Floor Statements

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman of the full committee, Mr. Oberstar, for moving this legislation so expeditiously to the floor. H.R. 342 was introduced by our colleague, Representative Jo Ann Emerson of Missouri, and it designates the United States courthouse located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri as the Rush H. Limbaugh, Sr., United States Courthouse.

I also want to commend Mrs. Emerson's commitment to this legislation. She recognized Rush Limbaugh, Sr.'s tremendous record of public service and has provided a fitting tribute for one of the most remarkable figures in Missouri history.

This bill honors Rush Limbaugh, Sr., a remarkable lawyer whose awards and accomplishments over a legal career that spanned eight decades are too numerous to count.

Mr. Limbaugh was born in 1891. He attended school at a one-room schoolhouse and excelled academically from the start. He attended the University of Missouri at Columbia and the University of Missouri School of Law, paying his way through school by doing carpentry work, working on a farm, waiting tables and firing furnaces.

After passing the bar in 1916, he was admitted into the practice of law in Missouri and immediately opened a law office in Cape Girardeau.

Limbaugh was known for being extremely hardworking and ethical; he was also known for his fiery advocacy and ability to craft creative solutions.

President Reagan once remarked that Limbaugh, Sr.'s contributions read like a virtual who's who of accomplishment. His resume accurately depicts the image of an extraordinary man, superb lawyer and model citizen.

During his career, he tried more than 60 cases before the Supreme Court of Missouri and acted as city attorney and general counsel of Cape Girardeau. He was also a member of the advisory committee for the drafting of the Probate Code of Missouri, president of the Missouri Bar, and president of the State Historical Society. In his free time, he also taught Sunday school and served as a Boy Scout leader.

Limbaugh, Sr. rose to national prominence when he served as a representative of the United States on a 6-week lecture tour to the newly independent India on constitutional government and the United States judicial system.

Limbaugh, Sr. called Cape Girardeau home. It is only fitting that we name the new United States courthouse in his honor and recognize his accomplishments and dedication to his community.

Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation and encourage my colleagues to do the same.

I would indicate to my good friend, the chairman of the full committee, that I have no additional speakers. If he is prepared to yield back, I would yield back my time.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate, again, the chairman of our full committee, Mr. Oberstar, for not only being the author of this legislation, but for bringing it to the floor in such an expeditious manner.

H.R. 798, introduced by Chairman Oberstar, directs the administrator of GSA to install a photovoltaic system at the headquarters building for the Department of Energy and authorizes appropriations to carry out the project. I know, when the chairman speaks of his passion, of what he speaks; and I know he has been committed for over 30 years to adding a solar energy component to the DOE headquarters building.

The photovoltaic system authorized by this bill to be installed at the Department of Energy building was chosen through a competitive process. In 1999 the U.S. Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory, in cooperation with the American Institute of Architects and the Architectural Engineering Institute, sponsored a design competition to select the winning sun wall design for the south wall of the new headquarters for the Department of Energy. The winning design, called the Solarnet, was selected from 151 entries. The winning design, as the chairman has mentioned, is 300 feet long, 130 feet high and incorporates 24,750 square feet of power generating panels. The DOE building was designed and constructed to include a solar energy system on the south wall, which was never constructed. Currently, the south wall is just a big expanse of concrete. H.R. 798 will complete what was left unfinished.

This project was previously authorized in the 109th Congress. Similar language directing the administrator of GSA to install a photovoltaic system for the headquarters building was incorporated into the energy policy act of 2005.

Mr. Speaker, one of the first things you learn as a new Member of the Congress, and I believe the current occupant of the chair is a new Member of Congress, is that some of our colleagues know a little bit about a lot. Some know a lot about a little.

When you join the Transportation Committee, what you know about our chairman is he knows a lot about a lot. And it is not a surprise, nor is it ever a surprise when I go to a markup or a hearing and hear Chairman Oberstar talk about the history of steel or the history of transportation, or the transcontinental railroad. One of my favorites is always his focusing on 1956 and the opening of the Wellend Canal and what that meant to those of us in the Great Lakes.

But what I didn't know until I had the pleasure of chairing this subcommittee two or three Congresses ago was that he was such an expert on photovoltaic electricity. And one of the most pleasant hearings that I can recall having in that subcommittee was a hearing on this subject matter and listening to the gentleman from Minnesota expound on his 30- year quest.

And what I came away with from that hearing, and again being the beneficiary of his great knowledge, was the fact that if we had made the investment that the gentleman is talking about in this bill today 30 years ago, we would be talking about comparable rates of electricity generation. We wouldn't be talking about 25 cents a kilowatt hour. Perhaps we would be down in the 3 to 7 cent range, and the opportunity that has been wasted by not, in fact, making that investment back when the gentleman first came forward with Senator Humphrey to make this a reality.

And so I hope that this becomes the first of many pieces of legislation that the gentleman offers. And I will tell him that I will be supportive, not only of his present endeavor, but his future endeavors as well.

Again, I congratulate the gentleman for his 30-year pursuit of this goal, and I urge all of our colleagues to be supportive.

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

Mr. Speaker, before yielding to our next speaker, I just yield myself such time as I might consume. And I would just tell the chairman of the committee that I learned 12 years ago that if I was going to be in the same room with the gentleman, I had to do my homework, and so it was something that I knew I had to do.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman).

Mr. Speaker, if I could just yield myself a moment to close before yielding back my time.

When the chairman was talking about Arkansas, I too had the pleasure of being in Arkansas, I think, before Mr. Boozman was elected to the Congress, when one of the Hutchinsons was in that seat, and I had the pleasure of meeting John Paul Hammerschmidt, whom I know that the gentleman knows and was fond of working with for so many years. Just to show how we all come from different places, I noticed that all the wildlife in Arkansas was nervous when we were down there, particularly the raccoons. And another one of our colleagues, Marion Berry, was with us on that trip for the opening of a new airport, and he indicated that his largest fundraiser was a raccoon roast. And I had not experienced that until he I had gone down to the gentleman's district as well.

I urge passage of the bill, and I thank the gentleman very much.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1089) honoring the life of Milton Friedman.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

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

Widely acclaimed as the leader of Chicago's School of Economics, Milton Friedman's achievements in the fields of economic science and public policy were remarkable. He was the recipient of the 1976 Nobel Memorial Prize, the 1988 Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the 1988 National Medal of Science, just to name a few. In the early 1990s, Eastern European countries emerging from communism modeled their new free market economies after his teachings.

