Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I respectfully ask the attention of the House today to recognize Mr. James A. ``Pappy'' Dunn, and his extraordinary service to our country.

Born in Georgia in 1917, James Dunn attended high school in Montgomery, AL, and graduated from Alabama State University with a degree in chemistry in 1935. During World War II, from 1942 to 1945 he served our Nation in uniform along with Allied Forces in Europe. After returning from the war, he served as a coach and principal of the Calhoun County Training School, at which he served for 47 years. In 1987, Mr. Dunn became the first African-American elected to serve as a Calhoun County Commissioner. Since then, he has established himself as a community leader dedicated to working tirelessly for the people of Calhoun County, AL.

On December 7, Mr. Dunn and his family and friends will celebrate his 90th birthday. On behalf of so many of us across east Alabama, I thank Mr. Dunn for his lifetime of service to our community and our Nation, and wish him all the best at this important milestone in his life.

Madam Speaker, I respectfully ask the attention of the House today to pay recognition to a constituent of

mine, Mr. Wayne Williams, and his steadfast service to his community.

Mr. Williams has served as the fire chief of station 18 of the Ohatchee Volunteer Fire Department since 1981. His many years of service have helped further strengthen station 18 as an institution the people of Calhoun County have always relied upon to provide safety and peace of mind. On December 6, the members of station 18 will gather to honor Mr. Williams' service during their annual Christmas Dinner.

I am proud to join the members of the Ohatchee VFD in thanking Mr. Williams for his service and wish him and his family the best at this important occasion to honor his dedication and leadership.

Madam Speaker, I respectfully ask the attention of the House today to pay recognition to a constituent of mine, Mrs. Ann Caldwell, and her decades of service to Southern Union State Community College in Wadley, Alabama.

For the past 33 years, Mrs. Caldwell has served the Southern Union music department, during which time she earned many noteworthy accomplishments, including a standing invitation at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She is well known across East Alabama for her musical and leadership abilities, and she is frequently praised for directing highly successful and entertaining musical performances for the community each year. In addition to her service on campus, Mrs. Caldwell is an active member of her community and church.

I thank Mrs. Caldwell for her decades of academic and community service, and I wish her and her family all the best in the future.

Madam Speaker, I respectfully ask the attention of the House today to pay recognition to the 100th anniversary celebration of the Alabama Governor's Mansion.

In 1950, a commission formed by the Alabama State Legislature acquired the home of the late Lt. Gov. Robert Fulwood Ligon from his heirs. The home at 1108 South Perry Street in Montgomery was completed in 1907, and cost the state $100,000 at the time of its purchase. Since January of 1951, this historic Neo-Classical Revival home has housed Alabama's governor after then-Governor Gordon Person and his family moved in on his inauguration day.

On November 12th of this year, Alabama Governor Riley will pay tribute to this historic structure, and host the festivities for this important occasion. Events will include historical lectures, public tours of the grounds, and an open reception.

I am pleased to help recognize this important occasion at the Governor's Mansion, and congratulate its staff on this historic occasion.

Madam Speaker, I respectfully ask the attention of the House today to pay recognition to the citizens of Coosa County, Alabama, who on this Saturday, October 27, will celebrate their county's 175th anniversary.

On December 18, 1832, the Alabama Legislature established Coosa County from lands acquired under the Creek Indian Treaty of Cusseta. The October 24th celebration will take palace in the county seat of Rockford, and will feature organizations from around the county. In addition to a live band and county history lecture, each of the county's cities and towns will present a welcome address.

I am pleased to recognize the citizens of Coosa County today for reaching this important milestone in the history of their county, and in the history of our great State.

Madam Speaker, I respectfully ask the House's attention today to recognizing a highly distinguished educator in my Congressional district, Dr. Lilli Land. Dr. Land is the principal of the Auburn Early Education Center, and recently received a National Distinguished Principal award from the National Association of Elementary School Principals.

Dr. Land is a graduate of Auburn University, and holds the following degrees in Early Childhood Education: Bachelor of Science, Master of Education, Specialist in Education, and a Doctorate in Philosophy. She has been a part of the Alabama Public School system since she first taught second grade in Tallapoosa County in 1981, and has more recently served as a kindergarten teacher and in various administrative capacities. In 2000, Dr. Land joined Auburn City Schools and now serves as AEEC's principal.

