Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize the Excelsior Springs Football Tigers, a team steeped in history with a promising future, thanks in part to the new Tiger Stadium, which is officially opening tonight, September 10, 2004.

Excelsior Springs football was first played about 1910 on ``Old Lady Reed's Field'' near Superior Street. In 1920, games were moved to Association Park, a location that later became the site of the old high school football field that officially became Roosevelt Field in 1938. The stone wall surrounding the field was built during the FDR era as a WPA project to provide area jobs after the Great Depression. In 1984, major renovations brought the field and track up to state regulations and new lighting was installed. In the `90s, however, the location started to become a problem: the field was plagued by repeated flooding from Fishing River, the field was now across town from the high school, and parking was more inadequate with each passing year. Early in the 2000s, the community passed a bond issue to build a Performing Arts Center, which opened in fall 2003, a new Career Center building, which will open in January 2005, and this Tiger Stadium, officially opening tonight September 10, 2004.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in congratulating the people of Excelsior Springs on their new Tiger Stadium, and wishing the Tigers the best of luck in their new home.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize William M. Raine of Parkville, Missouri, a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, and in earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. William will receive his Eagle Scout Award on September 12, 2004, at the Theodore Naish Scout Reservation in Bonner Springs, Kansas.

William has been very active with his troop, participating in many Scout activities. Over the many years William has been involved with Scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but the respect of his family, peers, and community.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending William M. Raine for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Cory Hogan of Kansas City, Missouri, a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 357, and in earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Cory has been very active with his troop, participating in many Scout activities. Over the many years Cory has been involved with Scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but the respect of his family, peers, and community.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Cory Hogan for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Matthew Emery Eckard, an outstanding young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 444, and by earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Matthew has been active with his troop by participating in many Scout activities. Over the 14 years Matt has been involved with Scouting, he has earned 29 merit badges. Matt set the goal in 2001 to be the youngest Eagle Scout in Kansas City. I am proud of him for achieving this goal and becoming the fifth youngest Eagle Scout in the whole United States. He was a 3-year camper at H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation, and is a Brotherhood member in the Order of the Arrow.

For his Eagle Scout project, Matt repainted and surveyed the only Corp of Engineers flood gauge on Line Creek beneath Vivion Road in Riverside, Missouri. This gauge is the official marker used to measure the creek in the flood of 1993.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Matthew Emery Eckard for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Daniel Bryan Duddy, a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 444, and by earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Bryan has been very active with his troop, participating in many Scout activities. Over the 10 years Bryan has been involved with Scouting, he has earned numerous merit badges and held several leadership positions. Bryan served as both Patrol and Senior Patrol Leader, was a 2-year camper at H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation, and is a Firebuilder in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. Bryan is also a current Brotherhood member in the Order of the Arrow.

For his Eagle Scout project, Bryan constructed several permanent seating benches around the campfire rings at Tall Oaks Christian camp.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Daniel Bryan Duddy for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Stephen C. Roberts, Senior Auditor for the United States Department of Agriculture Great Plains Region. Mr. Roberts has exemplified the finest qualities of leadership and service and is being honored for his 30 year commitment to Federal service.

Mr. Roberts began his career with the Office of the Inspector General in 1978, as an auditor in Marlboro, Massachusetts, and transferred to the Beltsville, Maryland, office later that year. In 1982, Mr. Roberts moved to our Kansas City office. Mr. Roberts rapidly progressed with the Office of the Inspector General to Supervisory Auditor in 1985 where he has served until his August 21, 2004 retirement.

During his illustrious career with the USDA, Mr. Roberts was recognized for directing complex audits of management and security of information technology, as well as serving on Quality Assessment Review teams in Chicago, Illinois, and San Francisco, California.