He was a champion of individual freedoms as well and wrote extensively on the subject throughout his career. Presidents such as Ronald Reagan called on Dr. Friedman for his expertise and advice, and universities in the United States, Japan, Guatemala, and Israel all awarded him with honorary degrees.

Dr. Friedman passed away on November 16 of this year. And for his leadership, achievements, and countless contributions both politically and economically, I hope all Members will join me today in honoring his life and legacy.

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

Mr. Speaker, at this time it is my pleasure to yield 4 minutes to the author of the resolution, Mr. Stearns of Florida.

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

Mr. Speaker, at this time it is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett).

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher).

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1820) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6110 East 51st Place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the ``Dewey F. Bartlett Post Office''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, a graduate of Princeton University, Dewey Bartlett began his post-collegiate life as a marine combat pilot in the South Pacific during the Second World War. He went on to become a successful rancher and businessman in Oklahoma, and ultimately, it was his interest in improving the State's economy that led him to seek political office.

Bartlett was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate in 1962 and served as its Governor from 1967 to 1971. As Governor, Bartlett dedicated himself to bringing more jobs to the citizens of Oklahoma, and was a huge proponent of vocational-technical education to give workers the skills they needed to succeed. Two years later, in 1973, he became a United States Senator, a post that he maintained until 1979.

In all, Dewey Bartlett devoted over a decade of his life to public service. He was known for his strong work ethic and bipartisan approach to politics, as well as for his commitment to fiscal responsibility and economic growth.

After a 2-year battle with cancer, Mr. Speaker, Dewey Bartlett passed away in the spring of 1979. In recognition of his outstanding service to his State and this country, I urge all Members to join me in voting for S. 1820.

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

Mr. Speaker, at this time it is my pleasure to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Sullivan).

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1084) to honor the contributions and life of Edward R. Bradley, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might consume.

Known best for his investigative reports on the CBS news program 60 Minutes, Ed Bradley won 19 Emmy Awards throughout his journalism career, including one for lifetime achievement in 2003. Just one year after graduating from college, he reported on the Philadelphia riots and earned a position with a local radio station. He became a reporter for CBS News in 1971, where he remained for 35 years and took on projects that were challenging and oftentimes a call for action.

His June 2000 report, ``Death by Denial,'' for example, helped expose the AIDS crisis in Africa and convinced the pharmaceutical industry to donate medicine to the region. His report the previous year, called ``Unsafe Haven,'' prompted Federal investigations into America's psychiatric hospitals.

In addition to his many professional accomplishments, Ed Bradley is remembered by his friends for leading a personal life of balance, virtue and humor. He loved to jump on stage with his good buddy and friend, Jimmy Buffett, who nicknamed Bradley ``Teddy Bear'' and referred to him as a great journalist who still knew how to have a good time.

In November of this year, after a long and private struggle with leukemia, Ed Bradley passed away. He leaves behind him a legacy of journalistic talent and achievements, as well as a personal story of courage and determination.

I urge my Members to join me today in supporting H. Res. 1084, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 91) expressing the sense of Congress that the President should posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Leroy Robert ``Satchel'' Paige.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, Satchel Paige began playing baseball at a time when segregation prevented African American players from participating at the Major League level. He was a powerhouse pitcher for what was called the Negro League, and in 1933 pitched 62 consecutive scoreless innings for his team. With his animated personality, he was the main attraction at games and fans marveled at the famous pitches he creatively coined with names like ``bat dodger'' and ``the hesitation pitch.''

In July of 1948, after segregation in baseball had ended, Satchel Paige signed a contract with the Cleveland Indians. He was 42 years old at the time and he was the oldest rookie in the Major Leagues. The Indians won the American League championship and the World Series that year, thanks in no small part to his pitching talent.

I would add as an addendum, Mr. Speaker, being from Cleveland, Ohio, that is the last time that the Cleveland Indians have won the World Series.

In total, Satchel Paige threw close to 300 career shutouts, and in 1971 he was the first Negro League player inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.

He is remembered by his family and friends not just as a baseball player who made history, but as a man who was full of warmth, full of energy and quick to make people laugh. Satchel Paige's contributions to the sport of baseball and United States culture are undoubtedly exceptional, and I am happy to support this resolution.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 497) to honor the memory of Arnold ``Red'' Auerbach.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the concurrent resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, few coaches or managers in the history of sports, let alone basketball, are as legendary as Arnold ``Red'' Auerbach. His career with the Boston Celtics began in 1950, and right away he began setting new records and benchmarks.

The Celtics won nine NBA championships in 10 seasons under his watch as coach, and Auerbach's draft of an African American was a first for the NBA. He continued to break down racial barriers in sports as the first coach in the NBA to start with a lineup of all black players, and the first executive in the history of all professional sports to appoint a black coach.

He revolutionized the way basketball was played, focusing entirely on the team rather than on individuals, and he created an arsenal of tactics that had never been used before.

Red Auerbach will also be remembered for his lively personality on and off the court. His passion for the game was second to none, and Celtic fans awaited with anticipation for him to ceremoniously light his cigar on the sidelines, a signal to everyone that the game belonged to his team.

Coaches with the talent and spark like Red Auerbach are indeed rare. In honor of all he did for the game of basketball and professional sports as a whole, I urge all Members to join me in supporting this resolution.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5483) to increase the disability earning limitation under the Railroad Retirement Act and to index the amount of allowable earnings consistent with increases in the substantial gainful activity dollar amount under the Social Security Act.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5483.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I strongly support this bipartisan legislation.

H.R. 5483 is a bill to help disabled railroad employees. Under our current system, a permanently disabled railroad worker is given a monthly stipend by the Railroad Retirement Board. The average stipend is about $1,911 a month, which is often too little to support a family. This has led disabled workers to seek a supplemental source of income.

If a disabled railroad worker is well enough to work at another job, current law limits his or her earnings to only $400 a month, a limit which has remained unchanged for years.

Mr. Speaker, in my own district, the mayor of Mentor, Ohio, is a disabled railroad worker, and he can only accept $400 as his monthly pay for being the mayor of Mentor.

This legislation that we are considering today, H.R. 5483, the Railroad Retirement Disability Earnings Act, will increase that amount to only $700 per month, with no decrease in retirement benefits. The $700 figure will also be indexed to inflation.

The cost of this legislation is estimated to be at less than $500,000 a year. To put things in perspective, the National Railroad Retirement Trust is currently valued at over $29 billion and has been so well managed that railroad payroll taxes are actually going down.

