Floor Statements

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

I rise today in support of H.R. 85, the Energy Technology Transfer Act, that was introduced by Congresswoman Judy Biggert, a most valuable and respected member of the Science Committee and former chairwoman of the Energy Subcommittee. I thank her and Mr. Miller from North Carolina for their work on this bill.

There is concern that there is not enough assistance or education available in the area of transferring technologies in energy efficiency and distributed clean energy that has been developed by the Department of Energy and the national laboratories to energy end users.

In this time of heightened awareness of how much energy we are using and how much energy costs, how dependent we are on foreign countries for energy feedstocks and how to continue the emissions reductions achieved thus far under various programs, it makes sense to do all we can to make sure that energy end users are as informed as possible about what is available to them to help them become more energy efficient.

H.R. 85 would amend section 917 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which requires the Secretary of Energy to distribute grants to establish a network of advanced energy technology transfer centers for the transfer of advanced energy technologies and methods to a wide range of energy end users, including individuals, businesses and building and industrial professionals.

The bill does not create a new program. It simply improves upon the current section 917 by specifying types of activities that may be funded, minimum criteria and priorities for qualifying applications, duration of funding, and grantee evaluation requirements.

Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill and I encourage my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlelady from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert).

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1126, a bill to reauthorize the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988. This legislation has been passed unanimously by this body for the past two Congresses, and I hope it will do so again today.

The Department of Energy's steel-related energy-efficiency research and development program was first established in 1986 and was expanded to a broader ``metals initiative'' in 1988 when the President signed into law the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988.

Reauthorization of appropriations for the program occurred in 1992 with the passage of the Energy Policy Act, but expired in 1997. The steel industry and the Department of Energy continued the partnership under the Metals Initiative and its predecessor, the Steel Initiative, after the authorization expired. This bill would reauthorize the important program through 2012 and expand it slightly by adding research on technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The metals industry is one of the most energy-intensive industries, with energy accounting for a major portion of the cost of production. Improving energy efficiency for this industry will help to reduce the cost of steel and keep American steelmakers competitive in the world market. Improving efficiency will also help with our country's goal to become energy independent and environmentally responsible.

Investment made at the government level in partnership with industry to stimulate achievement of this increased energy efficiency has shown great results. Over the years, 58 steel

companies and 23 research organizations participated in and benefited from this program. According to testimony from the United States Steel Corporation, through this program they saw a ``set of projects that saved nearly a barrel of oil per Federal dollar invested. Or, in terms of the environment, a ton of CO2 for every $2 of Federal money invested, all the while delivering real technology to the plant floor to help maintain a competitive advantage.''

I ask my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 1126.

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

Madam Speaker, first and foremost, I stand and I hope we all stand in support of our troops. But I also rise today in opposition to H. Con. Res. 63. While I believe that we all share the same goal of winning this war on terror and bringing our brave young men and women home, I regret that this bill before us today absolutely will not lead to that goal. Nobody wants this war to end more than those fighting in it and we need now to do what it takes to bring our brave men and women home, but to bring them home in victory. If we don't achieve victory, the consequences are going to be disastrous for the progression of freedom all over the world, and instead of taking a step forward, we would be taking multiple steps backward.

So what is the point of this resolution? Is it going to block the troop surge? Absolutely not. Will it end the war? Not a chance. Will it help our chances of achieving victory? Absolutely not. This resolution will demoralize our troops who are sacrificing themselves for us today and tonight, and this resolution will give comfort to an enemy. This resolution puts politics before the lives of our brave soldiers and there is no way in the world that I can support it. The only chance we have for victory is to support the President's troop escalation. It's not a sure thing, but it's our best chance for victory. These added troops will help us secure Baghdad, stabilize the area, and accelerate the training necessary for the Iraqis to stand on their own. Only after these things happen can we leave Iraq the way we should and that is victorious.

I fully support our Commander in Chief, and I think he has much more information than I have or any other Member or combination of Members in regard to our war on terrorism, and particularly the war in Iraq. I think President Bush is a godly person, intelligent and educated, and cares for this country and cares for those who defend it. I will continue to support him as long as he holds the title of Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States of America. I heard the President loud and clear in his State of the Union address on January 23, 2007. What I gleaned from his speech is that he is asking for calendar year 2007 to complete the existing plan being implemented by General Petraeus and those who serve under him. And at such time, he fully expects the Iraqis to be in a position to defend their borders and protect their people, resulting in an executive order hopefully to bring the process of withdrawal of these American forces still defending our Nation, to bring them home.

