Floor Statements

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

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise in support of House Resolution 937. This measure recognizes the vital communication services provided by the American Red Cross to U.S. servicemen and servicewomen serving overseas. Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the American Red Cross provides notification of family emergencies and other important events as to birth and death notices to our forces that are in the field in lands far away.

Whether it be in Iraq or Afghanistan or aboard a ship in the Indian Ocean, the Red Cross messaging system can communicate between members of military families where other civilian means of communication cannot. American Red Cross officials are able to verify emergencies and relay information that is critical to a commander's decision whether to release a servicemember to allow him or her to return home during a time of family hardship. In addition to providing notification, the Red Cross often provides families in crisis with support until a servicemember can return home.

I want to thank the author of this resolution, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), for giving us this opportunity to commend the American Red Cross for its outstanding service to our country's troops and their families. The people of the United States are grateful for the dependable support that the American Red Cross has provide us in times of crisis for the past 127 years.

I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 937.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), the author of this resolution.

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

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

I strongly support House Resolution 1069, which addresses and condemns the spread of encouragement to violence against America and Americans by Middle East-based media outlets. This is not a problem in theory, Mr. Speaker. When TV channels broadcast attacks by insurgents on U.S. soldiers in Iraq or newspapers publish repeated calls for the destruction of the United States, they further endanger the security of American civilians and military personnel in the Middle East. These channels are then broadcast on satellite providers that transmit not only to the region, but as far away as Europe, Asia, Africa and even North America.

We must do everything we can to prevent our enemies from recruiting potential insurgents and homicidal bombers. They must be prevented, from Beirut to London to New York, who seek to shed American blood wherever and whenever they wish.

Media outlets that provide financial, material, or technological support to violent Islamic groups should be held accountable for their hate speech that incites murder of American civilians and military. Given that recipients of U.S. aid, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, control many of the satellite providers that transmit such incitement, we should use our leverage to urge these nations to act responsibly and stop putting these calls for murder on the air of their television stations.

I again rise in very strong support of H. Res. 1069, and I urge my fellow members to do as well.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays).

We have no other speakers. I support the adoption of this immediately, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise today in support of H. Res. 1159, which recognizes the USS Constellation as a surviving witness to the horrors of the Transatlantic slave trade and a significant figure in United States efforts to end that practice.

In this bicentennial year of the abolition of the Transatlantic slave trade, this body has considered a number of resolutions condemning the horrors of slavery and recognizing the efforts of those who sought to combat it. Each of these resolutions has been important, not only for the purpose of preserving our history, but also for calling attention to the fact that today, 200 years after the formal abolition of the Transatlantic slave trade, slavery still continues. It endures in those areas where traffickers are enabled to engage in their inhumane and cruel trade. It thrives where human rights are abused and tyrants rule the day.

I thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) for introducing this later effort to renew the charge of the United States to confront slavery in its various forms around the world while, at the same time, showing the historical significance of the USS Constellation.

On January 1, 1808, the act to ``prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or territory within the jurisdiction of the United States'' took effect. Eleven years later, the United States Congress authorized the Navy to cruise the coast of the African continent and take effective measures to suppress the slave trade. The USS Constellation served as the flagship in this effort from 1859 through 1861, leading the United States African Squadron, as it was called, as it captured 14 slave ships and liberated an estimated 4,000 Africans destined to be enslaved. Today the USS Constellation continues to serve as a museum and a tribute to the efforts of those who sought to end the horrors of the slave trade.

As such, this resolution specifically recognizes the historical and educational significance of the Constellation, and recommends it as an appropriate site for this Nation to commemorate the bicentennial of the abolition of the Transatlantic slave trade.

I urge all my colleagues to support this important resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

We have no other speakers. I support this legislation, and yield back the balance of my time.

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

I'm pleased to rise in support of House Resolution 1254 and join my colleagues in supporting the views and goals of the Joint Action Plan signed between the United States and Brazil to eliminate racial and ethnic discrimination and promote equality. I would like to thank the gentleman from New York, Congressman Engel, for introducing this important measure and appreciate the efforts by his office to ensure that it was a bipartisan effort.

