Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, July 2010 marks the 50th Anniversary of Nelle Harper Lee's novel ``To Kill a Mockingbird.''

First published on July 11, 1960, ``To Kill a Mockingbird'' has since sold over 30 million copies and has been published in over 40 languages.

During the past 50 years the world has seen many changes but one thing still remains constant--``To Kill a Mockingbird'', the novel that inspired children and adults in 1961 is still inspiring a new generation of children and adults today. Few novels have such timeless and universal appeal.

``To Kill a Mockingbird'' has received numerous awards including the Pulitzer Prize in 1960 and the film adaptation received three Academy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards in 1962.

The Mockingbird Players, an amateur theater group, perform the dramatization of ``To Kill a Mockingbird'' every April and May in Monroeville, Alabama, Lee's hometown. The players have performed at both home and abroad including performances in Chicago, Washington, D.C., the United Kingdom and Israel.

One of the novels best known quotes is, ``Lawyers, I suppose, were children once.'' This quote and her character, Atticus Finch, have inspired lawyers for the past 50 years, including myself.

For those who have read ``To Kill a Mockingbird'' you may remember Scout's first grade teacher was Miss Caroline Fisher. On Scout's first day at school, Miss Caroline Fisher introduced herself proudly saying, ``I am Caroline Fisher. I am from North Alabama, from Winston County.'' Being born and raised in Winston County, which is a small rural county in North Alabama. I remember being surprised to see my home county mentioned as I first read the book as a law student at Samford University's Cumberland School of Law. From that day forward ``To Kill a Mockingbird'' has been a favorite of mine, not only because my home county was mentioned but most importantly because the message the book articulates.

Nelle, as she is affectionately known by her friends, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on November 5, 2007 by President George W. Bush.

Besides ``To Kill a Mockingbird,'' Lee also penned ``Christmas to Me'' and ``When Children Discover America'' for McCall's Magazine in the 1960s.

Miss Lee is a national treasure and I am proud to cosponsor and vote for Mr. Bonner's resolution, H. Res. 1525, honoring the 50th anniversary of ``To Kill a Mockingbird.''

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Dwight D. Thomas, who retired from the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs on June 30, 2010. A gentleman from my home County of Winston who truly embodies the American principles of hard work, patriotism, dedication to one's family and service to one's community.

For the past twenty-two years and nine months, the veterans in Winston County, Alabama have had no better friend than Dwight Thomas. During that time he unselfishly served Winston County and the State of Alabama with great dedication and distinction. He worked tirelessly to ensure our veterans and their families received the benefits they had earned. His one driving goal was simply to help people.

Dwight was born in my hometown of Haleyville, Alabama in 1944. He is the son of the late C. D. and Vera Thomas. He is married to the former Trudy Gravitt and has two sons, Craig and Chad. He and his wife are active members of the Haleyville First United Methodist Church.

Dwight graduated from Haleyville High School in 1962 and continued his education at Walker College, receiving his Associate of Science degree in 1965. After school, he entered the United States Army and served from 1966 to 1968, serving in Vietnam from January 1967 to July 1968. He was honorably discharged in 1968 having reached the rank of Sergeant. While in the Army, he received the Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnam Campaign Medal with ``V'' device, National Defense Service Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal.

Dwight has also been active with the local Boy Scout Troop 97, serving as Scoutmaster from 1969 to 1981 and is currently the institutional representative. He has served on the Haleyville City Council for two terms from 1980 to 1988. During that period he served as liaison to the Parks and Recreation Department and the Haleyville Fire Department and was instrumental in the construction of a new fire station. Currently, Dwight is the Commander of VFW Post 4543 and has held every office in the VFW at the local and district level.

Madam Speaker, it is a great privilege for me to honor Dwight D. Thomas for his many years of dedicated service to our nation's veterans. He has had an enduring impact on his country, community, friends and family. He is a man of great dignity and character who takes pride in the accomplishments of those he has helped over the years. It is clear that he has been a friend and advocate to the veterans of Winston County. Madam Speaker, no doubt Dwight will be greatly missed in his position with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Dwight is an inspiring role model for all of us and I join his friends, family and colleagues in wishing him God's richest blessings in his retirement.

Madam Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to Brigadier General Harry C. ``Heinie'' Aderholt, a true American hero and one of the founders of the U.S. Air Force Special Operations. On May 20, 2010, I and many others across the State and Nation were saddened to hear of the passing of General Aderholt.

Heinie, as he was affectionately known by all who knew and loved him, began his military service with the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942 and retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1976. He was also known as ``Air Commando One,'' for his work to form what was originally called the First Air Commando Wing. He was the last general officer to leave Vietnam.