This resolution will absolutely undermine the efforts of our troops in Iraq. I strongly oppose it.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

And just to comment, this bill was originally introduced by the 109th Congress as H.R. 5658 and included in Congresswoman Biggert's comprehensive energy R&D bill, 6203, which was passed by the House under suspension of the rules. And I see no reason why this one couldn't have been handled that way. As a matter of fact, I am a cosponsor with the ranking member of the Energy Subcommittee, Bob Inglis, and with the chairman of the full committee, Chairman Gordon, and Mr. Lampson. Actually, at leadership's suggestion and working together with our leadership over here, I sent a letter to Chairman Gordon requesting that he bring this up on the floor under unanimous consent agreement. It could have easily been done and bypassed the Rules Committee.

It is easy to bring an open rule up when there is not any opposition to it. I hope they will follow this pattern for the rest of this session.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today, of course, in support of H.R. 547, the Advanced Fuels Infrastructure Research and Development Act. It is a good noncontroversial bill that was passed unanimously by the Republican-led Congress last session as part of a larger energy efficiency research and development bill. I am pleased that Chairman Gordon has indicated that we will be addressing other provisions of that bill in the coming weeks and months ahead.

Subcommittee Chairman Lampson has already described what this bill does, so I don't really need to go into that again. But I feel it is important to point out that this bill not only addresses our energy independence issues, but it also addresses clean energy issues by working to mitigate potential problems that can rise from transporting clean fuels, such as ethanol and ultra-low sulfur diesel. By doing this, it ensures that clean burning and alternative fuels can be a viable part of our Nation's transportation fuel mix.

Energy independence and clean coal are not just buzzwords that you hear thrown around these days. They are noble and necessary goals that we are one step closer to by the passing of this bill. This bill may be a small piece of the puzzle, but every piece is important and every piece is needed.

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

I do have requests for time, if the gentleman pleases. I yield 3 minutes to Mr. Weller, the gentleman from Illinois.

Mr. Chairman, I have no more speakers. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, I yield to Mr. Dent, the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike what I really hope deep down and pray might be one of the last words.

Mr. Chairman, I just want to be practical about this. You know, I sat this morning in the ranking position as a Republican with Bart as chairman over there, and we listened to the First Lady. She came before us, everybody was gracious to her, she made a good speech. One of our Members used his rights under the rules to ask her some questions. She graciously answered them. Then we came on over here. I came on over here hoping that this would be about an hour and a half or maybe 2 hours.

I served as ranking member under Bart today, and I was ranking as a Democrat under Boehlert and Sensenbrenner, and the only airplane I would like to be thinking about was the one I wanted to be on at 12:30 today heading for Texas.

But really and truly, I don't call anybody silly or anybody's speech that they want to make here, they need to be heard and express themselves. That is just what a lot of people call the music of democracy.

But we started out, I thought, talking about a bill that would direct the EPA, the Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Standards and Technology to initiate an R&D program to make biofuels more compatible with present-day infrastructure and to direct agencies to do so and so, to provide low-cost, affordable and accurate measurements and do all that; and it is going to cost $10 million to carry this act out.

This bill was introduced in the 109th Congress and was included in Congresswoman Biggert's comprehensive energy bill. It passed under suspension of the rules last year. We didn't have all this debate about it. Everybody was for that bill. It encompassed more than what this bill started out with.

Somehow--and I like Bart Gordon, and I respect him. I have known very few people from Tennessee I didn't like. If it weren't for Tennessee, there probably wouldn't even be a Texas, and that may be better off for a lot of people. And I wrote Bart a letter, what is it, in the Merchant of Venice or Othello, where they said, ``O, that mine enemy might write me a letter.''

Maybe you should have read it, Bart. Maybe you should have answered it.

I wrote him a letter to this effect, that I have conferred with my leadership, who agree that the best way to bring H.R. 547 to the floor is under a unanimous consent agreement. Given the uncontroversial nature of the bill, there is no need for us to go before the Rules Committee. And for some reason, we wound up with an open rule.

Now, I can only guess why that is. I wondered why. An open rule for a bill that everybody is already for? Give me a break. That doesn't make any sense.

So I can only think that perhaps maybe you, Bart, or somebody over you, made the suggestion that, well, it looks like we are fair with that bunch of poor people over there that are in the minority now to give them a shot and tell them, yes, we have given you an open rule, probably thinking they wouldn't use it.

Well, I did not think it would be used either, but we have talked all day about everything in the world here. And there is a poem that says, ``Maud Muller, on a summer's day, raked the meadow sweet with hay.'' The last verse lines are, ``For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, 'It might have been!'''

