Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. I will be very brief and not take 2 minutes, but I want to bring to the attention, particularly of the Members on my side, I will be voting for the previous question. This is a procedure we have followed in the past. It is an honest, in-the-daylight procedure.

The gentleman from Utah (Mr. Matheson) raises his point. He has raised it in the past. I would urge Members to vote for the previous question.

Then I think on our side we are very concerned about the rule itself, and many of us will not be supporting the rule, but I would urge my Members on this side to vote for the previous question.

Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for yielding to me, and I want to say that I agree with the gentleman's comments with respect to the Richmond courthouse.

I might add, however, and I think the chairman hopefully shares this view, that the Los Angeles courthouse and others are on the priority list. As the gentleman knows, this committee has followed not a political agenda with respect to the funding of courthouses, but the court's determination of the most-needed facilities, of which Richmond, as the gentleman pointed out, comes very high.

I would hope the gentleman would join in urging the administration and urging the Congress to again start funding courthouses. If we do not, we are going to see the administration of justice put at risk in many of the highest demand areas in the country. So I appreciate the gentleman's comments about Richmond, but it applies as well to many other jurisdictions.

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Chairman of the subcommittee and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Olver), first of all let me congratulate the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Olver) on his taking the responsibilities of ranking member. He is doing an outstanding job in that capacity.

Mr. Chairman, I want to make a few general comments. I will have some possible amendments, which may be withdrawn, some of which may be pressed. But I want to thank the committee and I want to thank the chairman for pursuing what the Republican majority budget provided for with respect to pay parity. I think that was appropriate and consistent with our past policies. We have a lot of folks who are on the front lines who we will recognize.

However, I want to raise some concerns. As the chairman knows, the Reagan administration, the Bush administration, the Clinton administration, and now the present Bush administration, as I understand it, is for the project, although has not funded it. We have been pursuing the creation of a campus for the Food and Drug Administration which, of course, now has even more challenges dealing with the integrity of the food and drug supply in light of terrorist threats. But we have been trying to construct this campus, which will save the Federal Government money.

The reason it will save the Federal Government money is now the FDA is located around the Washington metropolitan area in 19 different leased facilities, and, of course, they are for the most part very old facilities and they are expensive facilities. GSA tells us it would be cheaper to build at the site that has been agreed to, not in my district, but in the State of Maryland. We have done some of those. There is currently in the plan a project for $48 million. I have reason to believe the Senate might include that.

Mr. Chairman, I am very hopeful that we will be able to include that in the conference report. I am not going to offer an amendment on that in the committee, but I really do believe that it is a very cost- conscious effort to continue this project to completion, because, as I say, it is not a partisan difference. As a matter of fact, the proposal was made, as the gentleman knows, by the Reagan administration and a Republican director of the FDA. But it is one that I think is very important.

In addition, I am concerned, Mr. Chairman, that we have not included in this legislation not only some of the money that has been talked about in terms of Amtrak and transportation, but in particular the election reform legislation that we passed. It was one of the few pieces of legislation that we passed in an overwhelmingly bipartisan fashion. The Speaker was very proud of that. On our side of the aisle we were proud of it. The President in signing the bill indicated it was a bipartisan success.

We pledged to fund that effort, and we imposed deadlines on the States to accomplish certain things that were required to ensure access and accuracy of voting in elections. The deadline for the accomplishment of those objectives is 2006.

The gentleman from Florida (Chairman Young) has been extraordinarily helpful and was a critical player in our initial funding. As the chairman knows, the bill would authorize $1.5 billion additional. We are $1 billion behind. There is $500 million in this bill. I appreciate the chairman's including that. I know he has been supportive of this effort.

But I will be working with the administration again. There is going to be an amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings). I will speak on that. I am not sure that the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) will press that. The problem, of course, is where you take money from to get money for this objective. I think the chairman has a very real problem in that regard.