During his service he was awarded the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation Emblem and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon with oak leaf cluster. His other honors include the Order of the Sword, which the non-commissioned officers of the Air Force Special Operations Command awarded to him in January 2001, the prestigious Bull Simons Award, that recognizes those who embody the true spirit, values, and skills of a special operations warrior and he was also awarded the Order of the White Elephant by the government of Thailand, their highest award.

After his retirement from the Air Force, He founded the McCoskrie/ Threshold Foundation, which provides medical ancillary assistance, supplies, and equipment to Central and South American countries as well as to Laos and Thailand. He also founded the Air Commando Association.

General Heinie Aderholt will be remembered for his valor, character, and strength. It was an honor to have known him as a relative, friend and great American Patriot, and his leadership will be missed by all who knew him. His influence for good for all America will live on.

A memorial service will be held at Hurlburt Air Park, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on July 2, 2010 at 9 a.m.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Anne, his daughter Janet and son George and their families.

Thank you Heinie for all you did for America.

Madam Speaker, I would like to pay tribute today to Brigadier General Harry C. ``Heinie'' Aderholt, a true America hero and one of the founders of the United States Air Force Special Operations. On May 20 of this year, I and many others across the State and across the Nation were saddened to hear about the passing of General Aderholt.

Heinie, as he was affectionately known by all those who knew him and loved him, began his military service with the United States Army Air Corps in 1942 and retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1976. General Heinie Aderholt will be remembered for his valor, his character, and his strength. It was an honor to have known him as a relative, friend, and great American patriot, and his leadership will be missed by all who knew him. His influence for good for all Americans will live on.

A memorial service will be held at Hurlburt Air Park at Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on July 2, 2010, at 9 a.m. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Anne; his daughter, Janet; and son, George, and all of their family.

Thank you, Heinie, for all you did for America.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the Gentleman from Indiana for introducing H. Res. 584, ``Recognizing the importance of manufactured and modular housing in the United States.''

Manufactured and modular housing play an important role in meeting the housing needs of the people of my home state of Alabama and the United States of America.

Over the past two decades, the quality of manufactured housing has become essentially equivalent to that of conventional housing and manufactured housing has grown in popularity as an affordable alternative to conventional site-built housing.

A Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies reported that manufactured housing has no impact on the appreciation rates of surrounding properties, putting an end to the myth of negative property value impacts.

It is also good to know that the manufactured and modular housing industry continues to be an important part of our nation's economy. Manufactured and modular housing has produced approximately $6 billion annually in sales and employs approximately 70,000 people in factories and retail centers alone.

These factories are an important contributor to the economy in the district I represent, as there are more than ten manufacturers in the 4th Congressional District of Alabama.

During a recession, I would encourage any Americans to consider a manufactured or modular house as an option. According to the Manufactured Housing Institute, construction costs per square foot for a new manufactured home average anywhere from 10 to 35 percent less than a comparable site-built home, excluding the cost of land, depending on the region of the country.

Home ownership is part of the American Dream and I am pleased to encourage affordable home ownership opportunities through manufactured and modular housing for so many Americans who can benefit from this type of home ownership.

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the chairman's support for this legislation to be brought to the floor, and of course the support of Ranking Member Smith on this legislation as well. Without it, this legislation, we would not be here today where we are.

One other person who has been very supportive and who actually brought this to my attention several years ago is my friend Mike Turner, from Birmingham. We've worked together on this to try to resolve this issue through the United States Congress, and so here we are, as mentioned, the third time to try to resolve this.

There is an old saying, ``The third time's the charm,'' and I am hopeful today that saying holds true. As my colleagues who serve on the Judiciary Committee are well aware, today marks the third time that the House of

Representatives has brought up, and hopefully will pass, this bill. The key, of course, lies with our friends in the other Chamber. So I look forward to working with our colleagues in the Senate and getting the bill moved through that Chamber as well.

I was first made aware of this problem, as I say, by my friend Mike Turner when I was first elected to Congress back in 1997. Here we are in 2010. The issue is still not resolved. This is an issue of great frustration to people who deal with notaries on a daily basis.

Several years ago, the House Judiciary Committee worked with supporters of this issue to find a satisfactory solution to the problem of the recognition of notarizations across State lines. In March of 2006, the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property heard from several witnesses who all agreed that this is an ongoing and difficult problem for interstate commerce. To businesses and individuals engaged in businesses across State lines, this is a matter long overdue.