It might have been that I would be on that airplane if we had taken that unanimous consent, sent this on over and gone about our business. All this other is just the music of democracy. It doesn't bother me 15 cents. And it might be a little cheaper on my government for me to ride the bus from here to Dallas every week, you know. Maybe we could talk about that some afternoon: Why doesn't Ralph Hall ride the bus to Texas and back every year? That would save money for this country.

But I have another feeling about the third person in command in this country. That is the leader, and I think she is entitled to protection and to a good way to go and to cut short the time that she has to spend in the air to get there and get home. Those things don't really bother me.

But what really bothers me is for us to sit here throwing things at one another when there is better work to do. We need to get about our business and pass this bill and let me get strapped in that airplane and go back to my grandchildren, who need me.

My son is a district judge, and I have got to go home and do a terrible thing. I have to go home and file suit against him in his own court. He threatened to spank one of my granddaughters last week. I don't have to stand for that type of thing.

Are you going to answer my letter? See, we can all laugh.

I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee.

I yield to my fellow Texan.

Madam Speaker, I will be brief.

In our drive towards energy independence, we cannot exclude one of our greatest natural resources. I am a fossil fuels guy. I am from Texas, and I am for fossil fuels, but I also know the value of coal. Coal must continue to be part of our energy portfolio, along with alternative fuels and renewable fuels.

The Republican motion to recommit recognizes this fact, and I thank you for it. It ensures that coal is going to continue to have a place at the table by clearly defining coal-to-liquids as an alternative fuel and including ultra low sulfur diesel derived from coal-to-liquids in the bill.

The U.S. is in no danger of running out of coal. At current consumption rates, U.S. recoverable coal reserves are estimated to last for 250 years. The U.S. currently has over a quarter of the world's recoverable coal, more than Russia, over twice the amount of China. This compares to the U.S. oil reserves that are 2 percent of the world's total natural gas which are 3 percent of the world's total. We have plenty of coal. Actually, coal reserves are spread also over 38 of your States. Thirty-eight of you there have coal, and it is important to you.

I would just say this. John McKetta, noted author and writer from the University of Texas, said 14 years ago, We have enough coal in the mid- section of the United States to double the total output of the OPEC Nations all combined if we could but mine it.

Let's don't send our kids overseas to take some energy away from someone when we got plenty right here at home.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on the FY 2007 Continuing Resolution.

I am pleased to see that the Appropriations Committee followed the President's recommendations with the American Competitiveness Initiative by increasing funds to physical sciences research. The funding that we put into basic research at the National Science Foundation and the Departments of Energy and Commerce will pave the way for innovative breakthroughs. I am hopeful that the Senate will also prioritize these important science initiatives so that we can ensure that America remains globally competitive well into the future.

While many science accounts are adequately supported, the NASA account is not. H.J. Res. 20 reduces NASA's planned FY 2007 funding by $545.3 million. Most of the savings come from the Exploration Systems account, the program that funds development of the next space vehicle. As this Congress understands, we need to retire the Space Shuttle in 2010 and introduce its successor shortly thereafter. The more we cut this budget item, the longer our nation must wait for continued manned access to space. At a time when countries like China and India are challenging America in outer space, we need to remain leaders in this field. We cannot do that if Congress does not adequately fund our ventures into space.

I am also disappointed that the Space Shuttle and International Space Station as well as the Space Science and Aeronautics programs are also underfunded.

It is for these reasons that I introduced an amendment yesterday to restore funding to NASA. Unfortunately, the Rules Committee did not accept any amendments to this bill, and Congress will not have the opportunity to vote on this important program. In the last Congress, we voted to support the Vision for Space Exploration and return to the Moon. If we are to live up to that promise, then we need to follow through with adequate appropriations. We also need to give our current programs the best chance to succeed.

I will work with Chairman Bart Gordon and the appropriators to ensure that the Fiscal Year 2008 budget will adequately address our Nation's space and aeronautics needs.

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

H. Res. 59, of course, supports the goals and ideals of National Engineers Week, which is going to be celebrated this year during the week of February 18. The National Society of Professional Engineers established the first National Engineers Week back in 1951. The purpose of the week is to increase the understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers, and to promote K-12 literacy in math and science. It also showcases the important contributions that engineers have made to our society.

