Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, this week, in this Capitol, we are witnessing a convergence of a number of events that will long stand out in our Nation's collective memories. We are on the front edge of a new session of Congress, preparing for a landmark moment in the history of America's presidency. And, at the same time, we are celebrating a major milestone for one of this Nation's most devoted and accomplished public servants--U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd.

It was 50 years ago, that Senator Byrd, for the first time, took the oath of office to serve in the United States Senate--an oath he has now taken a record-setting nine times.

Yesterday, as numerous Members of the House and Senate raised their own hands and took their own very first oaths, I could not help but think about what it must have been like for our Senior Senator from West Virginia to watch these new ranks at the start of their own Congressional careers.

I was reminded of my first day of service in this body. I recall being humbled by the responsibility that had been placed in my hands and awed by the auspicious ceremony and the grandeur of this ornate Chamber.

On that first day, I was relieved at the knowledge that I was blessed with the wisdom, the support, and the mentorship of Robert C. Byrd. Throughout my career here, he has been a constant source of encouragement and sage advice.

Today, as we embark upon this new session cognizant of the tremendous challenges before us--a struggling economy, two wars, a strapped Federal budget, and growing public need--we can breathe easier knowing that we are all blessed to have the continuing service of Robert C. Byrd to steer us through the rocky shoals.

Congratulations to Senator Byrd--our trailblazer, our Leader, our Big Daddy. May he continue to serve the people of West Virginia and the entire Nation for many years to come.

I thank the distinguished chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee for yielding me the time and certainly respect his work on this resolution. We have talked about this issue numerous times over our careers in this body.

Madam Speaker, I am saddened by the recent escalation and fighting over the past few weeks in the Middle East. I condemn the Hamas attacks and recent air strikes in southern Lebanon into Israel. My hope is that all sides can take a step back, deescalate the fighting, and work together to renew the cease-fire agreement that expired on December 19. At the same time, humanitarian aid and assistance should be allowed to reach those in the region that need it the most, particularly civilian victims of the conflict.

Military action alone is not going to be a solution to the problems in the Middle East; we all know that. Working towards a lasting, peaceful solution to these conflicts by addressing the root causes is in the best interests of the United States.

The current fighting is not in the best interests of the United States. Only the extremists on both sides are the winners. Those moderates in the middle, both in Israel and on the Palestinian side, are the real losers in the current fighting.

Make no mistake about it. This campaign was planned some time ago, not just at the expiration of the cease-fire in December. Recent events in Israel show that the prime minister election coming up in February certainly have been a major factor in these air strikes, witnessing meteoric rise of Defense Minister Ehud Barak from almost nothing in the polls to now leading for prime minister of Israel.

So make no mistake about it, there are a variety of factors on all sides that come into play. There's no political will on the Palestinian side. There's no political side on the Israeli side to reach a real agreement in addressing the root causes.

This resolution, while there's nothing in that it can be denied, is not in my opinion in the best interests of resolving this conflict. We applaud what happened in the United Nations last night, but we know that what happens in the United Nations is far different than what happens on the ground in the region.

We urge the Egyptians, along with the Palestinian Authority, to reach an agreement in Cairo, as they are negotiating as we speak between Israel and Hamas, so that we can start addressing the smuggling of arms and the root causes of the conflict in the region.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Anthony ``Ben'' Borda, Jr. of Huntington, WV and his 36 years of service to the State and people of West Virginia. For the past 36 years, Mr. Borda has served in the Federal Government, 34 years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and 2 years with the U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of Surface Mining. Mr. Borda currently serves as the Acting Chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's Huntington District and New River Navigator for the New River American River Heritage Initiative and is now set to retire on January 2, 2009.

Born and raised in Fairmont, West Virginia, Ben has devoted his life to protecting West Virginia's God-given natural resources. He earned a bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture from West Virginia University in 1972 and a Masters in Biological Science from Marshall University in 1994.

For nearly four decades, Ben has been a godsend to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's Huntington District, helping manage land and water usage, and has played a powerful role in dozens of district projects covering three states. From Landscape Architect to Acting Chief of the planning Branch, Ben has left his mark on virtually every aspect of the Huntington District and improved the lives of the people of southern West Virginia.

Additionally, Ben is the longest serving New River Navigator in the country, having served for the past ten years as the Federal Liaison for the New River under the American Heritage Rivers Initiative. In this capacity, he has helped the New River Community Partners leverage millions of dollars in federal, state, local, and private funds to help bring economic, conservation and preservation, education, and transportation projects to the New River Area and was awarded the American Heritage Rivers Initiatives' Navigator Award in 2006 for his success.

Ben's list of accomplishments far exceeds his years of service. His leadership and vision have been invaluable to the Huntington District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and helped shape environmental policy across southern West Virginia. His dedication to his work and commitment to helping others are examples to us all.

I again congratulate Ben for his 36 years of dedicated service to the State and people of West Virginia and wish him continued success in retirement and all his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Natural Resources be discharged from further consideration of the Senate bill (S. 3550) to designate a portion of the Rappahannock River in the Commonwealth of Virginia as the ``John W. Warner Rapids,'' and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Natural Resources be discharged from further consideration of the Senate bill (S. 3128) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to provide a loan to the White Mountain Apache Tribe for use in planning, engineering, and designing a certain water system project, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 2963) to transfer certain land in Riverside County, California, and San Diego County, California, from the Bureau of Land Management to the United States to be held in trust for the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians, and for other purposes, with Senate amendments thereto, and concur in the Senate amendments.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Natural Resources be discharged from further consideration of the Senate bill (S. 1193) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to take into trust 2 parcels of Federal land for the benefit of certain Indian Pueblos in the State of New Mexico, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, I offer an amendment.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 5618) to reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act, and for other purposes, with a Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the Senate bill (S. 1582) to reauthorize and amend the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 5350) to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to sell or exchange certain National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration property located Norfolk, Virginia, and for other purposes, with a Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Natural Resources be discharged from further consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 1474) recognizing the 50th anniversary of the first vertical ascent of the face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park and honoring the historic climbing feat of the original climbing team, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Natural Resources be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 7017) to amend Public Law 100-573 to extend the authorization of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Citizen Advisory Commission, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure be discharged from further consideration of the Senate bill (S. 2382) to require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to quickly and fairly address the abundance of surplus manufactured housing units stored by the Federal Government around the country at taxpayer expense, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table House Resolution 1382 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize two of my fellow colleagues from the great state of Alabama, Congressman Bud Cramer and Congressman Terry Everett, who are set to retire at the end of the 110th Congress. Both of these Members have a passion for and deep respect for serving the American people that led them to serve the constituents of the 5th and the 2nd Congressional Districts, respectively.

Bud Cramer has served the people of the 5th District of Alabama in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1991, where he faithfully served on the House Appropriations Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Terry Everett came to the House of Representatives 16 years ago and ever since he has spent his time helping the people of the 2nd Congressional District and serving on the Agriculture Committee, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and as Ranking Member on the House Armed Services Committee.

As military veterans, they have both answered the call to serve their country time and again, and I know that as they start this new

chapter in their lives, they will continue to find new ways to serve their community.

Although it seems that we as a Congress can't find ourselves in agreement on many things, one thing that is beyond dispute is that both Congressmen Cramer and Everett have embodied the ideal of civil servants who tirelessly have served the interests of the American People.