Floor Statements

Section 2: ``The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority, to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction.''

Mr. Chair, our economy is still very weak: over 75 percent of American workers are living paycheck-to-paycheck. The unemployment rate stands at 9.8 percent, and over eight million Americans are subsisting on unemployment insurance benefits while they search for work. In Georgia alone, the unemployment rate is over 10 percent. 67,000 additional Georgians filed for unemployment insurance last month. Despite these sobering numbers, our nation is on a dangerous path toward the largest tax increase in over a decade if we do not approve this vital legislation before us today.

We must not let this happen. We must change course. Our nation's workers, retirees, businesses, and job-seekers simply cannot afford the crushing burden of new taxes in today's economy. Raising taxes in this economic environment would stifle investment, slow down job creation, and put severe financial strain on businesses and individuals.

This bipartisan legislation confronts this reality. It temporarily continues the Bush Tax Cuts for the benefit of all Americans. It provides a desperately needed extension of unemployment insurance benefits. It reduces the crushing burden of the estate tax on our nation's family farms and businesses. And it puts money back into the paychecks of America's workers.

I urge my colleagues to take action and vote to send this legislation to the President's desk. Now is the time to act. We owe it to our constituents and to our nation not to let their taxes go up on New Year's Day.

Madam Speaker, in recognition of Kingdom Metropolitan Worship Center's 15th Pastor Appreciation & Church Anniversary Celebration, I rise today to honor my friend and constituent, Senior Pastor Bishop Marshall S. McGill.

Bishop McGill is the Founder and Senior Pastor of Kingdom Metropolitan Worship Centre, a non-denominational church located in Columbus, Georgia. Through Bishop McGill's faithful stewardship, the church has become one of the most progressive congregations in Columbus.

He is a native of Dayton, Ohio. He was educated in Biblical Counseling and Pastoral Care in Ohio and Alabama, respectively. In addition, Bishop McGill received his Doctorate of Humane Letters.

For over twenty years, Bishop McGill has been blessed with a loving wife, First Lady, Pastor Teresa Y. McGill, from Huntsville, Alabama. Along with committing their lives to God, they have raised four wonderful sons, who serve in the ministry with their parents.

He is the Founder and Superintendent of Kingdom Christian Academy and Preparatory School--a school for students in grades K-12 with three locations in the Columbus area. He is also the Founder of Bainbridge Christian Centre in Bainbridge, Georgia, as well as the Overseer of Grace Church in Barcelona, Spain. He also is the Founder and President of The Good Samaritan Counseling & Resource Institute.

Bishop McGill is a sought-after International Conference Speaker and Teacher. As part of his global ministry he has been called to Europe, Ghana, India, Israel, South Africa, Spain, and Swaziland. He is overseer of ``Go Ye Nations'' in Nagercoil, India, with over 200 pastors and missionaries under his leadership and care. India also is home to the ``Marshall McGill's Children Home,'' an orphanage and school for disadvantaged and physically impaired children.

Locally, Bishop McGill has served as Chaplain for the City Council of Columbus. Currently, he is the active Chaplain for the Columbus Marshal and Sheriff Departments.

Bishop McGill possesses an incredible love for children and young adults, a desire to help the needy and to empower people to reach their full potential. His dedication is evident as he is often quoted as saying, ``We have often failed generations of the past because we failed to educate and train up leaders qualified to carry the torch for tomorrow.''

Madam Speaker, Bishop McGill has ministered on both local and global levels, striving to improve the world for the next generation. His spiritual guidance is an asset to our community and to the world and he is a constant reminder of what it means to be a child of God.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my constituents in celebrating the 124th Anniversary of Greater Saint Mark AME Church in Columbus, Georgia. As part of this celebration, we honor the Church's oldest living member, Mr. Armster Hinton, who is 96 years old and has spent the majority of his life worshiping as a parishioner at Greater Saint Mark AME Church.

Born April 16, 1914 in Hurtsboro, Alabama, where his family owned a horse farm, Mr. Hinton is the son of the late Merion and Daisy Hinton. He was educated at William H. Spencer High School, and graduated from that institution in 1933.

Mr. Hinton sought higher education, and graduated from Albany State College with a degree in business. He went on to honorably serve his country during World War II. While a soldier in the U.S. Army, his company in the Army made dog tags for the troops. He also instructed his fellow soldiers in reading and writing, helping many of them to attain a fourth grade level education.

