Floor Statements

Offered By: Mrs. Capito

Amendment No. 11: Page 32, line 8, after ``appropriation'',

insert ``: Provided further, That $10,000,000 of such funds

may not be obligated or expended until the Secretary of

Veterans Affairs submits to the House of Representatives an

executable plan, to be implemented not later than January 1,

2010, for maintaining medical records that are interoperable

between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department

of Defense''.

Offered By: Mrs. Capito

Amendment No. 3: Page 25, line 14, after the second dollar

amount insert ``(reduced by $30,000,000)''.

Page 37, line 19, after the dollar amount insert

``(increased by $30,000,000)''.

Offered By: Mrs. Capito

Amendment No. 117: Page 2, line 16, after the dollar amount

insert ``(reduced by $50,000,000)''.

Page 11, line 24, after the dollar amount insert

``(increased by $50,000,000)''.

Offered By: Mrs. Capito

Amendment No. 4: Page 30, line 8, after ``appropriation'',

insert ``: Provided further, That $10,000,000 of such funds

may not be obligated or expended until the Secretary of

Veterans Affairs submits to the House of Representatives an

executable plan, to be implemented not later than January 1,

2010, for maintaining medical records that are interoperable

between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department

of Defense''.

Offered By: Mrs. Capito

Amendment No. 5: Page 44, after line 22, insert the

following new section:

Mr. Speaker, on March 21 of this year, a West Virginia leader in work site safety, J.F. Allen Company, marked a milestone of 1 million safe hours of work. I rise today to honor the company and join its employees in celebrating this outstanding accomplishment.

Established as a small family business, J.F. Allen Company has grown into one of the largest heavy highway construction firms in our State. The company's contributions can be seen in all corners of my district, including Stonewall Jackson Dam and Interstates 79 and 81.

J.F. Allen's contributions to the State are critical to our infrastructure development and maintenance. However, it is their commitment to employee safety that is the most important contribution to West Virginia. Thanks in large part to an award-winning safety program, employees are safe at work, logging 1 million safe hours since 1994.

Mr. Speaker, small businesses are the heart of our economy, especially in rural States like West Virginia. J.F. Allen Company's record of worker safety and commercial achievement is a model for all companies and represents the very best of West Virginia's workers and businesses.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank my colleague from Michigan for his leadership on the Page Board and for his deep compassion for what the Page Program has done for the youth of America historically and for this particular group today.

As he said, we're not here to say goodbye; we're here to say farewell and Godspeed and good luck.

As any ending is, the ending of this year is a new beginning for you all to return to your homes, your families and have a good summer at the same time.

I'm very proud of the 70 pages, 33 girls, 37 boys, that represent 26 States and one territory, and I would like to congratulate you on the completion of your Page Program.

I asked several pages throughout the day, have you enjoyed your time here? How has it been? And one said to me very poignantly, he said, I have enjoyed every single day. And I think that is shared across the board by the 70 bright smiling faces I see at the back of the Chamber today.

It certainly has been a historic year for this Congress under the stewardship of the first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives. So, for all the female pages, it has been a source of great pride for all of us. So I thank you for your leadership.

I think it's important to note that not only will we be seeing you again, we'll be seeing you in different iterations of your life, as many former pages are now Members of Congress, Senators, corporate leaders, Governors and future leaders of our States and our Nation.

So I say, thank you, from the Cloak Room on the Republican side. Ms. Pat and Ms. Doris say thank you very much for all of the help you gave to them in helping us, and on the other side, I'm sure that's true.

So I say, good luck, make sure you don't forget us, and I won't forget the most I think vibrant day in the House of Representatives, which is the day that the President comes to give his State of the Union address, and the first thing I notice is the excitement of the pages, getting to see that for the first time, lined in the back, hoping to catch a glimpse or a handshake or a pat on the back from their President.

So good luck to all of you and thank you very much, and I thank the gentleman from Michigan for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine as a leader in the study and practice of rural medicine.

The need for primary care physicians in rural areas is of great importance to our Nation's overall health care delivery system. These providers are often on the front lines of health care delivery and provide much needed care to our sick and elderly populations.

