Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Jesse Poor. Recently Mr. Poor retired as deputy commander of the Anniston Army Depot after 32 years of service. His record speaks for itself, and he is known throughout the community and in the Army for having done an outstanding job throughout his career.

Mr. Poor started at the Anniston Army Depot in 1972 as a trash collector. From those humble beginnings Mr. Poor advanced from factory worker all the way to the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University where he earned his master's degree. He later returned to the Depot to apply his experience and eventually rose to deputy commander.

During Mr. Poor's tenure the Depot exceeded its financial goals and increased its workload. He supported forward-thinking public-private partnerships, and in part because of his leadership the facility has distinguished itself within the Department of Defense as one of the most efficient of its kind.

The entire Calhoun County community owes Jesse Poor a deep sense of gratitude for his service, and I am honored to be able to recognize his achievements in the House today. Our community will remember his service for years to come.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 26) honoring the Tuskegee Airmen for their bravery in fighting for our freedom in World War II, and for their contribution in creating an integrated United States Air Force.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Con. Res. 26.

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

Madam Speaker, in March of 1942, five young men at a rural Army airbase in Tuskegee, Alabama, graduated from aviation cadet class in the Army Air Corps. These men, like other World War II fighter pilots, accepted extraordinary risks to carry out their missions. They were brave and patriotic. Hailing from towns and cities across America, these young soldiers came to Tuskegee, Alabama, with the dream of serving our Nation in the air. They would graduate with honors as captains and lieutenants.

From 1942 to 1946, 992 fighter pilots would graduate from this rural Army airbase in central Alabama. Their missions would be over enemy territory in Italy and North Africa, some of the

most challenging assignments of the war, and some of them would not return. Yet many did. Those who did survive those battles lived to claim unprecedented records of success and high honors for their bravery.

But we all know World War II was not their only battle. These proud soldiers, the Tuskegee Airmen, were the first African Americans ever to serve our Nation as Army fighter pilots. They were true leaders, men who battled our enemies oversees while fighting bigotry and racism at home.

Madam Speaker, as we debate today's resolution honoring the Tuskegee Airmen, we will hear of their struggles. We will hear their stories of being turned away at the officers' clubs because of their race, and we will hear of the prejudices they faced overseas.

Yet they did not give up. They persevered, and along with others from our greatest generation, joined with our allies across the globe and helped defeat the forces of tyranny.

The Tuskegee Airmen are symbols of America, Madam Speaker, strong through difficult times and courageous in the face of adversity.

In the month when our Nation celebrates the contributions of African Americans to our Nation's history, it is important we take this time to honor their bravery. Their courage and persistence are examples for all of us to follow. We have much to learn from their service and much to honor for their contributions to our civil rights legacy.

As our military continues to fight the war on terror overseas, we should pause to remember the battles fought long ago by these proud Americans. Not only is our world freer because of their courage, but our Nation is stronger because of their sacrifices.

I want to thank my colleagues for being here today to honor the Tuskegee Airmen, and I look forward to doing what I can to keep their legacy strong so future generations may also share in their accomplishments.

I would also like to add, Madam Speaker, that as part of my efforts to honor the Tuskegee Airmen, I have been leading an initiative to help build a National Park Service museum in Tuskegee, Alabama, to memorialize these brave Americans.

Obviously, on this important occasion I would welcome any and all support from Members that would join me in this initiative, and would answer any questions later.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the my friend, the distinguished gentleman from the First District of Alabama (Mr. Bonner).

Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry), my friend and colleague.

(Mr. TERRY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, how much time is remaining?

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield) for purposes of control.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield) for purposes of control.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the employees at the Anniston Army Depot who have reached an important milestone on behalf of our Nation's military.

On January 12, 2005, the 1000th Stryker was assembled at the Anniston Army Depot. This was a proud day for the citizens of northeast Alabama, Mr. Speaker, and was the direct result of the hard work and dedication of thousands of workers from across our community.

Assembled right here in Calhoun County, the Stryker is a transformational vehicle that will help protect our forces far into the 21st century. The troop carrier is part of a new generation of wheeled vehicles for our military, and will allow the Army to more safely and efficiently transport soldiers on the field of battle.

Not only has the Stryker proven its tactical value in Iraq, Mr. Speaker, but it has also helped better protect the lives of countless soldiers. Knowing Alabama workers helped make this advancement possible is a great honor for our community.

