Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6475) to establish the Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Program.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks in the Record on this bill.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6475, which would establish the Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Program. This program would bring the most talented law school graduates from across the country to Washington, D.C., and offer them the opportunity to be employed as congressional clerks in the House of Representatives or the Senate.

This program is modeled after the judicial clerkships offered in the Federal courts. H.R. 6475 would offer no fewer than six 1-year clerkships in each Chamber. The clerks would be apportioned equally between majority and minority offices within each Chamber. H.R. 6475 would give recent law grads invaluable insight into the functions and operations of the Federal legislature, and I urge my colleagues to support this program.

I would also like to thank Ms. Lofgren and Mr. Lungren for introducing the bill in the 109th Congress, and Ms. Lofgren for bringing it up and Mr. Lungren for being a prime cosponsor.

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

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for Ms. Zoe Lofgren to control the remaining time on this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize my dear friend, Rev. James S. Allen, in honor of his 30th anniversary as pastor of the Vine Memorial Baptist Church of Philadelphia. Reverend Allen has carried the torch for human rights throughout his career and has brought that same passion to his ministry in Philadelphia. Through his work, he has touched the lives of numerous members of my community and continues to be a blessing to all those who encounter him.

Born in rural Arkansas, Reverend Allen was a firsthand witness to the injustices of racial segregation. The young Reverend Allen walked 4 miles both ways to his segregated three-room schoolhouse every day, and in spite of the challenge, he went on to become valedictorian of his high school's graduating class. After Reverend Allen joined the United States Air Force and honorably served in the Korean War until 1956, he returned home to the ever burgeoning issue of racial equality and discovered his life's calling in the ministry. When the integration orders handed down in Brown v. Board of Education were jeopardized, Reverend Allen joined the fight to uphold its central purpose of racial equity. The day that President Eisenhower ordered military troops into Little Rock to ensure its desegregation, Reverend Allen, with the same thought in mind, enrolled at the Arkansas Baptist College.

As a champion of human rights, Reverend Allen has made his mark in a number of places. He assisted Dr. Leon Sullivan in planning the first and second African American Summits and has worked extensively with the Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America Incorporated to help members of his community find and maintain jobs. Reverend Allen has served in numerous leadership positions for various organizations. Most notable has been his service as vice-president of National Baptist Congress of Christian Education and as the first president of the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity. Reverend Allen also served as a special assistant to the first African American mayor of Philadelphia, W. Wilson Goode. Currently, Reverend Allen serves as the chairman of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations. Above his charitable contributions to the community at large, he is also a loving husband, father, and grandfather.

Madam Speaker, Reverend Allen has been a minister for 51 years, 30 of which have been at the Vine Memorial Baptist Church of Philadelphia. He has served the people of many cities, making a lasting impact everywhere he has been. As a valued member of my community, I ask that you and my other esteemed colleagues join me in congratulating Reverend Allen on this occasion of achieving 30 years of pastoral excellence in Philadelphia and a growing legacy of human rights successes.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1360) honoring and commemorating the selfless acts of heroism displayed by the late Detective John Michael Gibson and Private First Class Jacob Joseph Chestnut of the United States Capitol Police on July 24, 1998.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, 10 years ago on July 24, 1998, a gunman entered the Capitol and shot to death two Capitol Police officers, Detective John Gibson and Private First Class Jacob Chestnut. As they lay in honor in the rotunda, Congress and the whole community mourned the loss of the men who gave their lives defending the Capitol.

Madam Speaker, we continue to mourn the loss of these fine, dedicated members of our Capitol community. At the 10th anniversary of that tragic day, we commemorate the passing of Private Chestnut and Detective Gibson. We honor their memories and once again offer the House's condolences to their widows and to their families.

I thank our colleague from Maryland (Ms. Edwards) for introducing this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, once again I thank the gentlewoman from Maryland for introducing this resolution remembering these brave officers and their families. It is important that we remember their sacrifice, and I urge an ``aye'' vote.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 645) expressing the gratitude and appreciation of the House of Representatives to the professionalism and dedication of the United States Capitol Police, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous matter on the resolution now under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, I am delighted to offer this motion. The Capitol Police earn and deserve our gratitude every day of the year as they work hard under unique and trying circumstances. They are constantly here, even when we are not, making the Capitol complex and all who work in and visit these hallowed halls safe.