Since its first graduating class in 1978, the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine has countered this need by producing gifted physicians prepared to practice rural medicine.

In fact, nearly half of the school's graduates go on to serve in rural communities that are in desperate need of their care. Often understaffed and covering large geographic areas, these communities require accommodating physicians with a range of services.

Madam Speaker, as today's medical profession is glamorized in the public consciousness by popular television dramas it is the graduates of West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine who go on to serve in rural communities that deserve to be celebrated. I thank the school's students, faculty and staff for their service and wish them continued success in the future.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the passing of a great patriot, public citizen, and revered member of his community, Mr. Robert M. Steptoe.

Born in Clarksburg, West Virginia on May 15, 1920, Mr. Steptoe grew up in north central West Virginia and thereafter attended Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. He continued his studies at Haverford College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Shepherd College in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

At the outbreak of World War II, Mr. Steptoe served in the United States Navy as the commanding officer of two ships in the sub-chaser class. Mr. Steptoe was involved in the invasions of Sicily, Anzio, southern France, and a brief stint in the Southern Pacific. He retired from the United States Navy with the rank of lieutenant commander.

Following his service during World War II, Mr. Steptoe graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in February 1949 and began a career in law that spanned over 50 years of distinguished legal practice in Martinsburg, West Virginia. A member of the West Virginia State Bar, the West Virginia Bar Association, the Berkeley County Bar Association, and the United States Judicial Conference for the Fourth Circuit; Mr. Steptoe was awarded the Award of Merit by the West Virginia Bar Association in 2003 in recognition of his years of service.

Mr. Steptoe was also an active public servant who was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates for four terms and the West Virginia Senate for two terms. He also served as a judge of the West Virginia Court of Claims.

In addition to his professional activities, Mr. Steptoe was an active member of the Rotary, Trinity Episcopal Church, and a member of the Elks Club. Above all, Mr. Steptoe was a proud and dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Mr. Steptoe's life and accomplishments are truly representative of the courage, character and altruism that is often associated with members of our ``Greatest Generation.'' West Virginia was well served by this great American and he will be sorely missed by those who knew him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the importance of preventive care in the Medicare program.

As we all know, the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 made many important and much-needed changes to the Medicare program. The creation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit was a critically important modernization of the program and has been especially successful in my home State of West Virginia, with 287,000 beneficiaries.

But the prescription drug benefit is just one component of the overall changes in Medicare. If we can encourage more seniors to actually use the preventive benefits, we can help them prevent more costly procedures and longer stays in the hospital.

That is why the ``Welcome to Medicare'' screening is so vitally important. Many of the elements that seniors face today can be effectively managed with prescription medicine and regular visits to their physicians. However, disease management is only effective if we catch the disease early.

I would like to encourage my colleagues to educate their constituents about these important modernizations to the Medicare program so we can all better serve our senior citizens.

Madam Speaker, today, I have the distinct privilege to recognize a man of remarkable vision and unyielding commitment to the community of Hurricane, WV.

Mr. Peak is a native of Dakota, WV, where he began his career of public service in the school patrol. His family relocated to Putnam County in 1948.

In 1951, Mr. Peak was elected to his first public position in Hurricane as city recorder, which he held for 4 years. The job carne right after graduation from Morris Harvey College, now the University of Charleston.

In 1957, Mr. Peak ran for the office of mayor pledging to build a city Hall. He accomplished that promise in two construction phases with no long-term indebtedness to the citizens.

Mr. Peak served in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1973 to 1977. In his desire to see small towns and cities grow, he was instrumental in the organization of the West Virginia Municipal League and served as president and he was a charter board member of the Regional Intergovernmental Council, serving twice as Chairman.

Peak has been a mentor to young people in the Hurricane community for several generations, as a math and business teacher, band

instructor and girl's basketball coach at Hurricane High School. He was always available to read aloud in the elementary schools and to attend extracurricular events to recognize students.

Serving the community as mayor of Hurricane for 40 years, recently Mr. Peak has brought about a new $1.8 million municipal complex, a $10.6 million upgrade to the regional wastewater treatment facility, and water improvements to a system that has received the 2006 Drinking Silver Award.