I salute the employees of the Anniston Army Depot for their ongoing dedication to the Stryker project, and thank them for their service to our Nation and to our men and women serving on the front lines overseas.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 36. This resolution expresses the continued support of Congress for the so-called Solomon Law, a critical piece of legislation originally passed in 1994 which has helped ensure that military recruiters have equal access on our Nation's campuses.

We are debating this resolution today only because of a recent court decision that wrongfully struck down the Solomon Law. In November of last year, a closely divided U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Solomon Law violates first amendment rights to free speech and association.

The court sided with the plaintiff arguing that ``the Solomon Amendment requires law schools to express a message that is incompatible with their educational objectives, and no compelling governmental interest has been shown to deny this freedom.''

Mr. Speaker, I cannot disagree more with this assessment. In our post-9/11 world, our Nation's military deserves, at least the same access to institutions of higher education that any other major employer might enjoy. This is certainly a modest and I believe a reasonable request, especially if the college or university accepts Federal funds.

This is not about infringing free speech; it is about ensuring our military has access to our Nation's best and brightest at a time when we face enormous challenges abroad. This resolution expresses the continued support of Congress for the Solomon Law and would help ensure that military recruiters continue to have access to college campuses and students that is at least equal in quality and scope as that provided to any other employer.

This resolution would reaffirm the commitment of Congress to explore all options, including the use of its constitutional power to appropriate funds to achieve that equal access. In adopting this resolution, we would also be urging the executive branch to aggressively challenge any decision impeding or prohibiting the operation of the Solomon Law. Also, we would be encouraging the executive branch to follow a doctrine of nonacquiescence by not finding a judicial decision affecting one jurisdiction to be binding on any other jurisdiction.

Mr. Speaker, as we debate this resolution, it is important for us to remember that the Solomon Law and its legislative updates were not designed as one-size-fits-all mandates from Washington. In fact, the law is very flexible, and it fits the needs of nearly every public- funded institution in the country. For example, the Solomon Law does not apply to colleges or universities that have a long-standing policy of pacifism based on historical religious grounds, nor does it affect any Federal student aid or financial assistance.

Of course, as those of us who are here debating this issue are aware, this is not the first challenge to this law. Prior to the November circuit court decision, on repeated occasions lower courts have consistently upheld the constitutionality of the Solomon Law, arguing that it does not infringe on any institution's right to free speech or association.

While this recent court decision is unfortunate, it is not the end to the Solomon Law. A bipartisan vote here today in support of this legislation will help send a clear message to our courts that our military recruiters deserve equal access on all of our campuses. I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter) for his ongoing efforts on this issue, and I thank the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kline) for managing this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mrs. Mary Coleman Gilmer on the celebration of her 100th birthday.

Mrs. Gilmer was born January 24, 1905 in Monroe County, Alabama, and is the oldest of eleven siblings. In 1926 she married Gaddie Gilmer, and moved to Montgomery where the couple first lived. Mrs. Gilmer graduated from Alabama State Teacher's College in the 1940s.

Mary Gilmer has been a servant of the Lord all her life, Mr. Speaker, having shared her love with family, friends and associates. She is known as a generous person, having given money and shelter to those in need over the years, all without want of recognition or thanks for her deeds.

Mary Gilmer is an active Christian, and has served as Minister of Music for the Shiloh Baptist Church Choir, the Branch Grove Missionary Baptist Church Choir, the St. James Missionary Baptist Church Choir in Deatsville, and the Revelation Missionary Baptist Church Choir. She is also a former member of the Old Ship of the Eastern Star Lodge #343.

To this day, Mrs. Gilmer still walks to St. James Baptist Church and frequently appears on many community programs such as the Nat King Cole Society program and the Montgomery Tuskegee Times Black History Awards Banquet. She also loves playing the piano.

Let us all pause to honor Mrs. Mary Coleman Gilmer today, Mr. Speaker, and join in the celebration of this blessed milestone in her long and fruitful life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a group of students and faculty at Auburn University who are waging an important campaign to fight world hunger.

Known as the War on Hunger campaign, this groundbreaking initiative partners Auburn University with the United Nations World Food Programme, a first for any university worldwide.

Over the next several years this campaign will continue to develop a framework for addressing the problem of world hunger. Plans include developing an agenda that increases hunger awareness, and creating new academic initiatives at the university. Local organizers also hope to use their efforts to influence policymakers at all levels of government with regard to hunger initiatives.