Under the leadership of Chief Phillip Morse and his team, with the support of officers represented by Matt Tighe of the Fraternal Order of Police, and of civilians led by Karen Gray-Thomas of the Teamsters unit, the Capitol Police work wonders, enabling us to conduct our business without worry. Beyond their day-to-day shifts, the Capitol Police routinely demonstrate their dedication, as recently when 600 officers reported one weekend to cope with a political demonstration.

The Capitol Police perform such feats daily, without comment or complaint. It is an honor to chair the subcommittee that oversees this fine organization and to support them as they discharge their mission every day of the year.

I thank the gentleman from Florida for introducing this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, once again I thank the gentleman from Florida for introducing this resolution. I also thank the Capitol Police for the fine job they perform for us every day of the year, making our work in Congress possible.

It's great that we offer a resolution today commending them, and it's sad that we have to have a 10-year anniversary tomorrow for the two police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice.

I think the most befitting thing we can do for them and for our police officers is to say hello to them, say ``How are you? How's your day?'' instead of running by them for a vote, running out, leaving, going to our offices. They're people, too. They're great men and women. They do a great job. We do thank them for their job. But we should take a moment or two to have a little conversation with them and let them know, not only one day a year, not today, not tomorrow, but every time we pass by them, to thank them for keeping us safe.

We walk in this building through metal detectors, dogs. They check our cars and we're safe as can be and we're safe as can be because of them. When there's a problem and we have to evacuate, we're running out and they're running in. We ought to let them know every single day that we appreciate them.

With that, I urge an ``aye'' vote.

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

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to discharge the Committee on House Administration from further consideration of House Concurrent Resolution 395 and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, we all know that the U.S. needs a long term strategic energy policy if we are ever to break our addiction to foreign oil and become energy independent. Part of that long term solution is to focus on a policy that allows us to begin using less oil today.

The United States transportation system is the largest in the world and is almost entirely responsible for our Nation's dependence on using oil as the major source of energy. For instance, while the United States has only 4.5 percent of the world's population, it uses 25 percent of the world's oil. About 60 percent of this oil is imported. The transportation sector consumes seven of every ten barrels of oil consumed in the United States.

In addition, about 28 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, GHGs, in the U.S. are attributed to the transportation sector, making it the second largest contributor to GHG emissions, trailing only electricity generation. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this figure is expected to rise to 36 percent by 2020.

In a carbon-constrained world, it makes sense for government to invest in transportation infrastructure that will promote the use of technologies that improve fuel efficiency, while also reducing carbon emissions and traffic congestion. Railroads are the most fuel efficient mode of surface transportation. In 2007, freight railroads moved one ton of freight an average of 436 miles per gallon of fuel--roughly the distance between Boston and Baltimore.

In its January 2008 final report to Congress, the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission stated that ``intercity passenger rail is . . . more energy efficient than many other modes of passenger transportation.'' The report notes that the average intercity passenger rail train produces 60 percent lower carbon dioxide emissions per passenger-mile than the average automobile, and half the carbon dioxide emissions per passenger-mile of an airplane.

Using railroads more means consuming less fuel, and that's more important today more than ever. However, the railroads may not currently have the capacity to handle socially optimal amounts of freight and passenger traffic. Freight railroads are reinvesting record amounts of their own funds into their systems, but that will not be enough to take full advantage of railroads' potential to meet our transportation needs.

One step we must take is to provide relief to states, local communities, and captive rail customers who continue to suffer from unreasonably high railroad rates and poor service. This relief cannot be accomplished through capital improvements alone. Reforms to reduce impediments to competition must also be enacted.

Further, railroads have traditionally invested in their own networks and there is increased interest in public-private relationships to help address the projected underinvestment in our Nation's rail network. However, the government as a public partner has a duty to ensure that the public interest is best served under any agreements it enters into. We need to be careful when creating these partnerships as private businesses' objectives and motivations may not necessarily be aligned with the public interest. When public-private partnerships are used to finance, design and build roads, bridges, rail projects, and transit facilities, we must safeguard the public interests.