I am pressing the administration, and I have talked to the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Young) about this, to seek emergency funds from the administration so that this project can be accomplished by the 2006 deadline. I would hope we could work on that.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, the effect of this amendment will be to transfer $8.2 million from the construction fund for the transportation building which we have cleared cannot be spent this year in 2004. It will be spent in 2006, and we did not want to damage that building because we are very strong supporters of that building, and put $8.26 million for the general aviation airports into the Washington metropolitan area. I would like to speak about it and then have a little discussion with the chairman and then perhaps take some action and we can work on this later.

In the aftermath, Mr. Chairman, of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary flight restrictions on the small aircraft of general aviation as part of its efforts to make commercial air travel safer. Unfortunately, while those restrictions were lifted for general aviation in the entire rest of the country, small airports in the Washington metropolitan area have continued to languish under binding restrictions of their operations.

These are private sector. This is not public. These are private sector entrepreneurs, businessmen and -women who have invested their dollars in the operations of these general aviation airports. In fact, the only airports in the country that are closed or severely restricted to incoming and outgoing general aviation are Reagan National Airport and the three D.C. general aviation airports.

I might say that I offer this amendment on behalf of the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) and others and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) is here. He can speak for himself. As a result, these small airports, specifically College Park Airport, Potomac Airfield, Washington Executive, and National, National is not on the brink of financial collapse, obviously, because it is associated with a large public airport. The other three airports, however, are not in that situation. They survive or fail solely on the revenues from their general aviation, and they are in dire straits. These airports have been forced to nearly cease their operations, effectively endangering the livelihood of their employees who have lost income and jobs and airport owners who have lost longtime customers and almost all of their revenue.

There is no doubt that we must stem the tide of economic decline for general aviation. This industry is a proven integral part of the Nation's economy, providing vital service and economic stability to individual families, churches, hospitals, colleges, industry, small businesses and communities.

Aviation transportation in Maryland is a $1.3 billion industry. My amendment is, therefore, very simple. It will reimburse these general aviation airports for the security costs incurred and revenue foregone because of government restriction.

Let me say, I have had discussions with Sean O'Keefe, who is now the administrator of NASA, but who was the deputy administrator of OMB. He believes this is fair. Secretary Mineta testified before our subcommittee that this was their proposal that this be done, and there is legislation pending to accomplish that, but obviously it needs an appropriation.

Mr. Chairman, I want to yield to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) who represents the District of Columbia and National Airport.

I yield to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for her work and her cosponsorship of this amendment and her comments.

I yield to the gentleman from Virginia.

I yield to the gentleman from Oklahoma.

Mr. Chairman, I continue to yield to the chairman of the subcommittee

Reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman for his comments and would remind my colleagues that we have given billions of dollars to the airlines, these are billion dollar corporations, as a result of 9-11. These three little airports, plus National Airport, are the only private business people so situated in the airline industry who have not received compensation. And they, unlike the airlines per se, are losing their entire investments because of their inability to operate these airlines.

I appreciate the chairman's observations with respect to the equities of the claim here. I also appreciate the observation of the chairman and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia that we may be subject to a lawsuit which we would lose because this is in fact an effective taking of their property without due process. None of these folks want to damage the security of this region or the White House or the Capitol. They understand our concern. But we certainly need to compensate them.

In light of the fact the chairman has indicated his willingness to work with us to try to ensure the funding, I believe $8.2 million which we have in here is the approximate amount for National, a larger sum, and then a much smaller sum for the other three; and I believe that the sum from which we have taken it will not in any way adversely affect the Transportation Department's building going forward because of the scheduling of those expenditures; but because the chairman has made that representation, I will withdraw the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment at this time.

Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Chairman, I just want to thank the gentleman for his leadership in this effort as well. He and I have worked very closely on this issue and he has been very focused on National and the other three airports.

It is certainly ironic that we are making efforts, I think appropriate efforts, to fund infrastructure in Iraq; but we cannot compensate business people who were damaged by 9-11 and who are almost driven out of business at a very, as the chairman said, at a relatively nominal sum. So I hope with the chairman's leadership we will be able to do this in conference.