In a nutshell, as it has been stated, H.R. 3808 will expedite interstate commerce so that court documents and other notarized documents will be fully recognized from one State to another. Today States can refuse to acknowledge the integrity of notarized documents from one State to another. This legislation, H.R. 3808, will streamline the interstate, commercial, and legal transactions consistent with the guarantees of the States' rights that are called for in the full faith and credit clause of the United States Constitution.

This legislation preserves the rights of States to set standards and regulate notaries, while reducing the burden on the average citizen who has to use our court systems. Currently, as the law stands today, each State is responsible for regulating its notaries. Typically, an individual will pay a fee, they will submit an application, and they will take an oath of office. Some States require the applicants enroll in educational courses, to pass exams, and even obtain a notary bond. Nothing in this legislation will change those steps. Please know we are not trying to mandate how States regulate notaries which they appoint. The bill will not preclude the challenge of notarized documents such as a will contest.

Again, I want to stress that this is in no way trying to mandate what a State should do or what a State should not do. It simply allows there to be more free flow of commerce between States, and particularly when you are talking about the regulation of notaries themselves.

Again, I want to thank the chairman and also the ranking member for their support of this legislation to allow us to move forward. I would urge my colleagues that when this legislation is brought for a vote that they would support it under suspension of the rules.

Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate the University of Alabama Students In Free Enterprise Team (UA-SIFE) for winning their fourth consecutive Regional Championship.

The UA-SIFE team was the League 9 Champion and will be traveling to Minneapolis, MN on May 10-13 to compete in National Finals.

Founded in 2005, the UA-SIFE team has grown from 5 members to 64 active members.

Since its inception UA-SIFE. has won Rookie of the Year, First Runner Up, Second Runner Up at National's and four consecutive Regional Championships.

The University of Alabama has always upheld the highest standards of excellence in all its endeavors, and this team of outstanding student leaders is no exception.

During these tough economic times, I am encouraged that students would give their time and talent to teach others the principles of free enterprise.

I commend the leadership of Clinical Professor and Sam Walton Fellow David Ford on his successful career not only with the University of Alabama but also as a soldier and a business leader, and I look forward to the continuation of a tradition of solid and consistent performance in both academics and free enterprise.

Madam Speaker, I congratulate each member of this dedicated SIFE team, the alumni and the University of Alabama for their commitment to achieving their fourth consecutive championship.

Good luck at the Nationals.

Mr. Speaker, since the President announced his budget on February 1, disapproval of a plan to drastically change the current NASA human space exploration mission has been almost unanimous on both sides of the aisle. The President proposes to add $6 billion to NASA's budget for the next 5 years, but over those first 4 years the exploration account decreases by $5.7 billion.

Human space flight and exploration beyond Earth is the very reason that NASA was put into existence. The President's plan moves funds to unproven proposals and costs the government $2.5 billion to shut down the Constellation Program. Ares I and Ares V overlap technologies, and there is zero budget proof that the administration's new plan will give us those capabilities with less money.

The innovative scientists and employees at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, have done a great job in leading space technology in the world.

Mr. Speaker, when the President speaks tomorrow at the Kennedy Space Center, both Democrat and Republican Members hope that he will make a commitment to properly fund the Constellation Program.

Madam Speaker, I want to rise today to voice my strong opposition to the massive health care bill that is scheduled to come before the U.S. House of Representatives in the next 24 hours.

Backdoor deals to coerce Members to support the government takeover of health care is something the American people completely disagree with, and they're making their voice known loud and clear. However, the President and the Democrat leadership of this body are forcing us to vote on this bill.

In many countries, people have no free speech. But in America we do. So on behalf of all the families in north Alabama that I represent, I say to my colleagues in Congress, reject this massive takeover of health care that we are to vote on in the next 24 hours.

To make this legislation even worse, no amendment is being allowed to stop abortions from being federally funded. Members of the majority are not even being allowed to bring up a vote on abortion, one of the issues that means most to Americans. Businesses will be crippled with new taxes, and they won't be able to hire out-of-work Americans.

America has never gone down this road, Madam Speaker, the road for government-controlled health care. And never in our history have we forced individuals to actually purchase insurance. As I was walking into the Chamber this afternoon to cast my votes, there were literally thousands of people outside the Capitol. They were shouting their opposition to this bill, and it was loud and clear.

Madam Speaker, these people are still out there, and the message is still the same. And it is loud and clear: No government-controlled health care. Kill this bill.

Madam Speaker, I would like to offer my condolences to the family of LTG Larry Dodgen, former head of the Army's Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal.

