Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the concurrent resolution just adopted.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for the immediate consideration in the House of the resolution (H. Res. 459) dismissing the election contest relating to the office of Representative from the Twenty-first Congressional District of Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for the immediate consideration in the House of the resolution (H. Res. 461) dismissing the election contest relating to the office of Representative from the Twenty-fourth Congressional District of Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for the immediate consideration in the House of the resolution (H. Res. 462) dismissing the election contest relating to the office of Representative from the Fourth Congressional District of Louisiana.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for the immediate consideration in the House of the resolution (H. Res. 463) dismissing the election contest relating to the office of Representative from the Fifth Congressional District of Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous matter on the four election contest resolutions just considered.

Mr. Speaker, I offer a resolution (H. Res. 460) and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the Senate bill (S. 1537) to authorize the transfer of certain funds from the Senate Gift Shop Revolving Fund to the Senate Employee Child Care Center, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, on the occasion of his retirement this month, I rise to thank Mr. Phil Nichols for his long career of outstanding service to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Phil Nichols has been an employee of the House for 31 years. During that time, he has earned the respect and admiration of his fellow co- workers. Phil is a person of great character and will leave behind a legacy of professionalism, hard work and dedication to this institution. His list of accomplishments is far too lengthy to include in this tribute.

However, one major accomplishment of Phil's was his contribution to the team that upholstered the two chairs used by the Vice President of the United States and the Speaker of the House for every State of the Union speech.

Phil's retirement is bittersweet. The House will lose an individual who from day one of his employment made a long term commitment to excellence. His performance has always been exceptional and above and beyond expectations. His legacy will live on in the Chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives as we wish him many wonderful years of happy retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Francis ``Frank'' Johnson's accomplished career and influential musical legacy. Born in 1792 in Philadelphia, Johnson was well known as a professional musician by age 20. Overcoming the barriers of racism, Johnson achieved incredible success even in the face of such racial strife, composing over 300 pieces of music. Further, in a time when professional musicians were a rarity in the United States, Johnson established a career with incredible variety and importance that has had an impact on countless modern musicians.

Johnson trained with Richard Wills, the West Point band leader, and quickly mastered many instruments like the keyed bugle. He published his first composition, ``A Collection of New Cotillions,'' in 1818, and soon became one of Philadelphia's premier musicians. Johnson's vast musical accomplishments were noted by author Robert Walsh in 1819, commenting: ``In fine, he is the leader of the band at all balls, public and private; sole director of all serenades, acceptable and unacceptable; inventor-general of cotillions; to which add, a remarkable taste in distorting a sentimental, simple, and beautiful song, into a reel, jig or country-dance.''

It is an honor to recognize a figure who was able to overcome incredible hardships to create a legacy that has affected countless generations. I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join me in commending Francis Johnson for his renowned musical achievements and lasting influence.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the students of the social science classes of Central High School's 266th graduating class. Under the leadership of teachers William Graham, Michael Horwits, Stanford Levy, Joseph Putro, Reginald Speir, and president Dr. Sheldon Pavel, the students' extensive research and dedication to political education deserves great recognition.

As members of the social science class, students gained an understanding of the local political process through the in-depth study of Philadelphia's 2007 mayoral race. Their hard work and dedication culminated in the Power of Student Voices Mayoral Forum, which was entirely student run and moderated. Attended by the major mayoral candidates, the forum provided the students with an opportunity to raise their concerns and speak directly to the candidates themselves. The hard work necessary for the event's success further exemplifies the students' commitment to excellence.

It is an honor to recognize a group of students who show such great dedication to the political process. The commitment and outstanding initiative of the students is to be praised, and their excellence deserves great credit. I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join me in commending the students of the social science classes of Central High School for their exemplary contribution to the Commonwealth.

Madam Speaker, as chairman of the Committee on House Administration and of the Joint Committee on Printing, I want my colleagues to note that June 1, 2007, will mark the retirement of C. Michael Bright from Federal service following a dedicated career of 33 years at the Government Printing Office. Mike, as he is known, compiled an exemplary record of service at the GPO that benefited not only GPO's Federal-agency customers, the public seeking access to Government information, but Members and staff of the Congress as well.

Mike served most of his career in the GPO's Superintendent of Documents operation, which makes published Federal documents available to the public via sales and through Federal depository libraries nationwide. Beginning as an editor of GPO's sales catalog, he later worked as a marketing specialist for Government documents and then was the principal assistant to the Superintendent of Documents. Among the duties Mike performed from that post during the 1980's was service as GPO liaison to the Books Abroad program, a U.S. Information Agency initiative to expand distribution of Federal Government publications overseas to counter the Soviet Union's distribution of its publications.

