Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a very special Athletic Director today, Oval Jaynes.

Jaynes has served as Athletic Director at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama for the past three years and on April 30, 2011, Jaynes will retire.

JSU enjoyed much success Jayne's leadership, winning numerous Ohio Valley Conference Championships and advancing to NCAA postseason play, and more than 300 student-athletes posted a 3.0 grade point average or higher in the classroom. Jaynes, who spent more than 20 years in coaching, including three years as the head football coach at Gardner- Webb, began his administrative career as an Assistant Athletic Director and Associate Athletic Director at Auburn University from 1981-1986.

He was Athletics Director at Colorado State for five years before taking over at the University of Pittsburgh. He led the Panther athletic department from 1991 until 1996, when he moved to Director of Athletics at the University of Idaho. He then spent five years at Chattanooga as Director of Athletics and then another year at UTC as Special Assistant to the Chancellor.

Fourteen of his former staff members went on to serve as Athletic Directors at Division I Institutions, including Jay Jacobs at Auburn University and Mark Hollis at Michigan State University.

Forty of his former staff members and players have gone on to become head football coaches, including Skip Holtz and Urban Meyer, and 61 have become NFL assistant coaches. Additionally, three of his former coaches went on to become head coaches in the NFL.

Jaynes has served on different NCAA committees, the NCAA Council, the Nominating Committee and chair of the District VII Post-Graduate Scholarship Committee. In 1999, he received the General Robert R. Neyland Award for Lifetime Achievement by the All-American Football Foundation and in 2002, the Bill Wade Unsung Hero Award. In 2008, he was inducted into the Burke County Sports Hall of Fame in his hometown of Morganton, N.C.

Jaynes was born on July 25, 1940, and is a graduate of Appalachian State University. Jaynes is married to Pricilla and has two sons, Lee and Brandon and three grandchildren. I'm proud to congratulate Oval Jaynes on his retirement and thank him for his service to JSU.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a very special Alabamian today, Bishop Clarence E. Stewart, Jr.

Bishop Stewart has served as pastor of Ambassadors for Christ Ministries in Montgomery, Alabama, since 2002. Over the past decade, the church has grown tremendously and he's also created a successful television and radio ministry.

Bishop Stewart received his education in Montgomery County, Alabama and continued his studies at Alabama State University. He is the son of Clarence E. Stewart, Sr. and Annie Ruth Gilmore, and is father to three daughters, Jennifer, Shay, and Joia, and one son, Clarence III (Tre').

I am proud to honor the 10th Pastoral Appreciation of Bishop Clarence E. Stewart, Jr., and applaud him for his ministries in Montgomery.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a very special occasion today--the 150th anniversary of the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Delta, Alabama.

The first mention of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church was on October 21, 1859. Mt. Moriah along with eight other churches met and organized what was then called the Boiling Springs Association.

According to Baptist Archives, Mt. Moriah Baptist Church was established by 1860. The First pastor was Hiram J. Hickey, First Deacon ordained was John Garrett and First Clerk was Eli Frost.

On May 3, 1890, church minutes state the previous conference minutes were destroyed by fire and could not be read. On September 1, 1890, membership consisted of 37 men and 65 women. Total funds were $2.85, but Amazing Grace could still be heard through the church doors despite the hardships endured.

The church has been in three associations of the Southern Baptist Conference for a total of 150 years. When the Boiling Springs Association dissolved in October of 1898, after convening for 39 years, each church was granted a letter to join the Calhoun, Cleburne or Coosa River Association.

One month later 10 churches met at Ramah (now known as Delta Baptist Church) for the purpose of forming the Clay Association which Mt. Moriah became a part of. Association records show the Clay Association was founded on November 25, 1898. Mt. Moriah was recognized as one of two churches that were chartered founders of the Clay Association and were honored at the association meeting for the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Clay County Baptist Association in 1998. When the Clay and Carey Association voted to break joint partnership Mt. Moriah became part of the Carey Association.

The present church was erected in 1957. Mr. Earnest R. Clarke, Sr. and Mrs. Irene Sprayberry Daughterty have been members of Mt. Moriah for over 75 years. Since 1957 the church has gone through several remodeling projects and has added a fellowship hall.

I congratulate Mt. Moriah Baptist Church on their 150th anniversary and wish their congregation the best.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a very special Alabamian today, Mrs. Mildred Hemmons-Carter.

Mrs. Hemmons-Carter was born in Benson, Alabama, on September 12, 1921. She began her college career at Tuskegee Institute at the young age of 15 and graduated in 1941 with a degree in Business. Mrs. Hemmons-Carter was a work study student under Mr. G.L. Washington, who, along with Tuskegee Institute President Dr. Patterson, spearheaded the Civilian Pilot Training Program and received her pilot's license on February 1, 1941.