On February 20, 2010, I along with many others across the State and Nation were saddened to hear of the passing of Retired LTG Larry Dodgen.

Dodgen served in the U.S. Army from 1972 to 2006. He was awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal.

Lieutenant General Dodgen served as the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, near Huntsville, Alabama, from September 10, 2001, to December 16, 2003.

After retiring from the Army in 2006, Lieutenant General Dodgen worked as sector vice president and deputy general manager of the Missile Defense Division within Northrop Grumman's Mission Systems sector.

Lieutenant General Dodgen will be remembered for his outstanding leadership, effective communication, and for making safety and security the top priority for both his troops and their families. It was an honor to work with him, and I know he was well-liked and respected throughout Congress.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Leslie and her family and friends.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3326--the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010.

Request as named in the report: Electrically Charged Mesh Defense Net Troop Protection System

Requesting Member: Aderholt

Bill Number: H.R. 3326--the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010

Account or Provision: RDT&E--Army

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Victory Solutions, Inc.

Address of Requesting Entity: 4900 Corporate Drive, Suite A, Huntsville, AL 35805.

Description of Request: $7,500,000. The funding would be used for ``D-NET'' a Defense Net Troop Protection System designed to intercept and negate the serious insurgent and terrorist threat tactics employing Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG), mortars, and small rocket munitions encountered by U.S. Combat Forces. This product could help save warfighters' lives in hostile territories such as Afghanistan and Iraq through an innovative and low-cost system of defending vehicles against enemy attacks by further testing and prototype development of a system which has passed all tests so far and gotten favorable government program manager review, and which was developed with input from troops in the field. The spending plan for this Phase II of the program, to total $7,500,000, is: Prototype Production and Field Test & Evaluation Program for integration and operational development. Further develop the D-Net technology based on Phase I R&D Tests to a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) worthy of deploying a limited quantity of ``Field Prototypes'' to Theater for field and operations test and evaluation.

FY2010 Task A: D-Net ``Field Prototypes'' ($3.5M). Deliver to Army Logistics: 100 ``Field Prototypes'' of the D-Net Static Troop Protection System for Theater Deployment on military asset vehicle for field testing (Procurement of Prototypes delivered to Military. Develop, Build, Assemble, Kit Packaging within military requirements like HAZMAT etc, Deliver and Ship to War Zone to fill purchase for Field Test Program) ($3.5M, or $35K/unit).

Task B: Field Test Program, data collection and refinement ($1.075M). Send science and engineering teams to Theater for collection of field data from Field Prototypes deployed (Data collection material $125K, OCONUS Labor $425K), interact with operating community for feedback, return to lab and refine the technology for better performance and utility (Re-engineer labor $225K). Requires OCONUS travel ($300K).

Task C: Threat Characterization ($350K). Analyze and Perform trade Studies on Threat variants commonly engaged in Theatre scenarios. Engineering and analysis labor ($350K).

Task D: Net Optimization & Continued R&D ($1.3M); Range Test Net Materials ($250K); Government Provided Range Test Facilities & Government Provided Threats for Tests ($500K); Parametric Studies/ Validation Labor/Salaries Engineering ($250K) and Manufacturing labor ($250K), Travel ($50K).

Task E: Continue Launcher Development ($870K). Ground and Aerial Launcher Design and Development R&D and Fabrication Material ($320K); Testing ($150K); Labor for Engineering, Integration and Manufacturing for Platform Depot Requirements ($400K).

Task F: Integration to Systems & Platforms ($405K). Design and Integration Trade Studies, COTS Sensor Integration Analysis and Labor ($250K); Material ($75K), Travel to Platform Project Offices ($80K).

Request as named in the report: Marine Corps MK 1077 Flatracks

Requesting Member: Aderholt

Bill Number: H.R. 3326--the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010

Account or Provision: RDT&E--Army

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: SUMMA Technology, Inc.

Address of Requesting Entity: Headquartered at 140 Sparkman Drive, Huntsville, AL 35805. The manufacturing facility is in Cullman, Alabama.

Description of Request: $3,000,000. The funding would be used for the MK1077 Flatrack. This is a revolutionary material handling system that provides the Marines with expedited logistical support while achieving significant manpower and equipment reductions. These racks and the containers they work with can be used to transport ammunition or other supplies in and out of areas quickly, thus greatly reducing the warfighter's exposure to danger. This is a continuation of a multi-year procurement program, and the recipient company has a proven record of meeting the strict, structural requirements for this item. The USMC has a requirement for 3,500 MK1077 Flatrack units of which 1,000 units have been acquired to date. $3,000,000 will provide approximately 347 additional units, bringing the inventory up to 1,347.