H.R. 2116, an excellent piece of legislation introduced by my friend from Florida, Kendrick Meek, will provide a 25 percent tax credit for railroads to invest in capital expansion. This will help augment their financial capacity for transportation investments. As we review this legislation, we should also consider including a provision that ensures prevailing wages for the workers responsible for the construction of this expansion. Amtrak ridership may reach 28 million this year--the highest it has ever been and up from 25.8 million passengers last year. In fact, Amtrak ridership and revenues are up and experiencing significant growth in all categories: short distance, long distance, and Northeast Corridor services. Last month, Amtrak had the highest revenue and ridership of any month in its history. Fiscal year 2008 year-to-date ridership is up 11 percent and revenues are up 14 percent over the previous year.

We also need to consider extending the ``Section 45G'' tax credit for investments in short line track rehabilitation that expired in 2007. The Section 45G tax credit has helped hundreds of short line railroads increase the volume and rate of track rehabilitation and improvement programs. This allows them to offer more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly rail service to communities throughout the country.

The key to reducing fuel consumption in transportation and our addiction to oil and dependence on foreign oil is by encouraging the use of the most fuel efficient modes of transportation--railroads. America's freight and passenger railroads offer a simple, cost effective and meaningful way to do this, thereby helping to ensure a sustainable future for our planet.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the Senate bill (S. 2967) to provide for certain Federal employee benefits to be continued for certain employees of the Senate Restaurants after operations of the Senate Restaurants are contracted to be performed by a private business concern, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on House Administration be discharged from further consideration of House Resolution 1325 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary congressional service of three individuals who will be leaving the United States Capitol Guide Service at the end of June. Tom Stevens, Sharon Nevitt and Jeannie Divine have together provided 87 years of service to Congress, and their departure will certainly leave a void that is difficult to fill.

Tom Stevens has served as the Director of Visitor Services, charged with managing our dedicated crew of Capitol Guide Service and Congressional Special Services employees. He first came to the Guide Service in March 1985, and has served as the head of this organization since 2003. Tom has done an outstanding job, managing the group that provides assistance to literally thousands of visitors who come to the U.S. Capitol from around this Nation and the world every day. In addition, Tom has worked tirelessly to help plan and prepare for the opening of the Capitol Visitor Center.

Sharon Nevitt has served the Guide Service since November 1977, in a variety of management positions, and she currently is the Assistant Director of the Guide Service. Her commitment to this institution has been dedicated and extraordinary. Working side by side with Tom Stevens, Sharon has worked diligently over the past few years to ensure that the transition to operations in the Capitol Visitor Center will be successful and beneficial for all of our visitors.

Jeannie Divine joined the Capitol Guide Service in May 1988, coming directly from 13 years of service with the Architect of the Capitol. Jeannie is part of the fabric of this institution, as she is one of the unheralded staffers who work with our offices every day to schedule tours and coordinate the many visits we have by constituents. She has done a difficult job with consummate professionalism and ceaseless good humor.

Madam Speaker, we are indeed fortunate to have had the services of these dedicated individuals. Their work on the behalf of our constituents and visitors has been exemplary and I invite my colleagues to wish them well in their future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor a man who exemplified the ideal husband, father, and human being to all whose lives he touched. James Arthur Johnson was born and raised in Philadelphia, where he lived his entire life. He graduated from Bok Vocational High School and went on to the Marine Corps, where he honorably served our country.

After serving in the Marine Corps, Officer Johnson continued his life's work in public service with the United States Post Office, followed by an appointment to the All Philadelphia Police Department in September 1957. As a police officer, his detail included the Highway Patrol, 19th Police District, and Narcotics Unit. During his career in the Philadelphia Police Department, Officer Johnson earned the respect of all who knew him. His strong moral fiber, wise counsel, fatherly ways made him a pleasure to encounter.

In 1971, Officer Johnson suffered an injury in the line of duty. Yet, he continued to serve our city from within the Mayor's Office of Information and Complaints. With 23 years of service on the Police Force under his belt, Officer Johnson retired in 1980. He then went on to become the housing site manager for the Philadelphia Housing Authority until he retired in 1990. Even though Officer Johnson entered his second round of retirement, he never gave up his cherished role as a public servant. He

was a well-known member of the Cobbs Creek community, where he was a baseball coach for the Cobbs Creek Cubs, as well as a mentor, Scout leader and surrogate father to many of the community's youth.

