Floor Statements

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

Madam Speaker, we have no objection to this legislation that would rename the Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge to honor the late Elizabeth Hartwell, a local conservationist who dedicated much of her life to protecting this refuge located along the Potomac River.

I encourage my colleagues to support the name change.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend and colleague from the District for yielding me this time.

Madam Speaker, I do rise in support of this resolution which is supporting the goals and the ideals of the Peace Officers Memorial.

Madam Speaker, as a former prosecutor and special prosecutor in the State of Wisconsin, it was my honor, or privilege really, of being able to work each day with these law enforcement officers in our community and throughout the State. I have always been impressed with their dedication and professionalism, their commitment to the community.

These men and women in uniform wake up every morning with a shared goal of trying to make our communities just a little bit safer, trying to make us and our children and grandchildren and all of our families just a little bit safer during the day.

And all too often we hear the tragic stories or read about it or see on the

news of fallen officers who fell in the line of duty. And it is right and proper that we have a National Peace Officers Memorial Day to honor their sacrifice made on behalf of all of us.

But what we do not hear about is the tremendous courage and dedication that officers exhibit each and every day and the cases that they sometimes find themselves in, which places their life and safety in great danger. And this, unfortunately, occurs on an all too frequent basis.

Madam Speaker, I also want to just take a moment and commend a member of my own family, my youngest brother, Terry Kind, for his years of dedicated service as a police officer for the Town of Holmen Police Department in western Wisconsin.

I have the chance to talk to him from time to time to try to keep a foot in the law enforcement community back home. And sometimes the stories that he relates to me are blood-curdling and quite startling. Not only talking about the victims of crime, but also the incredible danger that our officers face from time to time.

Madam Speaker, I would encourage all of my colleagues to support this resolution today. I want to commend my colleagues on the floor here for bringing this resolution forward and speaking so favorably about it. I also want to commend and thank those law enforcement officers across our country who do a tremendous job under very difficult and dangerous circumstances each and every day of their dedicated lives.

Mr. CANTOR, Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution to support the goals and ideals of Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Recently, Virginia lost Detective Vicky Armel with the Fairfax County Police Department. Our Nation and the Commonwealth of Virginia experienced great loss as this fine police officer gave her life in line of duty.

Law enforcement officers take a solemn oath to protect and serve the communities they serve. With honor, they uphold our laws and protect the innocent.

As a nine-year veteran of the force, Detective Armel specialized in burglary crimes. She worked tirelessly each day to investigate and bring to justice those criminals who violated our homes, property, and peace of mind.

Her loss is felt deeply by her husband, Tyler, who is also a proud member of the Fairfax County Police Department, and their two children, 4-year-old daughter Mason and 7-year-old son Thomas. I stand with Detective Armel's community and congregation in support of her family.

Detective Armel's dedication and the sacrifices she made symbolize the honor of the law enforcement profession. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and the community in which she served as we honor her passing on this Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Recently, Virginia lost Officer Gary J. Buro of the Chesterfield County Police Department. Our Nation and the Commonwealth of Virginia experienced great loss as this fine police officer gave his life in line of duty.

Law enforcement officers take a solemn oath to protect and serve the communities they serve. With honor, they uphold our laws and protect the innocent.

Officer Buro proudly served his Nation at home and abroad. As a U.S. Marine during the Gulf War, he defended our Constitution and fought to liberate Kuwait from Saddam Hussein's grasp. After returning home, he began a distinguished 11-year career in law enforcement. He served with the Lantana, Florida and New York City Police Departments. Only recently, Officer Buro brought his experience and dedication to Virginia and joined the Chesterfield County Police Department in January of this year.

Officer Buro's dedication and the sacrifices he made symbolize the honor of the law enforcement profession. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and the community in which he served as we honor his passing on this Peace Officers Memorial Day.

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

(Mr. KIND asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 751, recognizing the cultural and educational contributions of the American Ballet Theatre throughout its 65 years of service as America's National Ballet Company.

Madam Speaker, I also want to applaud Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney for her leadership in sponsoring this resolution. Unfortunately, due to illness, it prevents her from being here on the House floor today to speak about it.

Madam Speaker, H. Res. 751 recognizes the anniversary of one of the finest and most distinguished ballet companies in the world, the American Ballet Theatre. The ABT is recognized as a living national treasure. Using dance as its medium, the American Ballet Theatre has brought joy to audiences here and abroad for over 40 years.

Equally important to the ABT has been its educational programs. Not only have they trained world class ballerinas, but ABT brings its art into the classroom by sponsoring dance programs in public schools across the country.

The Young People's Ballet Workshop offers students who would not ordinarily have the opportunity to experience the ballet to see the company perform and learn about the art of ballet. Again, I join my colleagues here today, and especially Congresswoman Maloney, in supporting this resolution and congratulate the American Ballet Theatre on its 65th anniversary.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I commend my good friend and colleague from Nevada for his support of this resolution as well as the Chair and the Ranking Member of the Education and the Workforce Committee. As a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee and as an original cosponsor of H. Res. 781, I strongly support this resolution honoring National Charter Schools Week.