In 1934, Mr. Hinton was married to the love of his life, the late Mrs. Nell Blanchette Gibson Hinton. They were married for 71 wonderful years and were blessed with a beautiful daughter, Mrs. Beverly Gaynell Hinton Hugle. Mrs. Hugle is married to Mr. Kenneth Hugle, who Mr. Hinton considers a son. Mr. Hinton's family also includes his precocious grandson, Master Destin Hinton Hugle.

Along with his immediate family, Mr. Hinton's great love has impacted countless lives, namely those of his god-children: Mrs. Doris Burton Upshaw; Mrs. Frances Jones Walker; Mrs. Rose Marie Wilson Arnold; Rev. Paul Berry, III; Mrs. Jasper Dawkins, Jr.; and Mrs. Jasmine Dawkins Jones.

A master tailor, he is retired from Tillman's Men's Clothing in Columbus. In his retirement, he has utilized his many talents as an avid cook and a consummate gardener. Mr. Hinton also has been the recipient of numerous recognitions from Greater Saint Mark AME Church, where he has been a life-long member since childhood.

He is known throughout the community for his resplendent appearance. When asked about it, his favorite expression is, ``I can't help that; I was born looking good.'' He attributes his longevity to a powerful faith in

God, along with ``having a ball'' with family and friends.

Madam Speaker, from his service in the U.S. Army to his life-long dedication to his community, our country, the State of Georgia, and the City of Columbus, Mr. Armster Hinton has led a life of purpose. He is a kind-hearted and compassionate man who upholds the true meaning of Christianity. Today I join Greater Saint Mark AME Church in honoring Mr. Hinton's longevity. May he continue to inspire generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I agree that the extension of middle class tax cuts is vital to the economic health of our nation, and I proudly support providing this much needed relief. Over 75 percent of American workers are living paycheck-to-paycheck, and they simply cannot afford the burden of new taxes. Furthermore, many of our nation's seniors are on fixed incomes consisting of Social Security payments, supplemented by dividend and capital gains income. This measure will help ensure that seniors can make ends meet in this challenging economic environment.

Unfortunately, this measure does not go far enough. Given the current state of our fragile economic recovery, now is not the time to raise taxes on any American. Businesses large and small are still having difficulty creating new jobs, training their workers, and growing for the future. I remain deeply concerned that raising taxes on those businesses would further impede job creation and punish success at a time when we should be encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit.

Furthermore, I am troubled that this measure does not address estate tax relief. The most oppressive estate tax we have seen in a decade is scheduled to go into effect at the beginning of the New Year. Our farmers and small business owners face dire consequences from inaction on this issue.

Higher estate tax rates would have an especially severe impact on farmers and small business owners in Georgia's Second Congressional District. According to a June 2009 report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, if Congress does not take action on estate tax relief before the end of this year, the resulting higher estate tax could affect 10 percent of American farms, 98 percent of which are family- owned and operated. Many Georgians could lose farms that have been passed down from generation to generation, or be forced to sell much- needed land, buildings, and equipment. In addition, small business owners could lose the companies they worked so hard to build and hoped to hand down to their children.

We cannot ignore these issues, and it is my hope that a bipartisan agreement can be reached before the New Year. We must extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, at least temporarily, for all Americans, as well as provide substantial estate tax relief for the benefit of our family- owned farms and businesses.

Now is not the time for political games and maneuvering. The nation needs us to come together and address this issue in a bipartisan manner. We truly cannot afford to wait any longer.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4783, The Claims Resolution Act of 2010. It is time to end this decades-long dispute and long process of overdue justice.

The Senate overcame a major hurdle on November 19, and their actions should encourage us to build on their momentum, pass this legislation, and send it to President Obama in the interest of doing what is right. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, ``The time is always right to do what is right.''

I am pleased to see that this legislation has strong support from both sides of the aisle, and I know that fiscally conservative Members like me are especially pleased that this legislation is fully paid for.

This has not been a process of swift justice, but the Senate's recent accomplishment is good news for the victims of prejudice and discrimination. I am particularly pleased for the thousands of black farmers, as well as Native Americans and Hispanics, who will now finally receive a measure of justice.