Engineers have a critical role to play to help keep our Nation ahead of the innovation curve. It is essential that we capitalize on opportunities such as National Engineers Week to raise the awareness of the valuable work and contributions of engineers to society and to attract young people of all ages to this very rewarding profession. As such, I ask my colleagues to support H. Res. 59.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Inglis), the ranking member on Energy.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri who is an engineer, Mr. Akin.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, of course, in opposition to H.R. 6. While I would like to believe that we all have the same goal in creating energy independence for our country, I really regret that this bill before us today would not lead us to that goal. This is really, I am very fearful, just the initial attack or one of the early attacks on an industry that is going to have other attacks this year, that survived the windfall profit tax that passed during the Jimmy Carter years of disaster, as far as energy was concerned.

This energy act is more likely to increase the dependence on foreign oil. By decreasing after-tax revenues for oil and gas companies, including the small independent producers that are considered small businessmen, the effect will be an increase in the cost of energy to consumers and a decrease in domestic exploration and production of oil and natural gas, because companies will have less money available to them for their activities.

This will, of course, require our country to import more oil and natural gas from countries that are not our natural allies. We will be dependent on these countries and to the OPEC group to supply us with the lifeblood of our economy. I just can't in good conscience vote for anything that would have that type of outcome.

I have said all along that this country will fight for energy, and the way to prevent our sons and daughters and grandsons and granddaughters from having to go overseas to take some oil away from someone or another country is to ensure that we utilize our own natural resources efficiently and effectively.

I am well aware that drilling alone on U.S. soil is not going to quickly solve all of our problems. I know that we also need to expand our usage of renewable energy and increase the efficiency of how we use fossil fuels. This is why I am supportive of the legislation that passed last Congress on a voice vote under suspension of the rules by my colleague from Illinois, Congresswoman Biggert. Among other initiatives, her bill supports the development and advancement of renewable energy in areas such as solar, wind, biofuels, coal, and encourages energy efficiency in buildings and technology.

I am fully supportive of seeing these initiatives enacted now. We have unanimous bipartisan support. Why do we need to wait for ``subsequent legislation,'' as is stated in the Rahall bill? Let's not wait any longer to ensure energy independence.

The United States has substantial amounts of oil and natural gas, but our laws prevent our domestic companies from accessing these resources in both onshore and offshore areas. In fact, we are the only country in the world that has limited ourselves like this. If our goal really is energy independence, then we need to increase access to our domestic resources, not increase taxes on one industry.

The point to remember here is that the Tax Code has little to do with the increase in energy prices. So penalizing oil and gas companies by increasing their taxes is not going to solve our energy problem.

Make no mistake, this country will fight for energy, and if we have to we

will send our sons and daughters across the ocean to take energy away from someone when we have plenty right here at home.

Let us help our constituents, not hurt them. Vote against H.R. 6.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Akin) on the Science Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Rogers).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time we have left.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to Judge Poe of Texas, a member of the Transportation Committee.

Madam Speaker, I recognize the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston) for 3 minutes.

Madam Speaker, I have 30 seconds. We do not need that. I will be glad to yield to Chairman Gordon all 30 of those seconds.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor my friend Jack Finney. Jack recently celebrated his 90th birthday by donating more than $1 million to the Hunt Memorial Hospital District Charitable Health Foundation. Jack's generous donation will ultimately enhance the soon- to-be-built cancer center on the campus of Presbyterian Hospital of Greenville.

Jack has a long history of making generous gifts to the community, having donated land, money, and his time to a variety of institutions such as Texas A&M University at College Station, Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum, Greenville YMCA, Greenville Chamber of Commerce, Paris Junior College, Texas A&M University-Commerce, the Greenville schools and many others. Other institutions that have benefited from his leadership include the local Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, and Board of DeveIopment as well as Texas A&M Universtiy, the Texas Baptist Foundation, and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Jack's efforts have led to multiple honors from Texas A&M, including his selection as a Distinguished Alumnus and election to the Hall of Honor of the A&M Corps of Cadets. Jack has also been honored with Greenville's ``Worthy Citizen'' Award, for which he donated $50,000 establishing an endowment to maintain the annual award in perpetuity.

In appreciation of Jack's latest gift, the Hospital District's Board of Directors have decided to name the new cancer center the Lou and Jack Finney Cancer Center in honor of Jack and his late wife, Lou House Finney. Lou and Jack were married for 68 years prior to her death in 2005.

During the reception honoring Jack's gift, Mayor Tom Oliver of Greenville proclaimed August 15th ``Jack Finney Day'' in the City of Greenville.