Since the first charter school began in 1992 in St. Paul, Minnesota, the number of charter schools has grown to over 3,600, serving more than 1 million students across the country today. In Wisconsin, my home State, there are nearly 200 charter schools educating close to 30,000 students; and in my congressional district in Western Wisconsin, we have 24 charter schools.

Charter schools provide parents, along with their children, their students, another choice within the public education system.

One school in particular that I would like to highlight during National Charter Schools Week is LaCrosseroads in my hometown of La Crosse, Wisconsin. It is an alternative high school. A specific project that has become part of the curriculum at this school was introduced by their teacher, Karen Schoenfeld; and it requires the students to record the oral histories of our veterans and submit their histories to the Library of Congress to be included in the Veterans History Project. Such projects are commendable and highly valuable to our students. It has provided a unique link between the younger generation with the older generation and a wonderful teaching opportunity about service to our country and a great history lesson for those students at LaCrosseroads.

I praise teachers such as Karen Schoenfeld who have broken down barriers to work with all students using innovative and creative strategies to teach.

It is important that charter schools give flexibility and options to teachers and their parents, but we must remember they are not the cure- all for improving public education. We have to be diligent at monitoring the success or failure of charter schools throughout the country and not afraid of shutting down those that are not working. That is the key to moving forward with the option of choice in our public school system, I believe.

Charter schools have consistently been at the forefront of my priority list, and I am pleased that Wisconsin is one of seven States with over 100 exceptional charter schools today. I have consistently advocated for increased support for charter schools and supported the Charter School Facilities Financing Demonstration Program during consideration of the No Child Left Behind legislation of 2001.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution honoring charter schools. It is our duty as representatives of this Congress to ensure that all our students reach their highest academic potential, and a charter school may provide a model better suited towards an individual student's needs.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), a strong advocate for our public education system and a terrific friend of charter schools.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my friend and colleague on the Education and Workforce Committee, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and in conclusion, I just want to again thank the gentleman from Nevada for his leadership in support of this resolution. I am glad that the Congress has taken a moment this morning to recognize the important role that charter schools have throughout the entire country. We have heard some of the success stories of those that are working well. It has enabled the leaders of the education community, the leadership of these schools, the teachers, administrators, parents and other involved community members to think creatively and innovatively to enhance the educational opportunities of our kids in a less restrictive environment with greater flexibility but with the important accountability that we heard a lot about here today.

Again, I would encourage my colleagues to adopt this resolution and look forward to working with my colleagues on the Education and Workforce Committee in doing things to improve the charter school movement throughout the country.

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

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to honor Michelle Parks and her contributions as a great American educator at Northstar Middle School in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. President Bush has honored Ms. Parks with the 2005 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science, the Nation's highest honor for teaching in these fields. In addition to the national recognition that comes with the award, Ms. Parks will receive a National Science Foundation Grant of $10,000.

Ms. Parks teaches eighth grade mathematics, and her colleagues and principal at Northstar Middle School regard her as crucial to the success of the school and the performance of her students. Admired for her enthusiasm, creativity and knowledge, Ms. Parks is one of the most dedicated educators in the State of Wisconsin and nationwide. She is an advocate and pioneer for many collaborative efforts, including the connected mathematics programs. This program creates a complete mathematics curriculum that helps students systematically develop a deeper understanding of elementary mathematical concepts.

Mr. Speaker, we are deeply indebted to teachers such as Ms. Parks, who are the leaders in sustaining our Nation's innovation and competitiveness with our students. And on behalf of a grateful Nation, but especially on behalf of her students, we thank her for her many years of dedication and congratulate her here this evening.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Michelle Parks and her contributions as a great American educator at Northstar Middle School in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. President Bush has honored Ms. Parks with the 2005 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science, the Nation's highest honor for teaching in these fields. In addition to the national recognition that comes with the award, Michelle Parks will receive a National Science Foundation grant of $10,000.

Ms. Parks teaches 8th grade mathematics, and her colleagues and principal at Northstar Middle School regard her as crucial to the success of the school at the performance of her students. Admired for her enthusiasm, creativity and knowledge, Ms. Parks is one of the most dedicated educators in the State of Wisconsin and nationwide. She is an advocate and pioneer for many collaborative efforts, including the Connected Mathematics Program. This program creates a complete mathematics curriculum that helps students systematically

develop a deeper understanding of elemental mathematical concepts.

Ms. Parks believes that letting her students be successful in front of their peers is the key to getting them to take risks to succeed. Further, she finds unique approaches to teaching and problem solving and encourages critical thinking in her students. Making learning fun, according to Ms. Parks, is the key to bringing math and science closer to students. In addition to this award, Ms. Parks has also been recognized by the Kohl Teacher Fellowship.

