years and has spent her life serving God and volunteering in her church as a Sunday School teacher, choir director and pianist.

On December 15th, her friends and family will celebrate her birthday in her room at Talladega Health Care in Talladega. Today I would like to wish Mrs. Ruby Hartley Barton a very Happy 100th Birthday.