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

Mr. Chairman, I remain concerned that the proposed funding for the EITC compliance activities will create an undue burden on our most vulnerable citizens. The bill includes $100 billion to make it more difficult for hardworking families with low incomes to apply for the credit. That does not sound to me like the opportunity of society which the majority party talks so long and often about.

If we must spend that much on EITC compliance, and all of us want to ensure that there is not fraud in the system, we agree on that. However, it would be better spent on hiring more customer service and assistant personnel to make sure that those who President Reagan thought ought to be helped were helped in a positive way by giving them a tax credit as opposed to a handout.

Statistics illustrate that the focus on low-income filers rather than higher-income filers may be unwarranted. Audit rates are not consistent for different income levels. On 4-27 the New York Times said 1 of every 175 individual tax returns was audited in 2002; 1 of every 64 EITC claimants was audited; but 1 of every 120 taxpayers with annual incomes over $100,000 was audited. In other words, we are doing one sixty- fourth in terms of poorer people, and we are doing half of that for wealthier people.

One in about every 400 partnerships were audited. Under the EITC precertification proposal, which is essentially a preaudit, between 1 out of every 4 to 8 EITC claimants would be audited.

That is a big expenditure for very small returns. Approximately 70 percent of all EITC claimants receive tax return assistance from commercial tax preparers. Among taxpayers with incomes above $100,000, the chance of being audited fell 26 percent last year to an all-time low, yet this group is most likely to have income that is easiest to hide.

The overwhelming majority of Americans, whether rich or poor, cooperate and are honest in filing their taxes; but clearly the people with the most income have the most incentive not to disclose income because they have the much greater savings, and in fact they have ways and means to hide it better.

Since 1996, the number of revenue agents has dropped by 14,949 to 11,752 in 2002. The number of collection revenue officers has dropped from 5,537 in 1996 to approximately 3,500 today.

What is the point of all this? The point is if we are going to put resources in, as the chairman has suggested, and I might say the chairman has had a focus on EITC since becoming the chairman, but it is ironic in my opinion that a party that talked about opportunity for hardworking Americans is being so hard on those hard- working Americans.

If there is fraud, we need to ferret it out; but we need to ferret it out whether you are making $10,000 or $100,000 or $1 million. And we ought to do it fairly, across the board, and not target the least among us.

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and I thank her for her amendment. I believe the amendment is not at all harmful to the objective of putting in place an election system that works for every American and is accurate and accessible and trustworthy. Her suggestion that the money not lapse, that it moves forward, I think is an excellent suggestion. I strongly support her amendment and thank her for her work in this effort.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his leadership on this important issue. I just came in a little bit late, but I heard his comments. Eighty-four days since the President of the United States, through his press secretary, said we ought to pass this legislation, 84 days that we have been fiddling while, figuratively speaking, those who would be entitled to this child tax credit, 6\1/2\ million families, 12 million children, have been burned while we fiddle around here in Washington. The majority is proud of the fact that it can move legislation when it wants to. They have demonstrated that ability. There is therefore no doubt, that the words of the President's press secretary 84 days ago saying that we ought to take care of these families, we ought to take care of these children, we ought to give this tax credit to those families who are the neediest families in America. This is not unique.

The gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cooper) brought an amendment to the floor dealing with the earned income tax credit, some of the lowest wage earners in America. And guess what? We are going to get them. That is what happened in the ITC amendment. Now, here with the child tax credit in the dead of night, the conferees, indeed the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, to be more specific, removed this provision from the conference report included by the Senate, which, Mr. Speaker, then resulted in the President's press secretary saying the President wants us to pass this legislation just as soon as possible. That was 11 or 12 weeks ago.

Mr. Speaker, it is unconscionable that we have not acted because in the interim we have talked about giving very large tax breaks to wealthy corporations and wealthy individuals.

Mr. Speaker, I am hopeful that this instruction will pass, but much more importantly than that, I am hopeful, as the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cooper) has indicated, that the conference will meet, the conference will act.

