Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5105) to authorize the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to carry out construction and related activities in support of the collaborative Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS) project on Kitt Peak near Tucson, Arizona.

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

I want to begin this evening by congratulating the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia on the impending return of Major League Baseball to the Washington, D.C., area. I would only ask if she could use her considerable clout to get the new team located in the American League, and I could watch the Cleveland Indians play here in the Nation's Capital.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5105, introduced by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney), my good friend, authorizes site development and construction of support facilities for the VERITAS project at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona.

I want to pause for a minute because this particular piece of legislation has been sort of a tug of war with our good friends in the Parliamentarian's Office and our good friends in the Committee on House Administration, together with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. And I want to commend the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney), chairman of the Committee on House Administration, for working with us. Those of us who love and enjoy the jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure believe that this is a piece of legislation and this is a project that belongs solely within our jurisdiction. We have an artistic difference with some of our friends, and we have worked through that. So, again, I want to thank the parliamentarians and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) for getting us to this point this evening.

This project, carried out by the Smithsonian Institution in conjunction with nearly a dozen universities from the United States, U.K., Canada, and Ireland, the new telescopic array will

be able to see gamma rays, which are not visible from traditional earth-based telescopes.

The ability to view gamma-ray radiation will allow scientists to learn new things about the universe including shedding light on previously unseen parts of the universe. Gamma rays are only produced with high-energy galactic events such as exploding stars, pulsars, quasars and black holes. The new telescopic array will be able to view these gamma rays by observing the secondary radiation created when the gamma rays hit the earth's atmosphere.

The VERITAS telescope will increase the viewable power by a factor of ten, making it one of the most powerful gamma-ray telescopes on the planet. This is an important scientific project, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

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

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. 3124) to designate the facility of the United States Geological Survey and the United States Bureau of Reclamation located at 230 Collins Road, Boise, Idaho, as the ``F.H. Newell Building''.

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

H.R. 3124, introduced by the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Otter), designates the facility of the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation located in Boise, Idaho, as the ``F.H. Newell Building.''

Fredrick Haynes Newell was born in Bradford, Pennsylvania, on March 5, 1862. He attended MIT where he studied mining engineering. Upon his graduation he went to work for the U.S. Geological Service, when he was tapped to head an irrigation survey team mapping sites of potential dams in the American West.

While doing his work, F.H. Newell developed several stream-gauging techniques and invented the instruments that are still in use today by the Geological Survey. Upon passage of the Reclamation Act of 1902, F.H. Newell was appointed as the first chief engineer and later the second director of what has now become the Bureau of Reclamation.

In his autobiography, President Teddy Roosevelt praised Newell for his ``constructive imagination,'' leadership, and high character. After leaving federal service, F.H. Newell became an educator, being named head of the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Illinois. He was also the author or co-author of seven books and a number of articles on engineering techniques.

This is a fitting tribute to a creative and dedicated public servant. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

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

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. 1402) to designate a United States courthouse in Brownsville, Texas, as the ``Garza-Vela United States Courthouse,'' as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1402 introduced by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ortiz) designates the United States courthouse located in Brownsville, Texas, as the Reynaldo G. Garza and Filemon B. Vela United States Courthouse.

This legislation honors two men who were pioneers, as well as judicial giants, yet at the same time two men who made time for family and community.

Reynaldo Guerra Garza was born in Brownsville, Texas in 1915 and spent his lifetime working in and serving that community as an attorney in the Army Air Corps and as a Federal judge committed to protecting the rights of legal immigrants.

President Kennedy appointed Judge Garza to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas in 1961. At that time, Judge Garza became the first Mexican American on any U.S. District Court. In 1979, when President Jimmy Carter appointed Judge Garza to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, he became the first Mexican American to gain that honor as well.

Filemon Bartolome Vela was born in Arlington, Texas in 1936 and attended the Harlingen public schools. Like Judge Garza, he dedicated his life to South Texas, first as a State judge, and then as a Federal judge, taking over the seat vacated by Judge Garza upon his appointment to the circuit court of appeals.

Judge Vela is perhaps best known in the community for his work with the schools, speaking to children on career days and encouraging youth to get an education by supporting literacy programs.

Each of these gentleman succumbed to their illnesses in the past year. This naming is a fitting tribute to their dedicated service. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

I also want to recognize my colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ortiz), for his dedication in bringing this legislation to the floor. I thank him for ensuring that these men are recognized for their service.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge our colleagues to support passage of the bill. I again want to congratulate the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), and look forward to sporting a new Washington Delegates baseball cap in the near future.