Auburn University students will continue to work together, Mr. Speaker, and participate in several planned activities to help carry out their campaign, including holding benefit concerts and hosting a symposium on world hunger. Students will work to enlist the support of the Auburn community, and also sponsor a film series on world hunger and sustainability. In the true spirit of the Auburn Creed, this initiative aspires to feed Auburn students' minds and hearts with a sense of social responsibility and human well-being.

Ultimately, Auburn's goal is to develop and implement a War on Hunger model that can be replicated by other universities across the nation and around the world. On this important day, I salute the students and faculty of Auburn University for addressing this challenge, and applaud their efforts in helping end hunger around the globe.

Mr. Speaker, SGT Charles Joseph Webb, 22, of Hamilton, Ohio, died on November 3, 2004 in Iraq. Sergeant Webb was an engineer with the A Company, 82nd Engineer Battalion, 1st Infantry Division of Bamberg, Germany, and was killed when the armored personnel carrier he was riding in was struck by an explosive device. He is survived by his wife Stephanie, as well as his parents Joe and Barbara Webb of Alexandria, Alabama.

Sergeant Webb was eager to serve his country, Mr. Speaker, and dreamed of one day becoming an elementary school teacher. He attended school in the Saks area as a young boy and married his high school sweetheart after moving to Ohio. Like every other soldier, he dutifully left behind his family and loved ones to serve our country overseas.

Words cannot express the sense of sadness we have for his family, and for the gratitude our country feels for his service. Sergeant Webb died serving not just the United States, but the entire cause of liberty, on a mission to help spread the cause of freedom in Iraq and liberate an oppressed people from tyrannical rule.

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.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the House's remembrance on this mournful day.

Mr. Speaker, on October 30, 2004, Bill and Gladys Jennings, of Calhoun County, Alabama, will celebrate their 50th anniversary.

Members of Saks Baptist Church in Saks, Alabama, for over 25 years, Mr. and Mrs. Jennings met through mutual friends and have always resided in the Calhoun community. They have one son, Jeff.

The Jennings love gardening and landscaping, and after long careers in the community have retired to enjoy their outdoor activities and spend time with their family and friends. Mr. Jennings is also an avid golfer.

Mr. Speaker, it's not often we have the opportunity to honor a distinguished couple like the Jennings. Thank you for the House's attention on this proud occasion.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dora Belle Thomas Stone of Lee County, Alabama, in anticipation of her 100th birthday on November 8, 2004.

Born in Chilton County, Alabama, on November 8, 1904, Mrs. Stone is the daughter of the late George W. and Phairby Adeline Headly Thomas. In 1918, Mrs. Stone moved to Phenix City, Alabama, where she married William Henry Stone on October 21, 1921. She is the mother of four children: William Earl Stone, Thomas Milton Stone, George Lamar Stone, and Barbara Anne Stone Ennis. She has eight grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

Mrs. Stone is a retired music teacher who taught Sunday school for more than 60 years, and is a member of Smiths Station Baptist Church. She says she cherishes most her family, her church, and God's Word, and studies her Bible every day.

It's not often we have the opportunity to recognize the life and accomplishments of a citizen like Mrs. Stone, and I appreciate the House's attention on this important occasion.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the MonCre Telephone Cooperative in Ramer, Al.

MonCre began operations in 1954 to bring phone service to the unserved rural areas of Montgomery, Crenshaw and eventually Bulloch and Pike counties, and was the vision of the late founder and Montgomery Advertiser columnist Mildred Smith of Ramer.

Today, MonCre employs 24 highly trained technicians and staff, and serves approximately 3,500 households. Services offered 50 years later are far different from those of 1954 and now include a wide range of telephone, internet and DSL services.

It's not often we have the opportunity to recognize the achievements and contributions of a community institution like MonCre, and I appreciate the House's attention to the matter at this important occasion.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss a provision included in the conference report that will clarify an ambiguity in the tax law.

While Congress enacts the tax law, the Internal Revenue Service is called upon to provide technical details, filling in gaps and ambiguities so that taxpayers have clear guidelines for compliance. One such case where taxpayers have had to rely on the Service to ``fill in the gaps,'' involves the depreciation treatment of motorsports facilities. Track owners have relied for years, in good faith, on revenue procedures promulgated by the Service to determine that these facilities have a 7-year depreciable life. The Service did not question the track owners' interpretation for two decades, in countless audits and reviews of tax returns. However, within the last two years, the Service has questioned the 7-year classification.