I talked about 200,000 military families that are affected by this failure of the Republican majority to act. But let me say the military is being disadvantaged on many tax measures whether it deals with their $6,000 that they get for a death benefit, $3,000 of which is now taxable which we all want to exempt, 100 percent of us want to exempt that. It lies languishing, it lies languishing, I tell my friend from Pennsylvania, for failure of the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Finance to act. Moving costs for our military personnel, our National Guard, our Reserves when we have asked them to move, when they have to sell their home, moving expenses, capital gains consequences, it languishes, I tell my friend from Pennsylvania, distinguished member of the Committee on Ways and Means. It languishes because the majority has failed to act. How sad it is that 12 million children did not get the assistance that others got just so recently.

I thank the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cooper) for his leadership in this effort. I thank him for yielding me this time. And I am hopeful that the House and the majority will finally act to give the relief that the President of the United States was so adamantly urging us to pass 84 days ago.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Calvert County Board of Commissioners. The Calvert County Board of Commissioners received a 2003 Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network Grant to makeover exhibits at a Gateways Network regional information center.

The Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network, which includes more than 120 museums, state parks, wildlife refugees and other sites in five States and the District of Columbia, was created to enhance the experience of visitors to the Chesapeake Bay and its many roads, rivers and trails. Authorized by the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998, the Gateways Network is coordinated by the National Park Service in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Program.

During the past four years, Gateways Network Grants have funded new maps, improved signs, and expanded trails that have made visits to parks, wildlife refuges and water trails even more exciting and enjoyable than they had previously been. These grants help enhance the public's ability to learn and enjoy the Chesapeake's stories and significance, explore its natural and cultural resources, and become involved in helping conserve and restore the Bay and its watershed. Through these projects and other Gateways Network efforts more and more people recognize the Chesapeake as a true national treasure.

In 2003, the National Park Service is awarding $1,387,309 in grant funding, matched by over $2 million in partner contributions. Thirty- two grants are being made to Gateways throughout the Bay watershed in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The Calvert County Board of Commissioners is receiving a grant of $24,520 and $32,289 in partner contributions.

The project proposed by the Calvert County Board of Commissioners will bring about a complete makeover of exhibits at the Solomons Island Visitor Center, a Gateways Network regional information center. Calvert County will design, produce and install a series of interpretive displays on both the inside and outside of the building. Presently the building presents basic information on visitor sites in Southern Maryland. The new elements will enable the center to orient people to particular Gateway sites in the region and introduce visitors to Bay themes and resources in Southern Maryland. Calvert County will contribute labor and funding to match the Gateways grant.

Mr. Speaker, it is with the assistance and vision of organizations such as the Calvert County Board of Commissioners that the Chesapeake Bay and the entire region has become the treasure that we know it to be today. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating the Calvert County Board of Commissioners on receiving this grant and wishing them the best of luck in completing their project.

Mr. Speaker I rise today to recognize Point Lookout State Park and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Point Lookout State Park received a 2003 Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network Grant for a project designed to enhance key sites and resources at the park. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will match the grant.

The Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network, which includes more than 120 museums, State parks, wildlife refuges and other sites in five States and the District of Columbia, was created to enhance the experience of visitors to the Chesapeake Bay and its many roads, rivers and trails. Authorized by the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998, the Gateways Network is coordinated by the National Park Service in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Program.

During the past four years, Gateways Network Grants have funded new maps, improved signs, and expanded trails that have made visits to parks, wildlife refuges and water trails even more exciting and enjoyable than they had previously been. These grants help enhance the public's ability to learn and enjoy the Chesapeake's stories and significance, explore its natural and cultural resources, and become involved in helping conserve and restore the Bay and its watershed. Through these projects and other Gateways Network efforts more and more people recognize the Chesapeake as a true national treasure.

In 2003, the National Park Service is awarding $1,387,309 in grant funding, matched by over $2 million in partner contributions. Thirty- two grants are being made to Gateways throughout the Bay watershed in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Point Lookout State Park is receiving a grant of $39,320 and $39,415 in partner contributions.