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

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 H.R. 5105, H.R. 3124 and H.R. 1402.

Offered By: Mr. LaTourette

Amendment No. 12: Page 23, after line 2, insert the

following new section:

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 647) supporting the goals of National Marina Day and urging marinas to continue providing environmentally friendly gateways to boating.

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

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 647, which was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal), proclaims the House of Representatives' support for the goals and ideals of National Marina Day and urges marina owners and operators to continue their strong stewardship of the marine environment so that this Nation's waters may be enjoyed by recreational boaters for generations to come.

August 14 is National Marina Day, and this is a perfect resolution to be considering in the week prior to the August recess. Throughout the country, Americans of every economic class are using their summer vacations to enjoy their own recreational boats or to charter time on professionally operated vessels.

The vast majority of boat owners do not have their own docks, and many boaters hire vessels rather than owning their own vessels. Therefore, without the Nation's 12,000 marinas and the services they provide, many of these boaters would be unable to maintain, operate, and enjoy their recreational boating. In turn, by providing dock space and services to the Nation's boat owners and operators, marinas provide 140,000 jobs and generate significant tax revenue.

As the resolution states, marinas are places where friends and families, united by a passion for the water, can come together for recreation, rest, and relaxation. Certainly in this summer season, we should support the goals and ideals of such places.

I want to commend our colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal), for introducing this resolution. I urge our colleagues to cast an ``aye'' vote to support the goals and ideals of National Marina Day.

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

Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Speaker, in Ohio we always had trouble finding the little saddles necessary to accommodate the fish rodeos. They are very popular in Ohio as well.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal), the author of this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3884) to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 615 East Houston Street in San Antonio, Texas, as the ``Hipolito F. Garcia Federal Building and United States Courthouse''.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3884, introduced by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gonzalez), designates the Federal Building and United States Courthouse located at 615 East Houston Street, San Antonio, Texas, as the Hipolito F. Garcia Federal Building and United States Courthouse.

Judge Garcia was born in San Antonio, Texas, on December 4, 1925, and grew up in a neighborhood a few blocks from the very courthouse that will now bear his name. After serving his country in the Army from 1943 to 1945, Judge Garcia attended St. Mary's University School of Law. He graduated in 1951 and began working for Bexar County, Texas, as the Assistant Criminal Attorney, a position he held until 1963.

After a short time practicing law privately, Judge Garcia served as Judge to the county court in 1964 and State district court until 1974. Judge Garcia's career culminated in 1981 when President Carter appointed him to the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. He sadly passed away on January 16, 2002.

Judge Garcia is remembered as a man who treated everyone with respect and remained humble despite his high position. He served his country in arms and in justice, and he was the first Mexican American to serve as a United States District Judge in the Western District of Texas.

This is a fitting tribute to a dedicated public servant. I support this legislation and urge my colleagues to do the same.

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

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

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. 4294) to designate the annex to the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Building and United States Courthouse located at 333 Constitution Ave. Northwest in Washington, District of Columbia, as the ``Judge William B. Bryant Annex to the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Building and United States Courthouse,'' as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4294, introduced by the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) designates the annex to the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Building and United States Courthouse as the William B. Bryant Annex to the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Building and United States Courthouse.

Judge Bryant was born in Alabama, but raised in Washington, D.C. He attended public schools here in the District, and graduated from Dunbar High School. He received both his bachelor and law degrees from Howard University.

In 1943, like many of his generation, he entered the United States Army receiving a commission as a first lieutenant. He was honorably discharged in 1947, having attained the rank of lieutenant colonel.

After 18 years in private practice, marked by a brief period with the Department of Justice, William Bryant was appointed to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in 1965.

In 1977, Judge Bryant became the first African American to serve as the Chief Judge for the D.C. District Court. Judge Bryant took senior status in 1982 although he continued to hear cases long after many others would have retired.

I would like to commend the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) for being persistent in bringing this bill to the floor to honor a distinguished jurist.

This is a fitting tribute to a respected judge. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

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

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

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. Res. 647, H.R. 3884 and H.R. 4294, the matters that we have just been discussing.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 56) expressing the sense of the Congress that States should require candidates for driver's licenses to demonstrate an ability to exercise greatly increased caution when driving in the proximity of a potentially visually impaired individual.

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

Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 56 expresses the sense of Congress that States should require candidates for driver's licenses to demonstrate an ability to exercise greatly increased caution when driving in the proximity of a potentially visually impaired individual.