Discrimination in any form cannot be tolerated, and today my colleagues and I are presented with the opportunity to close the final chapter in this saga of flagrant prejudice.

Now there are a number of Members who have expressed their concern with respect to potential fraud and abuse. Interestingly, out of the three groups included in H.R. 4783--Hispanic, Native American, and Black, only the Black farmers are saddled with fraud allegations and specific statutory language aimed at stemming fraud.

I, too, am concerned with fraud! And I believe the bill adequately addresses this issue, as does the Department of Agriculture and I am confident this issue will be taken care of.

We cannot let a few bad apples spoil the bunch. There are many hard- working, honest individuals and families who have suffered at the hand of discrimination, and we should all aim to see justice done so that those who have suffered from bias and bigotry can now move on with their lives.

Mr. Speaker, as children, we are taught the Pledge of Allegiance and we are ingrained from an early age that these United States provide liberty and justice for all. Therefore, I ask my colleagues to keep that pledge and pass this legislation. Our great nation was founded on the principle that all men are created equal and it is time to see this gross injustice put to rest.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a brave soldier, a dedicated citizen of Thomasville, Georgia, and a great American, U.S. Army Specialist Shannon ``Chanen'' Chihuahua, who selflessly gave his life while serving his country in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Specialist Chihuahua was born in 1985, and was raised in Thomasville, Georgia. After graduating from Thomas County Central High School in 2004, he attended Valdosta State University. He met his loving wife, Kristen, in July of 2006 and the two were married November 4, 2006.

Answering the call to service, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Specialist Chihuahua was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

His awards and decorations include: Purple Heart; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; NATO Medal; and Combat Medic Badge.

While deployed to Afghanistan, he was one of several service members tragically killed on November 12, 2010 when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades. He gave the ultimate sacrifice; he died while trying to save a fellow soldier, who was injured.

Specialist Chihuahua's death is a great loss to this country, as he was a man of great promise and honor. He was described as an energetic and positive person with a constant smile. He was well regarded by his peers and known for his congeniality.

His death is also a great loss to his loving family. He is survived by his wife, Kristen; two daughters, Sophia and Annabelle; his mother, Dennice Dinkins of Thomasville, Georgia; and father, Sebastian Chihuahua of Del Rio, Texas.

Madam Speaker, U.S. Army Specialist Shannon ``Chanen'' Chihuahua made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. His time on this earth was too short. He was a proud American, a brave soldier, and a true family man. In life, he was loved and honored and in death, he will be remembered by a grateful nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor a man of great faith, a man who has given much to his community while serving as a model citizen, father, and apostle of the word of God, Pastor Stephen Stallworth.

Pastor Stallworth was called to the ministry at the young age of twenty-six. In 1970, he attended the University of Michigan and the CH Mason Seminary in Detroit, Michigan. There he was ordained an Elder, and in 1976, he was installed as an Assistant Pastor.

He was offered a position by General Motors in Albany, Georgia. In 1979, he and his family moved from Michigan to Georgia, where he felt called by God to serve as a pastor.

Shortly after moving to Albany, Pastor and Mother Stallworth began the task of finding a church. One day, by a chance encounter, they discovered their first church while on their way to the parish they were attending at that time. Due to road work on their normal route, they detoured onto Church Street where they discovered a vacant church. They felt called by God to turn the empty building into a thriving, vibrant parish with which to serve God and the Albany community.

Pastor and Mother Stallworth selflessly purchased the building to begin the new church. Instead of buying a home for their family, they began a home for their spiritual family in Albany, and in 1981, Pastor Stallworth established the Greater Grace Church of God in Christ. He and Mother Stallworth took to the task of restoring and refurbishing the land and property, and in doing so they established a neighborhood ministry.

As the parish grew there was need for a larger facility, and through his ministry numerous Bishops, Pastors and Evangelist were born. There are nine churches in Pastor Stallworth's district; five of these churches originated directly from his ministry. There are approximately twelve churches operating in the Albany area that were born under the direction of Pastor Stallworth, and there are more that 2,000 members in his district.

In March of 2008, Pastor Stallworth established a covenant between the Greater Grace Church of God in Christ and the Greater New Hope Anointed Ministries in Plant City, Florida, whose membership exceeds five hundred members and is one of the fastest growing churches in the area. The Pastor is national recording artist Calvin Callins.