On March 13, 2008, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Brazilian Minister of Racial Integration Edson Santos signed the ``Joint Action Plan Between the Government of the Federated Republic of Brazil and the Government of the United States of America to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality.'' This plan recognizes the commitments of our governments to promote equality and opportunity. It underscores the importance of cooperating in the promotion of human rights in order to maintain an environment of peace, democracy, and prosperity. And it also strengthens the ongoing and vital partnership we share with the country of Brazil.

Furthermore, the Joint Action Plan provides for the creation of a Steering Group to advance the understanding and exchange of information between the United States and Brazil and places a special emphasis on the role that education plays in both of our countries.

House Resolution 1254 recognizes the importance of the U.S.-Brazil Joint Action Plan and highlights the commitment of our two nations to strengthen cooperation in the pursuit of these noble goals. It also serves to underscore and further advance our commitments to democracy in that region of the world.

This increased partnership will work to further enhance our longstanding relationship with Brazil, a key partner in the Western Hemisphere, and deepen the types of friendship between our two peoples.

I applaud the proactive efforts taken by both countries in confronting the ongoing challenges of inequity, and I'm confident that the U.S.-Brazilian Joint Action Plan will only work to further strengthen the historic bonds between our two nations.

I support this legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it was 90 years ago this November that World War I was over; the 11th month, 11th day, 11th hour, it ended.

Frank Buckles was in that war and is the last of his generation. Of the 4.7 million Americans that were mobilized during the First World War, Frank Buckles is the very last doughboy.

His remarkable life began in Bethany, Missouri, where he was born in 1901, during the administration of President McKinley. At the tender age of 16, Buckles lied his way into the United States Army when he enlisted to fight in the First World War. He was rejected by several recruiters, but he was not deterred until he finally found a recruiter that would take him. He joined the United States Army, and he drove an ambulance in Europe during World War I.

Mr. Buckles served in the First World War, and was held then as a prisoner of war by the Japanese for 3 years during World War II.

At the incredible age of 107, Frank Buckles has lived through 46 percent of our Nation's history. Today, he resides on the family farm he purchased near Charlestown, West Virginia, purchased after the first war.

Mr. Buckles is one of the forgotten veterans of a forgotten war. He is the lone survivor of World War I.

During World War I, nearly 116,000 United States warriors gave their lives for this country. 4.7 million served, and they changed the tide of that stalemate war and ensured victory for the Allies. When the doughboys landed in France, our allies were impressed with their fighting spirit, and their tenacity stunned our enemies. When they returned to the United States, there were no parades or major memorials established in honor of them. They returned to the Roaring '20s, and America didn't want to talk about the war because America had decided to move on. Then the depressions of the 1930's hit, and the service of the veterans became a distant memory. Then World War II came, and America never got around to honoring the World War I vets.

Today, we have three memorials to our major wars on modern history on the National Mall. They were built in order: Vietnam Memorial, then the Korean Memorial, and then the World War II Memorial. They were built in reverse order. But there is no national memorial, Mr. Speaker, for the World War I veterans. This was the war that was supposed to be the war to end all world wars.

World War I marked the beginning of the history of modern war. It was the war that brought America into the forefront as a world power. It was the first war to be fought on three continents. And World War I was the first industrialized war with the introduction of major technology in weaponry like machine guns, tanks, artillery guns, and airplanes.

In the 3-week long Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the largest U.S. engagement, 18,000 Americans were killed. Approximately 1,000 doughboys a day were killed. Some are still buried in Europe in graves known only by God.

Many of the servicemembers who survived the tolls of war and came back home to the United States had already contracted a deadly flu virus while they were in France, and many of them died in the United States after the war from that flu.

World War I should not be forgotten. In World War I there were no photographs taken, and after the war no blockbuster movies were made to tell the story.

So today, I was honored to be with Frank Buckles at a press conference at the D.C. World War I Memorial on the National Mall.

Since 1918, the men and women who served in World War I have gone without a national memorial to recognize their service to our country, and it is time that this changed. That is why I have introduced the Frank Buckles World War I Memorial Act. This bill would restore the District of Columbia's World War I Memorial and expand it so it serves a location on our mall for all those that served in World War I.

After 90 years of no national recognition, it is time these doughboys were given the thanks that they are due. After all, Mr. Speaker, they were the ``fathers of the greatest generation.''