Hundreds of visually impaired individuals have had their white canes and guide dogs run over by motor vehicles, have been struck by the sideview mirrors of motor vehicles, and have suffered serious personal injury and death as a result of being hit by cars.

Unfortunately, many States do not require candidates for driver's licenses to associate the use of the white cane or guide dog with potentially visually impaired individuals.

With a little education by the States, and some extra attention paid by drivers, we can greatly improve the safety along our surface streets for those individuals who are visually impaired.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of H. Con. Res. 56.

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

Mr. Speaker, I will yield myself the remainder of our time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) for drafting this concurrent resolution. It is a good idea. I think it is sound policy and urge our colleagues to support it.

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 pass the Senate bill (S. 2017) to designate the United States courthouse and post office building located at 93 Atocha Street in Ponce, Puerto Rico, as the ``Luis A. Ferre United States Courthouse and Post Office Building''.

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

Mr. Speaker, S. 2017, which is identical to a bill that was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Acevedo-Vila), designates the building located at 93 Atocha Street in Ponce, Puerto Rico, as the Luis A. Ferre United States Courthouse and Post Office Building.

Luis Ferre was born in 1904 in the town of Ponce, Puerto Rico, just after the transition from Spanish to American control. In 1917 at the age of 13, Luis Ferre and the people of Puerto Rico received citizenship from the United States. Leveraging this advantage, Luis Ferre attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduated with a bachelor's degree in engineering in 1924.

Upon graduation, Luis Ferre returned to his native Puerto Rico to work in his family business, the Puerto Rican Cement and Iron Works. He eventually took over and built the business into a hugely successful enterprise.

Having made his mark in business, the ever-ambitious Ferre attempted to conquer politics. His first experience was as a mayoral candidate for his home city of Ponce in 1940. However, he quickly set his sights higher. In 1952, the year before Puerto Rico achieved commonwealth status, he won a seat in the Puerto Rican House of Representatives.

Using this new political independence, and driven by his love for Puerto Rico and his experiences in the United States, he began to mobilize his resources in the cause of statehood. In 1967 he founded the New Progressive Party. The next year he ran and won the gubernatorial election, a position he held for one term, from 1969 to 1973. In that position he was a champion for the statehood movement and is still remembered for his efforts.

In addition to his business in political activities, Luis Ferre was an avid supporter of the arts. In 1965, he founded the Museo de Arte de Ponce. The museum houses an impressive collection of art from the medieval times to the present. It has become a major cultural attraction in his home city.

Luis Ferre was a dedicated scholar, entrepreneur, statesman, and humanitarian. He passed away in October 2003 and is buried in his hometown of Ponce. This is a fitting tribute to a dedicated Puerto Rican, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting passage of this bill.

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

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

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 S. 2017 and H. Con. Res. 56, the measures just considered by the House.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of the late U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant Donald Ames O'Brian, who served proudly as an Infantry platoon leader with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division.

O'Brian was killed in action on June 17, 1945, by an exploding Japanese artillery shell, near Calinan, Mindanao, Philippine Islands.

O'Brian was born on March 20, 1923, in Berwyn, Illinois. He was the son of Harold and Florence O'Brian, and graduated from my alma mater, Cleveland Heights High School, in June 1941. He attended Fenn College (later to become Cleveland State University), and

worked at Thompson Products Company (later to become TRW Corporation).

After enlisting in the U.S. Army and completing basic training, O'Brian volunteered for Officer Candidate School. Upon Graduation, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Anti-Aircraft Artillery branch. O'Brian soon requested a transfer to the Infantry branch so that he could engage in active combat as an Infantry platoon leader in the Pacific theater of operations under the command of General Douglas MacArthur.

O'Brian participated in the liberation of the Philippine Islands with the 21st Infantry Regiment of the 24th Infantry Division, which invaded Mindanao Island, about 600 miles south of Manila. He dedicated himself to leading the men in his platoon, and earned their respect as he led them in combat. The 21st Infantry Regiment was engaged in 63 continuous days of combat against stiff Japanese resistance during the liberation of Mindanao Island.

Sadly, O'Brian was killed on June 17, 1945, a day before final victory was achieved by the 21st Regiment.

Lt. Col. Roy W. Marcy, commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, wrote a letter to O'Brian's mother that said: ``Donald displayed superior courage and bravery as leader of his platoon. The aggressiveness and leadership, which Donald exhibited, gives those of us who remain a wonderful example to follow in future operations against the enemy. Donald was the traditional hard fighting American soldier and he is grievously missed by all his fellow officers and soldiers.''