In 2009, Pastor Stallworth established covenants with Pastor Ray G. Johnson of Love Life Church and with Pastor Willie C. Carter of Acts II Full Gospel Church; both are located in Camilla, Georgia.

Heeding the call to expand his ministry, Pastor Stallworth oversaw the erection of a multi-million dollar edifice. After two years of construction the new 22,000 square foot building was completed in February of 2008. 6,000 square feet are allocated for the Graceland Institute of Early Learning, which opened in September of 2008.

Ever innovative, Pastor Stallworth envisions facilities to house senior citizens and college students. He is known for never preaching the same sermon twice and he seeks to expand his ministry and preach the word of God to all he can. His mission is to always exhibit excellence in his ministry by always lifting Jesus to the height that men and women will be drawn to Him.

Madam Speaker, today I recognize and honor a man I am proud to call friend and constituent and a man who has altruistically contributed to our community, giving so much of himself. Today it is my privilege to honor Pastor Stephen Stallworth as he is elevated to the position of Apostle. He has served God and his community well and I know he will continue to do so.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Tommy Irvin, an accomplished public servant and a personal friend. He is retiring after devoting over 40 years to his state and country, serving as the Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture.

His 54-plus years of public service began in 1956, when he was elected to the Habersham County Board of Education. From there, he went on to serve as Chairman of the School Board and President of the Georgia School Boards Association. Throughout his time in public office, he has remained dedicated to educational advancement in the State of Georgia, and as such, he is an honorary Lifetime Member of the Parent-Teacher Association of Georgia and the Georgia School Food Service Association.

Commissioner Irvin continued his commitment to education during his four terms representing Habersham County in the Georgia General Assembly. He served on the House Agriculture, Education, & Appropriations Committees and as the Chairman of both the House Industrial Relations Committee and the Governor's Conference on Education. In addition, he was the Governor's Floor Leader and Executive Secretary to the Governor.

He is the longest serving statewide official in Georgia, having been appointed Commissioner of Agriculture in 1969 by Governor Lester Maddox. Commissioner Irvin is the only Georgian to serve as President of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

In addition to serving as the President of the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture, he served two terms as the President of the Southern United States Trade Association, an organization which he helped found to promote the export of Southern food and agricultural products.

Commissioner Irvin has received many honors throughout his distinguished career, including the Progressive Farmer Magazine Man-of- the-Year in Service to Agriculture, the National Award for Agricultural Excellence by the National Agri-Marketing Association, the National Future Farmers of America Honorary American Farmer Degree, and the Southeastern Poultry and Egg Association's ``Workhorse of the Year'' award, which is considered to be the most prestigious recognition bestowed by the poultry industry.

He has been inducted into the Halls of Fame of many organizations, including National 4-H, Georgia Agrirama, Vidalia Onion, Georgia Seed Association, Habersham County, Hall County, and University of Georgia College of Agriculture.

He has received the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine's Distinguished Service Award. He received the Richard B. Russell Public Service Award, the Jefferson Jackson Day HOPE Award, and most recently received the American Farm Bureau Federation's Distinguished Service Award for his service as an agriculture leader with merit and distinction.

Commissioner Irvin set up an international trade division in his department and pursued markets for Georgia's agricultural producers in the Soviet Union, China and Cuba. His initiative has inspired other states to follow his lead, and the United States Department of Agriculture and leaders in other countries have sought to emulate Georgia's procedures to eradicate animal diseases, and control plant pests.

Madam Speaker, the State of Georgia, especially the agriculture community, and our nation have greatly benefitted from the tremendous leadership of Tommy Irvin. He will be remembered for his ingenuity and dedication. His many awards are well earned and he leaves an unparalleled legacy as he retires.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a man who has greatly improved the medical community of Georgia, Joel Wernick.

For over 20 years, Mr. Wernick has served as president and CEO of Phoebe Putney Health System in Albany, Georgia. Through his stewardship, Phoebe Putney has thrived. The number of physicians has doubled. The facility has grown by several million square feet, and state-of-the-art technologies are now available to the patients.

Phoebe Putney Health System is the region's largest employer, and is comprised of Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, a 450-bed tertiary care teaching hospital and Phoebe Worth Medical Center, a critical access rural hospital. Phoebe Putney Health System also manages the Southwest Georgia Regional Medical Center, Georgia's first critical access hospital, in Cuthbert, Georgia. Phoebe Putney oversees the Southwest Georgia Family Medicine Residency and is the site for the Medical College of Georgia's first satellite clinical campus.