I am very pleased to recognize Ms. Parks today before the U.S. Congress for her hard work and dedication to the families and students of Northstar Middle School. Being one of a hundred 7th-12th grade teachers nationwide to receive the award, Michelle Parks exemplifies excellence that should be the goal of all educators in the United States. Our Nation has long been the global leader in scientific research and development. In order to maintain that edge and strengthen America's competitiveness, it is critical that we make the necessary investments to educate and train the next generation of scientists, researchers, and innovators.

As a Member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, I have introduced legislation to establish a competitive undergraduate grant program to improve opportunities for education and job training in math, science, engineering, and technology. Further, during reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, I, along with Chairman McKeon and Representatives Ehlers and Holt, included an amendment in the Higher Education Act that will provide additional resources and assistance for students choosing to study in these fields.

Mr. Speaker, we are deeply indebted to teachers such as Ms. Parks who are the leaders in sustaining our Nation's innovation and competitiveness with our children.

On behalf of a grateful Nation, I more importantly, on behalf of the many students who have benefited by having Ms. Parks as their math teacher, I say congratulations and thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I thank my good friend from Tennessee for yielding me this time, and I commend him for his leadership in trying to institute budget reforms and instill fiscal discipline in the budgeting process.

Listen, we are going to have a very vigorous debate over the next couple of days in regards to the priorities and the values of our Nation, as it should be. People are entitled to their own rhetoric, they are entitled to their own spin, their own opinion, their own ideology, but we are not entitled to our own facts, and the facts couldn't be more stark or more different in regards to the leadership on our budget under Democratic leadership versus the current administration.

As this chart demonstrates, it shows the trend line for budget deficits and budget surpluses, and this upward trend during the 1990s under the leadership of Bill Clinton and Democrats indicates pay-as- you-go rules as they existed for the administration and Congress which led to 4 years of budget surpluses when we were actually paying down the national debt.

This cliff, which this red line demonstrates under the Bush administration, is the administration and Congress operating without pay-as-you-go rules.

What is so hard to get here? We need to reinstate pay-as-you-go rules to bring back fiscal discipline and responsibility, as the gentleman from South Carolina indicated, for the sake of our children's future. Our budget alternative does that. Theirs doesn't.

We are going to continue this downward trend with deficit spending as long as we don't get back to the budget basics.

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank my good friend from South Carolina for the leadership he has provided on the Budget Committee, and we do want to take a moment to talk about the priorities of our country, especially when it comes to the investment of the future of our country, and that is the education of our children.

Mr. Chairman, our country is going to face two of the greatest challenges in the history of our Nation in this century. One is securing our Nation against the global threat and the global capability of international terrorism, but, secondly, it is our ability to remain the most innovative and creative Nation in the world. That requires an investment in our children and the quality of education that they are exposed to.

It is something that we do in our budget alternative, and we do it by operating under pay-as-you-go rules that will restore us to balance again by 2012, but by maintaining that important investment in our children's education.

Their budget punts, in fact, their numbers track the President's recommended budget, which calls for the elimination of 42 education programs in our country, including vocational education, gone; Perkins loans, gone; Safe and Drug Free Schools, eliminated; education technology and Even Start, eliminated, in what the President is calling for in the budget.

We can do a better job with our alternative, and we would encourage our colleagues to support it.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), a real champion of our children and to education in this country.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey), a real leader on the Education Committee and a champion for our children throughout the country.

Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as she may consume to a real leader on education and workforce development issues, the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Schwartz).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, there is very little I can disagree within what the gentleman from California said in his prior statement. But if you really want a bipartisan process to move forward in shaping what is perhaps the most important piece of legislation that is going to be coming out of the Congress this year, the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, then open up the process, both in committee for those of us serving on the committee with regard to the ideas that we want to share and improve with this bill, but also on the House floor today and tomorrow.

Last night, we had a Rules process where many of us went forward to testify on various amendments that we wanted to offer. Instead, today, we get a very restrictive rule with very limited amendments that will be considered over the next couple of days. We should have a much broader debate in regards to the education bill before us, rather than the restrictive rule that is before us today.

I agree that we need to be innovative and creative as a society, not only to grow the economy, but for national security implications. If the gentleman wants us to remain innovative and creative as a country, then let us do it with this bill. Let us invest in these areas; and this is the vehicle by which to do it.

Today, China is graduating nine times the number of engineers than we do. Last year, China graduated more English-speaking engineers. It is not as if we do not know this is happening. The studies are coming in. The National Academy of Sciences just produced a report ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm.'' The Glenn Commission that met years before submitted a report called ``Before It is Too Late,'' citing the difficulties we will face given the major education investments that countries like China and India are making in their future, in their students. And yet we have just token recognition of that in this important vehicle, the higher education bill. We can do a lot better.