Mrs. Hemmons-Carter was the first African-American woman to receive her pilot's license in the State of Alabama.

She continued her interest in aviation, and has lived her dreams of flying through her husband, Ret. Col. Herbert E. Carter, an original Tuskegee Airman.

I am proud to honor the 70th anniversary of this important milestone and applaud Mildred Hemmons-Carter for her work in aviation as a trailblazer in Alabama.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to Lieutenant General James H. Pillsbury.

LTG Pillsbury was commissioned in May of 1973 and served in a myriad of key positions throughout his career, from second lieutenant platoon leader to lieutenant general and deputy commanding general of Army Materiel Command.

LTG Pillsbury served as Commander of the U.S. Army, Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama from 2003-2007. While there, he was instrumental in his efforts to represent the greater Tennessee Valley and Redstone Arsenal during the Base Realignment and Closure selection process. With LTG Pillsbury's support, Redstone Arsenal was successful in securing the relocation of Army Materiel Command Headquarters from Fort Belvoir, Virginia to Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

LTG Pillsbury's presentation was inclusive of all tenants of Redstone Arsenal and included the two subordinate commands of AMCOM, Letterkenny Army Depot (PA) and Corpus Christi Army Depot (TX). His presentation focused on the value of the installation to not only the Army but all of the Department of Defense, and the ability and potential for growth beyond BRAC 2005.

He and his wife, Becky have returned to Redstone Arsenal where he'll complete his military service while assigned as the Deputy Commanding General for Army Materiel Command and will retire in May after 38 years of service.

I congratulate LTG Pillsbury on his retirement and thank him for his service to America.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to Sergeant Norman Elden Willingham.

Sgt. Willingham grew up in Tuscaloosa County and graduated from Northside High School in 1969. After graduation, he served with honor and distinction in the U.S. Marine Corp from 1969-71 with a tour of duty in Vietnam as a machine gunner.

In 1974, he graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Arts degree. From 1974-76, he worked as a police officer for the University of Alabama Police Department. From 1976-80, he was employed as a police officer with the City of Tuscaloosa and earned a Masters degree in criminal justice in 1979 from the University of Alabama.

In 1980, he went to work for the Birmingham Police Department. Upon graduating Birmingham Police Department's academy, Sgt. Willingham was immediately transferred into the Narcotics Unit, where he worked undercover for 2 years. In 1982, Sgt. Willingham went to work for the Northport Police Department, where he was assigned as one of the original members of the West Alabama Drug Task Force until 1985.

In 1985, he went to work with the Alabama Department of Public Safety. Sgt. Willingham was assigned as an Alabama State Trooper in Greene County, Alabama, for 3 years, where he developed a reputation as a professional law enforcement officer. In 1988, Sgt. Willingham transferred to the Alabama Bureau of Investigations where he completed assignments in the general crime investigative division and the narcotics investigation units.

In 1999, Sgt. Willingham was assigned to the Birmingham District Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration where he serves until his retirement on April 1, 2011. He has developed a reputation throughout Alabama and the United States narcotics law enforcement community as the ``go to guy'' in Alabama. Sgt. Willingham has been the case agent on several multi-state and international drug investigations which have led to the dismantlement of drug trafficking organizations throughout the United States.

He is preparing to slow down and work on his farm in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, with his wife Martha, and spending time with his family. I congratulate Sgt. Willingham on his retirement and thank him for his service to America.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a very special occasion today--the 100th anniversary of the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce.

Originally, the Anniston Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1910 and celebrated their first year at their Annual Meeting in 1911. Two neighboring cities and a town, Oxford, Jacksonville and Piedmont also formed chambers of commerce. In 1979, Oxford and Jacksonville merged with Anniston to create the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce, and in 1984, Piedmont also joined, truly creating a ``Voice of Business.''

The Chamber solicits input from member businesses, forms policy and acts as a spokesperson for the business and professional community. As the first stop for newcomers, the Chamber serves as the area's ``front porch'' and referral center. The Chamber provides specific services such as training, marketing tools, networking opportunities and information to assist members in growing their businesses, thus strengthening the local economy.

Over 300 volunteers carry out the annual Program of Action. The chamber is independent of government funding and its entrepreneurial spirit has led the organization to a point in which it delivers three dollars of service value for every dollar paid in dues. The chamber has played a crucial role in many community milestones including the establishment of Fort McClellan and Anniston Army Depot, continuing safe destruction of stored chemical munitions, easing of tensions during the Civil Rights era, recruitment of industries, formation of the Economic Development Council and construction of the Veterans' Memorial Parkway.