H.R. 5483, the Railroad Retirement Disability Earnings Act, is important to disabled railroad employees and their families and is one of the most important pieces of railroad legislation that we will consider this year.

I urge your support for this bill and wish to commend our committee chairman, Mr. Young of Alaska; the ranking minority member, Mr. Oberstar; and the subcommittee's ranking minority member, Ms. Brown, for her outstanding leadership on this issue.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Very shortly, I would advise my distinguished ranking member that I have no additional speakers, but I do want to make this comment.

This is my first session of Congress to serve as the chairman of the Railroad Subcommittee, and it has been my distinct pleasure to serve with the gentlewoman from Florida, and I want to thank her for the kind and bipartisan way in which she has treated all of the issues that have come before the subcommittee these last 2 years.

I do not know where our forces are going to take us in the next couple of years, but I very much look forward to working with you, and with that, when the gentlewoman yields back, I will do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5074) to amend the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 to provide for continued payment of railroad retirement annuities by the Department of the Treasury, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 5074.

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

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this bipartisan legislation. In 2001, after several years of intense labor management negotiations, the most comprehensive reform of the railroad retirement system in nearly 2 decades was enacted. The ERISA-type investment trust in which Tier II pension assets are invested has been performing extremely well. Payroll tax rates have gone down for both the railroads and workers, benefits have increased and the investment trust has experienced a nearly 50 percent growth in asset value in those 5 short years.

At the time of the 2001 legislation, we included a retirement that Tier II pension benefit checks be issued through a private contractor. This rested on the belief, since proven wrong, that this would be more efficient than continuing the use of the Treasury for this purpose.

In fact, the Railroad Retirement Board, the trustees of the investment trust and the Congressional Budget Office have all found that by using an outside disbursing agent, actually costs to the program are increased by $2 million a year more than they would have been if we had used the Treasury.

As a temporary expedient, the mandate to use an outside disbursing agent has been legislatively postponed in appropriations measures since 2001, but is it is obviously time to make the correction permanent. H.R. 5074 does this by amending the permanent Railroad Retirement Act to designate the U.S. Treasury as the disbursing agent for the benefits.

This legislation has been fully bipartisan from the outside. I particularly want to commend the chairman of the full committee, Mr. Young, the ranking member of the full committee, Mr. Oberstar, and my ranking member on the subcommittee, Ms. Brown, for their leader in moving this bill forward expeditiously. It means greater efficiency for a system that is critical to the well-being of the Nation's retired railroad workers and deserves the endorsement of the House.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 449) commemorating the 60th anniversary of the historic 1946 season of Major League Baseball Hall of Fame member Bob Feller and his return from military service to the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include Dextraneous material on H.Con.Res 449.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to, first of all, thank the chairman of the full committee, Mr. Davis of Virginia, for moving this legislation forward. This measure recognizes my constituent, Baseball Hall of Famer Bob Feller, for his military service to our country and also commemorates the 60th anniversary of his greatest baseball season.

It is my honor to have introduced this measure, together with a number of our colleagues that you will hear from this afternoon, and it will be our honor to host Bob Feller tomorrow when he visits Capitol Hill on the eve of his trip to Cooperstown for the annual Hall of Fame weekend.

Mr. Speaker, in 1941, Bob Feller was at the peak of his baseball career. The right-hander from Van Meter, Iowa, had signed with my beloved Cleveland Indians at the age of 16 and became an instant sensation. Feller made quick work of rewriting the record books and thrilling fans. In his first major league start, he struck out 15 St. Louis Browns.

In 1938, Feller established a new major league strikeout record by striking out 18 Detroit Tigers in a single nine-inning game. He was the first pitcher in modern major league history to win 20 or more games before the age of 21.

He pitched his first no-hitter on opening day at Comiskey Park against the Chicago White Sox on April 16,

1940. It remains today as the only no-hitter ever thrown on a major league opening day.

Two days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mr. Speaker, in 1941, Bob Feller did what seems almost unthinkable with some of today's professional athletes. A month after his 23rd birthday, he enlisted in the Navy and volunteered for combat, placing service to his country above the sport he loved. It didn't matter that his father was dying of cancer and that his mother and sister depended upon him for financial support. His country needed him, and Feller didn't think twice.

Bob Feller was sworn in by heavyweight champion Gene Tunney and was off to fight in World War II.

For the next 44 months, Feller's life was devoted to his country and his fellow sailors aboard the USS Alabama, where he served as an anti- aircraft gunner. Feller participated in the famous 1944 Battle of the Marianas Turkey Shoot, where 219 of Japan's 326 planes were downed in a single day. He has called the Marianas shootout the greatest day of his life. He left the Navy a war hero, earning eight battle stars.

Bob Feller missed nearly four full seasons to defend our great Nation and returned at the end of the 1945 season just in time to pitch a handful of games. He tried to keep his fastball in shape during the war, often tossing the ball on the deck of the Alabama. Still, there were a number of whispers that perhaps his best days were behind him.

Sixty years ago, in 1946, Feller silenced the critics. He had his best season ever, one for the record books and the stuff of Hollywood movies. The season reminds us why baseball is so revered.

In 1946, Feller pitched a remarkable 36 complete games in 42 starts. To gauge this feat, consider this: The five teams in the American League Central Division had just 35 complete games between them all of last year.

Feller led the American League in wins, shutouts, strikeouts, games pitched and innings. He struck out 348 batters, then a major league record.

In April of 1946, he pitched his second no-hitter, this time against the Yankees in New York. He went 26-15 with 10 shutouts, including the no-hitter, and had a career low 2.18 earned run average. He pitched in six relief games, saving four of them.

He pitched a total of 371-1/3 innings and often threw 125 to 140 pitches a game. He says today that he never iced his arm, if you can imagine that. He had a fastball clocked at 109 miles an hour that year, again, after a 4-year hiatus.

The Baseball Hall of Fame has said Feller's ``blazing fastball set the standard against which all of his successors have been judged.''

He was the winning pitcher in the 1946 All-Star Game and threw three scoreless innings in a 12-0 victory by the American League. He achieved all of this while my beloved Indians that year, 1946, only won 68 games.

Mr. Speaker, Bob Feller has been a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame since 1962. Purists can recite his stats: His three no-hitters, his 12 one-hitters, his 266 wins, his 2,581 strikeouts and his 18 years with the Indians.

What many sports fans don't know, however, is that none of these records or accolades are as important to Bob Feller as was his service to our country. Bob has said, ``It was more important for me to be in the military trying to protect the sovereignty of this country than playing professional baseball or any other sport.'' He also said that the only win he ever wanted was World War II.