The project proposed by Point Lookout State Park and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources will develop a series of up to 14 outdoor interpretive exhibits, or waysides, highlighting key sites and resources at the park. A number of exhibits will focus on Civil War era stories showing how the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River played important roles in the war. Additional exhibits will

highlight the Point Lookout lighthouse and the lives of lighthouse keepers. With nearly a half million visitors annually, Point Lookout provides a real Bay experience for many people. The new exhibits will greatly expand interpretive information for visitors and share more of the Bay story.

Mr. Speaker, it is with the assistance and vision of organizations such as Point Lookout State Park and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources that the Chesapeake Bay and the entire region has become the treasure that we know it to be today. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Point Lookout State Park and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources on receiving this grant and wishing them the best of luck in completing their project.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Friends of the Patuxent Research Refuge. Friends of the Patuxent Research Refuge received a 2003 Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network Grant to construct a pilot demonstration Schoolyard Habitat site at Patuxent Research Refuge's National Wildlife Visitor Center.

The Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network, which includes more than 120 museums, state parks, wildlife refuges and other sites in five States and the District of Columbia, was created to enhance the experience of visitors to the Chesapeake Bay and its many roads, rivers and trails. Authorized by the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998, the Gateways Network is coordinated by the National Park Service in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Program.

During the past four years, Gateways Network Grants have funded new maps, improved signs, and expanded trails that have made visits to parks, wildlife refuges and water trails even more exciting and enjoyable than they had previously been. These grants help enhance the public's ability to learn and enjoy the Chesapeake's stories and significance, explore its natural and cultural resources, and become involved in helping conserve and restore the Bay and its watershed. Through these projects and other Gateways Network efforts more and more people recognize the Chesapeake as a true national treasure.

In 2003, the National Park Service is awarding $1,387,309 in grant funding, matched by over $2 million in partner contributions. Thirty- two grants are being made to Gateways throughout the Bay watershed in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The Friends of the Patuxent Research Refuge is receiving a grant of $14,457 and $14,795 in partner contributions.

The project proposed by the Friends of the Patuxent Research Refuge will serve the dual purpose of improving the habitat quality surrounding the National Wildlife Visitor Center and educating the community on BayScaping techniques and Schoolyard Habitats. Volunteers and visitors will help create the project, involving themselves in a direct habitat restoration effort that can stimulate further involvement later. Watershed signs, a walking path, an outdoor classroom, and an indoor kiosk will be used to interpret the habitat site and how it and similar efforts contribute to the Chesapeake Bay's health.

Mr. Speaker, it is with the assistance and vision of organizations such as the Friends of the Patuxent Research Refuge that the Chesapeake Bay and the entire region has become the treasure that we know it to be today. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating the Friends of the Patuxent Research Refuge on receiving this grant and wishing them the best of luck in completing their project.

Mr. Speaker I rise today to recognize the Potomac Trail Council. The Potomac Trail Council received a 2003 Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network Grant for a project designed to improve access and interpretation along a one mile section of trail in Piscataway Park and Fort Washington Park in Accokeek, Maryland.

The Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network, which includes more than 120 museums, state parks, wildlife refuges and other sites in five states and the District of Columbia, was created to enhance the experience of visitors to the Chesapeake Bay and its many roads, rivers and trails. Authorized by the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998, the Gateways Network is coordinated by the National Park Service in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Program.

During the past four years, Gateways Network Grants have funded new maps, improved signs, and expanded trails that have made visits to parks, wildlife refuges and water trails even more exciting and enjoyable than they had previously been. These grants help enhance the public's ability to learn and enjoy the Chesapeake's stories and significance, explore its natural and cultural resources, and become involved in helping conserve and restore the Bay and its watershed, Through these projects and other Gateways Network efforts more and more people recognize the Chesapeake as a true national treasure.

In 2003, the National Park Service is awarding $1,387,309 in grant funding, matched by over $2 million in partner contributions. Thirty- two grants are being made to Gateways throughout the Bay watershed in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The Potomac Trail Council is receiving a grant of $40,500 and $45,300 in partner contributions.