In 2008, Phoebe Putney Health System helped to rebuild and expand the Sumter hospital in Americus, Georgia, after it was destroyed by a tornado; Sumter Regional Hospital is now Phoebe Sumter Medical Center and is a diversified health care system, complete with Inpatient and Outpatient Diagnostic and Therapeutic Services, Outpatient Surgery Services, Hospice, Rural Health Care Centers, Migrant Health, School Nurse Program and numerous physician specialties and office practices.

Through Mr. Wernick's excellent guidance, Phoebe has been recognized nationally for excellence in clinical quality, operations and community health. In 2004, Phoebe was presented the prestigious American Hospital Association's Foster G. McGaw Prize. Additionally, the health system became the first hospital recipient of a Discovery Health Channel Medical Honor. Phoebe also has won three Voluntary Hospitals of America, VHA Leadership Awards and the American Hospital Association's Nova Award for an innovative teen pregnancy prevention program.

Mr. Wernick is a native of Arkansas and a proud Razorback, receiving his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas, and earned his master's degree in hospital administration from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.

He is married to Stacy Wernick, nee Paul. They have one daughter, Lilly Katherine. Besides his involvement with multiple local, state and national organizations, he takes time to teach as a member of the Georgia Southwestern MBA faculty. He has been a Rotarian since 1982, and is a Paul Harris Fellow.

Mr. Wernick is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and is director of the VHA. He is also on the board of VHA- Georgia, the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals, and he is Chairman of the Medical Resource Network, a statewide managed care network. Mr. Wernick is actively involved in many local civic and economic development initiatives. He currently chairs the Southwest Georgia Alliance for Progress, a regional coalition to strengthen economic, educational and cultural infrastructures.

Madam Speaker, Joel Wernick has greatly contributed to the lives of those in his community and across the State of Georgia through his leadership of Phoebe Putney. This year, he has been recognized by Georgia Trend magazine for his significant contributions, having been named one of the State's top 25 leaders. According to Georgia Trend, he ``has guided the hospital to a period of historic growth in staff, revenues and new services, and has expanded the facility's presence in vastly underserved areas in Southwest Georgia.'' For his dedication to our region, I wish to commend and congratulate an outstanding leader and my friend, Mr. Joel Wernick, on this significant accomplishment.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Rev. Adolph Noble, Sr., of Bainbridge, Georgia, a man I am proud to call my friend and constituent. He is an accomplished public servant who has devoted his life to his family and his community.

Rev. Noble was born August 22, 1955, in Thomasville, Georgia, to Smiley Noble and Betty Jean Noble nee Melvins. He grew up in Southwest Georgia, and graduated from Bainbridge High School in 1973. After completing his studies in Mortuary Science at the John A. Gupton College in Atlanta, Georgia, he then went on to study at the Meadows College of Business in Albany, Georgia.

Upon successfully completing these academic endeavors, Rev. Noble began his lifelong call of ministering to others. He went on to study at the Southern Baptist Seminary in Tallahassee, Florida. From there, he has served his community as a pastor, ministering for over forty years.

Thirty of these years have been spent at Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Bainbridge, with several years spent preaching at Patterson Street Free Will Baptist Church in Dothan, Alabama. Rev. Noble continues to minister to both of these parishes today.

Rev. Noble is deeply involved in the many civic and religious affairs in his community. He served as the Past Moderator of the First Flint River Baptist Association, as the President of the Bainbridge/Decatur County Civic and Progressive League, and as a member of the Decatur County Chamber of Commerce, the Fourth District Funeral Service Association, and the Georgia State Funeral Service Association.

In addition to his ministry and community outreach, Rev. Noble is also Owner and Funeral Director of Guyton Brothers Funeral Home in Bainbridge.

Rev. Noble has been, and continues to be, very blessed in his family life. He is married to Sonja Noble nee Tyler, and he is the proud father of four children and the proud grandfather of five grandchildren. His kind demeanor and unyielding compassion has endeared him to many.