When they went off to war in World War I, they sang the song of George M. Cohen, ``Over There,'' and it went something like this:

``Over there. Over there. Tell the world that the Yanks are coming. The Yanks are coming, and we won't be back until it is over, over there.''

Mr. Speaker, it is time to honor the lone survivor of World War I and the other doughboys that went to war over there in the forgotten war, World War I, and build them that national monument on the mall.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, we're back. After a 5-week break, Congress has returned to do the people's business.

The number one concern among Americans is the high cost of energy, especially gasoline. Americans want Congress to come up with an energy plan to make our Nation independent from energy control of foreign powers. We send millions of dollars a day overseas to countries that don't like us and hold us hostage until we pay the ransom for that crude oil.

But Congress is not going to deal with energy legislation today. In fact, our first priority, our very first order of business after this long recess is to name a new Federal building in Virginia. And the second thing we're going to do is name a new Federal building in New York.

So no votes today on offshore drilling, no votes on drilling in ANWR, developing clean coal technology, building nuclear power plants, or anything else regarding energy.

For 5 weeks the lights were off in the House of Congress, and while we were gone they stayed off. We might as well leave them off now because Congress is still in the dark about energy independence.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, today I am proud to pay tribute to Kendrick Perkins, the former basketball standout at Clifton J. Ozen High school and the starting Center for the 2007-2008 NBA Champion Boston Celtics.

Kendrick was born in Nederland, Texas, in 1984. According to his grandmother, he played football and baseball as a young boy but would fall asleep at night holding a basketball. He attended Our Mother of Mercy Catholic School throughout elementary school and was one of the tallest altar boys they have ever seen. So tall, in fact, that they had to have a robe specially made for him. He continued to serve the church until his high school graduation, even while scouts and agents were vying for his services.

Perkins attended Ozen High School in Beaumont, Texas and left quite a legacy on the basketball court. He led the team to three Class 4A Sate Championship games in three years, winning the title as a sophomore in 2001. During that run, his Panthers were a combined 111-4. As a senior, the 6-foot-10 Kendrick averaged 27 points, 16 rebounds, and almost 8 blocked shots per game, easily making him one of the nation's top high school prospects.

After graduating from high school in 2003, a number of elite colleges recruited him and he was considered by some to be the best high school center in America. He was ranked alongside LeBron James as the nation's top recruits, but so far advanced was his game that he spent that summer traveling to tryouts with a number of NBA teams. He was drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft with the 27th overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies and immediately traded to the Boston Celtics, one of the most successful franchises in all sports.

Kendrick played a support role as the team's ``enforcer'' during his first few years in the league, earning a reputation as one of the tougher players on the team. He would eventually work his way up the depth chart to starting center. In 2007, the team made a number of off- season moves that would leave the Celtics as the favorite to win the title. The team had the best record in the league during the regular season and had home court advantage throughout the playoffs.

The playoffs were more difficult than they would have hoped. Their first two series both went to seven games but they were able to pull through. Kendrick and the Celtics beat former prep-rival LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals to bring the Celtics to their first NBA Finals appearance since the 1985-86 season. Their opponents were the Los Angeles Lakers, facing each other in the Finals for a record 11th time. There was genuine buzz and excitement around the NBA for the first time in recent memory and Kendrick would have a chance to shine.

The first few games saw the Celtics dominate the series at home. The Lakers were able to win one when they returned to their home court and had a chance to win Game 4 before the Celtics made the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history to win the game. Perkins injured his shoulder and sat out Game 5. He was doubtful for Game 6 but showed the toughness that has come to define him and played through the pain to help the Celtics win their 17th overall championship. Perkins averaged 6 points and 6 rebounds to lead his team to the 2007-08 NBA Championship.

On behalf of the Second Congressional District of Texas, I applaud Kendrick Perkins on his outstanding achievements. He has been successful on and off the court, and I applaud his dedication to his community and to his team.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, today I am proud to honor the Steinhagen Oil Company, for their commitment to community service has earned them the 2008 Spindletop Award for outstanding corporate citizenship.