Bob Feller today says that he is no war hero, but rather a survivor, because he is one of the lucky ones to have made it home.

Mr. Speaker, I would argue that ``Rapid Robert'' Feller is a hero in every sense of the word, both on and off the field. Now 87 years old and part of the Greatest Generation, he remains completely devoted to his sport, to the Indians, and to our men and women in uniform. He is a wonderful and selfless American.

I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, in my opening remarks I mentioned Van Meter, Iowa. It is now my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Latham), who represents Van Meter, Iowa.

Mr. Speaker, when we introduced this resolution with all of the folks that are speaking here today, we got a call from Representative Gingrey's office. I said to myself, well, he is not from Iowa, he is not from Cleveland, why would a guy from Georgia want to talk about Bob Feller? He is about to tell us.

It is my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey).

Mr. Speaker, when we called up Bob Feller and said we were going to be doing this and invited him to Washington tomorrow, he said there are two people I need to see, my good friend Senator Jim Bunning, who he knows, of course, from the Baseball Hall of Fame, and I have to see my great friend, Sherry Boehlert, who represents Cooperstown, New York.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert).

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

Mr. Speaker, when we introduced this resolution, I was riding over for a vote yesterday and saw Mr. Leach of Iowa, and his eyes lit up when I said we were going to do this, because he too has some remembrances that he wants to share about Bob Feller. It is now my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach).

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I just want to thank everyone who spoke, Mr. Boehlert, Mr. Latham, Mr. Kucinich, Mr. Davis, again, and thank Mr. Davis of Virginia and Mr. Leach for talking about Bob Feller. I again would tell folks that at 87 years old, he will be here tomorrow, and, if schedules permit, I hope you take time to say hello to him. I urge passage of the resolution.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to enter into the Record an article from yesterday's Akron Beacon Journal about a baseball legend who also happens to be one of my constituents--Hall of Famer Bob Feller. The article was written by columnist and author Terry Pluto, one of the Nation's most respected sportswriters and someone whose work I greatly admire.

Pluto's article recounts the 60th anniversary of Feller's greatest season in 1946, his first full season after serving nearly four years in the Navy during World War II. It is a story for baseball fans of all ages, and it truly reminds me of all that is good in baseball and in America. As a lifelong Cleveland Indians fan, I am honored to share Pluto's wonderful story about Feller so it is forever preserved in the pages of the Congressional Record.

All-Star for All Time Hall of Famer Bob Feller Put Up Season for Ages

in 1946

What Bob Feller did 60 years ago will never happen again.

That's not a surprise, a lot has changed in baseball since

1946.

But what Bob Feller did in 1946 never should have happened

at all.

Start with pitching the 36 games.

Excuse me, the 36 complete games.

That's 36 complete games in 42 starts.

For a little context, the entire American League Central

Division--that's five teams, including the Indians--had 35

complete games in 2005.

So in 1946, Bob Feller finished more games than all the

pitchers on all the teams in the Central Division--combined!

In 2005, the Indians had the lowest ERA in the American

League, along with 10 shutouts--the same as Feller had in

1946.

Did I mention the four saves?

Feller also pitched in relief six times, saving four games.

Just what was the premier starting pitcher in baseball

doing in the bullpen?

``I started every fourth day,'' Feller said. ``I'd rest a

day after my start, then I'd throw batting practice on the

second day. Other times, I'd help out in relief just to get

my throwing in.''

He paused.

``Know what was crazy?'' he said. ``When I threw batting

practice, I didn't have a (protective) screen in front of me.

That was crazy, because I could have gotten hurt.''

Everything in 1946 for Feller was insane, at least by

today's pitching parameters.

Consider his 371 1/3 innings. His 348 strikeouts. His 26-15

record for a team that was 65-89. His 2.18 ERA.

It was a season in which he threw a no-hitter, a one-

hitter, was the starting and winning pitcher in the All-Star

Game and had a fastball clocked at 109 mph.

After the final game of the year, he took one day off.

``Then me and Satchel Paige went on a barnstorming tour,''

Feller said. ``Played about 35 games in 30 days across the

country--the major-league stars against the stars of the

Negro Leagues. Traveled around in two jets. I started every

game, usually pitched three innings.''

Feller tells this story as if he were stating the obvious,

like this is July and sometimes the weather is warm.

``I didn't think it was a big deal,'' he said.

The white-haired Feller, now 87, would like to lose a few

pounds. He comes to most Indians games. He has little use for

what he considers the coddling of pitchers--everything from

icing their arms to counting their pitches.

``I probably averaged 125-to-140 pitches (per game) that

season,'' he said. ``I was going for the strikeout record.''

Feller says things like that, causing you to call a

timeout.

Let's consider the pitch counts first, then the strikeout

record. Feller knows all of his crucial statistics, and he's

probably right in his estimate. An Associated Press story

reported Feller using 133 pitches to no-hit the New York

Yankees in Yankee Stadium. The story explained: ``The

Cleveland speedball artist threw 54 balls, 35 strikes (17

were called, 18 were missed), 29 were fouled off and 15 were

hit to the infielders and outfielders.''

Feller fanned 11, walked five.

``I always threw a lot of pitches,'' Feller said. ``I had a

high school game where I threw a shutout, walked 14 and

struck out 14.''

He paused.

``The game was called after five innings,'' he said.

I laughed. He wasn't kidding. If you do the math on that

game, it meant only one batter made an out by hitting the

ball. It meant he constantly had the bases loaded, and that

he indeed threw a no-hitter.

In high school, most of his games were no-hitters. So when

he threw three nohitters in the majors and a dozen one-

hitters, at least one person wasn't shocked: Feller himself.

Back to the 1946 no-hitter.

Consider this: It was the bottom of the ninth inning. The

Indians had a 1-0 lead. The Yankees' George Stirweiss led off

by bunting for a hit, which was ruled an error on Tribe first

baseman Les Fleming. Newspapers from New York and Cleveland

both reported it was an easy play that Fleming botched, the

ball rolling through his legs.

Think of today's unwritten rules about bunting to break up

a no-hitter in the late innings, how it's considered an

insult and somehow unsportsmanlike.

``Nah,'' said Feller last week. ``It was 1-0. He was just

trying to win the game.''

Feller retired the next three hitters on ground balls to

preserve the no-hitter.

``There was some talk, especially in New York, that I was

washed up after the war,'' Feller said.