During Dr. Land's tenure, AEEC has become a renowned example of excellence in early childhood education. Her educational philosophy promotes original, student-driven content and individual attention to help maximize every student's potential. AEEC has also received numerous awards for outstanding integration of new technologies into their curriculum.

I congratulate Dr. Lilli Land for her years of service and outstanding leadership in helping educate Alabama's children.

Madam Speaker, SSG Eric D. Cottrell, a native of Pittsview, Alabama, was killed during an IED attack on August 13th in Qayyarah, Iraq. Staff Sergeant Cottrell was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division stationed in Fort Bliss, Texas.

Words cannot express the sense of sadness we have for his family, and the gratitude our country feels for his service. Eric, like other brave men and women who have served in uniform, died serving not just the United States, but the entire cause of liberty. Indeed, like those who have served before him, he was a true American.

We will forever hold him closely in our hearts, and remember his sacrifice and that of his family as a remembrance of his bravery and willingness to serve our nation. Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the House's remembrance at this mournful occasion.

Madam Speaker, 1Lt. Jonathan W. Edds of White Pigeon, MI, was killed during an lED attack in Baghdad, Iraq, on August 17, 2007. Jonathan was assigned to the Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division based in Fort Benning, GA. First Lieutenant Edds and his wife Laura resided in Phenix City, AL.

Words cannot express the sense of sadness we have for his family and the gratitude our country feels for his service. First Lieutenant Edds, like other brave men and women who have served in uniform, died serving not just the United States, but the entire cause of liberty. Indeed, like those who have served before him, he was a true American.

We will forever hold him closely in our hearts, and remember his sacrifice and that of his family as a remembrance of his bravery and willingness to serve our Nation. Thank

you, Madam Speaker, for the House's remembrance at this mournful occasion.

Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to first start by yielding 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro).

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

Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the gentleman from Arizona for bringing attention to this vitally important research being conducted at Auburn University, an outstanding university in my district.

As my colleagues from Alabama know, and specifically my friend and colleague, Mr. Davis from the Seventh District, Auburn University is the home to USDA Aquatic Animal Health Research Laboratory. This laboratory conducts important research to help solve challenges in aquaculture that diminish productivity, lower the quality of catfish products, and hurt the long-term health of our domestic producers.

As my colleagues on the Agriculture Committee know, catfish is the leading aquaculture industry in the United States. In 2005, according to USDA, domestic producers sold 650 million pounds of catfish valued at $460 million. That total is only expected to grow. Today, catfish production has become one of the most important agricultural activities in States such as Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and, of course, my home State of Alabama.

In recent years, the American catfish industry has been faced with intense competition from foreign producers, specifically countries like China and Vietnam. This not only poses serious challenges to our economy but, as we have seen in recent news reports about tainted Chinese food products, also to our health. In 2005, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi banned Vietnamese catfish after U.S. health officials detected a banned antibiotic in Vietnamese imports. That ban remains in effect. In May of this year, Alabama banned Chinese catfish over the same concern.

As with many agricultural imports, we have no control over what drugs these foreign countries are giving to their catfish, nor do we know what diseases they are trying to prevent. But one thing we do know is that we do not want these products, these diseases and those threats to our food and our health in our country.

That is why the funding included in this bill for the Catfish Pathogen Genomic Project is so important. It helps protect the safety and health of our food supply, it helps protect and strengthen important American products and an industry critical to the economics of several States, and it helps carry on the tradition of university based research supported by the Federal Government that benefits our economy and society.

Mr. Chairman, I strongly oppose the gentleman's amendment and ask the support of my colleagues for this important research program.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to my friend and colleague from Illinois (Mr. Jackson).

(Mr. JACKSON of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Chairman, I would like to close by saying to my friend from Arizona, I share his concerns over some of our fiscal behavior in this Congress in recent years, but clearly this kind of USDA research university partnership is exactly what we should be fostering, given our concerns in this country about our food supply and its safety.

Mr. Jackson did make reference to the fact that, in 2003, half of our catfish production was being affected by two diseases that this partnership has now alleviated. We can continue to ensure that supply is safe with this kind of expenditure.