The Steinhagen Oil Company is a third generation, family owned business that owns over 25 gasoline stations across Southeast Texas and supplies numerous others with unbranded fuel. E. Harvey Steinhagen founded the company and began selling fuel in the 1930's. They currently employ over 200 workers across the region.

The Steinhagen Family has a long history of community service. Mark Steinhagen served as Chairman of the Board of the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce from 1970-71 and encouraged a focus on economic development efforts. His son Roy is the current Chairman and Chief Operations Officer for the company. He helped raise $2.6 million for the construction of a new Salvation Army building. Roy is currently the President of the Lamar University Foundation and is a member of the Texas State Bank advisory board of directors, the Jefferson Theatre Preservation Society, and the advisory board of trustees of Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital.

On behalf of the Second Congressional District of Texas, I applaud the Steinhagen Oil Company on its outstanding achievement. They have helped make our world a better place to live, and I applaud their unwavering service and dedication to the community.

Madam Speaker, James DeLeon is one this year's 2008 high school graduates. The difference is he is 83 years old.

He was born in Goliad, Texas, and when World War II broke out he dropped out of Ganado High School, lied about his age and joined the U.S. Marine Corps. His 16-year-old brother, Charlie, did the same thing a few weeks later.

James was part of the 6,000 Marines sent into battle at Guadalcanal in the South Pacific in 1942. There, they seized the island's airport and never relinquished it. He was also in the invasion of Okinawa--the site of one of the fiercest battles of World War II--where he remained until the end of the war. He had served 34 months in the Marine Corps.

Then, James returned to Texas and married his sweetheart, Susie Marie Elizondo; raised seven children and worked for 36 years at the Port Arthur, Texas, Texaco refining plant. Recently, his daughter Theresa located a lost letter from the Marines to Ganado High School dated 1947 stating that DeLeon met all the requirements to earn his diploma. She mailed it to the current principal and James was then honored with his own graduation ceremony.

James DeLeon is yet another successful member of the Greatest Generation that answered America's call in time of need.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, today I am proud to honor the lifetime of service given by Maurine Gray, longtime director of the Beaumont, Texas, Library. She spent almost 40 years serving the city and helped turn their public library system into one of the best in the State.

Enid Maurine Gray was born in Galveston, Texas, in 1943. An only child, she moved to Beaumont before her third birthday so her father could work as a family physician at a local refinery. After her high school graduation, she continued her education and received her BA from Northeast Louisiana State College and her Master's Degree in library science from North Texas State University.

She returned to Beaumont in 1966 to head the city's then fledgling library system. At the time, there were two libraries. Under her vision, the City of Beaumont established an additional four libraries, including a new main Library. Maurine was employed by the City of Beaumont from 1966 until her retirement in November of 2006. Never one to rest, she was hired back after retirement as a part-time consultant on projects including the expansion of Terrell Historical Library.

Numerous professional accolades were awarded to Maurine throughout her life. She was elected the secretary/treasurer of the American Library Association in 1972 during their annual convention. North Texas State named her a Distinguished Alumnus in 1980. In 1992, the Texas Municipal League named her the Library Director of the Year. She also received the Athena Award in 2005, which is presented to a woman for her professional achievements.

Maurine was the Library Director but she also wore many other hats. She worked with United Way, the Humane Society, the Beaumont Rotary Club where she once served as President, the Beaumont Civic Opera, and the Beaumont Heritage Society, to name a few. She was affiliated with the Texas Municipal Librarians Association, Junior Roundtable of Texas Library Association, and was a member of the Texas State Library Advisory Council.

Enid Maurine Gray passed away on June 21, 2008.

On behalf of the Second Congressional District of Texas, I applaud Maurine Gray on her lifetime of dedication and service to the community. She has made Southeast Texas a better place to live.

Madam Speaker, ``Where oh where has Congress gone,

Where o where can they be?

With gas so high and this recess so long,

Where oh where can they be?''

Where oh where has Congress gone? Well Madam Speaker, they're not here, they've gotten out of Dodge. They have left the American people behind in a cloud of dust and high gasoline prices. Congress is on the run; it has not dealt with the energy crisis and not attempted to solve high gasoline prices. So it's sneaking out of town for five weeks-gone on vacation.