The no-hitter on that day in late April silenced any

doubts. So did that incredible 1946 season, when he pitched

in a league that featured the likes of Ted Williams, Joe

DiMaggio, Hank Greenberg, Mickey Vernon and Rudy York.

Feller's 26 victories plus his four saves meant he had an

arm in 30 of the Tribe's 68 wins.

Feller was 27 that year, at the height of his physical

powers. If he says he threw more than 125 pitches most games,

he probably did.

By contrast, in 2005, only two of the World Champion

Chicago White Sox pitchers used more than 120 pitches. None

had more than 130. No Tribe pitcher went over 120.

``I don't care how many pitches you throw,'' Feller said.

``It's, `Are you tired?' How are you throwing?''

Feller believed the arm is a muscle, and you develop it

with exercise. The best one is throwing. He also lifted light

weights, rare for a player of his era. He didn't smoke,

rarely drank and ate reasonably well, lots of protein.

Never iced his arm, either.

``I used a little rubbing alcohol,'' he said. ``Then after

I'd pitch, I'd go home and take a nice, hot bath.''

He lived at the Tudor Arm Hotel on East 107th and Carnegie

Avenue.

``I had a beautiful suite, they had a great pool and I swam

a lot,'' he said.

Feller was 6-foot, 185 pounds, in 1946. He looked taller

because he had long arms, a high leg kick and a big windup

that seemed to make him look so much closer to the hitter

than the regulation distance of 6-feet, 6-inches when he

released the ball.

He had a fastball for the ages, but he believes he notched

as many strikeouts with his big, overhand curveball. It was a

pitch that didn't just break about a foot to the right, but

also dropped about a foot.

The rotation of the ball was so tight, so fast, that

hitters swore you could hear it ``bite'' the air on the way

to the plate.

Feller finished his career with 266 victories despite

missing nearly four years while serving in World War II, much

of it on the battleship Alabama. He didn't pitch in 1942-44,

and only in nine games at the end of 1945.

He was in his early 20s, and had averaged 26 victories the

three previous years. So you have to figure Feller could have

won another 100 games. Who knows how many more strikeouts (at

least 1,000) and no-hitters he might have had?

As for his military service, Whitey Lewis wrote in the

Cleveland Press: ``The erstwhile boy wonder, now a man, had

served 44 months and had earned eight battle stars as a

gunnery specialist on the USS Alabama. But could he still

pitch?''

Feller did his throwing on the deck of the Alabama.

``Guys took turns wanting to catch me,'' he said.

Why not, even if they ended up losing some teeth because

they missed a pitch. Feller had already won 107 games at age

22 when he entered the Navy. He led the American League in

strikeouts for four consecutive seasons. His fellow sailors

knew he was Cooperstown bound.

After nearly four years away from the majors, Feller

returned to pitch nine games at the end of the '45 season. He

was 5-3 with a 2.50 ERA, but some whispered he didn't throw

quite as hard, his breaking ball was not as sharp.

Then came 1946, when Feller pitched and pitched and

pitched--almost as if to make up for lost time.

At the all-star break, Feller had 15 victories and 190

strikeouts. In 1945, there was no All-Star Game because of

war-time travel restrictions. In 1946, it was a celebration

of returning stars such as Feller and Williams. Feller was

the winning pitcher, throwing three scoreless innings.

Williams had four hits, including two homers. The American

League rolled, 12-0.

``Only time I ever won an All-Star Game,'' Feller said.

Feller always wanted to beat Rube Waddell's major-league

strikeout record of 343 for a season, set in 1904.

``Wheaties was going to pay me $5,000 if I did it,'' he

said.

But then he detoured into a story of having his fastball

measured. The Indians were playing in Washington, and

Senators owner Clark Griffith advertised that Feller would

throw his fastball into what was known as a Rube Goldberg

device, and they would figure out the speed.

``I read about it in the paper, but Griffith never asked

me,'' Feller said. ``I got to the park to pitch that night,

and finally they told me about the idea.''

Feller said, ``Fine, I want $1,000.''

Griffith said it was good for the game for Feller to go

along with the gimmick.

Feller knew it also was good for Griffith's gate with all

the extra fans coming.

``Settled for $700,'' Feller said. ``I threw 15-25 pitches

into that thing.''

The numbers ranged from 98 to 117 mph, depending upon where

they set up the device. They came up with an average of 109.

``Then I pitched something like 10 innings,'' Feller said.

``Got beat 2-1.''

Feller said part of the reason he pitched in relief was to

pick up some extra strikeouts. In the second-to-Iast game of

the season, the Indians were in Detroit. In the game, he tied

Waddell's record of 343.

The next day, there was no game.

Forty-eight hours later, the Indians played their final

game of the season--and Feller was on the mound again. He

pitched nine innings, winning 4-1, and striking out five to

claim the record at 348.

``But 10 years later, they went back and recounted

Waddell's strikeouts (from 1904) and found six more, putting

him ahead of me by one,'' Feller said. ``If I knew it back

then, I just would have pitched in relief another game and

struck out some more guys.''

At least he did get the $5,000 from Wheaties.

The barnstorming tour was an adventure all its own.

``Started in Pittsburgh, ended up in Seattle,'' Feller

said. ``Had two DC-3s; went first class. I paid Stan Musial

$10,000. Other guys got $300 to $500 a game. Some got more.''

Consider that in 1946, the winner's share of the World

Series was only $2,000 per player, which was big money.

Remembering the barnstorming tour, Feller didn't care about

the race issue. He liked Paige, he respected the black

players and knew the games would draw big crowds, everyone

making money in the process.

``I was excited to be chosen to play for the Satchel Paige

All-Stars,'' Buck O'Neil wrote in his book, Right on Time.

``I knew I'd be making more money in that month than I did in

six. I'd be taking my first plane ride and I felt this tour

was an event that could have a real effect on big-league

integration.''

Feller made more than $100,000 in 1946. His base salary was

$50,000, and Tribe owner Bill Veeck paid him a bonus for

attendance at his home games. He also had his own radio show,

made commercials and personal appearances. He led the

American League in wins (26), shutouts (10), strikeouts

(348), games pitched (48) and innings (371\1/3\).

He would never again strike out more than 196 batters in a

season. His career ended in 1956.

``It wasn't because I threw too much in 1946,'' he said.

``It's because I slipped on the mound in Philadelphia the

next year. I had maybe my best fastball, struck out nine of

the first 11 guys. I went to throw a curve, my front foot

gave out and I felt something rip in the back of my

shoulder.''