To address this issue, the conferees have included a provision in H.R. 4520 that clarifies that motorsports facilities should be considered 7-year property for depreciation purposes. While the provision is prospective, it also includes language stating that ``nothing in the amendments to this section shall be construed to affect the treatment of property placed in service on or before the date of enactment of this act.'' In light of this ``no inference'' provision, and the policy direction regarding the 7-year classification going forward, I hope that the Service will take an opportunity to pause to reexamine whether it should penalize years of good faith reliance on its own regulations. Taxpayers deserve clarity and certainty in complying with the tax code and its regulations. Good faith reliance that is implicitly approved by the Service should not be punished.

While the provision provides certainty for new investments, it expires on January 1, 2008. I am familiar with the decisions that went into drafting this provision, and Congress agrees such a change should be permanent, but because of revenue constraints we were unable to make the provision permanent in this bill. I urge Congress to revisit this issue as soon as possible to extend the provision, or, ideally, make it permanent. Doing so would provide additional needed clarity for taxpayers.

Mr. Speaker, on Sept. 11, 2004, teens from around the Third District gathered the campus of Jacksonville State University to remember the events of 9/11, and to reflect on the impact of those events on their life today.

One of the speakers that day was Mata Burke, an eleventh grade student at the Donoho School in Anniston. In honor of Mata's words and in recognition of her gift for writing, I am placing her entire speech in the Congressional Record so that others may have the opportunity to hear her thoughts about that fateful day.

The text of her speech is as follows. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the House's attention to this important matter on this important day.

``Who did this to us?''

(By Mata Burke)

``Now, as we are looking back and remembering the events of

that day, it's hard to believe that three years have already

gone by since it happened. The memory is still fresh in our

minds, and perhaps, that is due to the fact that it's changed

our everyday lives even now; whether it be by new security

measures, constant bomb threats, or rising terror alerts.

However, there is one thing that many people do tend to

forget when remembering that day . . . and that is, ``why did

it happen?'' ``What were the motives?'' and ``who exactly was

involved?''

Most everyone knows that the September 11th attacks were

directly linked to Al Qa'ida and Osama bin Laden. But many

may not know what exactly Al Qai'da is and who Osama bin

Laden is.

There are many people who think that the terrorists who

attacked on September 11th were simply evil people who hated

everything America and freedom stand for. But this is a

generalization that overlooks many of the true motives behind

the attacks. To really understand why these attacks happened,

we must look into the past at the beginnings of Al Qai'da and

at previous terrorist attacks across the world.

Al Qa'ida is an international terrorist network that was

founded and led by Osama bin Laden. Al-Qa'ida first began to

take shape after the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. It

was at that time that bin Laden and a Palestinian religious

scholar, Abdullah Azzam, began recruiting, training, and

financing thousands of mujahedeen, or holy warriors, from

more than 50 different countries. Although they were

originally fighting to rid Afghanistan of the Soviet

invaders, bin Laden urged these holy warriors to continue

their fight beyond Afghanistan. And thus, in 1988, he

officially founded the terrorist group known as Al-Qa'ida, a

name that is now familiar to people across the world.

Currently, there is not a specific place from which Al-

Qai'da operates. Previous headquarters, such as Sudan and

Afghanistan were removed by force, and now, it is thought

that leaders are trying to regroup inside Pakistan, near the

Afghan border. Still, it is important to realize that Al-

Qa'ida operatives are not just located in the Middle East.

They are spread throughout many countries across the world;

including Italy, France, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom

and the United States. Despite the distances that separate

them, all of the members of this terrorist organization share

one major thing in common: Sunni Muslim fundamentalist views.

In essence, there are three main objectives of the Al-Qa'ida

Jihad,

or holy war based on these fundamentalist views. The first is

to establish the complete rule of God on Earth. Second is to

attain martyrdom in the cause of God, meaning to suffer and/

or die in the hopes of doing God's will. And lastly is to

purify Islam and get rid of what they see as moral corruption

within their religion's followers. By doing this, they hope

to unite all pure Muslims to live under one government. It is

important to note that their goal is not to convert all non-

believers to Islam, but rather they will not let the non-

believers dominate, meaning they won't let non-Muslims push

Muslim heritage out.