I believe the amendments offered last night were offered in good faith in an attempt to craft a more bipartisan bill. The fact that so many of us are excluded from offering them, even having a discussion about many of these important amendments on the floor, is a disgrace to the process.

My friend from Massachusetts is exactly right. We should be debating this bill for a week. We should open it up and allow everyone on the committee and off the committee to have some input and say on our most important legislation this year. I hope we can go back and address that. I encourage a no vote on this Rule.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

Mr. Chairman, I reluctantly rise in opposition of the bill, not because I do not appreciate the hard work that has gone on in committee and the attempt of the chairman and the ranking member, everyone involved, to try to produce a bipartisan bill, but because the bill before us is really a missed opportunity bill, as my friend from Michigan described it.

This bill is one of the most important pieces of legislation that will come out of the Congress this year because it is a bill that will directly affect who we are going to be as a Nation in this century, whether we will retain our leadership in being the most innovative and creative country in the world or whether we will start sounding the retreat and waving countries like China and India good-bye as they make major investment in their education infrastructure, especially in the fields of math, science, engineering and technology, because they want to be on the cutting edge of scientific and technological discovery.

Last year, I was with the chairman on a 2-week tour of some of the higher education institutions in China. China has graduated nine times the number of engineers we did in this country. They graduated more English-speaking

engineers than we did in our own country. This is one of the keys to how creative we will be and what type of economic growth and job creation we will realize and what type of national security we will have.

This bill also speaks to the anxiety that many American families feel throughout the country, and that is a fear that they are not going to be able to afford to give their child postsecondary educational opportunities because they do not have the financial means to do so.

A recent study shows that close to one-half of the low-income students in this country who are qualified and want to go on to school cannot because of financial reasons; and for a country as wealthy and as powerful as ours to be closing the door of educational opportunity because of finance alone is a recipe for economic disaster.

More can be done. There are good features in this bill, but this bill also appears before us in the shadow of the largest raid on student aid in our Nation's history, over $12 billion worth of cuts in the budget reconciliation bill that just passed weeks before in this Congress. The budget resolution that we are marking up in committee today is requiring an additional $1.3 billion in cuts in the Education and Workforce Committee budget, and we are going to have to try to figure out where those are going to come from.

The bottom line is, if we are going to remain innovative, if we are going to retain our economic strength and grow the economy, we have to make crucial investments in the education field.

I am glad that we were able to put a token scholarship program for students entering the math, science, engineering and technology fields; and I commend the chairman for working with some of us to get that accomplished, but it is just that, a token effort because the studies are coming in and they are hitting us between the eyes. The national academy, ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm''; the Glenn Commission, years before, titled ``Before It Is Too Late''; other studies that are telling us that we really do need to ramp up this investment in education before it is too late.

This is a missed opportunity, and hopefully, we will have a chance to correct it.

Mr. Chairman, college is an investment that pays off over a lifetime. Median annual earnings for a year-round, full-time worker with a bachelor's degree are about 60 percent higher than earnings for those with a high school diploma. Congress passed the Higher Education Act in 1965 to provide all Americans with greater post-secondary educational opportunities.

This bill is a missed opportunity to make college more affordable, to boost America's economic competitiveness, and to invest in American's continued prosperity. If I supported this bill, I would not be able to look the students in my congressional district in the eye because I would know I had not done all I could to help better their futures. Cost factors already prevent 48 percent of college-qualified high school graduates from attending a four-year institution and 22 percent from attending any college at all. No person in this country should ever be excluded from attending college because they cannot afford it.

During Committee consideration, we offered an alternative that would have saved the typical student more than $6,000 on his or her college loans and provided a $500 boost to the maximum Pell grant--at no additional cost to taxpayers. I am disappointed that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle were unwilling to work with us to include this proposal in the final bill.

There are, however, several provisions in the bill that I support. I am pleased to have worked with Chairman McKeon, and Representatives Ehlers and Holt in successfully passing an amendment to the Higher Education Act to provide scholarships and grants for students to study and enter into careers in science, technology, engineering and math, STEM, fields.

America is suffering from a shrinking talent pool of students who are proficient in fields of math, sciences, engineering and technology, and is consequently in danger of losing its unique position of world leadership in innovation and creativity. We must do more to make Americans employable in 21st century jobs by putting greater emphasis on student achievement in these areas and giving our students the tools and skills they need to compete in the today's economy. Our global competitors are doing it--we can't afford to stand idly and watch them pass us by.

In addition, I was pleased to have worked with my good friend, Representative Tierney, in preventing changes to the campus-based aid formula that would have cut $7.56 million in campus-based aid for the University of Wisconsin System. This money is critical for students in Wisconsin and the loss of these funds would have further reduced opportunities for students to attend college.

Another provision included in H.R. 609 that I worked on with my colleague from Wisconsin, Representative Petri, will allow our 13 two- year colleges in the University of Wisconsin System to qualify individually for TRIO grants.