He pitched a few more innings, then rested. But not for

long. Feller still was 20-11 with a 2.68 ERA in 1947. He

threw 299 innings, completed 20 games and struck out a

league-leading 196.

``But I never was really the same after that,'' he said.

``That's why I say 1946 was my greatest year.''

Feller said it with a shrug. Sixty years and another era

ago.

That season, shortstop Lou Boudreau also was the manager. A

fellow named Bob Lemon began the year as a light-hitting

outfielder and was converted to pitcher during the season--no

stop in the minors. He was 4-5 with a 2.49 ERA in 1946 and

eventually made the Hall of Fame, just like Feller.

``A different game,'' Feller said.

One every baseball fan wishes they could have seen.

Mr. Speaker, I very much appreciate the leadership allowing this important discussion on the war in Iraq and the ongoing global war on terror.

We can all regret the faulty intelligence that overestimated the presence of WMDs. We can focus on the need to press the new Iraqi government to meet speedy and attainable goals for the responsibility for their own security. But, we should never underestimate what's at stake in Iraq for their people or ours.

Nor should we ever permit the use of propaganda or terrorist barbarism to signal to the brave men and women serving this Nation in uniform that the resolve of our country is wavering.

There are many thoughts that I could lay upon the record of this body about the war on terrorism, but sometimes it's better to shut up and listen to the voices of those who know much more than you or I. One of the casualties of war in my district was a great Marine--Lance Cpl. Andy ``Ace'' Nowacki. Andy, 24, was a member of the Grand River Police Department and was killed by an lED in Iraq on February 26, 2005. His family, though filled with grief, determined that Andy's spirit would live on in many ways. One way will come through the establishment of a scholarship fund at Lakeland Community College.

On March 31st of this year, friends, comrades and family gathered to honor Andy's memory and raise funds for the scholarship. One of the people to speak that evening was Lt. Col. Mark A. Smith, the former battalion commander of Andy's unit--the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines. Lt. Col. Smith's remarks, which I ask through unanimous consent to appear in the Record immediately following my own, centered on the question of ``Why.'' He stated in part: ``. . . think the part that's most lost in public discourse in the ongoing global war on terror is really the ``Why.'' We all know how Andy died . . . I'd like to spend a few minutes talking about why Andy died.''

Mr. Speaker, Lt. Col. Mark A. Smith, with the eloquence of a soldier, said it better than I could ever hope to, and I commend his words to the House:

I got a call last Saturday when I was on duty from Sheila Nowacki, Andy's mom. And she told me a part of the ceremony was going to be a pretty moving video, and she had a slight task for me. She asked me if I'd speak for a few minutes after the video, and to be positive.

Now, as the commanding officer of 2/24th, I don't get the option of saying no to the families of my KIAs for whom I was responsible, but in Sheila's and Dennis's case, I was honored that they even asked me to, so I immediately rogered up to the mission. So, here we go.

The only way I know to be positive in talking about Andy is to talk about--from my perspective and from the Marines' perspective in this room who shared time with him in combat--why Andy died. Because I think that the thing that's most lost in public discourse about the ongoing global war on terror is really the ``Why.'' We all know how Andy died. Unfortunately, he was struck by an improvised explosive device while on an ASR in our zone. I'd like to spend just a few minutes talking about why Andy died.

Andy died because he was out engaging the enemy. The single most misunderstood aspect of this war is the enemy. And a professional war- fighter focuses on one thing and one thing only--the enemy. He doesn't focus on time-lines, he doesn't focus on how fast he can stand up Iraqi battalions. He focuses on the enemy, and there's a particular reason why we need to focus on this enemy. Because this enemy is real, this enemy is vile, this enemy is evil. And this enemy has a 100-year plan to destroy the United States of America--a one hundred year plan. We think in terms of the next football season and they're thinking in terms of 100 years from now and how they're going to destroy this Nation.

Can this enemy win this war against us? Unfortunately, I'm here to tell you absolutely he can. He can if he continues to focus on two things which he focuses on every day. The first thing this enemy focuses on is breaking the will of the American people. He does that through videos, he does that through propaganda, and he does that through information. The second way he can win this war is to continue to recruit future generations of jihadists. It's for these reasons, and because of this enemy, that Andy was in Iraq. And while so many still fail to get it, the enemy doesn't. The enemy understands Iraq is the focus of effort, because he understands that as long as Marines and warriors like Andy are in Iraq that the will of the American people is foremost and in his face. He also understands that that is a will that can and does, at every opportunity of battle, destroy this enemy. And then the second thing is what us being there does to this enemy. Contrary to some popular opinion, is it does not create jihadists by us being there. Quite frankly, we deprive them of the next generation of jihadists because no one is more helped and/or more impressed with the Gentle Giants of America than the kids of the Arab world. If you'll just let me tell you two very quick stories, I'll explain why that is.

One day we were going out to conduct a raid to arrest the Sgt. Major and the operations officer of the Iraqi Army battalion that we were training. Upon moving into our cordoned positions in the raid force-- hitting the objective and seizing the Sgt. Major of the Iraqi Army battalion--his very children, the children of the Sgt. Major that we had in flex cuffs and blindfolded, were running around their front yard acting as if they were holding weapons and shooting at the Marines. One of the Marines went up to them, and he took the interpreter with him, and he said, ``Ask these kids what they're doing.'' And the interpreter asked them, and the kids said, in English, ``Mistah, we play U.S. Marines, Mistah. We U.S. Marines.''

I don't think those kids are going to grow up to be jihadists. I think those kids are going to grow up to be the honorable people that they saw the U.S. Marines in their zone to be. Further proof of that was mentioned by your emcee tonight when she showed you that picture of Andy and those two Iraqi kids. They say a picture tells a thousand stories . . . that's not a staged picture. That is honest respect for an American Marine, who in this case was Andy Nowacki. And there are thousands of them out there affecting those Iraqi kids every day.

The second story I want to tell you about is the election--the very first Iraqi election that occurred in our zone. In order to truly understand it, you have to back up to December of 2004. The election was scheduled for 31 January of 2005. Exactly two weeks before the election was to be held, the Iraqi government said there was no way an election would be held in our zone because in that point in time there were two triangles that were famous in Iraq. One was the Sunni Triangle and one was the Triangle of Death. The Triangle of Death was our zone and it was so named because for four months at that time, on a daily basis, we had gone forward, we had seized terrain, we had lived the misery of the Iraqi people. We had become their neighbors and, in so doing, we had slung steel and harsh language with this enemy on a daily basis, and they did not like that. They did not like the fact that these Marines were forward--living and earning the respect of the Iraqi people. But we were able to convince the Iraqi government that as a result of the efforts of Marines like Andy, the Iraqi people would come out and vote. We couldn't guarantee them that it wouldn't be violent, but we guaranteed them they would come out and vote.