Even though Al-Qa'ida was originally formed to be a

religious fundamentalist group wishing to protect and purify

Islam, the motives for the terrorist attacks are not solely

religious. Although religion is a major part of it, and

indeed, has aided in the recruitment of terrorist group

members, other motives lie deep within the history of U.S.

involvement in the Middle East. In fact, Osama bin Laden,

along with other Al-Qa'ida leaders have made direct

statements explaining why they targeted the United States.

Most of these statements refer to U.S. foreign policy in the

Middle East; such as the stationing of U.S. troops in and

around holy sites, and especially the American support of

Israel. In October of 2001, Osama bin Laden made the

following statement: ``We swore that America wouldn't live

in security until we live it truly in Palestine. This

showed the reality of America, which puts Israel's

interest above its own people's interest. America won't

get out of this crisis until it gets out of the Arabian

Peninsula, and until it stops its support of Israel.'' A

few years earlier, bin Laden had made another statement

describing the oppression he saw of Muslims in Palestine:

``For over half a century, Muslims in Palestine have been

slaughtered and assaulted and robbed of their honor and of

their property. Their houses have been blasted, their

crops destroyed. And the strange thing is that any act on

their part to avenge themselves or to lift the injustice

befalling them causes great agitation in the United

Nations which hastens to call for an emergency meeting

only to convict the victim and to censure the wronged and

the tyrannized whose children have been killed and whose

crops have been destroyed and whose farms have been

pulverized.'' In these statements, bin Laden is clearly

describing how he feels Israeli attacks in Palestine have

caused great oppression of the Muslims living there. Thus,

he sees the United States' support of Israel as a direct

threat to Muslims and something he must retaliate against.

Although the United States is being targeted by Al-Qa'ida,

it is only one of many different countries that the

terrorists have attacked to further their cause. Osama bin

Laden, maintains a strong grudge against Muslim countries in

the Middle East that have allowed western infiltration and

have begun buying into westernization. Countries such as

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and Malaysia are seen as

traitorous and abandoning their Muslim heritage.

The September 11th attacks were not the first terrorist

acts against the United States. There have been many, many

attacks against Americans in countries all around the world.

There was an explosion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1995 that

killed four Americans. There was an explosion in Al-Khobar

that killed 19 Americans and wounded more than 400. There

were attacks in east Africa, the destruction of the U.S.S.

Cole, previous attempted World Trade Center bombings, and

many more. Still, the September 11th attacks set a new

standard. Never before had there been such a large scale

terrorist attack on civilians on U.S. land. And although I

have discussed with you the probable motives of the

terrorists, there can never be justification for the events

that occurred on 9/11.''

Mr. Speaker, on September 11, 2004, teens from around the Third District gathered on the campus of Jacksonville State University to remember the events of 9/11, and to reflect on the impact of those events on their life today.

One of the speakers that day was Sabrina Ussery, a twelfth grade student at Lanett High School in Lanett, Alabama. In honor of her words and in recognition of her gift for writing, I am placing her entire speech in the Congressional Record so that others may have the opportunity to hear her thoughts about that fateful day.

The text of her speech is as follows. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the House's attention to this important matter on this important day.

Army Junior ROTC: Motivating Young People To Be Better Citizens

As freshmen, we entered Lanett's JROTC program without

knowledge of how to serve ourselves, let alone our country.

Also, being fourteen at the time of the 9/11 occurrences,

fear, above all other responses, was the primary expression

brought forth by the announcement made over our intercom that

morning. Terrified as we were, we looked to our Army

Instructors for answers. This is where our lives and

experiences as well-rounded cadets began.

The core curriculum of the Army JROTC program at Lanett

High School emphasizes the importance of a citizen's

involvement in today's world at the local, state, and

national levels. This curriculum teaches adolescents the

responsibilities of being a citizen and offers opportunities

for them to experience, first handedly, the reward of being

informed. In an attempt to keep us up to date with our

current events, classroom debates and/or discussions were

held both in and out of class. These discussions sparked

interests and opinions in our young minds as we began to

ponder the idea of being, for the first time, independent

minded individuals.

Our Army Instructors also encouraged us on a daily basis to

volunteer and take part in community events: Color guard

presentations, dedications of the flag, memorial services,

etc. At this point, the instructors understood something we

didn't. In our minds, the ideals and practices of patriotism

and participation were nothing more than routines. It wasn't

until the morning of 9/11 that we began to realize the

purpose, meaning, and emotion behind being a cadet.