Madam Speaker, Private First Class James J. Harrelson, age 19, a native of Dadeville, Alabama, was killed on July 17, 2007, in Baghdad. PFC Harrelson was assigned to B Company, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division based in Fort Riley, Kansas.

PFC Harrelson was a graduate of Dadeville High School, where he was a member of the student council and a talented athlete. He had been serving in Iraq since May of this year.

Words cannot express the sense of sadness we have for his family, and for the gratitude our country feels for his service. Pvt. Harrelson, like other brave men and women who have served in uniform, died serving not just the United States, but the entire cause of liberty. Indeed, like those who have served before him, he was a true American.

We will forever hold him closely in our hearts, and remember his sacrifice and that of his family as a remembrance of his bravery and willingness to serve our nation. Thank you, for the House's remembrance at this mournful occasion.

Madam Speaker, I respectfully ask the attention of the House today to pay recognition to an occasion very dear to me. On July 26, 2007, my mother and father will mark their 50th wedding anniversary.

Linda Lou Perryman and Clyde Gilbert Rogers were wed by a Justice of the Peace on July 26, 1957, in Crown Point, Indiana. When they moved to Alabama my father worked as a firefighter at the Anniston Army Depot for 25 years and my mother took a job as an inspector at Classie Ribbon Company, where she worked for more than 30 years.

I would like to wish my parents a happy anniversary and thank them for all that they have done for me.

Madam Speaker, I respectfully ask the attention of the House today to pay recognition to Mr. Frank Battle. Mr. Battle served the Federal Government for 35 years prior to his retirement on April 3, 2007.

Frank's distinguished career began in 1973 as a Management Intern at the Department of Defense. His natural ability to navigate the complexities of government management and years of experience propelled him to senior management positions at the Department of Justice, the Voice of America, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Labor Relations Board.

I would like to thank Mr. Battle for his decades of service to the United States, and wish him the best of luck in the future.

Madam Speaker, I respectfully ask the attention of the House today to pay recognition to the accomplishments of Ms. Jamie Langley, who was crowned Miss Alabama on June 10th, 2007.

Miss Langley, 23, is a senior majoring in communications at Jacksonville State University and a graduate of Wadley High School. Her parents, Jeff and Mailey Langley, reside in the community of Forester's Chapel just outside of Wadley, AL. Jamie's efforts to promote heart health and the development of healthy habits are an excellent example to her peers and the young women of Alabama.

I would like to congratulate Jamie on this memorable occasion and wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I respectfully ask the attention of the House today to pay recognition to the citizens of Cleburne County, Alabama, who will soon celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Cleburne County Courthouse.

The cornerstone of this historic structure was laid on July 4, 1907, following a referendum to decide the final location of the courthouse. The location chosen was Heflin, Alabama. Over the past century, the Cleburne County Courthouse has housed numerous departments serving the people of Cleburne County, including the office of the judge of probate, veterans affairs office, the superintendent of education, and the county commission.

On June 30, 2007, the citizens of Cleburne County will gather to commemorate this important milestone. At that time local leaders are expected to open the cornerstone, and local citizens will hear presentations by community leaders and enjoy a community-wide gathering.

I would like to congratulate the people of Cleburne County for reaching this important milestone in their county's history, and join the community in wishing another prosperous 100 years for this important landmark.

Madam Speaker, SSG Shannon Weaver was killed on May 21, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq, when his vehicle was struck by an I.E.D. Staff Sergeant Weaver was assigned to the A Company, 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 25th Infantry Division stationed in Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Staff Sergeant Weaver had previously completed two operational deployments and was on his second tour of duty in Iraq. Staff Sergeant Weaver will be dearly missed by family and the community of his youth, Piedmont, Alabama. Shannon was a graduate of Piedmont High School where he was a member of the football team. His former teammates recall a young man known for his strong will and determination.

Words cannot express the sense of sadness we have for his family and for the gratitude our country feels for his service. Staff Sergeant Weaver, like other brave men and women who have served in uniform, died serving not just the United States but the entire cause of liberty. Indeed, like those who have served before him, he was a true American.

We will forever hold him closely in our hearts, and remember his sacrifice and that of his family as a remembrance of his bravery and willingness to serve our Nation. Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the House's remembrance at this mournful occasion.