Finally, during debate in Committee, my amendment requesting the Department of Education to study the trends of adult learners was accepted. Older people are heading back to the classroom in large numbers, and we must not ignore their individual needs.

In closing, I would like to remind all my colleagues what President Bush said in his State of the Union speech in January. He said ``We must continue to lead the world in human talent and creativity. Our greatest advantage in the world has always been our educated, hardworking, ambitious people--and we are going to keep that edge.'' Yet, the President and the Congressional majority have already begun to walk away from that promise by supporting the higher education bill before us today.

As you know, Mr. Chairman, America is number one in the global economy, and we can stay number one if we make aggressive investments in education, innovation, and future generations. At a time when education is at a premium and we need to be growing the economy, we should be making it easier, not harder, for students to attend college.

Mr. Chairman, I thank my friend from New Jersey (Mr. Holt). I want to rise to speak in favor of this amendment and commend my colleagues for coming together in a bipartisan fashion to recognize one of the more urgent needs that we have as a Nation to prepare for the global competition that our children and grandchildren will face in the 21st Century.

I think this is a very responsible amendment in light of recent reports that we have had a chance to decipher and analyze, as members of the education committee, from virtually all sectors of business in this country, the National Academy of Sciences have weighed in on an extensive study about the need for us to ramp up our investment in math, science, engineering, technology.

What this amendment also recognizes is the critical link between foreign language studies and those entering the fields of math and science, which is growing even more critical given the complex, interdependent economic relationship that we have with so many people and so many countries and so many businesses throughout the world.

This is a critical need that this amendment recognizes and speaks to. I want to especially commend my friend from New Jersey for the leadership that he has provided, not only to those of us on the committee but for the entire Congress, given his background and qualifications and expertise to speak on the subject of content knowledge in math, science and engineering.

He can correct me if I am wrong, but I think one of his campaign bumper stickers that his volunteers and supporters were fond of handing out was that their Congressman is a rocket scientist. And we have had the pleasure of benefiting from that knowledge on the committee. And he along with Mr. Ehlers have been tireless in their advocacy for us to do more as an institution to ramp up the fields of study of math and science and engineering.

This is, as Mr. Dreier indicated, consistent with one of the calls the President made in the State of the Union address with the American Competitiveness Initiative. That is something that I hope we all can come together in a bipartisan fashion to support and move forward on, not just in a passing authorizing language but also the important appropriation in the funds to back up these programs.

The other issue that Mr. Holt spoke to that I think is very important too is in regards to the adjunct teachers envisioned under this legislation. Teaching is different from private life. You just cannot pluck someone off the street no matter how good and no matter how knowledgeable they are in the realm of business or in the research labs, put them in a classroom and expect them to work miracles with the students. We are hoping as we move forward with this legislation, if it is accepted, that there be pre-in-service training and screening with these adjunct teachers before they enter the classroom, before they start working with these kids at such a crucial developmental age.

We have a long way to go as a Nation in light of the current trends around the globe. Many of us on the Education Committee last year had a chance for a couple of weeks to do a higher education tour of China to see where they are going. China and India are clearly two nations that are going to be very significant and influential in world events in the 21st century. We are already starting to see that influence today.

China is a country that is not content with just being good at copying and mass producing. They want be on the cutting edge of scientific and medical and technological discoveries. We need to recognize that in light of the competition it will pose to our students in the 21st century and be willing to support bipartisan amendments like this in order to makes these steps to advance the cause of critical content knowledge in these critical fields that will hopefully enable us to retain our leadership in being the most innovative and creative nation in the world.

Again, I commend my colleagues for their leadership and vision on this amendment. I hope the rest of our colleagues will support it.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in favor of H. Res. 85, supporting the goals and ideals of National MPS Day. MPS and ML, or mucopolysaccharidoses and mucolipidoses, are genetic disorders caused by the body's inability to produce specific enzymes. Most individuals suffering from this disease are children; and they endure a variety of ailments, including problems with the bones, heart, joints, and the respiratory system. Most devastatingly, they have drastically shortened life spans.

Because of a lack of information and understanding about these disorders, even among the medical community, children often receive delayed or wrong diagnosis. For this reason, it is of the utmost importance that we increase research and work for a cure. At the same time, we must increase awareness of these disorders that affect so many families. February 25 of every year is National MPS Day, and I believe we in the House of Representatives could do a great service to the MPS community by passing this resolution to honor this day and their work.

I am very pleased the Senate passed such a resolution, and I extend my thanks to my colleague and friend, Mr. Dent, as well as Mr. Davis, along with the 57 cosponsors who were instrumental in bringing this resolution to the floor today.

Mr. Speaker, I first became aware of MPS because of Allison Kirch, a student in my district who suffers from such a disorder. Her parents, Susan and Larry, and her sister Helen are tireless in their care for Allison and their dedication to furthering the cause of MPS patients.