Request as named in the report: Waterside Wide Area Tactical Coverage and Homing

Requesting Member: Aderholt

Bill Number: H.R. 3326--the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010

Account or Provision: RDT&E--Army

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Miltec Corporation

Address of Requesting Entity: Miltec Corporation, located at 21232 Hwy 431, Guntersville, AL 35976

Description of Request: $4,000,000. The funding would be used for development and integration of systems for the final test and demonstration of the WaterWATCH affordable underwater monitoring capability. Most waterfront facilities are unprotected due to cost considerations. Finalization of this product would make available a security system which installations at military bases and other critical infrastructure locations (such as nuclear power plants near waterways) could afford. WaterWATCH integrates many currently available components through the development of new software and the testing of these systems. Approximately $60,000 would be needed for travel, approximately $150,000 for hardware, and the rest for labor (software development and testing).

Request as named in the report: Protective Self-Decontaminating Surfaces

Requesting Member: Aderholt

Bill Number: H.R. 3326--the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010

Account or Provision: RDT&E--Defense-Wide

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Ventana Research Corp. (VRC) & Kappler, Inc., and Kappler, Inc.

Address of Requesting Entity: VRC at 2702 South 4th Avenue, South Tucson, AZ 85713-4816; and Kappler at 115 Grimes Drive, Guntersville,

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3326--the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010.

Request as named in the report: Electrically Charged Mesh Defense Net Troop Protection System

Requesting Member: Aderholt

Bill Number: H.R. 3326--the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010

Account or Provision: RDT&E--Army

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Victory Solutions, Inc.

Address of Requesting Entity: 4900 Corporate Drive, Suite A, Huntsville, AL 35805.

Description of Request: $7,500,000. The funding would be used for ``D-NET'' a Defense Net Troop Protection System designed to intercept and negate the serious insurgent and terrorist threat tactics employing Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG), mortars, and small rocket munitions encountered by U.S. Combat Forces. This product could help save warfighters' lives in hostile territories such as Afghanistan and Iraq through an innovative and low-cost system of defending vehicles against enemy attacks by further testing and prototype development of a system which has passed all tests so far and gotten favorable government program manager review, and which was developed with input from troops in the field. The spending plan for this Phase II of the program, to total $7,500,000, is: Prototype Production and Field Test & Evaluation Program for integration and operational development. Further develop the D-Net technology based on Phase I R&D Tests to a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) worthy of deploying a limited quantity of ``Field Prototypes'' to Theatre for field and operations test and evaluation.

FY2010 Task A: D-Net ``Field Prototypes'' ($3.5M). Deliver to Army Logistics: 100 ``Field Prototypes'' of the D-Net Static Troop Protection System for Theatre Deployment on military asset vehicle for field testing (Procurement of Prototypes delivered to Military. Develop, Build, Assemble, Kit Packaging within military requirements like HAZMAT etc, Deliver and Ship to War Zone to fill purchase for Field Test Program) ($3.5M, or $35K/unit).

Task B: Field Test Program, data collection and refinement ($1.075M). Send science and engineering teams to Theatre for collection of field data from Field Prototypes deployed (Data collection material $125K, OCONUS Labor $425K), interact with operating community for feedback, return to lab and refine the technology for better performance and utility (Re-engineer labor $225K). Requires OCONUS travel ($300K).

Task C: Threat Characterization ($350K). Analyze and Perform trade Studies on Threat variants commonly engaged in Theatre scenarios. Engineering and analysis labor ($350K).

Task D: Net Optimization & Continued R&D ($1.3M); Range Test Net Materials ($250K); Government Provided Range Test Facilities & Government Provided Threats for Tests ($500K); Parametric Studies/ Validation Labor/ Salaries Engineering ($250K) and Manufacturing labor ($250K), Travel ($50K).

Task E: Continue Launcher Development ($870K). Ground and Aerial Launcher Design and Development R&D and Fabrication Material ($320K); Testing ($150K); Labor for Engineering, Integration and Manufacturing for Platform Depot Requirements ($400K).

Task F: Integration to Systems & Platforms ($405K). Design and Integration Trade Studies, COTS Sensor Integration Analysis and Labor ($250K); Material ($75K), Travel to Platform Project Offices ($80K).

Request as named in the report: Marine Corps MK 1077 Flatracks

Requesting Member: Aderholt

Bill Number: H.R. 3326--the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010

Account or Provision: RDT&E--Army

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: SUMMA Technology, Inc.