It has been speculated that Jack's gift is the largest single gift that an individual has ever made to a non-profit organization in Hunt County, and that certainly speaks volumes about Jack's generosity. Having given his time, money, and energy to so many worthy causes it is not surprising for Jack to have celebrated his 90th birthday with so large and charitable a gift. The community is fortunate indeed to have so generous a benefactor. Jack has spent his life serving and enriching the community, and his latest gift only further reinforces this legacy.

Mr. Speaker, as we adjourn today, let us do so in appreciation of the benevolence of this fine man and my friend--Jack Finney.

Mr. Speaker, today it is my privilege to honor the life of a dear friend, Billy Earl Hibbs, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 67. Billy was a native Texan, born on September 25, 1938 in Quitman. He graduated from Quitman High School and married his high school sweetheart, Eugenia Stroud, in 1957. Eugenia and Billy had one child, Billy Earl Hibbs, Jr.

Starting with a small, three-person insurance agency, Billy grew his business into Heartland Security Insurance Group, one of the largest insurance holding companies in the Southwest. Heartland is one of the largest providers of claims services to the Federal Government, including all branches of the military as well as non-military personnel injured in Afghanistan and Iraq. Despite its size, Heartland maintains its Texas roots with its headquarters in Tyler and continues to serve almost half the school districts in Texas.

The Texas Legislature recognized Billy's accomplishments in 1981 for his success in handling the John Tyler High School fire loss. In 1990, he led the passage of a bond measure to provide upgrades to the city of Tyler's infrastructure. A patron of the arts, Billy served as president of the East Texas Symphony Association and worked to relocate performances to the Cowan Center at U.T. Tyler. Billy also served as president of the Tyler Civic Theatre where he oversaw construction of the Braithwaite Theater and the opening of the Rogers Children's Theatre. As president of the Tyler Rotary Club he became a Paul Harris Fellow. Billy was a member of the Henry Bell Masonic Lodge, and a founding board member of the Better Business Bureau of Central East Texas. He served as a board member for Leadership Tyler, the Tyler Independent School District Foundation, and the Tyler Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Order of the Rose. He was a member of the Pairs and Parents Sunday School class, an usher, and a past trustee of Marvin United Methodist Church. Billy also remained active in the Independent Insurance Agents at local, State, and national levels throughout his life.

In 2004, Billy was inducted into the Junior Achievement ``Business Hall of Fame,'' and made a member of the honor business fraternity, Beta Gamma Sigma, at the University of Texas at Tyler. In 2005, Hibbs- Hallmark & Company was honored with the Better Business Bureau's ``Torch Award'' for demonstrating a commendable ethical record over the years, and recently, the Tyler Rotary Club honored Hibbs by distinguishing all present and future donors of $1,000 as ``Billy Hibbs Fellows.''

Billy is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Eugenia ``Jeannie'' Hibbs, his son Billy E. Hibbs, Jr., and daughter-in-law Tisa Weiss Hibbs, two grandchildren, Stratton Weiss Hibbs and London Elizabeth Hibbs, and two sisters, Dorma Shields and Betty Cassels of Quitman, as well as other relatives.

Billy was always generous with his time and leadership and he shared his many blessings with his community and his country. Mr. Speaker, Billy Hibbs was a valuable member of the community whose years of service will provide a legacy for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to pay tribute to a great American, outstanding public servant, and an esteemed colleague and good friend, the Honorable Jerris Leonard, whose sudden passing on July 27, 2006,

was mourned by his family and countless friends whose lives he touched. Jerris's life was devoted to God, family, country, and his fellow man, and he leaves a legacy of integrity and service that will long be remembered and appreciated.

Jerris received his undergraduate and law degrees from Marquette University, where he was president of the Marquette student body and was elected to Alpha Sigma Nu, the National Jesuit Honor Society. Following graduation from Marquette University Law School in 1955, Jerris began his career in Wisconsin. He was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in 1956, representing the North Shore suburbs of Milwaukee. In 1960 he was elected to the state Senate and became Senate majority leader in 1967. In 1968 he was the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate, but lost to incumbent Senator Gaylord Nelson.

In 1969 Jerris moved his family to Washington, DC, when he was appointed by President Nixon and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. He served in that capacity until 1971, when President Nixon appointed him the first Administrator of the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, a position he held for the next 2 years. Jerris remained in Washington, where he has been actively engaged in the practice of law and advocacy. Most recently, in 2005, he launched The Leonard Group to focus on legislative and lobbying activities. He also served on the Bush-Cheney Transition Department of Justice Advisory Committee, which helped the Administration find key candidates for the agency.