As Calhoun County and northeast Alabama move forward, the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce is poised for continuing growth and success and I am proud to honor the 100th anniversary of this important organization in my hometown. Congratulations to the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a very special occasion today--the 40th wedding anniversary of Thomas and Camille Ogiba. This event will take place on January 16, 2011, but family and friends are celebrating the event on January 14, 2011.

Thomas Henry Ogiba was born on January 24, 1947, in Stamford, Connecticut, to Henry and Rose Ogiba. His wife, Camille Caruso Ogiba, was born on January 18, 1946, in Stamford, Connecticut, to Pete and Rose Caruso. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Ogiba were married on January 16, 1971, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Stamford, Connecticut. Together they raised two children, Thomas and Jena.

Thomas and Camille currently reside in Naples, Florida. I salute this lovely couple on the 40th year of their life together and join their friends and family in honoring them on this special occasion.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 1761, a resolution congratulating Auburn University quarterback and College Park, Georgia, native Cam Newton on winning the 2010 Heisman Trophy for being the most outstanding college football player in America.

I would like to thank everyone that came together to bring this resolution to the floor today, including the leadership of both sides, the Committee on Ed and Labor, and especially Mr. Lewis of Georgia.

Madam Speaker, Cam Newton is from College Park, Georgia, outside Atlanta, and went to Westlake High School in Mr. Lewis' congressional district. From there, he came to Auburn University in my congressional district earlier this year. Cam quickly became a starting quarterback.

From his first few games with Auburn, it was easy to see that, standing at 6-6 and 250 pounds, Cam was no ordinary quarterback. He could rush, throw, and even catch touchdowns from anywhere on the field. If the ball was in his hands, he was a threat to score.

Needless to say, Cam has set many records in his long list of statistics that are downright unbelievable. If you saw his incredible performance against LSU, Cam had a 49-yard run for a touchdown, the miraculous comeback to win in the Iron Bowl in the second half after trailing 24-0, or, with 16 seconds left in the first half of the SEC

championship, the Hail Mary pass into the end zone for an unbelievable catch by Darwin Adams, then you have seen why Cam is such a driving force for the Auburn Tigers and why he won the Heisman Trophy.

The one statistic that counts most to Cam and most of the fans at Auburn is the undefeated record of 13-0, and in a few short weeks he will play for the BCS championship. And, by the way, if the gentleman from Eugene, Oregon, is here, watch out.

Madam Speaker, in Alabama, we live and breathe SEC football. Saturdays in the fall are spent with family and friends watching your favorite team. Regardless of who your team is, you can't deny that Cam Newton is the best college football player in America in 2010.

To Cam and the entire Auburn University football team, I say congratulations and you deserve it. And to everyone else, I say War Eagle!

With that, I yield to my friend and colleague from Alabama, Spencer Bachus, such time as he may consume.

With that, Madam Speaker, I would just urge a favorable vote by my colleagues and yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I would like to request the House's attention today to pay recognition to Dorothy Anita Newhouse Smith who will celebrate her 100th birthday on December 27th.

Ms. Smith was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to the late Grace and Boudin Newhouse, immigrants from Holland. In 1917, before World War I, her family bought a farm in Brecksville, Ohio and she spent her childhood raising vegetables for their truck farming operation and graduating as Salutatorian of her high school class. She began working at Union Carbide where she met her husband Charles Smith of Alabama.

Dot and Charles eloped on May 27, 1939. In 1942, they had their first child, Charlie, and in 1945, Cheryl. In 1946, they moved to Union Springs, Alabama. Dot devoted her life to her husband and children and served as a volunteer for PTA, Union Spring Elementary School room mother, Boy and Girl Scout leader, Sunday School teacher and Civil Air Patrol leader after the war ended.

Her husband died at the age of 74, and Ms. Smith eventually moved in with her daughter and son-in-law, Cheryl and Jim Cunningham, in Franklin, Alabama. She lived there until 2001 when she moved to Monarch Estates in Auburn.

Ms. Smith has lived through wars, the Great Depression and seen so many historic events as they have taken place. Her son, Charlie, and grandson, Todd, passed away years ago. Her daughter Cheryl, her granddaughters, Leigh Reed and Heather Hodges and her six great- grandchildren, Casey and Tyler Ellison, Trey and Anne Carter Reed and Michael and Hunter Hodges, visit regularly and still enjoy her stories of growing up in Ohio and the family stories of relatives in Holland.

I wish Ms. Smith a very happy birthday and many more.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 1585, as amended, which honors the service and sacrifice of the 60th Air Mobility Wing, the 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force, and the 615th Contingency Response Wing, civilians and families serving at Travis Air Force Base in California.

I would like to thank the gentleman from California for introducing this resolution. I am honored to pay tribute to Team Travis and the 13,900 active duty members, reservists, and civilians who make Travis Air Force Base, located in northern California, an integral part of our Air Force and our Nation's security.