It is because of people like Allison and Helen, Susan and Larry that I feel so strongly about MPS disorders. Allison, now 10, was first diagnosed at the age of 3. Today she is a happy fifth grader at Spence Elementary School in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. The Kirch family, along with Les Sheaffer, Kym Wigglseworth, and Sissi Langford of the MPS Society, have done so much to educate me and others about this cause and issue.

Today's resolution is just a small part of furthering awareness of MPS disorders. There is so much more that can and must be done. As Members of Congress, we must take the lead in authorizing funds for research of MPS and ML disorders. As citizens, we must advocate tirelessly on behalf of the families who selflessly and tirelessly care for their loved ones. On behalf of Allison and her family, I am proud to advocate for this resolution on the House floor and hope my colleagues will join me in honoring such a worthy cause today.

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

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

(Mr. KIND asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I do want to thank the ranking member, Mr. Keller, as well as the chairman of the Education and the Workforce Committee, Mr. McKeon, for their help in bringing the resolution before us today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a great American, I. King Jordan, who has dedicated his life to helping others. On December 31, at the end of this year, 2006, Dr. Jordan will retire as the first deaf president of Gallaudet University located here in Washington, D.C., the only institution of higher learning in the world serving primarily deaf and hard of hearing students. I am pleased to author this resolution with my colleagues Mr. Oxley, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. LaHood, and I thank them and the other cosponsors of this resolution for their support.

King Jordan's service to others began more than 4 decades ago when he served in the United States Navy from 1962 until 1966. He attended college at Gallaudet University after a car accident at the age of 21 left him deaf. He then went on to receive a doctorate in psychology in 1973, joined the faculty of Gallaudet University, and in 1988 he became its president. During his tenure at Gallaudet, Dr. Jordan raised nearly $40 million to grow the university endowment and to construct the student academic center. Also, he established the President's Fellow Program to provide support for deaf and hard of hearing college graduates to complete their advanced degrees, thus increasing the number of deaf and hard of hearing faculty members.

In addition to his work in academia, President Jordan was a lead witness before Congress supporting the Americans with Disabilities Act; and he continues to advocate on both the national and international levels for deaf people, as well as all people with disabilities.

In 2005, Dr. Jordan received the George H.W. Bush Medal honoring outstanding service under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Dr. Jordan is an inspiration to all Americans and his years of dedication to others undoubtedly deserve the recognition of this House of Representatives. We will miss his terrific leadership and his advocacy on behalf of all the students at Gallaudet University.

I would like to congratulate Dr. Jordan and his wife, Linda Kephart, for their many years of dedicated service and wish them a very long and happy retirement.

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

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

I also want to extend my thanks to Mr. LaHood, who has been instrumental in getting this resolution here to the floor today and for his tireless support for all the students at Gallaudet University.

The only thing I would add is that the Democratic team will be trying to defend our title on the parquet floor this evening.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey), one of the members of the board of trustees of Gallaudet University.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), the true representative for Gallaudet University.

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

I thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia for her very warm and gracious remarks on behalf of Dr. Jordan here today. I also know that my predecessor, Representative Steve Gunderson, who also served on the board at Gallaudet University, would join us today in honoring the career of Dr. Jordan. It was Steve Gunderson who first introduced me to the wonderful work that is taking place at that university under the terrific leadership that I have personally witnessed throughout the years, and I know he joins us in support of the resolution.

Finally, I would mention too that the minority whip, Mr. Hoyer from Maryland, who has been a good friend of Dr. Jordan, a strong supporter and friend of the university, was hoping to come down here and personally extend his warm remarks for Dr. Jordan's retirement. He is tied up right now.

I am sure he will be extending his remarks for the record. With that, I thank the gentleman for his support of the resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the sesquicentennial anniversary of my hometown of La Crosse, Wisconsin. I cannot think of a better place to grow up, live, and raise a family. From the rolling bluffs to the lakes and rivers and the miles of hiking and biking trails, La Crosse truly is God's country. Its warm, generous, and adventurous citizens are examples of the best our country has to offer.

This beautiful river town was founded at the confluence of the Mississippi, the La Crosse, and the Black Rivers, an area first used by Native Americans as a passageway through the prairie lands of the Upper Midwest. The Native Americans were followed by French fur traders, who established commerce with the Indians living along the river's edge. The traders named La Crosse after the Native American game played with netted sticks used to catch a ball. From the Native Americans and French fur traders to the vast grain barges of today, the movement of goods along the water keeps La Crosse thriving.

La Crosse was founded in 1841, by a pioneer from New York named Nathan Myrick. Myrick established a trading post on Barron Island where he first traded with the Ho-Chunk Indians. Once Myrick extended his business to trading with steamboat passengers, settlers began targeting La Crosse for its rich farming potential. Soon thereafter, the lumber industry blossomed. Using the river as their natural transportation, lumberjacks floated logs downriver to be processed. By 1858, the railroad was built, bringing with it additional growth and development.