Address of Requesting Entity: headquartered at 140 Sparkman Drive, Huntsville, AL 35805. The manufacturing facility is in Cullman, Alabama.

Description of Request: $3,000,000. The funding would be used for the MK1077 Flatrack. This is a revolutionary material handling system that provides the Marines with expedited logistical support while achieving significant manpower and equipment reductions. These racks and the containers they work with can be used to transport ammunition or other supplies in and out of areas quickly, thus greatly reducing the warfighter's exposure to danger. This is a continuation of a multi-year procurement program, and the recipient company has a proven record of meeting the strict, structural requirements for this item. The USMC has a requirement for 3,500 MK1077 Flatrack units of which 1,000 units have been acquired to date. $3,000,000 will provide approximately 347 additional units, bringing the inventory up to 1,347.

Request as named in the report: Waterside Wide Area Tactical Coverage and Homing

Requesting Member: Aderholt

Bill Number: H.R. 3326--the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010

Account or Provision: RDT&E--Army

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Miltec Corporation

Address of Requesting Entity: Miltec Corporation, located at 21232 Hwy 431, Guntersville, AL 35976

Description of Request: $4,000,000. The funding would be used for development and integration of systems for the final test and demonstration of the WaterWATCH affordable underwater monitoring capability. Most waterfront facilities are unprotected due to cost considerations. Finalization of this product would make available a security system which installations at military bases and other critical infrastructure locations (such as nuclear power plants near waterways) could afford. WaterWATCH integrates many currently available components through the development of new software and the testing of these systems. Approximately $60,000 would be needed for travel, approximately $150,000 for hardware, and the rest for labor (software development and testing).

Request as named in the report: Protective Self-Decontaminating Surfaces

Requesting Member: Aderholt

Bill Number: H.R. 3326--the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010

Account or Provision: RDT&E--Defense-Wide

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Ventana Research Corp. (VRC) & Kappler, Inc., and Kappler, Inc.

Address of Requesting Entity: VRC at 2702 South 4th Avenue, South Tucson, AZ 85713-4816; and Kappler at 115 Grimes Drive, Guntersville,

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of HR 3288, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2010:

Requesting Member: Aderholt

Bill Number: HR 3288

Account: DOJ, COPS Tech

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Hartselle, AL

Address of Requesting Entity: 200 Sparkman St. N.W. Hartselle, AL 35640

Description of Request: Wireless Area Network $250,000

The funding would be used to purchase a Wireless Area Network. This funding will greatly improve the telecommunication access in the area.

The full amount of these funds will be used to purchase equipment.

Requesting Member: Aderholt

Bill Number: HR 3288

Account: DOJ, OJP--Byrne

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Alabama Department of Public Safety, Montgomery, AL

Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 1511, Montgomery, AL 36102- 1511

Description of Request: ``ADPS Child Sexual Predator Project, $150,000''

The funding would be used for Project targets arrest and prosecution of Child Sexual Predators in AL. ADPS received 2008 start-up funding from COPS Child Sexual Predator Program. ADPS needs federal assistance to maintain the current level of effective operation. This program continues efforts initiated nationwide under the ADAM WALSH ACT.

These funds will be used for the following areas: $50,000 equipment; $10,000 access to background data base repositories to locate absconded sex offenders; $70,000 salaries and benefits; and $20,000 enhancement of the department's ability to accept electronically transmitted sex offender information.

Requesting Member: Aderholt

Bill Number: HR 3288

Account: DOJ, OJP--Byrne

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL

Address of Requesting Entity: Box 870117, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487

Description of Request: Domestic Violence Law Clinic, $300,000

The funding would be used to provide free civil legal services to victims of domestic violence, stalking, and assault in the seven west Alabama counties of Bibb, Greene, Hale, Fayette, Pickens, Lamar and Tuscaloosa. The services provided by the DV Law Clinic further the national goal of crime prevention and victim assistance and support the important services set forth in the Violence Against Women Act and other federal laws.

These funds will be used for the following areas: $219,000 for salaries and benefits; and $81,000 will be used for facilities and administrative costs associated with the Clinic.

Requesting Member: Aderholt

Bill Number: HR 3288

Account: DOJ, OJP--Byrne

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Alabama District Attorneys Association, Montgomery, AL

Address of Requesting Entity: 515 South Perry Street Montgomery, Alabama 36104

Description of Request: Zerometh Drug Prevention Campaign, $1,000,000

The funding would be used by Zerometh to expose meth and its deadly consequences to teens and young adults. The goal is to stop a potential first-time user from ever trying the drug, while encouraging everyone to look for the warning signs and support treatment. Methamphetamine is a national epidemic and efforts to educate youth on its dangers and hopefully prevent the initial use of meth are needed.