The project proposed by the Potomac Trail Council will make significant improvements to access and interpretation along a one mile section of trail in Piscataway Park. The route, which parallels Piscataway Creek (a tributary of the Potomac River) will be improved through several measures to control erosion and puddling, including the addition of permeable surface materials, french drains, and culverts. Six interpretive waysides and other signs will also be developed to provide trail users with key information and interpret features along the route. The Potomac Trail Council will coordinate work on the project in collaboration with park staff.

Mr. Speaker, it is with the assistance and vision of organizations such as the Potomac Trail Council that the Chesapeake Bay and the entire region has become the treasure that we know it to be today. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating the Potomac Trail Council on receiving this grant and wishing them the best of luck in completing their project.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Battle Creek Nature Education Society. The Battle Creek Nature Education Society received a 2003 Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network Grant for a project designed to enhance the Flag Ponds Nature Park and King's Landing Park in Calvert County, Maryland.

The Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network, which includes more than 120 museums, state parks, wildlife refugees and other sites in five states and the District of Columbia, was created to enhance the experience of visitors to the Chesapeake Bay and its many roads, rivers and trails. Authorized by the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998, the Gateway Network is coordinated by the National Park Service in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Program.

During the past four years, Gateways Network Grants have funded new maps, improved signs, and expanded trails that have made visits to parks, wildlife refuges and water trails even more exciting and enjoyable than they had previously been. These grants help enhance the public's ability to learn and enjoy the Chesapeake's stories and significance, explore its natural and cultural resources, and become involved in helping conserve and restore the Bay and its watershed. Through these projects and other Gateways Network efforts more and more people recognize the Chesapeake as a true national treasure.

In 2003, the National Park Service is awarding $1,387,309 in grant funding, matched by over $2 million in partner contributions. Thirty- two grants are being made to Gateways throughout the Bay watershed in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Battle Creek Nature Education Society is receiving a grant of $32,050 and $62,762 in partner contributions.

The project proposed by the Battle Creek Nature Education Society will create an overall plan for guiding interpretation at Flag Ponds Nature Park and King's Landing Park, as well as an extensive series of outdoor exhibits at each park. Up to twenty way-side panels will be developed to help visitors enjoy and learn about these two sites and their relationship to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. A short sampling of anticipated stories to be told includes: the geology behind the ever- changing sand bars that shape habitats at Flag Ponds; early 20th century uses of the area; and the importance of the swamps and freshwater pond habitats that have been naturally formed over hundreds of years.

Mr. Speaker, it is with the assistance and vision of organizations such as the Battle Creek Nature Education Society that the Chesapeake Bay and the entire region has become the treasure that we know it to be today. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating the Battle Creek Nature Education Society on receiving this grant and wishing them the best of luck in completing their project.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Sotterley Foundation. The Sotterley Foundation received a 2003 Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network Grant to enhance exhibits at the historic Sotterley Plantation.

The Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network, which includes more than 120 museums, state parks, wildlife refugees and other sites in five states and the District of Columbia, was created to enhance the experience of visitors to the Chesapeake Bay and its many roads, rivers and trails. Authorized by the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998, the Gateways Network is coordinated by the National Park Service in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Program.

During the past four years, Gateways Network Grants have funded new maps, improved signs, and expanded trails that have made visits to parks, wildlife refuges and water trails even more exciting and enjoyable than they had previously been. These grants help enhance the public's ability to learn and enjoy the Chesapeake's stories and significance, explore its natural and cultural resources, and become involved in helping conserve and restore the Bay and its watershed. Through these projects and other Gateways Network efforts more and more people recognize the Chesapeake as a true national treasure.

In 2003, the National Park Service is awarding $1,387,309 in grant funding, matched by over $2 million in partner contributions. Thirty- two grants are being made to Gateways throughout the Bay watershed in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The Sotterley Foundation is receiving a grant of $28,000 and $28,000 in partner contributions.

The project proposed by the Sotterley Foundation will restore, display and interpret a Chesapeake Bay log canoe discovered in nearby Sotterley Creek. Visitors exploring this historic plantation along the Patuxent River will have the opportunity to examine and learn about a workboat that once plied the waters off the site. The log canoe will be protected under a shelter, and interpreted through several exhibit panels.