Now I ask you to picture, in two weeks, having to put together eight polling places. That meant that we had to tactically go out 48 hours prior and we had to seize the locations. We had to set up all the force protection that would allow the Marines to protect the Iraqis from what we knew would be constant and sure attacks on election day. And then most importantly, we had to transport 500 workers from the city of Baghdad to down to our Battalion FOB, house them for two days, and then move them safely to those eight polling sites. You can rest assured that was one big, juicy target that the terrorist wanted to hit. We were able to accomplish all that, but the most telling time in all of that is where we housed these 500 election workers was in our battalion chow hall. My battalion major . . . had a section of our chow hall that was dedicated to our fallen Marines. At that time, there were 12 of them. He had their pictures, and we had an American and a Marine Corps flag. Now for those of you who've never been to Iraq, who've never spent time with the Iraqi people, when you get two of them together, the noise level, the amount of smoking and the amount of drinking that goes on is pretty mind-numbing. When you put 500 of them in a facility, it borders on chaos. Now we accepted that that was going to have to be the cost--that our chow hall was probably going to get pretty torn up. And it did, except for one spot.

Any time any of those Iraqi election workers got anywhere near the Sgt. Major's memorial, absolute, utter respectful, solemn silence. They respected the Marines and what they were doing for them, and that was a sight that I will take with me to my grave, and that makes me challenge those who say we're creating jihadists. I argue we are doing just the opposite. On that very election day, the mortars flew, the mortars flew intently. All eight of our sites started getting mortared and rocketed about 30 minutes before the polls were supposed to open. I was sitting in my COC thinking, ``Well, there's the end of my career. I just convinced the whole world that we could

have an election and they're blowing us up before they've even started.'' But an amazing thing happened. In spite of all the mortars, in spite of all those rockets, in spite of the Marines providing security, telling the Iraqi people to seek cover, they refused, and in broken English constantly reminded the Marines, ``You will protect us. You have brought us democracy. And we will vote.''

To conclude, one story from south of our zone where one young man pushed his 70-year-old father four miles under enemy fire in a shopping cart. When asked by the Marines, ``What on God's green earth did he think he was doing?'' He said: ``My father has but one wish before he dies, to show you the respect of voting as a free man.''

One hundred years. That's the enemy's plan. He is prepared. Are we? As long as we have warriors, gentle warriors like Andy, the unbelievable support of parents like Dennis and Sheila who do things like this despite having sacrificed what they have sacrificed, and the support of Americans like you, we cannot lose. Sheila asked me to be positive. I don't know how I can be anything but. If it weren't for warriors like Andy and the other ones you see in this room here tonight, we would not be able to gather tonight to laugh, to cry and to celebrate.

Sheila asked me to be positive, I don't know how to be anything else. I know now something I didn't know a few years ago: Being positive does not make the world the way you wish it would be, it's accepting the world the way it is and going out and doing what you can do to change it. I used to tell my young daughters when they'd see something on TV or read a fairy tale, I used to tell them there's no such thing as dragons. I don't tell them that anymore. There are dragons. There are fire-breathing, evil dragons that inhabit this world. But I tell them don't be afraid, because for every dragon that is out there, there are 10 knights in shining armor that will go forth and suffer great hardship to protect you. And I've seen them, and I've worked with them and they're called United States Marines. So be positive. I will be positive, Sheila, and I will be thankful and humbled that you asked me to speak tonight. And I will forever thank God Almighty for Andy and all the warriors like Andy, and your amazing family, and this blessed land.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that the debate on my amendment and all amendments thereto be limited to 20 minutes, 10 minutes by the proponent and 10 minutes by the opponent, equally divided and controlled by each.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today offering this amendment with my good friend, Mr. Oberstar from Minnesota, the ranking member of the full Transportation Committee. I will yield him half of my time when he arrives on the floor.

Unlike aviation, highways and transit, there is no dedicated funding for investing in our Nation's passenger rail service. This is a pretty simple amendment. All it does is restore $214 million to the Amtrak account, taking it to $1.114 billion, which is still about $300 million less than we had during the course of last year's discussion.

As the chairman of the Railroad Subcommittee, we have had exhaustive hearings, oversight hearings, dealing with the Amtrak situation, and we have done a number of things. The CEO has been fired by the board. We have looked at their food service. They have entered into a new food service contract. If you look at this bill, and I want to commend Mr. Knollenberg, because last year he had an impossible task. The President sent up a budget of zero for Amtrak. We had an amendment process that we went through this time.

This time we are up to $900 million in the bill, which I give him great credit for. But if you look at that $900 million, there is only $500 million for capital expenditures, out of which has to come a debt service of $280 million, which only leaves $220 million for the capital needs of this country for Amtrak, for passenger rail.

There is nothing for operation, and I know that the response to that is going to be that there are some incentive grants in the bill. But that really does not get the thing done.

Mr. Chairman, we have tried to be judicious with this amendment and looked for pots of money located within the bill solely within the jurisdiction of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. I think we have achieved that.

I believe it is a good amendment and I urge adoption by my colleagues.

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

Mr. Chairman, can I ask how much time I used, please?

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Schwarz).

Mr. Chairman, it is my understanding that we still have 7 minutes remaining on our side of the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to Mr. Oberstar from Minnesota, the co-author of the amendment, and ask unanimous consent that

he be permitted to yield time from that 5 minutes.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Rehberg).

Parliamentary Inquiry

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Sweeney), who offered a similar amendment during the full committee markup to try to save Amtrak.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5449) to amend title 49, United States Code, to modify bargaining requirements for proposed changes to the personnel management system of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that half of my time, 10 minutes, be yielded to Mr. Costello, and that he be permitted to yield time.

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

Mr. Speaker, first I want to thank Speaker Hastert for allowing us to have this debate tonight and also Majority Leader Boehner. There are some people on our side of the aisle that are not so happy that we are doing it, but I have to tell you that when you have 80 Republican Members of Congress supporting a piece of legislation, I think it is important to have the debate and have it now.