Having been born and raised in the city and traveled to other places around the world, I truly appreciate the solid Midwestern values and spirit of the people in La Crosse--values that emphasize kindness, honesty, family, and community combined with the can-do attitude of the town's founders.

Home to ten grade schools, two high schools, two universities, and one technical school, La Crosse highly values quality education for its youth. The city has adjusted to the changing times to remain an important center of transportation, commerce, and industry in western Wisconsin. La Crosse has succeeded in establishing a family- and business- friendly environment and will continue to thrive well beyond its next 150 years.

La Crosse's sesquicentennial provides an opportunity to commemorate the town's history, ancestors, and traditions. With its historic homes, commercial district, natural areas, museums, restaurants, and specialty shops, La Crosse provides residents and visitors with much to choose from. I enthusiastically invite all my colleagues, their families and friends to visit the Coulee Region and the city of La Crosse.

The people of La Crosse are committed to growth in their community while maintaining the harmony of the surrounding land, and I am proud to call this beautiful and friendly city my home.

Madam Speaker, early today the people of Wisconsin and this great Nation lost a great public servant, and I lost a good friend and a political hero, Senator William Proxmire. Senator Proxmire passed away at the age of 90 after a long and courageous battle against Alzheimer's.

I had the great fortune and honor to intern for Senator Proxmire after my junior year in college. He was to me all that is good and decent about public service. I valued his counsel and advice when I became a Member of the United States Congress. During his 32 years in the United States Senate, Senator Proxmire epitomized what a good public servant should be about; hard work, dedicated, principled and accountable to the people he represented.

He was famous back home in Wisconsin for two things: Shaking a lot of hands and giving out a monthly Golden Fleece Award for the most ridiculous expenditure of taxpayer dollars. I am still amazed even today when people come up to me to share their favorite Proxmire story. I swear everyone living in the State of Wisconsin during Senator Proxmire's years in office had the opportunity to shake his hand at some sporting or other public event or on the main street of their hometown.

He was tireless when it came to representing the people of Wisconsin, and tireless traveling around the State to give people a chance to meet their United States Senator. He did it so well that in his last couple of election campaigns, he actually spent more money returning campaign contributions than he spent in his entire reelection campaign. He is probably the last person from a past political era who could do that in light of the mud-slinging and the attack ads that, unfortunately, exemplify modern campaigns.

Also as an intern, I had fun investigating some of Senator Proxmire's famous Golden Fleece Awards for wasteful government spending. Senator Proxmire was talking about fiscal responsibility before it became fashionable. Because of it, he was not the most popular guy in D.C. during those years, given the attention he would draw to wasteful programs or projects.

I am sure he would be disappointed today to see the breakdown in fiscal management of taxpayer dollars and the return of large budget deficits that jeopardize our long-term economic and military strength, and I am also sure he would be disappointed today seeing the number of ethical and criminal investigations surrounding public officials in our country.

He was a person above reproach. He believed that those involved in public service owed the people of this country a higher standard of ethical conduct, and he exemplified that conduct each and every day.

His greatest regret in office he once said was his initial support for our involvement in Vietnam. His greatest accomplishment was the ratification of the Anti-Genocide Treaty. For 19 years, Senator Proxmire delivered a daily speech on the floor of the United States Senate about the need to ratify a treaty against genocide. He found it amazing that the leader of the free world would be one of the last countries to ratify the Anti-Genocide Treaty, rather than being one of the first. But he persevered in reminding his colleagues of the moral imperative to do, and he finally ratification of the treaty shortly before his retirement in 1989.

Senator Proxmire also would deliver a speech on the Senate floor about the need to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons throughout the world which he viewed as potentially the ultimate genocide of human race.

People back home in Wisconsin viewed him has a maverick because he called it the way he saw it. He believed in standing up for the little guy and treating everyone decently and fairly. He believed, as many of us do today, that there is too much big money in government and too much influence of large special interests affecting the public's agenda. He was a strong advocate for getting the big money out of politics and he supported campaign finance reform.

His marriage to Ellen Proxmire was a true partnership in every sense of the word. Ellen and the family endured the demands and sacrifice of public life and were by Bill's side during the difficult years battling Alzheimer's. Through

their courageous battle, they helped open the eyes of many people about the urgent need to find a cure for this horrific disease before the national tidal wave hits our country in future years due to our aging population.

Much of what I learned about being an elected official I learned from Bill Proxmire. That is why I am proud to call myself a Proxmire Democrat. His legacy will endure, whether it is the call for greater fiscal responsibility with the people's money, or leveling the playing field in politics for people who work hard and play by the rules.

My thoughts and prayers are with Ellen and the entire Proxmire family. I hope they find some peace and comfort in the knowledge that Senator Proxmire touched many lives. He was loved by many, and he will be missed.