The American people won't be going on vacation, because they cannot afford gasoline to take a family trip. My 83 year old parents who are on fixed incomes cant even afford gasoline to go to church. So what is Congress' answer? Leave town in the darkness of the night?

The question Madam Speaker is why? Why don't they stick around and let us vote on taking care of America? For example, let's vote on offshore drilling--most Americans favor it. We are the representatives of America. Let's vote, up or down, on offshore drilling. It's an environmental myth that we cannot drill safely offshore. We need to drill in ANWAR. Why didn't Congress stick around and vote on drilling in ANWAR?

The American taxpayer shells out 425 million dollars a day to Saudi Arabia for crude oil. We pay this ransom because Congress won't take care of America. The United States is the only major power in the world that does not use its own natural resources. This is nonsense and rather than deal with this crisis Congress has turned its back on the American people--dispersed to parts unknown throughout the fruited plain and fled town. This is shameful conduct. The President should use his constitutional power and call for a special

session of this Congress to deal with energy. We should round up all those members of Congress that have fled the scene, bring them back and solve this energy crisis--specifically high gasoline prices.

``Where oh where has Congress gone,

Where o where can they be?

With gas so high and this recess so long,

Where oh where can they be?''

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, today I am proud to honor the life of Mr. Alvin G. Randolph who passed away June 23, 2008. Mr. Randolph was a businessperson, a fine father, and served his community. He also played a role in desegregating the Lamar State College of Technology in 1956, giving a countless number of youth an equal opportunity for education no matter their race.

Alvin was born in Orange, Texas, as the third of eleven children. He graduated from high school in 1943 and enrolled in Prairie View College shortly afterwards, where he worked as a repair person for room and board. He put his education on hold to serve his country when he was drafted into World War II as an officer candidate. After his service to his country, he returned home and attended Jefferson Junior College where he earned his real estate broker's license.

At the same time, there was a tremendous social revolution happening in the United States. In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court decided the landmark case Brown vs. Board of Education, naming separate educational facilities inherently unequal and setting the stage for integration and the Civil Rights Movement. This opened the doors to schools and universities across the nation but there was still a segment of the population that was set on keeping them closed.

As African-American students walked up to the doors of their new universities, they were often greeted with protests and picket lines and Lamar State College of Technology was no different. Nevertheless, Alvin and 25 other black students enrolled and were accepted to Lamar's campus of 5,455 students. They battled the almost riotous conditions and paved the way to an equal education for a student of any race.

Randolph earned his business degree in 1958 and went on to study property law at Texas Southern University. He worked as a real estate broker, homebuilder, and life insurance underwriter. With his wife Jerodine, they had five children. He was active in both the Northside and Eleventh Street Churches of Christ and served on the Board of Directors at the L.L. Melton YMCA. He passed away at the age of 80.

On behalf of the Second Congressional District of Texas, I honor Mr. Alvin Randolph for his courage in the face of tremendous adversity. He helped make our world a better place to live, and I applaud his unwavering service and dedication to the community. Alvin Randolph is a true American hero.

Madam Speaker, flying the friendly skies seems to be increasingly out of reach for most travelers. I, like many other Americans, am a frequent flyer and have been fortunate enough to have always arrived at my destination safely. Because of the quick action of pilots Captain David Skidmore, 1st Officer Michael Nelson Jr. and the crew of Continental flight 458 on July 22, 2008 this statement still holds true. Captain David Skidmore, has worked for Continental Airlines for seven years and recently completed his Captain's training in December of 2007. 1st Officer Michael Nelson Jr. has been with Continental since May 2008.

When our plane suddenly lost altitude and cabin pressure on Tuesday afternoon, the pilots regained control of the aircraft without hesitation. As I, along with the 117 other people, including 6 other members of Congress, aboard the D.C.-bound flight from Houston, TX put on our oxygen masks we imagined the possibilities. While the plane took a steep dissent at rapid speed, Captain David Skidmore and 1st Officer Michael Nelson Jr. remained calm under the pressure.