He also received awards for audits of food service management companies and vendors performed at school districts located in seven States and Puerto Rico. Mr. Roberts was also one of the original instructors at the Office of the Inspector General Audit Academy started in 1988 and he also developed an Audit Survey Techniques training course for the agency. In 1984 and 1985, Mr. Roberts was detailed to the North Atlantic Region to act as a Supervisory Auditor over work being conducted in Puerto Rico. Mr. Roberts has had a diverse and exemplary career with a consistently high level of accomplishments in his many years of Federal service for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending the career of Stephen C. Roberts, who exemplifies the qualities of dedication and service to the United States Department of Agriculture Great Plains Region and the people of the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise to recognize the introduction of the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid, expected to roll off the assembly lines at the Ford Claycomo Plant in Claycomo, Missouri, beginning in August.

The Escape Hybrid is the first vehicle of its kind to combine hybrid technology with SUV capability. The Escape Hybrid can be powered solely by the gasoline engine, solely by the electric motor, or by using both working together. The hybrid system automatically switches between pure electric, pure gasoline, or combined operation to maximize fuel efficiency and performance, and the Escape Hybrid is projected to surpass 35 miles-per-gallon in city driving. Additionally, exhaust emissions will be lower than many vehicles currently on the market.

The technology that makes the Escape Hybrid possible is revolutionary, and the fact that Ford has produced a hybrid SUV demonstrates Ford's continued leadership in the automobile industry. I am proud that the Ford Claycomo Plant, located in Missouri's Sixth District, will assemble the Escape Hybrid. It is a testament to the employees at Claycomo, especially since the plant already produces Ford F-series models and the Escape and the Mazda Tribute.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing Ford Motor Company and the Ford Claycomo Plant as they begin production of the Ford Escape Hybrid.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Lowell C. Kruse, President and CEO of Heartland Health, an employer of 2,600 located in St. Joseph, Missouri. Mr. Kruse has exemplified the finest qualities of leadership and service and is being honored for his 20 year commitment to Heartland Health and the people of northwest Missouri.

Mr. Kruse was born in Lake City, Iowa, just about four hours north of St. Joseph where he currently lives with his wife of 40 years, Leslie Marsden-Kruse. Together, Lowell and Leslie have three adult sons. Mr. Kruse began his career in 1967 as the Assistant Administrator of St. Barnabas Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota. For the next ten years, Mr. Kruse held leadership positions in a variety of health facilities in the Minneapolis area, before moving to New York in 1977 to become President and CEO of Park Ridge Hospital and Nursing Home in Rochester. Two years later, he became President and CEO of Update Health System, Inc. in Rochester. In 1984, Mr. Kruse came to St. Joseph as President and CEO of Heartland Health, and he hasn't looked back since. During Mr. Kruse's tenure as President and CEO, Heartland has been the recipient of the Missouri Quality Award, the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence, and in 2000 was named one of the top 100 hospitals in the country for orthopedics and cardiovascular care. Mr. Kruse has been the recipient of the Justin Ford Kimball Innovators Award from the American Hospital Association, and the Visionary Leadership Award and the Distinguished Service Award from the Missouri Hospital Association. In addition to his work at Heartland, Mr. Kruse currently serves on the Boards of Directors for Premier, Inc., the Excellence in Missouri Foundation, and the Missouri State Coordinating Board for Higher Education.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending the career of Lowell C. Kruse, who exemplifies the qualities of dedication and service to Heartland Health and the people of northwest Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Samuel Casey Sartorius, a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 714, and by earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Samuel has been active with his troop, participating in numerous scout activities. Over the 4 years Samuel has been involved in scouting, he has held numerous leadership positions, serving as Assistant Patrol Leader, Instructor, and Senior Patrol Leader. Samuel holds such special scouting honors as Tribe of Mic-O-Say, God and Country, and World Conservation Award. Samuel holds 21 merit badges. For his Eagle Scout project, Samuel coordinated with the City of Camden Point and the American Red Cross to distribute smoke detectors to Camden Point residents.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in commending Samuel Casey Sartorius for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 334 I inadvertently voted ``yes.'' I intended to vote ``no.''

Amendment No. 10 Offered by Mr. Paul

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Mr. John Gilbert, a very special young man who exemplifies the finest qualities of citizenship and sportsmanship.

John competed against athletes from across the Nation for a position on the American junior basketball team. He will join his teammates in representing the United States of America at the Australian junior basketball championship in Sydney, Australia.