In recognition of his considerable accomplishments, Jerris was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from Marquette University Law School in 2000. In 1969 he received the Belle Case Lafollette Outstanding Professional Award from the Wisconsin Law Foundation. He is the author of numerous articles and was frequently invited to speak to groups throughout the United States.

Jerris was one of the original true conservatives, who championed core conservative values throughout his career and through his service in various organizations, such as Free Congress. His intellect and experience were invaluable to advancing the conservative agenda, and his engaging personality and enthusiasm for policy and politics were contagious. Jerris was a true statesman who made friends on both sides of the political aisle.

His friendships extended well beyond the realm of politics and career, however. He made friends in all walks of life. ``He treated everyone the same, and that is what I think made him special,'' said his daughter Kate Leonard. On the day he was to be sworn in by President Nixon as an assistant attorney general, Jerris gathered his children and instructed them that they were going to meet the President, but they were to remember that the man who parks the car is just as important and just as deserving of respect.

Jerris was devoted to his wife, Mariellen, to whom he was married for 52 years, and to his family. He took an active interest in the lives of his six children and attended countless sports events and other activities in which they were involved. In addition to Mariellen, he is survived by his children, Mary Leonard Ralston and husband David, Gib Leonard and wife Joni, John Leonard and wife Jeannine, Kathleen (Kate) Leonard, Francis Leonard and wife Kelly, and Daniel Leonard and wife Kelly, 16 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. He was greatly loved.

Mr. Speaker, many of our colleagues in the House of Representatives knew and admired Jerris Leonard. I valued his friendship and advice, as did so many others, and we will greatly miss him. It is impossible to fully grasp the breadth and depth of a life of someone like Jerris, who gave every project or responsibility his very best effort and who lived his life with boundless enthusiasm and compassion. He was a role model and mentor to so many, and he leaves a powerful legacy that will last for generations to come. As we adjourn today, let us do so in tribute to this great American, dedicated public servant, and truly great man-- Jerris Leonard.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to one of the outstanding Federal judges in our Nation, U.S. District Judge Paul Brown, who is retiring after 21 years of distinguished service on the bench in the Eastern District of Texas. Judge Brown has been my good friend for many years, and he is a respected and beloved Judge and member of the community in Sherman, Texas.

Judge Brown represents the finest qualities of jurisprudence. Hanging on his wall in the Sherman Federal Courthouse are Socrates' four qualities for a good judge--to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to decide impartially. Judge Brown embodied all of these qualities, and he dispensed justice accordingly. He was highly regarded, well-respected, and was a role model for many.

Paul Brown was the youngest of a family of six raised on a farm near Pottsboro, TX. He graduated from Denison High School and although underage, he got his parents' consent to join the U.S. Navy when World War II broke out. He served as a minesweeper in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters and as a part of the occupation forces in Japan. He was discharged as an Electrician's Mate 2nd Class in June, 1946.

He returned to his studies and received a law degree in 1950 from The University of Texas before being recalled to active duty in the Korean War. He saw combat aboard a minesweeper which was sunk by mines, and he received an honorable discharge in December of 1951.

Judge began his practice of law following the war and following President Dwight Eisenhower's election, he went to work as an assistant U.S. Attorney in Texarkana under U.S. Attorney William Steger, who would become his mentor, good friend, and fellow colleague

on the bench in the Eastern District until Judge Steger's passing this year. He served as Assistant U.S. Attorney from 1953 to 1959, then followed in Judge Steger's footsteps as U.S. District Attorney from 1959 to 1961.

While in Texarkana, Judge Brown met and married Frances Morehead, and the two returned home to Sherman, where Judge Brown practiced law for a number of years. In 1985 Senator Phil Graham recommended him to President Ronald Reagan for a new judge's position created for the Eastern District of Texas, and Judge Brown was confirmed that year. He held court in Beaumont, Paris, Sherman, and Texarkana, and as the caseload in Sherman grew, he eventually presided over the Sherman courthouse exclusively.

Premiere cases over the years included intellectual property, patent cases, and criminal cases precipitated by the bank and savings and loan failures of the 1980s and 1990s. In recent years he noted the increase in drug cases and expressed his regret that, in spite of all the efforts that have been made to prosecute drug dealers, the nation is not making much progress in curtailing the use of drugs. No matter what type of cases came before him, Judge Brown always enjoyed the work and ran an efficient and orderly courtroom. His personal work ethic and judicial integrity have been remarkable, and his reputation for punctuality has been legendary.