Mr. Speaker, it is with the assistance and vision of organizations such as the Sotterley Foundation that the Chesapeake Bay and the entire region has become the treasure that we know it to be today. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating the Sotterley Foundation on receiving this grant and wishing them the best of luck in completing their project.

Offered By: Mr. Hoyer of Maryland

Amendment No. 10: Page 2, line 8, after the first dollar

amount insert the following: ``(increased by $8,268,000)''.

Page 5, line 21, after the dollar amount insert the

following: ``(reduced by $8,268,000)''.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize two faculty members of the College of Southern Maryland who have been honored by the Association of Community College Trustees. Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Elaine Ryan, is the recipient of the 2003 Chief Executive Officer Award and Professor Bill Morton is the recipient of the 2003 Faculty Member Award.

Mr. Speaker, the ACCT awards program is very competitive at a national level. This program annually recognizes the contributions made by trustees, chief executives and faculty members. The association is a non-profit educational organization of governing boards, representing more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees.

Being selected the recipient of the 2003 Chief Executive Officer award is a great honor and privilege. Dr. Ryan has devoted over thirty years to the College of Southern Maryland and in 1998, was appointed the college's third president. She is the first female to hold such responsibility at this college. Under her leadership, the community college has become a regional institution serving three counties with four campuses. According to the 2003 Maryland Higher Education Commission Report on Retention, Transfer and Graduation Rates, the College of Southern Maryland ranked first in the State for the highest four-year graduation and transfer rates among Maryland community colleges for its first-time, full-time entering freshman class of 1998. This is a significant achievement for the college. Dr. Ryan, as CEO, no doubt has had a very active part in making the college as successful as it is today. She is admired and respected for her administrative ability, intellect, and love of her community. She is very active in her community serving on the Governor's Information Technology Board, the Southern Maryland Workforce Investment Board, the Charles County's Vision in Teamwork and Leadership organization and the Board of Directors for the Maryland Mentoring Partnerships, as well as many other community organizations. She is a role model for many young people in the community and has been nationally recognized for her efforts in education.

No college can be successful without the intelligent and caring men and women who strive everyday to make a difference in the lives of today's youth. Having professors who love to teach students is what makes a college the best that it can be. Professor Bill Morton has been recognized by the ACCT for his innovative instruction in accounting, economics and management. He is a pioneer in his field, utilizing distance learning through broadcast and video-based telecourses, interactive television, online courses, and cooperative education. He has devoted thirteen years to educating youth at the College of Southern Maryland. He believes that the only way to teach students is to reach students. Morton integrates his own life lessons into his teachings by drawing on his fifteen years of military and private sector experience. In 2000, the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (Region 2) awarded Morton the Teaching Excellence Award. For the past two years, the faculty at CSM selected the professor to receive the Faculty Excellence Award. Morton's expertise in his subject, positive attitude toward his students, and passion for teaching draw admiration from his peers and pupils alike.

On this day, I would like to recognize these individuals for their achievements in the field of education. Teaching is one of the most important professions in our Nation today and it is important to recognize those outstanding teachers for educating our Nation's youth and inspiring them to succeed in life. Dr. Elaine Ryan and Professor Bill Morton have worked hard to achieve this outstanding award presented by the ACCT. Their dedicated service to the College of Southern Maryland, to their profession and to their community has benefited and enriched the lives of so many. Southern Maryland is fortunate to have such committed professionals and we all thank and congratulate them for a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Jack Witten, a man with a distinguished record of military and private sector service. Mr. Witten's career has spanned decades and encompassed a number of notable accomplishments in the field of aeronautical engineering. Mr. Witten has also had an accomplished personal life that I am sure his seven Eagle Scout grandchildren can attest to.

It was Charles Lindbergh's 1927 flight over the Atlantic Ocean that initially sparked Mr. Witten's interest in aviation. After that historic flight, Mr. Witten began spending much of his time observing local airport hangars and taking in Army air shows and national air races in his boyhood home of Illinois. He spent many a Saturday afternoon hitchhiking to the hangars and air shows with his cousin Tom.