The 60th Air Mobility Wing is one of the largest mobility organizations and has supported operations during World War II, the Korean War, and the Persian Gulf War. After September 11, the Air Mobility Wing provided close to 175,000 hours of airlift, refueling, and aero-medical evacuation support during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. More recently, the 60th Air Mobility Wing supported humanitarian aid operations in Darfur.

After the devastating earthquake struck Haiti earlier this year, Team Travis was first to provide humanitarian airlift and continued support with search and rescue, medical efforts, and the delivery of more than 1 million pounds of cargo.

Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not also pay tribute to the incredible families of these brave airmen who waited at home while their loved one answered our Nation's call. Some of these airmen have paid the ultimate price to defend our freedom, and I offer my condolences to their families. We are proud of Team Travis. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge all Members to support this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of this legislation, my friend and colleague from Ohio (Mr. Latta).

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

I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1740, which recognizes the service and sacrifices of the members of the Army and Air National Guard on the occasion of the 374th anniversary of the National Guard. I want to commend Representative Robert Latta of Ohio for sponsoring this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, America is such a dynamic, forward moving, ever changing Nation that few institutions can survive for long unless they repeatedly prove their worth and are capable of changing to meet new challenges.

For more than 300 years, the National Guard has repeatedly demonstrated its worth and value to this Nation in the crises of peace and war. The courage and commitment and sacrifices of National Guard members have been an integral part of every war this Nation has fought.

These citizen soldiers most recently have accepted an entirely new role in our national security and enthusiastically transformed themselves and their units from a ready reserve to an operational reserve where repeated deployments to combat have become the norm, not the exception.

While providing significant combat power to support ongoing wars, the Guard has remained true to its mission to support the individual States in times of natural disasters. With this dual requirement to support not only the Nation but also the people of the States from which they come, the National Guard is indispensable to the well-being, safety, and security of all Americans.

This is why it is therefore right and proper that we recognize the National Guard for 374 years of outstanding service, and I urge all Members to support this resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 1217, as amended, which honors the Fort Drum soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division for their contribution to the security of the United States. I am honored to pay tribute to the current and former members of the 10th Mountain Division who have stood steadfastly and courageously defended and served this great country on our shores and in distant lands.

First activated in Colorado in 1943 during the early stages of World War II, the division known as the 10th Light Division prepared to join the fight against the Axis in Europe. When it finally entered combat in 1945, the division broke through battle-hardened German mountain troops in the Italian North Apennine Mountains. Victory was won in hard-fought battles in places like Po Valley, where the division suffered tremendous casualties. It was during the campaign in Italy that the division's own Private First Class John D. Magrath was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Following World War II, the 10th Mountain Division trained soldiers at Fort Riley, Kansas, and was deployed to West Germany to protect NATO. In 1985, the division began its long and storied relationship with the people of the North Country when it was located on Fort Drum, New York. Since then, the 10th Mountain Division has participated in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Continue Hope in Somalia, where it fought through the streets of Mogadishu to assist Rangers who were surrounded in the city, and Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti.

In late 2001, following the September 11 attacks, the division deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to oust the Taliban in Afghanistan. Subsequently, the division returned to Afghanistan in 2003, 2006, and 2009. At the same time, the 10th Mountain Division has played a vital role in the successes of Operation Iraqi Freedom, deploying to Iraq for sometimes up to 15 months in 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2009. Today, these incredible soldiers continue to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sadly, the valiant service of the 10th Mountain Division has not been without enormous sacrifice. Throughout its history, members of the division have paid the ultimate price to ensure our freedom.

Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not also pay tribute to the incredible families of these brave soldiers who waited at home while their loved ones answered our Nation's call. The entire Nation owes the soldiers and veterans of the 10th Mountain Division a debt of gratitude. To each and every one of them I say, ``Climb to glory.'' We are proud of their service. And, therefore, Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge all Members to support this resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1724, which commends the city of Jacksonville, Arkansas, for its outstanding support and enduring partnership with Little Rock Air Force Base.

I also want to commend my friend and colleague, Representative Vic Snyder from Arkansas, for sponsoring this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, the city of Jacksonville has long embraced the Air Force members and their families stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base, treating all like lifelong members of the community. While the city supports the base in a number of ways, one recent action was especially unusual. Recognizing the need for a new education facility, the voters of Jacksonville overwhelmingly agreed to temporarily raise their own taxes to pay for a Joint Education Center, donating $5 million to the Air Force for that purpose.

It is no surprise that the city of Jacksonville was honored by the Air Mobility Command with the award of the Abilene Trophy for the city's exceptional support for the Little Rock Air Force Base.

I urge all Members to support this resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.