Madam Speaker, the State of Georgia, especially the Second Congressional District, is truly blessed to have benefited from the tremendous counsel, and ministry of Rev. Adolph Noble, Sr. We greatly appreciate his guidance, leadership, compassion, and intense desire to help others and better his community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a brave sailor, dedicated citizen, and a great American, U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer David Blake McLendon, who gave his life for his country.

Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO) McLendon was raised in Thomasville, Georgia. After graduating from Thomas County Central High School in 1998, he answered the call to service by enlisting in the U.S. Navy, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.

He was a successful and dedicated naval non-commissioned officer, quickly rising through the ranks. His awards include the Joint Service Commendation Medal; Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal; Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; Navy Battle ``E'' Ribbon (two awards); Navy Good Conduct Medal (three awards); and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

In 2009, McLendon was promoted to Senior Chief Petty Officer and served as a Navy cryptologic technician. He was also a Navy SEAL. During his twelve-year Naval career, he served at Norfolk, Virginia and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and the Joint Expeditionary Base at Little Creek, Virginia.

While deployed to Afghanistan, he was one of nine servicemembers tragically killed when their Army Blackhawk helicopter went down in the southern Afghanistan province of Zabul on Sept. 21, 2010.

SCPO McLendon's death is a great loss to this country, as he was a man of great promise and honor. He was described as a consummate Navy professional by his fellow servicemembers, and was known for his dedication, quick wit, and engaging sense of humor.

His death is also a great loss to his loving family. He is survived by his wife and parents, his brother and sister, his nieces and nephews, and his paternal grandmother.

Madam Speaker, U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer David Blake McLendon made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. His time on this earth was too short. He was a proud American, a brave sailor, and a true family man. In life he was loved and honored, and in death he will be remembered by a grateful nation.

Madam Speaker, I regret that I was unavoidably absent this afternoon, August 10. Had I been present for the vote which occurred today, I would have voted ``aye'' on H. Res. 1606, rollcall vote No. 517.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Centennial Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. For the past 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America have worked tirelessly to provide an educational program for boys and young adults to build character, to train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and to develop personal fitness.

William Boyce founded the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910 using, as a model, the British system of Scouting created by General Robert Baden-Powell in 1907. In 1916, the organization was granted a Congressional Charter, and as the organization grew, it served more and more young men, teaching them to live by the Scout Law. Since its inception, over 110 million Americans have been members of the Boy Scouts of America.

I am proud to say that my life has been strengthened through scouting. As a young man, I was a member of Troop 201 in Mobile, Alabama. It was while earning my merit badges in Citizenship in the home, community, and the Nation that my interest in our great political process was ignited. From my experience as an Eagle Scout, I know the time, effort, and thorough dedication the Boy Scouts instilled in me, to be a better person, and to serve God and the greater good of our country.

For a full century, boys and men have gathered and declared: ``On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.'' And for a full century, we have constantly remained Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent. Our future leaders are cultivated through a combination of educational and fun activities, instilling lifelong values. Through various programs, the Boy Scouts of America strive to create a more conscientious, responsible, and productive society, and they have succeeded now for 100 years.

The distinguished products of scouting can be found among my colleagues. Of the 111th Congress, 211 members have participated with the Boy Scouts of America, either as a youth member, an Eagle Scout, an adult volunteer, or some combination of the three. Personally, I take great store in what I learned as a Boy Scout and Eagle Scout. The experience has been a great influence on both my personal life and my work in Congress. I am especially honored to have received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, and I also am honored to have been a part of Alvin Townley's book, ``Legacy of Honor: The Values and Influence of America's Eagle Scouts.''

Madam Speaker, we should all be inspired by the Boy Scouts of America and we should all be motivated to incorporate their goals into our daily lives. As the Boy Scout slogan says, we should all ``do a good turn daily.'' For the past 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America have lived this ideal, and our country is a better place due to their actions. On this day, I extend my sincerest congratulations to the Boy Scouts and join them in celebrating their Centennial Anniversary, and I pray that God will grant them one hundred more!

Madam Speaker, I regret that I was unavoidably absent yesterday afternoon, July 26, on very urgent business. Had I been present for the three votes which occurred yesterday evening, I would have voted ``aye'' on H.R. 1320, rollcall vote No. 467; I would have voted ``aye'' on H. Res. 1504, rollcall vote No. 468; and I would have voted ``aye'' on H.R. 3101, rollcall vote No. 469.