Madam Speaker, Officer Johnson's light was extinguished on June 13th, but the light he has shared with others bums ever so brightly. His loving family, friends, and community will miss him very much. I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing the condolences of the House to his family. I hope that they find comfort in the knowledge that his time on Earth was well spent and that he left the world a better place than the one he found.

Madam Speaker, on the occasion of his retirement on July 6, 2008, we rise today to thank Daniel (Dan) Doody for over 23 years of combined federal government service within the Department of Defense and the U.S. House of Representatives.

Prior to his tenure with the House, Dan spent approximately 15 years of his career in the Department of Defense with responsibilities ranging from program control officer and staff engineer to various management positions supporting complex systems development activities.

In January 2000, Dan came to the U.S. House of Representatives, within the Office of Chief Administrative Office, CAO, as the Deputy Associate Administrator for House Information Resources (HIR). In this role, Dan managed the CAO's technology planning and budgeting activities as well as overseeing systems development projects and operations.

In August 2001, Dan took overall responsibility for HIR, an organization of approximately 270 staff. This role was quickly tested when in September 2001 the nation experienced the tragic events of September 11th followed quickly by the House Office Building anthrax contamination and subsequent closures in October 2001. Immediately thereafter, Dan was assigned the critical role of Program Manager for the House's Business Continuity Disaster Recovery (BCDR) initiatives. The focus of this program was to dramatically improve the House's business continuity planning and recovery capabilities so that House essential support services were easily restored or transitioned to backup systems in the event of an emergency.

Dan continued his duties as HIR Associate Administrator until February 2006 at which time he became the Deputy CAO for Operations. In this role, Dan had responsibility for the operations of HIR, Administrative and Financial Services, Workforce Services, and Business Continuity. Dan's attention to detail, skill in developing working relationships at all levels of the House, Legislative Branch, and industry, as well as his uncanny ability to discern good ideas and implementation approaches from the bad, Dan was a voice of reason whose recommendations and opinions were always sought after and held with the highest regard.

Dan has dedicated his life to making the federal government and, in particular, the CAO and the U.S. House of Representatives a better and more secure place to work. After his retirement from the government, Dan's plan is to return to private industry. On behalf of the entire House community, we extend congratulations to Dan for his dedication and outstanding contributions to the U.S. House of Representatives. We wish him many wonderful years in fulfilling his retirement dreams.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor a great Philadelphian and a great American, the late Sam Evans.

He had firsthand experience as a victim of oppression. His mother was born before abolition, and he witnessed five lynchings before

he turned 9 years old. But, he refused to live his life as a victim. His childhood under Jim Crow spurred an adulthood spent as a champion of justice. He led protests against American Nazism and discrimination of all kinds. He was jailed for his activities, but he never stopped standing up for his beliefs. He went on to organize and lead the 43,000 Philadelphians who joined Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

Mr. Evans founded and led the American Foundation for Negro Affairs and the multi-ethnic Family of Leaders. He was a visionary and champion of the right to a decent education, decent housing and justice for all.

But, more than anything, Sam Evans was a friend and a mentor to anyone who walked through his door. He never refused anyone who sought the benefit of his wisdom and experience. I spent many hours learning from him myself. I am proud to call myself a follower of Sam Evans.

Sam is resting now. I know that he and his beloved Edna are swapping stories about Retha and the grandkids, great-grandkids and great-great- grandkids. We will miss you, Sam. But, after 105 years of hard work on this Earth, we will never feel that you are gone.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a great Philadelphia institution and a staple in our community, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has always held itself to the highest standard of care. This month, they have been recognized for their excellence as they were rated as the best over all children's hospital in America in a U.S. News & World Report exclusive annual ranking, receiving this honor for the sixth year in a row.

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 and was the first hospital devoted solely to the care of children. Today it houses 430 beds and treats more than one million patients a year. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia specializes in cancer, digestive disorders, heart and heart surgery, neonatal care, neurology and neurosurgery and respiratory disorders. While coming in first for overall general practices, the hospital also ranked in the top three in the country in each of these individual categories.