Although faced with a possibly dire situation, the pilots were able to safely make an emergency landing in New Orleans. We landed with the fire trucks lining the runway-just like in the movies. From the time when our flight began experiencing difficulties to when we were on the ground 20 minutes later, the pilots and crew flawlessly executed their emergency procedures. Continental Airlines made travel arrangements for all 117 passengers and put us on three different flights to D.C. We arrived in Washington about six hours later. The members of Congress did miss votes however. Ironically, one bill was to upgrade aviation safety. The bill passed unanimously without the missing seven members of Congress. No doubt, if present I would have voted yes on this bill

Mr. Speaker, it was 213 to get out of town and it was 212 to stay here and do our job, which is to pass an energy bill for Americans. So the 213 that won this vote, at the end of the day tomorrow they're getting out of town. But you see, back home where I live, people can't even leave town because they don't have enough money to pay for gasoline for their vehicles.

It's a shame on Congress that we are going in recess when we have to deal and have not dealt with the issue of high energy prices.

So let's bring a vote up today on whether we should drill offshore or not. Let Congress decide--no politics, up or down vote--whether we should drill offshore and get America back to work by lowering gasoline prices. That's what we need to do rather than get out of Dodge--or should I say Washington, DC.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, today I am proud to recognize one of boxing's most feared fighters, Mr. George Foreman. We are near the same age, and I have been a fan since I was a kid.

A product of a less fortunate family, Houstonian George Foreman was in constant trouble with the law. He vowed to make a better life for himself and later joined the Job Corp. While stationed in Oregon, Foreman became infamous for picking fights with fellow trainees. It was then that his fighting skills were noticed and he was introduced to the sport of boxing, which he grew to love. Foreman got his start as an amateur from the AAU in San Francisco.

At the age of 19, Foreman won a gold medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games. He won his first fight on points and then three fights by stoppage--including the final title bout against the favored Soviet fighter. After winning the gold, Forman walked around the ring, holding high a small American flag following his victory. Some people chastised him for his display; others, however, lauded him for being a patriotic American during a time of political upheaval and strife. Madam Speaker, this was the most patriotic moment I had ever seen.

Foreman, after an amazing amateur record of 27-0, turned professional in 1969 with a three-round knockout of Donald Walheim in New York. He had 12 fights that year, winning all of them, 11 by knockout. Among the fighters he defeated was Cookie Wallace, who lasted only 23 seconds.

In 1970, Foreman continued his journey toward the undisputed heavyweight title. In 1971, he won seven more fights. After amassing a record of 32-0, Foreman ranked as the number one challenger by the World Boxing Association and Council. In 1972, his string of wins continued with a series of five consecutive bouts in which he defeated each opponent within three rounds.

Still undefeated, and with an impressive knockout record, Foreman was set to challenge undefeated and undisputed world heavyweight champion Joe Frazier. Foreman knocked down Frazier six times in two rounds to win the championship by knockout in one of boxing's biggest upsets. In what was HBO Boxing's first broadcast, the call made by Howard Cosell became one of the most memorable in all of sports: ``Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!'' Before the fight, Frazier was 29-0, with 25 knockouts, and Foreman was 37-0, with 34 knockouts. Equally memorable was Foreman's final punch, an uppercut, landed with such force that it lifted Frazier off his feet before sending him to the canvas for the sixth and final time. As he had done following the previous knockdowns, Frazier managed to get to his feet, but the referee called an end to the bout.

Nevertheless, Foreman went on to defend his title successfully twice during his initial reign as champion. His first defense, in Tokyo, pitted him against Puerto Rican heavyweight champion Jose Roman. Roman was not regarded as a top contender, and it took Foreman only 55 seconds to end the fight, the fastest-ever knockout for a heavyweight championship bout. Foreman's next defense was against a much tougher opponent. In 1974, he faced the highly regarded Ken Norton who was 30- 2, a boxer notorious for his awkward boxing style. Norton's ability to ``take a punch'' was suspect, and Foreman put him to the test. In an astonishing display of aggression and punching power, Foreman knocked out Norton in just two rounds. The win made Foreman 40-0 with 37 knockouts.

After losing his title to Muhammad Ali in 1974, Foreman remained inactive during 1975. In 1976, he returned to boxing in Las Vegas against Ron Lyle. After a very intense and extensive struggle by both fighters, the fight was stopped and Foreman was declared the winner. For his next bout, Foreman chose to face Joe Frazier in a rematch. Frazier at this point was 32-3 and Foreman was 41-1, but people doubted Foreman's ability. Unable to mount a significant offense, Frazier was eventually floored twice by Foreman in the fifth round and the fight was stopped. Next, Foreman knocked out Scott Ledoux in three and Dino Dennis in four to finish the year.