It was 9:52 A.M. when the intercom came on, and we expected

a fellow cadet to recite the pledge as a part of our daily

routine. To our surprise, it was our librarian reporting to

the school the events of the morning. Out of confusion, our

eyes fell upon Major McQueen, our Senior Army Instructor.

Behind his common readjustment of his glasses, we saw tears

beginning to roll down his cheeks. He then turned towards our

classroom flag and saluted.

The temperature seemed to suddenly drop, and we were all

frightened. As we stood and watched our hero, our teacher,

our friend cry over such an announcement, we realized the

importance and devastation behind the occurrences of the

morning. We knew something wasn't right. It was then that

maturity fell upon our shoulders.

As time passed, those students who were cadets during the

time of 9/11 attacks became key leaders throughout the school

and community in both deed and speech.

Now, not only do they hold their heads higher and walk with

a prouder step, the Panther Battalion as a whole has taken it

upon itself to become more involved in the community. We are

now co-volunteers with current Junior Achievement

participants in teaching elementary students the importance

of their family, community, country, and world. In addition,

the JROTC program at Lanett High has had the School Board of

Education for Chambers County pass a mandatory requirement

for incoming freshmen to complete and pass a minimum of one

semester of the class. This has and will continue to aid in

the raising up of well informed, active citizens in

tomorrow's America.

The Cadet Creed:

I am an Army Junior ROTC cadet.

I will always conduct myself to bring credit to my family,

country, school, and the corps of cadets.

I am loyal and patriotic. I am the future of the United

States of America.

I do not lie, cheat, or steal and will always be held

accountable for my actions and deeds.

I will always practice good citizenship and patriotism.

I will work hard to improve my mind and strengthen my body.

I will seek the mantle of leadership and stand prepared to

uphold the Constitution and the American way of life.

May God grant me the strength to always live by this

creed.''

Mr. Speaker, on Sept. 11, 2004, teens from around the Third District gathered on the campus of Jacksonville State University to remember the events of 9/11, and to reflect on the impact of those events on their life today.

One of the speakers that day was Richard Hopkins, an eleventh grade student at the Donoho School in Anniston. In honor of his words and in recognition of his gift for writing, I am placing his entire speech in the Congressional Record so that others may have the opportunity to hear his thoughts about that fateful day.

The text of his speech is as follows. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the House's attention to this important matter.

``Beyond the Sheer Loss of Life, Why Was This so Important?''

(By Richard Hopkins)

``This portion of our program will focus on the importance,

beyond the sheer loss of life, of the 9/11 attacks and their

aftermath. There were a number of significant shifts in

policy and attitude in several major areas of American life

in response to the September 11th attacks. One of those areas

concerns the American populace as a whole, and I will briefly

talk about the changes and reactions amongst American

citizens. I will begin by focusing first on the general

population of Americans, and then moving on specifically to

teenagers.

``In the wake of the September 11th attacks, America's

emotional spectrum was a kaleidoscope of mixed and

contrasting feelings. People were confused, angry, hurt, sad,

lonely, shocked, and grim. At the same time, feelings like

hope, brotherhood, community unity, and national pride

began to come to the fore. Since the closing of the Cold

War, a sort of Pax Americana had come into existence.

Americans more or less felt safe and secure within their

own borders, and unaware of any problems around the world.

This is not saying that Americans were indifferent to what

was happening abroad, merely that these events did not

fully emerge into the everyday public consciousness.

Instead, Americans began to focus inward in facing their

own dilemmas and social issues. Foreign policy and the

issues that stem from it became abstract considerations to

the average American citizen. They would occasionally read

something in the newspaper, watch something in the news,

or hear something on the radio that briefly aroused their

interest, but only in a displaced and quickly passing

manner. Even when events directly involved the United

States, Americans could not bring themselves to become too

concerned, because they couldn't quite grasp how these

happenings directly linked to themselves, their

livelihoods, and impacted upon their everyday lives. They

had no conscious awareness of why it should matter to

them. This is not intended as an attack upon the American

people, merely, it is an observation of how to them,

everything might as well have been placed in a white and

murky fog, because they had nothing tangible with which

they could relate their lives to.