Perhaps Mr. Peak's greatest accomplishment is his bond he unwaveringly nourishes with his family. Mayor Peak and his wife, Gloria, are enjoying a marriage of 52 years. They are blessed with three children, five grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

Through the leadership of Mayor F. Raymond Peak, the city of Hurricane has experienced growth and prosperity. His good works have been enjoyed by generations past and will continue to benefit generations to corne.

Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me and the community in expressing our thanks and to honor Mr. Peak's accomplishments and commitment to public service. His commendable service serves as an attribute which we should all strive to emulate as we attempt to make the world a better place. As he leaves the mayor's office, we extend our best wishes for joy and happiness in the months and years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1615, Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2007.

The bill amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft or at the flight of an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.

In the last 15 years, the FAA reports over 500 incidents where people have aimed lasers into airplane cockpits. FAA research has shown that laser illuminations can temporarily disorient or disable a pilot during critical stages of a flight such as landing or take-off, and in some cases, may cause permanent damage.

This type of interference cannot be tolerated. This is a good, commonsense measure aimed at deterring and prosecuting those who commit a senseless act of potential sabotage.

I congratulate Congressman Keller, the sponsor of this legislation, for his leadership and dedication to this issue. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize the achievements of Clyde R. Westfall, husband, father, and devoted citizen of Braxton County, West Virginia, who passed away on April 13, 2007.

Mr. Westfall had a passion for infrastructure improvements in his community. His perseverance to the Curry Ridge Water Project was instrumental in bringing many parties together to complete the goal of running, potable water in the homes and businesses of this community.

Mr. Westfall not only provided his valuable service to his fellow citizens, but as a foreman in the coal industry. His character brought credibility to his works. He was steadfast in his desire for the betterment of his community. His diligent work, particularly to the Curry Ridge Water Project, will be beneficial to many citizens and industry for years to come.

Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in honoring the life of Clyde Westfall, whose dedication and service is truly admirable. He will be sadly missed by many.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the historic Robey Theater, one of the longest continuously operating motion picture theaters in the United States. Since its establishment in 1907 as the Dreamland Theater, it has been central to the lives of the citizens of Spencer, WV. The theatre actually changed locations 4 times across Main Street during its first decade.

When it first opened, the Robey family had to run movies as many as 6 times a night to meet demand. The facility mixed live theater with silent pictures by putting scenery around the screen.

Even remodeling couldn't keep the theater from entertaining locals. Upon refurbishment in 1926, Mr. Robey moved the screen to a local school field and created a `tentorium.' The movie star Little Jackie ``Hoo'' Ray performed at this event. Later that year, the theater hosted Congressman Harry Woodyard to celebrate its grand reopening.

Robey Theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. Despite numerous technological updates and the addition of new releases to the theaters' showings, the theatre remains a small intimate setting to watch a movie, just as it was 100 years ago.

I join with the residents of Spencer and Roane County to recognize the Robey Theater for its 100 years of service.

Madam Chairman, I would like to thank the chairman and ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee for their hard work on this important legislation that will help provide our military with the resources they need to successfully execute their mission.

I have a very simple amendment today expressing the sense of Congress that the Arlington National Cemetery shall provide a site for a memorial marker to honor the lives of United States Armed Forces members who died in an air crash at Bakers Creek, Australia, on June 14, 1943. The amendment provides that the Secretary of the Army shall have the exclusive authority over the design of the memorial and the selection of the site.

This little-known tragedy occurred during World War II, a conflict that was fought and won by what has been called America's Greatest Generation. Unfortunately, the men who died in the Bakers Creek crash were never recognized as belonging to that group of great American heroes. During their service in the South Pacific, they were on a routine flight from Australia, returning from a week's leave for R&R. The plane crashed in Bakers Creek, Australia. Unfortunately, due to orders to keep the Allied presence in Australia a secret, the crash was kept a secret by the military.

Thankfully, many of the families, some of whom live in my district, now know the true story of how their relatives died. My amendment would merely recognize their sacrifice by honoring their service with a memorial marker at Arlington National Cemetery.

I yield to the gentleman from California.