$30,000 would be used for Program Administration, Project Evaluation, and Compliance, while $970,000 would be used for a year of demand reduction programs across the State of Alabama.

Requesting Member: Aderholt

Bill Number: HR 3288

Account: DOJ, OJP-JJ

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, Talladega, AL

Address of Requesting Entity: 205 E. South St, P.O. Box 698, Talladega, Alabama 35161 Description of Request: Overcoming Communication Barriers for AIDB At-Risk Youth, $15,000

The funding would be used to expand a preventive education program for at-risk disabled children impacted by communication barriers, increased incidence of dysfunctional families and a lack of appropriately trained personnel in rural areas and school systems. One in 10 US children is born with a disability, adding emotional and financial stress to families and rural school systems. Disabled teens are more likely to face abuse, pregnancy or suicide due to communication and other barriers, and this funding helps address this.

$110,000 for program development, $29,000 for parent education and training, $11,000 for program materials, supplies and support.

Requesting Member: Aderholt

Bill Number: HR 3288

Account or Provision: NASA, Cross Agency Support

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The University of Alabama in Huntsville

Address of Requesting Entity: 301 Sparkman Avenue, Huntsville, AL 38152

Description of Request: Virtual Environment Simulation Laboratory $500,000.

The funding would be used for purchasing of equipment which provides UAH a new capability to support Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) missions by developing engineering and science applications of virtual environment simulation as well as enhancing student involvement in virtual environments. This would benefit NASA MSFC uses of the facility relevant to MSFC missions, including virtual examination of rocket engines while firing, virtual participation in spacecraft manufacturing and maintenance processes and virtual presence on the surface of the moon.

The full amount of these funds will be used to purchase equipment.

Requesting Member: Aderholt

Bill Number: HR 3288

Account: NASA, Cross Agency Support

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Southern Research Institute

Address of Requesting Entity: 757 Tom Martin Drive, Birmingham, AL 35211

Description of Request: Development of characterization techniques for advanced high temperature materials in space launch, $1,000,000.

The funding of $1 million for the ``Development of Characterization Techniques for Advanced High Temperature Materials in Space Launch Applications'' will enable research and developments of advanced modeling, testing and characterization techniques for advanced composite materials in extreme environments. SRI has identified several gaps in current NASA technology that if filled, will greatly assist analysts and designers to successfully utilize composites in advanced structural and thermal protection system applications and reduce overall program risk.

$350,000 to be spent on equipment and material purchases, $400,000 to be spent on materials research and analysis, $200,000 to be spent on testing, and $50,000 to be spent on program management.

Requesting Member: Aderholt

Bill Number: HR 3288

Account or Provision: NASA, Cross Agency Support

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: B.G. Smith & Associates, Inc.

Address of Requesting Entity: 555 Sparkman Drive, Suite 810, Huntsville, AL 35816

Description of Request: Product life-cycle management and advanced modeling and simulation methods, $1,000,000.

The program seeks to create an integrated and interoperable Product Lifecycle environment as it relates to engineering and manufacturing capabilities and to perform focused critical analyses on flight vehicle performance issues. To move MSFC in the direction leading to modernizing its systems, streamline operations, increase traceability, decrease costs, gain better insight, and increased aerospace manufacturing expertise.

The funding would be used for about 6 full time employees, to purchase some hardware and cost associated with PLM software.

Madam Speaker, I would like to bring the House's attention to an important milestone taking place in the District of Columbia. The Central Union Mission, the longest serving social service organization in the District, is celebrating its 125th anniversary of helping transform the lives of the least, the lost, and the last in Washington.

Beginning in 1884, the Central Union Mission, a highly effective faith-based nonprofit, has provided a compassionate helping hand to literally thousands of the District's homeless and addicted men, women and children. For some veterans of the Civil War who returned to Washington down and out, they turned to the Mission for assistance and the Mission faithfully provided it. During the Great Depression, the Mission was the nexus of the City for many who were jobless and penniless. Veterans of two world wars enlisted the Mission to help them fight battles of addiction and homelessness.