At his retirement reception, hundreds of local attorneys, area judges and friends and family paid tribute to Judge Brown. The Eastern District Chief Judge, Thad Heartfield, speaking for the fifteen judges on their court, has recommended that Congress name the U.S. District Courthouse in Sherman the ``Paul Brown U.S. Courthouse.'' Judge Heartfield noted that Judge Brown has demonstrated the finest qualities of a U.S. district judge: knowledge of the law, courtesy, patience, wisdom and compassion. It will be my pleasure to introduce legislation to that end.

As we near adjournment of the 109th Congress, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life of a great American, outstanding public servant, and respected jurist, the Honorable Paul Brown, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor my friend Jack Finney. Jack recently celebrated his 90th birthday by donating more than $1 million to the Hunt Memorial Hospital District Charitable Health Foundation. Jack's generous donation will ultimately enhance the soon- to-be-built cancer center on the campus of Presbyterian Hospital of Greenville.

Jack has a long history of making generous gifts to the community, having donated land, money, and his time to a variety of institutions such as Texas A&M University at College Station, Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum, Greenville YMCA, Greenville Chamber of Commerce, Paris Junior College, Texas A&M University-Commerce, the Greenville schools and many others. Other institutions that have benefited from his leadership include the local Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, and Board of Development as well as Texas A&M University, the Texas Baptist Foundation, and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Jack's efforts have led to multiple honors from Texas A&M, including his selection as a Distinguished Alumnus and election to the Hall of Honor of the A&M Corps of Cadets. Jack has also been honored with Greenville's ``Worthy Citizen'' Award, for which he donated $50,000 establishing an endowment to maintain the annual award in perpetuity.

In appreciation of Jack's latest gift, the Hospital District's Board of Directors have decided to name the new cancer center the Lou and Jack Finney Cancer Center in honor of Jack and his late wife, Lou House Finney. Lou and Jack were married for 68 years prior to her death in 2005.

During the reception honoring Jack's gift, Mayor Tom Oliver of Greenville proclaimed August 15th Jack Finney Day in the City of Greenville.

It has been speculated that Jack's gift is the largest single gift that an individual has ever made to a non-profit organization in Hunt County, and that certainly speaks volumes about Jack's generosity. Having given his time, money, and energy to so many worthy causes it is not surprising for Jack to have celebrated his 90th birthday with so large and charitable a gift. The community is fortunate indeed to have so generous a benefactor. Jack has spent his life serving and enriching the community, and his latest gift only further reinforces this legacy.

Mr. Speaker, as we adjourn today, let us do so in appreciation of the benevolence of this fine man and my friend--Jack Finney.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my regret that the 109th Congress was unable to address an issue of importance to hard- working Americans across the country. Some groups are misinterpreting the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, also called ``CERCLA,'' by seeking to apply Superfund liability to traditional agriculture as it relates to the use of animal manure as a fertilizer and soil conditioner. I was in Congress when CERCLA was passed, and I assure you that this is a misapplication of that law.

Congress did not intend this law to apply to animal manure returned to the soil as a fertilizer and did not intend this law to make every farm a hazardous waste site.

This misuse of CERCLA attracted attention from the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials, which held a hearing in November 2005. That hearing prompted me to introduce a bipartisan bill, H.R. 4341, along with distinguished co-sponsors, to specifically clarify CERCLA's definition of ``hazardous waste'' to make clear that animal manure is not included. This became necessary because some have lost sight of CERCLA's purpose. CERCLA was designed to fund the cleanup of dangerous abandoned industrial sites and chemical landfills, such as the infamous Love Canal site in New York. It was not written to cover ongoing agricultural operations.

I am very proud that 191 of my House colleagues have signed on as cosponsors of this bipartisan legislation. This level of support is a testament to the strength of our arguments and the threat that a misapplication of CERCLA poses to America's farmers. H.R. 4341's cosponsors represent all regions of this great country. The common thread is a dedication to U.S. agriculture.

Critics of farming claim that CERCLA has always applied to animal manure and should be broadly interpreted to fill gaps in the environmental laws. But, CERCLA was never intended to cover farming and agriculture, and it specifically excludes the normal application of fertilizers, such as animal manure. American farms already are subject to many federal and state environmental laws. Applying CERCLA to manure expands it beyond anything its drafters imagined. Critics believe that by targeting so-called ``factory farms'' their disregard for the law's language is legitimate. Unfortunately, these critics fail to understand modern agriculture. Today, integrated farming techniques allow large companies to work together with small, family farmers--they rely on each other. Driving these large companies out of business, as some seem intent on doing by misinterpreting CERCLA, will devastate the family farmers working closely with them. And, all have seen how an exaggerated interpretation of CERCLA liability can doom small businesses. Interpreting the law to include animal manure creates liability for every farmer in the country, big or small.