Mike was a principal in helping to shape GPO's support for electronic information dissemination, later assisting Federal agencies in creating their own electronic information products through GPO, and for a time he served as an assistant to GPO's chief of staff. Most recently, as a congressional relations officer he was trusted by the staffs of the Joint Committee on Printing as well as other Member and committee offices to provide expert advice and assistance on GPO-related matters. In recognition of his accomplishments, over the years Mike earned both the Public Printer's distinguished service and meritorious service awards as well as the thanks of the congressional and agency staffs who worked with him.

Madam Speaker, please join the Members of the House Administration Committee and the Joint Committee on Printing in expressing their heartfelt thanks for Mike Bright's career of outstanding service to the Government Printing Office, and in extending their best wishes to Mike and his family--wife Susan and son Andrew--as Mike embarks on the next stage of his life.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 128) authorizing the printing of a commemorative document in memory of the late President of the United States, Gerald Rudolph Ford.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this concurrent resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, this resolution provides for the printing of a memorial tribute to honor our late 38th President, Gerald R. Ford. A former minority leader of this House, President Ford died on December 26, 2006, at the age of 93. Our distinguished colleague from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers), who now represents Gerald Ford's former district, introduced this resolution. The measure takes the same form as that passed after President Reagan's death in 2004. I support the gentleman's resolution, and I thank him for sponsoring it.

Mr. Speaker, since President Ford's death, Americans have expressed their respect and gratitude for his remarkable career that took him into the Navy during World War II, to this House, to the Vice Presidency, and then to the White House. In the aftermath of the ordeal of Watergate, many consider President Ford, then and now, as the right man at the right time. It is fitting that Congress provide for this customary tribute, and I urge the House to adopt the concurrent resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleague from Michigan in support of this fitting tribute for our late President Ford. I urge the House to support the resolution.

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

Madam Speaker, on the occasion of his retirement on May 2, 2007, we rise to thank Mr. David C. Folk for 20 years of distinguished service to the United States House of Representatives. David has served this great institution as a valuable employee for the Chief Administrative Officer.

David began his tenure with the United States House of Representatives in May of 1987 as a data communications specialist in the House Information Systems group. David's career at the House is one of consistent and steady contributions while meeting customer requests in voice and data wiring infrastructure. Specifically, David managed the rewiring upgrade of the House side of the Capitol and the Member Offices in all of the House Office Buildings.

He also was the Quality Assurance Evaluator on the original House Infrastructure contract and assisted in the development of differing voice systems such as the Member Paging System and the press secretaries systems for the broadcast media organizations. Finally, David managed the first Secure Communications program for the House and grew it from its infancy to where it is today.

David has been a key contributor to the CAO efforts on wiring infrastructure. His standard of excellence, dedication to passionate customer service, organizational skills, professionalism and ability to get the job done is well noted by his colleagues.

On behalf of the entire House community, we extend congratulations to David for many years of dedication and outstanding contributions to the United States House of Representatives. We wish David many wonderful years in fulfilling his retirement dreams.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the actions of Minnie Moore-Johnson. Minnie has spent her life in the service of others and has dedicated herself to those who are in need of her help as the Founder and CEO of Concerned Parents, Inc. Over the course of her distinguished career of over 40 years, Minnie Moore- Johnson has received hundreds of awards recognizing her life achievements and therefore, I ask the United States Congress to do the same for this great woman.

Ms. Minnie Moore-Johnson has truly been a guardian over those in need within the city

and surrounding areas. No matter what the need or want, it seems that Ms. Moore-Johnson is willing to do whatever necessary to help those around her. Her Thanksgiving Dinners for seniors became legendary in 1968 and in 1988 was recognized by the Smithsonian Institute for serving over 25,000 seniors. She has welcomed her home to anyone looking to benefit from her wisdom and generosity which she gladly gives to all.

For 10 years, the Pennsylvania Prison Society used the services of her organization, Concerned Parents, Inc., to provide community service opportunities to the Prison Society's clients. This prompted Minnie to return to school to better understand the criminal justice system and the struggles of the people she was helping. Once at Temple, she became a Life Skills Educator and eventually a Job Developer at the Pennsylvania Prison Society to help find employment and other benefits for ex-offenders. Her knowledge and ingenuity has truly benefited all in the Philadelphia community. Her work on the Pennsylvania Prison Society's Re-Entry Service Project created the only certified Job Development course at Temple University offering training in a variety of ex-offender programs. In addition to this program, Minnie provides services to troubled youth ages 15-24 through the Philadelphia Safe and Sound Youth Violence Reduction. All of this accomplishment has amounted to a life well spent in the service of others and gives people a true role model to look up to.

Minnie believes her journey has come full circle, in that it has afforded her the experience of expanding her knowledge to better understand the criminal justice system and those re-entering the work force and has given her the skills she needs to return to her first love, that of servicing the people of the SouthWest Philadelphia community--as Executive Director/CEO of Concerned Parents, Inc. I ask you, Madam Speaker, and my distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating Minnie Moore-Johnson in her lifetime of achievement in the service of others.