John's accomplishments are particularly exceptional, given that he is a member of the Nebraska Red Dawgs wheelchair basketball team. His passion for the game is exhibited by weekend travels and many trips around the country. This sort of dedication has earned him the respect both of his community and me. I would like to wish him the best of luck.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in commending Mr. John Gilbert for his accomplishments and inspiration to the 6th District of Missouri. His stellar leadership qualities, faith, and stamina provide the city of Fairfax, Missouri, with an outstanding roll model. We are fortunate to have a young man representing this nation in competition who sets such high standards for character and integrity.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Duane and Rowena Broermann,

natives and life-long residents of my hometown, Tarkio, Missouri. They will be celebrating their Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary on Sunday, June 20, 2004.

Duane and Rowena were married in 1954 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Westboro, Missouri. They both graduated from Tarkio High School, Rowena in 1949 and Duane in 1948. Duane served two years in the United States Army during the Korean War and returned to Tarkio to farm for forty-seven years. He retired from farming in 1997. Rowena worked at the local Hy-Vee Food Store and the Flesher Pharmacy in Tarkio. They are both active in the county 4-H organization, the Atchison County Fair, and the St. John's Lutheran Church.

Duane and Rowena have one son and daughter-in-law, Donald and Mitzi Broermann. They have two grandchildren, Eric and Tyler. Rowena is a housewife and a member of the Red Hat Society. Duane is a member of the St. John's Church Choir and enjoys playing ping-pong and golfing with his friends. Both will tell you their main hobby is their grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in commending this exemplary couple for their dedication to community, family, and church. Duane and Rowena are exceptionally fine assets to the Sixth District of Missouri. I am proud of them and wish them well on their Fiftieth Anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the tobacco buyout provision that has been added to H.R. 4520, the American Jobs Creation Act. This provision offers great relief to the hard working tobacco farmers of Missouri and the Nation.

The American tobacco farmer has been financially pressed for decades due to outdated government regulations. This bill provides hope to many tobacco farmers and quota owners nationwide that face the increased challenges to their operations.

This tobacco provision provides $9.6 billion in compensation to quota holders and tobacco growers over 5 years. This ends a depression-era program and introduces free market reforms to tobacco farming.

Many may not realize Missouri's contribution to the tobacco industry, but our state alone in 2000 contributed roughly $2 million in annual sales. While tobacco farmers may be small in numbers, their contribution should not go unnoticed.

I want to commend Chairman Thomas and House leadership for working to assist Missouri tobacco farmers and farmers across the Nation. I am pleased by my colleagues' efforts to include the tobacco provision in the American Jobs Creation Act and I look forward to supporting this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend both Chairman Taylor and Chairman Young for their efforts to eliminate Federal funding of land acquisitions in the FY05 Department of Interior appropriations bill. I, along with several of my colleagues, have been fighting this battle for some time, and I am pleased with today's results. Federal land acquisitions have been the reason for my opposition to the Interior appropriations bill in the past, but now I can support this legislation.

I offered legislation that accomplishes almost exactly what Chairmen Taylor and Young are proposing in the FY05 Interior appropriations bill. H.R. 1517, The Land Reinvestment Act, simply eliminates Federal land acquisitions by zeroing out the land and water conservation fund's Federal expenditures. I want to note that State side assistance will remain untouched and I again commend my colleague's actions for keeping that program funded.

The Federal Government is the nation's largest single landowner. The FY05 Interior appropriations bill sends a clear message that Congress will no longer tolerate Federal land grabs. I am very pleased by my colleagues efforts and look forward to supporting this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, June 14, 2004, I was unavoidably detained and thus missed rollcall votes #232, #233, #234 and #235. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on #232, approving the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003; ``yea'' on #233, expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the need to provide prostate cancer patients with meaningful access to information on treatment options; ``yea'' on #234, to provide rapid acquisition authority to the Secretary of Defense to respond to combat emergencies; and ``yea'' on #235, honoring former President George Herbert Walker Bush on the occasion of his 80th birthday.