In 1938, Mr. Witten quit his steeple-jacking job and joined the Navy Reserve. He was put on active duty at the Wright Reynolds Airport in Glenville, Illinois almost immediately. There, he and his fellow reservists maintained a fleet of 26 aircraft and trained a reserve squadron of 400 men. During the course of his service in the Navy Reserve, Mr. Witten instructed, developed, and reorganized training programs in aircraft maintenance and engineering for both pilots and ex-GI's.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Witten has also spent much of his career serving our area through his work for the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics at the Pax River Naval Air Station. Mr. Witten first came to Pax River in 1943, just six days after the air station was commissioned. He was able to realize his dream of both working and living on the Atlantic Coast when he and his family later moved to St. Mary's County. During his time at Pax River, Mr. Witten helped to establish aeronautical maintenance engineering as both a term and function.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Witten has had a number of other notable accomplishments throughout his distinguished career. He created the Aircraft Maintenance Officer category of military service, established the annual meeting of the Depot Aeronautical Engineering Superintendents, revised contract requirements for military hardware design changes, and conducted materials review of new aircraft designs. Mr. Witten also instituted the use of improved aircraft testing techniques and devices, such as the spectrographic analysis of engine oil to detect failing engines, now in worldwide use by

all militaries, and the use of high visibility paint to prevent collisions. Additionally, Mr. Witten made major revisions to the standard design specifications for naval aircraft to increase safety and reliability and to reduce maintenance man-hours.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Witten's lifetime of achievement and service deserves recognition. I know the members of the House will join me in thanking Mr. Witten for over 60 years of service to the military and to our local area. I rise now to congratulate him on this tremendous record of achievement.

Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Eve, I want to rise with my colleagues. I was here at 3 o'clock when David Dreier gave that short, but very heartfelt thanks to you. I did not join him at that point in time; I thought that at 3 a.m. you might want to go home. But I do want to rise at this point in time.

Mr. Speaker, the Members of the House, the House as an institution, and this country are all blessed by having some extraordinarily dedicated, extraordinarily able people serving this body. Other than our terrific reading clerks, few of them get on camera, at least in terms of being identified. But without them, this House would not run nearly as well as it does. And to the extent that it does not run well, it is not for any lack of ability or dedication on their part but because the Members sometimes get out of hand.

But the staff that serves this House of Representatives, the people's House, is an extraordinary one. Each time we lose one of them by retirement or for any other reason, we are a lesser place. We will be a lesser place for some period of time because one cannot replace the 20 years of experience that Eve takes with her. But she takes with her the thanks and gratitude of all of us who are Members of this body. Whether brought in by the majority or the minority, Democrats or Republicans, matters not to any of our desk personnel or our Parliamentarian or our timekeepers or whatever their particular designation. They serve us well and they serve this country well.

Eve, I wish you and Tom the very best. You are still a very young person and you will have many years to enjoy service to church, service to God, but I know that you will continue in many ways to serve your country. I know you will take with you the deep affection and respect for this institution that you have served so well. Godspeed.

Mr. Speaker, I know the Members of the House are concerned about the schedule that we have been on and the schedule we are going to be on. And in the interest of apprising Members of what they might expect for the balance of this evening and tomorrow, I yield to the distinguished majority leader, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay).

Reclaiming my time, if I might, Mr. Leader, it is my understanding that the first thing that will be considered tomorrow will be the Solis motion to instruct on the Child Tax Credit. We would have an hour of debate on that. Am I correct, sir?

I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.

I yield to the majority leader.

Reclaiming my time, my question did not include it, so you did not say it, but just to clarify it for Members, on the motions to instruct on the child tax, the vote will be tomorrow, as well, after debate, or at least shortly after the debate. It may not be immediately, but it will be tomorrow; am I correct?

I thank the leader and I thank the ranking member as well as the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations for helping us arrive at this schedule which will be defined, and Members can, I think, pretty well know when they are going to be voting on issues from here on in.