As a tangible expression of the esteem held for O'Brian, the officers and men of the 2nd Battalion named an encampment area ``Camp D. A. O'Brian'' in his honor. O'Brian's mother received his posthumous Purple Heart medal, and letters of condolence from General MacArthur and Secretary of War Henry Stimson.

Recently, Mrs. Lorraine Sutliff of Aurora, OH, contacted my office to determine if there were any additional medals her brother was entitled to that were authorized by the War Department after the end of World War II.

We determined that O'Brian was entitled to the following awards: the Combat Infantryman's Badge for being an Infantry platoon leader in combat; Bronze Star Medal for his meritorious service in combat; American Campaign Medal for his service in the United States; Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal for service in the Pacific Theater; and the World War II Victory Medal. He was also eligible for the Philippine Liberation Medal authorized by the Philippine government.

Lawrence Binyon was a British poet who wrote ``For the Fallen'' to honor all of the soldiers who died defending liberty and freedom during World War I. His words of comfort are timeless to express the precious memories of all those brave soldiers who died to keep this great country free.

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

Mr. Speaker, a grateful nation honors Lt. O'Brian's heroism and the ultimate sacrifice he paid to achieve victory in the Philippines.

Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order.

Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order against Page 31, Line 11, beginning with the words ``provided further'' through the word ``funds'' on Line 15.

This section violates clause 2 of rule XXI. It changes existing law, therefore constitutes legislating on an appropriations bill in violation of the House rules.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman of the subcommittee for yielding time to me.

I was in my office listening to this debate and came rushing over because I heard a couple of things during the debate that disturbed me. One was from the gentleman from Connecticut, who, in response to an observation by the chairman, said he does not believe that the technology does not exist today to do what their amendment seeks to do. I believe that and I believe that to be true.

The other observation was there was reference made to the folks in the gallery who came here, and the observation was they probably do not know that the cargo that goes into the belly of their passenger plane is not screened. I would venture to say that most people that get on passenger planes do not even know that they are carrying cargo. Most people that get on passenger planes, however, also do not know that it is the cost of the cargo, the money that the airlines make relative to the cargo shipments, that enable them not only to have cheaper fares but also enable them to fly to small areas.

Just citing one airline that is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, an area that is near and dear to my heart, if this amendment were to pass, I have been advised 67 jobs would be lost at that one airport by that one airline. For that one airline, $325 million in revenue would have to be made up in higher and additional fares. And service to smaller communities, again the folks in the gallery, if they live in New York or Chicago or Los Angeles, they can get home, but if they live in some of the smaller hubs, they are not getting home because there will be no service to those areas because their fares are subsidized by the revenues made up as a result of cargo shipments.

I have to say, Mr. Chairman, that, again, the chairman has done a good job in this bill. He has doubled the amount of belly cargo that is being inspected. From where we are today, 100 new inspectors are being added, research and development so that pilot programs going on down in Houston and other areas can continue to go. This is a well-intended amendment. I think we all want to get to 100 percent, but it is a wrong-headed amendment because the technology that they seek to impose does not exist today.

I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment. I want to congratulate the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Sabo), for crafting what I think is exactly the right approach.

Their bill recognizes that all of America needs to be protected at least a little bit, and those areas of the country with the greater risk get the lion's share of the money, something like 60 percent. The bill that we had through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure was 70 percent, and that is exactly the right thing to do.

Terrorism can be the cause behind a chemical release in Texas, a hijacking in New York, a bombing in Wyoming, or the destruction of a lock on the Mississippi River.

In 1994, Mr. Chairman, I was elected to this Congress with three other freshmen from Ohio, Mr. Ney, Mr. Chabot and Mr. Cremeans, who is sadly now passed away. There was a headline that said we were the four French guys from Ohio. If you are from a French lineage, you remember the Maginot Line where the French very seriously hardened the Maginot Line and said, Nazi Germany, you can't get us because we're hiding behind the Maginot Line. Do you know what the Nazis did? They marched around the Maginot Line.

The gentleman from Kentucky's bill recognizes that New York, California, Washington, D.C. all have to be hardened because they are the subject of chatter that the terrorists want to strike to cause the biggest splash on our friends and allies in the media, CNN and everywhere else; but the gentleman from Kentucky also recognizes that the people that live in Mr. Latham's Iowa, in Pennsylvania, in other parts of the country need to be protected as well. Everybody that testified before our committee says we have to recognize everybody needs to be minimally prepared so that if we have a terrorist attack, we are ready to go. The gentleman from Kentucky has accomplished that vision and I congratulate him.

I yield to the gentleman from Iowa.