Foreman fought five men in one night in a 1975 exhibition. He won five straight knockouts on the comeback trail before being decked and decision-ed by Jimmy Young in Puerto Rico in 1977. Foreman stated that he saw God in his dressing room following the defeat and announced he was going to become a preacher and retire from boxing. He became a born-again Christian, dedicating his life for the next decade to Christianity. Although he did not formally retire from boxing, he did stop fighting, became an ordained minister of a church in Houston, Texas, and devoted himself to his family and his parishioners. He also opened a youth center that bears his name. Foreman continues to share his conversion experience on Christian television broadcasts such as The 700 Club and the Trinity Broadcasting Network, and has joked that Young ``knocked the devil out of him''.

When Foreman decided to return to the ring to raise money for his church; experts laughed, but he racked up 18 straight knockout victories. He was defeated in a title bid by Evander Holyfield. In 1994, Foreman again shocked the world by knocking out undefeated World Heavyweight Champion Michael Moorer, 39-0, to become champion again at age 45.

Shortly after the Moorer fight, Foreman faced mid-level prospect Axel Schulz of Germany in defense of his remaining International Boxing Federation title. Foreman finished the fight with an unsightly swelling over one eye, but was awarded a highly controversial majority decision. The IBF ordered an immediate rematch to be held in Germany, but Foreman refused the terms and found himself stripped of his remaining title.

In 1996, Foreman returned to Tokyo, scoring an easy win over the unrated Crawford Grimsley by a 12-round decision. In 1997, he faced fringe contender Lou Savarese, winning a close decision in a grueling, competitive encounter. Yet another opportunity came Foreman's way as the World Boxing Council decided to match him against Shannon Briggs in a 1998 ``eliminator bout'' for the right to face World Boxing Council champion Lennox Lewis. After 12 rounds, there was once again a controversial majority decision, but this time the victory went to Briggs. Foreman had fought for the last time, at the age of 48.

In January 2003, Foreman was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame, where he was inducted in June. That same year, he was named boxing's ninth greatest puncher of all time by Ring Magazine.

Foreman said he had no plans to resume his career as a boxer, but then announced in February 2004 that he was training for one more comeback fight to demonstrate that the age of 60, like 40, is not a ``death sentence.'' The bout, against an unspecified opponent, never materialized. Having severed his relationship with HBO to pursue other opportunities, George Foreman and the sport of boxing finally went their separate ways.

Life has definitely gone on after boxing for ``Big George Foreman.'' In addition to becoming the Heavyweight Champion of the World and an Olympic Medal Winner, Olympic Hall of Famer, he wears the titles of pastor, nationally recognized spokesperson, entrepreneur, author, reality television star, mentor and role model. He has been the face of Meineke Mufflers, and countless homes in the country have the George Foreman Lean Mean Fat Reducing Grilling Machine.

In 2004, Foreman began marketing the George Foreman brand of ``Big and Tall'' clothes through the retailer Casual Male. He has even appeared as a judge on the second season of the ABC reality television series American Inventor. Foreman has four books: The Autobiography of George Foreman; God in My Corner: A Spiritual Memoir; Going the Extra Smile; and Fatherhood by George: Hard-Won Advice on Being a Dad.

On May 22, 2007, it was announced that Foreman had become a partner in the Panther Racing Indy Car team, in the Indianapolis 500; and on July 16, 2008, TV Land premiered Family Foreman, a reality TV show, starring George and his family.

Big George Foreman continues to be extremely active in the community. He encourages young people through his George Foreman Youth Center in Houston, and he built The George Foreman Youth & Community Center in 1984 with money saved from his 8-year retirement. Foreman wanted to create a haven for kids to hang out.

I am proud to recognize my friend whom I admire greatly, Mr. George Foreman, for his accomplishments in and out of the boxing ring. He has repeatedly shown us all that you can overcome all odds and obstacles. He is a shining testament of hard work and determination, and I applaud all of his accomplishments and service to the community.

And that's just the way it is.