Just a short drive from this magnificent Capitol building, the Mission has been in operation continuously throughout 24 presidential administrations. The Mission has changed from what we would think of as a traditional homeless shelter providing food, clothing, and a safe place to sleep for the night, to a sophisticated transitional facility. The Mission provides emergency services to the homeless, life skills and job training, education and computer programs, group and individual therapy, clinical

services, community work and outreach, and physical, emotional and spiritual renewal. Through a variety of programs, the Mission provides services to not just the homeless, but to the addicted, at-risk youth, gang members, and criminal offenders. The Mission accomplishes this important work with the strong support of and partnerships with foundations, associations, businesses, churches, other social services, and local governments in the District, in Virginia and Maryland.

The Mission's work to the poor never seems to end. In fact, the problems of homelessness, addiction and other related problems continue to increase. The demand for programs offered by the Central Union Mission is more vital now than ever because of the severe economic crisis which hits hardest those who are most vulnerable.

Today, in Washington, D.C., there are more than 12,000 men, women, and children who are living in shelters, transitional housing, or on the streets.

Madam Speaker, the Central Union Mission is on the front lines working to meet the needs of those who are in need of its services. Last year alone, the Central Union Mission provided 152,275 meals to the hungry, more than 50,000 men with shelter through residential programs, and 4,408 individuals received counseling, medical, and legal assistance. Nearly 1,000 individuals were given the tools for a self- sufficient life through long-term addictions counseling and literacy programs.

The impact doesn't stop there. Families with children are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. This past year, the Mission provided nearly 5,000 families with clothing, food, and household goods; more than 3,000 children were given backpacks, supplies for school, and gifts around Christmas time; and hundreds of impoverished urban children were treated to a real summer camp experience at the Mission's Camp Bennett location in Maryland.

The demand for services provided by the Central Union Mission continues to grow. The Central Union Mission is regularly forced to turn away people who are hungry, hurting, and in need of vital services because of regularly operating to capacity. As we enter the winter months, the Mission becomes an even more critical safety net for thousands of individuals and families who seek out the warmth and shelter it provides.

The assistance the Central Union Mission has provided since 1884 is best told through the stories those whose lives have been transformed. One such person, ``Timothy,'' says about the Mission:

For nine years I had been struggling with drug and alcohol

addiction. Going in and out of jails and institutions,

wandering, hopelessly waiting for my life to end or a miracle

to happen. At some point, I decided I didn't want to live

anymore. My wife and children had been gone from my life, and

my life was in shambles. I decided, during a deep depression,

that I was going to take my own life. Then, the miracle

happened.

I walked to the Central Union Mission, which was only 4

blocks away. When I arrived I was embraced by men who were

concerned for me. I came into their STP program with barely

any hope. But several days into it, I started to feel better.

I realized that I have certain responsibilities, and that

life is really what you make it. Somehow, I made it through

the Mission's program and my life has really turned around.

Today, my wife and children know me, they're proud to say

they have a changed husband and daddy. My relationship with

my family has been restored, my sanity has been given back,

and I look forward to a better future. All thanks to the

Central Union Mission.

``Reginald'' had a similar experience:

I entered Central Union Mission depressed, tired of life,

and sick. I needed help.

I was at the Mission for almost two weeks, which allowed me

time to recuperate, think, and spend time with other men who

were just like me, when my mind began to clear. I started to

focus on the important things in my life--my faith, family

and getting better.

The Mission is just what it says it is--a mission, a place

that's there for the people who are in need, and so they can

get better. Just watching all these people bring in donated

things to help people they don't even know amazed me.

Watching men and women who have very little, like me, enjoy

working on the food depot, seniors day, birthday

celebrations, back to school, and things like that, makes it

seem more like a family here. Basically, they really care. It

helps me to realize how important I really am.

I thank God for David Treadwell and his staff. They are

wonderful at what they do for people in need. The time they

put into helping us is from the heart and that's what God

wants from all of us--the best of what's in our hearts.

Madam Speaker, I hope the House will join me in congratulating the Central Union Mission and expressing our gratitude for the vital work the Mission is doing here in Washington, D.C. I encourage all Members to visit the Mission, which is just a short drive from this chamber to witness first-hand the power of compassionate service that has helped the Mission transform so many thousands of lives of the least, the last, and the lost for 125 years.

Mr. Speaker, there is no question we need to address health care problems in this Nation. That is something both Democrats and Republicans both agree on.

However, the government takeover of health care that we are debating tonight adds up to way too much spending, too much government bureaucracy, too many unfair mandates, too much government control in an area with where government just doesn't belong.

The Republican substitute is about to be debated tonight, and it will attempt to fix the broken aspects of health care in the United States. There will be many of us tonight in this Chamber who will vote ``yes'' on that Republican substitute because there needs to be changes. However, we will vote ``no'' on final passage because we don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water in order to fix the problems.