``What happened on September 11th changed all of that. No

longer were Americans dealing with distant facts, of attacks

and kidnappings happening elsewhere, far away. No longer did

they have to consider something that they couldn't relate to

their lives. No longer were the problems to be faced abroad,

but instead, they were to be faced within our very own

national borders. Instead, they were forced to confront ugly

facts that affected their lives in every way. Not since the

attack on Peal Harbor during World War II, or more recently,

the Cuban Missile Crisis, has there been such a clear cut and

direct threat to American lives and properties at home. Air

travel has become increasingly restricted. Security at public

and federal locations has been stepped up. New laws and

regulations have been passed, while new organizations with

new responsibilities have been created. The economy has

fluctuated, and the prices of everyday goods and services

have gone with it. Wherever one looks, one can see the direct

impacts of what happened on September 11th. This is what

caused the incredible turmoil in the post 9/11 environment.

Individuals could clearly see the consequences of an action,

and realize how it affected them, and therefore they were

able to become passionate and care about it. It has given the

average citizen a reason to become concerned and active in

today's political environment.

``Now, let us consider teenagers specifically within this

post 9/11 America. In many ways, a significant number of

teens remain unaffected by what transpired three years ago

today. This is because, unlike adults, many have not been

greatly inconvenienced or exposed to the results of the

attacks. Their parents handle travel arrangements, buy

groceries, and generally manage all of the details of

life that go unnoticed by teenagers, leaving the teens to

their own, smaller worlds that still remain detached from

the reality that everyone else experiences. However, a

great many teenagers have been just as affected, if not

more so, as their adult counterparts.

``Immediately after 9/11, news coverage showed grief and

fear evidenced across the spectrum of American citizenry,

including teenagers. Afterwards, however, once fear and grief

were reined in, and determination and strength were in

control, focus shifted to older subjects and viewers. This

meant that teenagers were left behind, with the final images

of their reactions displaying a time of vulnerability, with

none of the strength and determination that followed for

them. Teens have last been portrayed as afraid, or mourning,

and have yet been given a chance to truly speak again and

show how they have adjusted and thrived like adults have.

``9/11 has stirred passions on both ends of the political

scale amongst teenagers. Because of the terrible events of

that day, teens have put significant thought into what

happened, why, how they feel about it, and what should be

done. Teens have powerful feelings on a number of political

issues, be it the new measures and laws that have been passed

in the interest of Homeland Security, to the war on Iraq, and

to the United States' Un-relations. Unfortunately, teens have

not been given an opportunity to express these feelings and

vent this pressure that builds up inside of them. As a

result, it is easy for them to become resentful towards

adults, who tell the teenagers how the world is and give

little thought to asking them if they disagree, or if they

would like to respond.

``As a result of these pent up emotions and the uncertain

environment that was created, many teenagers, especially

those that are already troubled, have had increasing

emotional problems. Heightened aggression, changing lifestyle

and habits, depression, paranoia, increasing isolation,

anxiety, and more are symptoms of these problems.

``This is why it is so important for Americans to turn to

the younger members of our

society and ask them ``How do you feel about this? What do

you suggest? What would you like me to do?'' This action will

increase trust between teenagers and adults, as well as

recognize the validity of teen opinions, and help them to

express their inner feelings and feel like they are valued

members of society. This is crucial, because many of those

teenagers who witnessed the events of September 11th are now

able to vote, and many more will soon be able to. It is

important that they become recognized members of the

political population, and not be devalued because they were

never given a chance to express themselves or give voice to

their beliefs. This attitude cannot be allowed to stand,

because it would hamper the ability of future voters from

fully forming their political identity, and fulfilling

America's dream of a democratic government.''

Mr. Speaker, Staff Sgt. Robert C. ``Robbie'' Thornton, Jr., 35, of Fort Hood, TX, died on August 23, 2004 in Iraq. Staff Sgt. Thornton was a tank commander in the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, TX, and was killed when his patrol came under rocket-propelled grenade attack. He is survived by his wife Ellen, and children, Bradley, 6, and Breanna, 3. He is the son of Dominique Thornton, of Belen, NM, and retired Lt. Col. Robert Thornton, Sr.

Robbie Thornton was eager to serve his country, Mr. Speaker, and loved classical music. He was a graduate of Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, Alabama, where he was known for his athletic ability, and attended Jacksonville State University. Like every other soldier, he dutifully left behind his family and loved ones to serve our country overseas.

Words cannot express the sense of sadness we have for his family, and for the gratitude our country feels for his service. Staff Sgt. Thornton died serving not just the United States, but the entire cause of liberty, on a noble mission to help spread the cause of freedom in Iraq and liberate an oppressed people from tyrannical rule.

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.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the House's remembrance on this mournful day.