May God bless Senator Proxmire and take him into His care.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 467, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Extension Act of 2005, TRIA. The brutal attacks of September 11, 2001, shook the Nation, caused enormous grief, and strengthened the country's resolve. Congress pledged to do all we could to help the victims' families and to write policy that would help in the aftermath if such an attack ever occurs again.

One tangible way Congress can help is to make sure that businesses can afford terrorism insurance; to do this, we must reauthorize TRIA. Before the terrorist attacks of 9/11, most insurers offered terrorism insurance. Between 9/11 and the signing of TRIA in 2002, it was estimated that more than $15 billion in real estate transactions had been canceled or put on hold because owners and investors could not obtain the insurance protection they needed. TRIA, a public/private partnership, protects consumers, keeps an engine of our society going, and respects state regulation of insurance.

As cochair of the New Democrat Coalition, I have long believed that TRIA has worked well for individuals, businesses large and small, and our country. I am proud that the NDC has been a leader on this issue, and I am pleased that Speaker Hastert has responded to the letter our coalition sent to him earlier this year, urging him to bring TRIA to the Floor. TRIA is scheduled to expire at the end of this month, but Mr. Speaker, threat of terror has not expired.

I plan on supporting this bill, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the United States- Bahrain Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act. Passage of this FTA will help strengthen our relationship with Bahrain, building a more secure and productive future for our countries and citizens.

As a cochair of the New Democrat Coalition, I have long believed that when instituted correctly and fairly, trade agreements open up foreign markets to U.S. goods, create new opportunities for companies and their employees, and lift the standard of living for people in the country with whom we are trading. As our nation leads the world into the 21st century, we should not shy away from opportunities to guide and expand global trade.

U.S. goods exported to Bahrain totaled $302 million in 2004, constituting .03 percent of total U.S. merchandise trade in 2004. Of that total, Wisconsin exported over $4 million in goods last year to Bahrain, with the majority of the exports in machinery and manufacturing. I am pleased that The U.S.-Bahrain FTA will provide substantial market access for U.S. services providers, including financial services. One hundred percent of bilateral

trade in consumer and industrial products will become duty-free immediately, and 98 percent of U.S. agricultural product exports to Bahrain would be immediately duty free, with 10-year phaseouts for the remaining items such as alcohol and tobacco.

Moreover, securing a FTA with Bahrain is a positive foreign policy and national security step for the United States. Bahrain has been a strong and stable state in the Persian Gulf region and a friend to the United States. The U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet is based in Bahrain, and the United States has recognized the importance of our relationship with this country by establishing a joint U.S.-Bahrain Defense Cooperation Agreement and designing Bahrain as a ``Major Non-NATO ally.'' This FTA strengthens relations with one of our proven strategic allies in an unstable region.

Further, it is critically important that trade agreements are balanced and fair for workers and companies. I am pleased, therefore, that Bahrain has agreed to take the additional steps necessary to comply with basic international labor standards that are integral to ensuring that the benefits of globalization are broadly shared among the people. Bahrain has committed in writing and with a clear and immediate timetable to amend all provisions of its labor laws that are not consistent with basic International Labor Organization (ILO) standards. In addition, the United States Trade Representative has committed to report periodically to Congress on Bahrain's fulfillment of its agreement and is prepared to invoke Article 15.6 procedures if Bahrain fails to carry out these commitments.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I am happy to support this FTA with Bahrain today. It is in our best interest to engage Bahrain and complete this bilateral free trade agreement. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4340.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep dismay over the resolution being brought before the House tonight. The leadership of this House has responded to criticism of the war in Iraq by forcing a meaningless vote in order to shame the man who offered that critique, my good friend Jack Murtha.

Jack is a patriotic American of the highest order, contrary to the way our colleagues on the other side of the aisle may try to portray him. He has dedicated his life to the service of his Nation, defending it for 37 years as a marine and striving to make it a better place through his 31 years as a Member of this institution. During that time, he has earned two purple hearts, a bronze star, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and become one of the most respected leaders on military and Veterans issues from either party.

Rather than listening to the wise words of a man who knows better than almost any of us what our soldiers need in a time of war, many of my colleagues have taken to questioning his motives and even his character, and now House leadership has twisted his words and offered this resolution as a vehicle to humiliate this proud, honorable, and decent man. They are holding this House hostage and answering his principled and heart-felt proposal with a mean-spirited and empty resolution that is only one sentence, was not considered or debated, and was offered under the most egregious terms.

I will not be participating in this charade tonight; if I were, I certainly would vote against this resolution. It is not meant to spark a legitimate debate over the Iraq war. It is a personal attack rather than a policy statement. I find it reprehensible to subject this great and humble man to such indignity.

While I do not necessarily agree that immediate withdrawal from Iraq is the best course, I respect the conclusion reached by Mr. Murtha through his soul-searching. Despite any disagreements any of us may have on policy, we should not come together tonight to single him out as the object of ridicule. I will not be a part of it, and I would hope that my colleagues would not either. I urge them to vote ``no'' on this shameful resolution.