Since it was established the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has been concentrated on caring for the families of patients as well as the patients themselves. Now they have programs where parents teach the physicians what it is like to care for a child with a specific disease, because they have the best knowledge of this. The Children's Hospital also encourages families to stay with their children at all times, making the treatment more bearable for the children and their families.

Madam Speaker, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is a key institution in Philadelphia and I congratulate them on this honor and thank them for their dedication to excellence and their service to our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor a great Philadelphian and a giant of America's cultural community, Anne d'Harnoncourt. Ms. d'Harnoncourt came to the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1967 and became curator of 20th century art in 1972. She became the museum's director in 1982, beginning a renaissance at the venerable institution.

Ms. d'Harnoncourt has been justifiably credited with being responsible for launching Philadelphia's modern concept of cultural tourism with a blockbuster 1996 Cezanne retrospective that drew a record 800,000 viewers. She provided the drive and the vision needed to launch a $590 million expansion and renovation of the museum and completed the opening of the architecturally and historically significant Perelman annex.

Most recently Miss d'Harnoncourt had landed the Art Museum an enviable spot at the Venice Biennale, curating the American Pavilion with a major Bruce Nauman show. And, perhaps most importantly, she led our city's unprecedented effort to keep The Gross Clinic in the city.

Anne d'Harnoncourt had an unmatched impact on the world of art. Through her pioneering of the blockbuster exhibit, she had an equally unmatched impact on Philadelphia's economy. But, her true impact was most felt in the lives of Philadelphia's children.

Under Ms. d'Harnoncourt's leadership, the Philadelphia Museum of Art has devoted significant staff and monetary resources to exciting and innovative educational efforts for our kids. The museum has developed curricula and exhibits designed to teach children the arts, math and history. Every exhibit in the museum is welcoming to kids and the sight of busloads of delighted, beaming faces brings joy to everyone who sees them.

Madam Speaker, Anne d'Harnoncourt is one of those once in a lifetime people who can never be replaced. She will be sorely missed. But, because of her work, her legacy will live forever.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5893) to reauthorize the sound recording and film preservation programs of the Library of Congress, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks in the Record and to include extraneous matter.

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

This bill reauthorizes the Sound Recording and Film Preservation Programs of the Library of Congress through the year 2016.

The National Film Preservation Board was created in 1988 to address the rapid deterioration of important films. The Film Preservation Board is responsible for identifying and preserving films they deem are ``culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.'' Along with the National Film Preservation Foundation, the Film Preservation Board ensures that all generations from all over the world will be able to view these remarkable films and experience their power and importance firsthand.

The National Recording Preservation Board was created by the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000. There are currently 225 entries in the National Recording Registry, and that number may only continue to grow. From music to historical speeches, the

Recording Preservation Board makes certain that future generations can experience these historically important and powerful sounds that helped shape decades.

It is necessary that we reauthorize the Recording and Film Boards to allow them to continue their vital mission. We will see to it that those who come after us will be able to listen to and witness those sounds and sights that are essential to our national heritage.

House of Representatives,

Committee on the Judiciary,

Washington, DC, June 4, 2008.

Hon. Robert A. Brady,

Chairman, Committee on House Administration,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Brady: This is to advise you that, as a

result of your working with us to make appropriate revisions

to provisions in H.R. 5893, the Library of Congress Sound

Recording and Film Preservation Programs Reauthorization Act

of 2008, that fall within the rule X jurisdiction of the

Committee on the Judiciary, we are able to agree to

discharging our committee from further consideration of the

bill in order that it may proceed without delay to the House

floor for consideration.

The Judiciary Committee takes this action with the

understanding that by foregoing further consideration of H.R.

5893 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over

subject matter contained in this or similar legislation. We

also reserve the right to seek appointment of an appropriate

number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving

this important legislation, and request your support if such

a request is made.

I would appreciate your including this letter in the

Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the

House floor. Thank you for your attention to this request,

and for the cooperative relationship between our two

committees.

Sincerely,

John Conyers, Jr.,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. Speaker, as always, I would like to thank the ranking member, my friend from Michigan, for his cooperation, and I urge an ``aye'' vote.

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