I also want to thank Congressman LoBiondo of New Jersey and Congresswoman Sue Kelly from New York for being my partners in this endeavor as we move this legislation forward, and I want to thank Mr. Costello for standing up in support of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is pretty simple. There is a contract dispute currently going on between the air traffic controllers in this country and the Federal Aviation Administration, and this bill simply sends them back to the table and asks them to reach a fair and equitable conclusion.

Under current law, the FAA has unilaterally imposed their contract terms on the hard-working air traffic controllers in this country. Congress is not in the business of contract negotiations, nor should it be. The FAA is also at an impasse with four other bargaining units, and the Congress really shouldn't be in the business of constantly reviewing labor contracts.

When this bill passes, the sides will resume negotiating and the existing contract will remain in place, there will be no disruption in service.

If they are unable to bridge the gap, the matter then goes before the Federal Service Impasses Panel. The FSIP, as it is called, will assure that both sides are negotiating fairly, and if no agreement can be reached, FSIP then can impose contract terms on both parties.

Some people might say, oh, man, FSIP, that sounds like a tough place for the FAA or the administration to go to. The FSIP board is made up of seven members, all seven appointees of this president, President George W. Bush.

During the course of this debate tonight, we are going to hear, I think, some facts and figures, and I want to lay some of them to rest now. We may hear that the average salary for air traffic controllers is $173,000. While that may be true if you include all of their benefits, anybody that is lucky enough to have health care or a retirement package knows that about 40 percent of that is made up in those benefits.

The average salary is really about $127,000. I don't know a lot of people in Cleveland, Ohio, that thinks that is too much for people that land the millions of passengers that travel our Nation's airways. You may hear that air traffic controller salaries have increased 75 percent, and we will explore that a little bit later.

Some people are going to criticize the FSIP board saying, oh, man, there is no incentive for the air traffic controllers to go back and negotiate. I will tell you I have talked to both lead negotiators. There is a strong desire to get this done. And, again, at any time after the passage of this bill, if either side thinks that the other side isn't negotiating fairly, they can immediately call up FSIP and go to this seven-member panel, all appointed by President George W. Bush.

Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill. I hope our colleagues can support it with the two-thirds majority necessary.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, just briefly to the gentleman's baseball analogy, that is exactly why they make extra innings and we should have extra innings here.

Secondly, again, this $173,000 figure, people in Cleveland, Ohio, that are sitting on their couch know that $173,000 is a lot of money, but again, if they are lucky enough to have health care and pension, that is 40 percent of that cost. The average is $127,000.

Now, again, people in Cleveland, Ohio, think that that is a lot of money as well, but I am going to tell you, they think that the guy that walked away from Exxon with a $400 million retirement package, that really is a lot of money.

The sum of $127,000 for someone who has dedicated his or her life to safely landing your family at an airport is not too much money.

Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly), the sponsor of the original bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I just want to make a brief comment before yielding to my friend from New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo).

Mr. Mica continues to talk this bill reaching back. I just want to focus on the 60 days that was in the current law. It is inconceivable that anybody that has been here for any period of time thinks that this Congress can act in 60 calendar days on anything.

Mr. Speaker, I have been here 12 years. For that entire 12 years we have been trying to repeal a telephone tax that was put into effect to pay for a war. Now some people say, oh, was it the Iraq war? Maybe the gulf war? Maybe Korea? No, the Spanish-American War.

The Treasury Department just announced this week that they are going to let us repeal the tax that is 100 years old, but we were supposed to act in 60 days.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo).

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

Mr. Speaker, I have great respect for the President but on this issue, quite frankly, he is wrong. I think that if he talked to his FAA administrator, we might have a different conclusion.

I want to tell you what has my dander up this evening because Mr. Mica is right. This is an unusual procedure. This has happened once before since this legislation went into effect. The last time, 60 days went by, the Congress didn't do anything. Just like we didn't do anything this 60 days. The administrator of the FAA waited 19 months before she imposed the contract. This, the deadline was up Monday, the 5th of June. You get the feeling she was sitting with one of those desk calendar for left-handers that people get for Christmas and she could not flip to the 5th of June fast enough. I assume she reads the newspaper. She knew this debate was going to take place this week and that action of imposing that contract on the very first day that she could, in my mind, is a direct affront to this people's House and the 300 million people that are represented by it and shame on her.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remaining time, and I will close.

Just a couple of observations. One, Mr. Mica, as the chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee, does a great job, and a lot of the advances in this country are due to his leadership and Mr. Costello's leadership. So I do not want anybody to leave the floor thinking they are having some kind of tiff, but there are some things that need to be straightened out.

What both sides do agree on is that the air traffic control population is aging. Both sides agree that in 2007 between 4,000 and 7,000 of the 15,000 air traffic controllers are going to retire, and we do not have a farm team. We do not have a pipeline that is really working. For instance, through May of this year, the FAA has only hired one controller. Last year, they hired 762, but since they hired that 762, 400 have retired. It is a program and it is a process that is serious. You just do not show up at work one day and say I am going to be an air traffic controller and I am going to guide your family into Cleveland or Chicago or Washington, D.C.

Secondly, I would say that the reason that the Kelly-Costello bill did not come to the floor is because things are scheduled on the floor. For anybody who is not familiar with our process, things have to be scheduled by the majority leader. The majority leader chose not to schedule the Kelly-Costello bill on the floor. That is why I began my remarks by thanking Speaker Hastert and Mr. Leader Boehner for having the courage to put this on the floor tonight so that Republicans and Democrats could talk about it.

Lastly, there has been some discussion that somehow the Federal Services Impasse Panel is not competent to handle this complicated matter. I would say just from their Web page, the panel resolves impasses between Federal agencies and unions representing Federal employees arising from negotiations over conditions of employment under the Federal service labor management relations statute and the Federal Employees Flexible and Compressed Work Schedules Act.

I do not know what other body is capable of doing it; and I have to tell you, I would have preferred the Kelly-Costello bill. I would have preferred that it be brought up to a vote, but when the administrator of the FAA was flipping through her desk calendar so fast just so she could implement this contract, when she waited 18 months when given the same tools and the same opportunity, the only time that this has ever happened, I think, and I am a pretty calm guy, but I really think that she just took her finger and stuck it in the eye of 268 Members of this House and 75 of them happen to be Republican, 75 of them happen to be members of this President's party. I am insulted.

And I hope tomorrow when this vote occurs, everybody that cosponsored that bill, everybody that signed our letter has the courage to not only be a cosponsor of legislation but has the courage to defy the President of the United States on this vote because, quite frankly, although I admire him, he is wrong on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back my time.