Mr. Speaker, for generations, animal manure has been used as a healthy, natural, organic fertilizer. It is not waste, but a commodity that is bought, sold and bartered for in small farming communities across America. Partly because of the use of this organic fertilizer, farmers have an outstanding track record as environmental stewards. They do not deserve to be treated like polluters or criminals. H.R. 4341 will remedy this situation and I look forward to returning to this issue in the 110th Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Bill Bradford of Sulphur Springs, TX, whose distinguished work in radio recently earned him the dedication of a city street in Sulphur Springs in his honor. In recognition of his many years as a radio owner, operator, and pioneer, Radio Road was recently renamed Bill Bradford Road.

Outgoing Sulphur Springs Mayor Clay Walker began pursuing the renaming of Radio Road at the suggestion of long-time Sulphur Springs resident, Jeff Massey. The idea for this change was well-received by the City Manager and members of the City Council who unanimously voted for the change. Indeed, the idea was so popular that many community leaders expressed surprise that the idea had not been thought of before.

As incoming Sulphur Springs Mayor Freddie Taylor's first official act, a framed city resolution changing the name from Radio Road to Bill Bradford Road was presented to Bill along with the first street sign to bear the name ``Bill Bradford Road.'' Sixty days later street signs were erected on August 2nd and 3rd making the name change effective.

Bill began his radio career as a radio operator in the military during World War II and afterward became owner of radio station KSST in Sulphur Springs. In 1992 he was named Texas Association of Broadcasters' ``Pioneer of the Year,'' and he was installed into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame's ``Hall of Honor'' in 2005.

Bill has contributed his time and talent to the radio industry and to the residents of Sulphur Springs. Having lived in Sulphur Springs for nearly 60 years, Bill has been a pivotal and influential voice in chronicling the city's growth. Today I am proud to recognize a beloved and legendary citizen of Sulphur Springs, TX--Bill Bradford.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to remember the life of my friend Dr. Stanley E. Monroe, Sr., longtime physician from Sherman, TX, whose passing last year was mourned by family and his many friends.

Dr. Monroe was the first specialist in Internal Medicine to settle in Grayson County, where he joined the Essin Clinic with Dr. E.M. Essin, and, later, Dr. Harry Shytles. Dr. Monroe joined the staff of the Wilson N. Jones and St. Vincent's Hospitals, where he remained active for 35 years. He also donated the first ECG machine to Wilson N. Jones Hospital and started their first medical library.

Dr. Monroe was President of the Grayson County Medical Society the year Medicare started and was a life member of the American Medical Association. He volunteered his services treating students at the Adams Health Center of Austin College five days a week for eight years after coming to Sherman. He was known for making house calls to patients in Sherman, other towns, and in the country. After closing his office, he served as Medical Administrator of Shady Oaks and Chapel of Care Nursing Homes for 10 years.

A sports enthusiast, Dr. Monroe participated in track, basketball, softball, tennis, and golf and had the opportunity to play at some of the best courses in the world. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church since 1948.

He also was an avid amateur photographer and 16-mm filmmaker. After his parents died, he organized reunions with his siblings every spring, and in 2002 he published his autobiography, which included 48 pages of pictures as well as genealogical facts and important historical and medical events.

Dr. Monroe studied at the University of Missouri Medical School, and after achieving a Bachelor of Science in Medicine, transferred to the University of Arkansas Medical School, where he received his MD degree in 1943. He spent five years after Medical School in specialized medical training and research. As an intern and resident at the University of Arkansas Hospital, he was a part of a national experiment on the value of Penicillin. Dr. Monroe gave the first dose of Penicillin in Arkansas to a ``hopeless'' patient who survived, and he contributed two scientific papers before accepting a three-year Fellowship at Lahey Clinic in Boston, where he contributed two additional papers.

Dr. Monroe is survived by his wife, Minnie; son, Stanley, Jr. and wife Jeani; son, Alan and wife Baceliza; son, Ronald and wife Nancy; daughter, Kathie Buchanan and husband John; daughter, Elizabeth (Betsy) Woodard; sister, Geraldine McCurry; 13 grandchildren, eight great- grandchildren, and other family members.

Dr. Monroe's long life was spent as a pioneer in medicine and a respected physician and member of the community. He was a loving husband for over 68 years and a doting father who insisted on education. He leaves behind many colleagues and a loving family who will miss him, and I will miss him, too. I am honored to pay tribute to this great American--Dr. Stanley Monroe.