Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, due to other congressional business, I unfortunately missed recorded votes on the House floor on Tuesday, December 4, 2007. Had I been able to vote that day, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall vote No. 1123 and ``yea'' on rollcall votes Nos. 1124, 1125, and 1126.

Mr. Speaker, the freedom of religion is under attack in Great Britain.

Last week British news reported that the daughter of a British Imam, we will call her Hannah, is living under police protection after receiving death threats from her father and brother because she converted to Christianity.

Hannah was born in Britain to immigrant Pakistani parents. She renounced the Muslim faith when she was a teenager and has been in hiding for over 10 years.

After multiple death threats and an attempt on her life by 40 men, led by her father, brandishing axes, hammers, and knives, Hannah has sought protection from the British Government.

According to her, her father believes that the Koran teaches that anyone who walks away from Islam should be killed. Well, murder is bad enough, but murder in the name of religion is worse, and it's legal, at least in a free state where all religions are to be tolerated, even Christianity.

Democracy values the freedom of other people's faith; it does not restrict it. That is the difference in a democracy and a government that is controlled by a religion.

And that's just the way it is.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 842, as amended, expressing sympathy and support for the victims of Cyclone Sidr in southern Bangladesh. At the outset, I would like to commend the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Rothman) for introducing this timely measure, and also extend my appreciation to Chairman Lantos, as well as Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, for helping to expedite its consideration before the House today.

As my colleagues may know, on the 15th of November a powerful, category five-equivalent tropical cyclone struck low-lying areas of Bangladesh from the Bay of Bengal. Mr. Speaker, in the West we call these tropical storms hurricanes, and in the Far East they call them cyclones. Be that as it may, they both have destructive power. Being from southeast Texas on the gulf coast, we call the area ``hurricane alley,'' and we are not unfamiliar with hurricanes. Even this year, Hurricane Humberto, and Hurricane Rita 2 years ago hit my area of the State of Texas.

So, the effects of hurricanes and cyclones are devastating. The effects of Cyclone Sidr has been extremely devastating to the people. Some 6.8 million people have been affected by this disaster, 3,000 people have died, 1,000 people are unaccounted for, and approximately 15,000 people have been injured. In the immediate aftermath of this storm, President and Mrs. Bush offered condolences to the victims, especially those who lost loved ones, people who lost homes and livelihoods in this tragedy.

The United States immediately conveyed to the authorities in Dhaka its willingness to assist in responding to this natural disaster. The United States Agency for International Development provided more than $19 million in emergency funds to support relief and early recovery activities, including shelter and water, sanitation, hygiene programs and emergency food assistance. The United States Department of Defense has also provided invaluable assistance, with 2,400 United States marines and sailors helping the Bangladesh Government provide clean water, medical aid, food, and other relief supplies to the victims of this cyclone. Indeed, more than 162,000 pounds of relief supplies have been delivered to Bangladesh by USS Kearsarge and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit as of early this month.

Mr. Speaker, Bangladesh and the United States have been close friends since 1971. Our hearts go out to those who have suffered so grievously during this disaster, and on behalf of the American people it is fitting that we reiterate our commitment to assist the people of Bangladesh as they recover from this devastating storm, and I urge support 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 am pleased to rise in support of H. Res. 708, which honors the life and accomplishments of Luciano Pavarotti and recognizes the significant and positive impact of his amazing and astounding musical talent, his achievement in raising the profile of opera with audiences around the world and his commitment to charitable causes.

On September 6th of this year, a legend of the opera would take his final curtain call. When the great Luciano Pavarotti passed away in September, the world lost one of its most beautiful voices. Those with a love of all kinds of music, everyone from opera singers to instrumentalists and pop singers, grieved at the loss of such a great talent. One of those musicians, the rock singer Bono of the group U2, described Pavarotti as, and I quote, ``a great volcano of a man who sang fire but spilled over with a love of life in all its complexity.''

From the time that he made his first debut in 1961, Luciano Pavarotti was an inspiration, not just for the unmatched quality of God-given voice and talent, but for his generosity. Indeed, he used immense talent to raise funds for many worthy causes, including his concerts on behalf of refugees throughout the world.

In 1998, he was named United Nations Messenger of Peace. In 2001, the same year that he received the Kennedy Center Honors, he received a medal from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for his fundraising efforts on behalf of refugees throughout the world.

In memory of this giant man of music, beloved by all those who enjoy the great opera, I ask my colleagues to join in supporting H. Res. 708, introduced by our colleague from California, Ms. Loretta Sanchez.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased, as original cosponsor, to rise in support of this

timely resolution recognizing the significance of Christmas and the contribution of the Christian faith to the United States and to other nations throughout the world. While Christmas does not have the same religious meaning for all citizens, it nevertheless invokes the values of friendship and goodwill that are common to all nations.

December 25, or Christmas, as we say, commemorates a birth that influenced the world in an unmatched way. Christ's life, his teachings, his example, his sacrifice, and his death brought to life one of the great religions of the world, one which underpins the foundations of democracy in our own United States of America and even other countries throughout the world.

Even in complex times such as those in which we live at this time, the simple central message of Christianity endures: ``love thy neighbor as thyself.''

For many, Christmas invokes the images of Santa Claus and exchanging of gifts. This comes from the patron St. Nicholas, who helped poor children hundreds of years ago by giving them presents. But Christianity is more. It is the birth of the Christian religion and commemorates the birth of its founder, Jesus, on Christmas day.

At its core are the fundamental important ideals of ``Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward men.'' The poor, the suffering, those left alone or far from their families, and those departed who were dear to us whom we remember from time to time are all recognized in this great religion of Christianity, and, through it, all have been offered hope.

At this time of year in this season of Christmas, I ask my colleagues to join in supporting House Resolution 847 introduced by our colleague, Mr. King of Iowa, recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) such time as he may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the author of this resolution, Mr. King from Iowa, is already having a white Christmas. He is stuck in Iowa because of the snow. He could not be here.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, the world was rightfully shocked and outraged this past fall by reports of midnight raids on temples in Burma and televised images of monks and other peaceful demonstrators being shot down on the streets and arrested.

Appeals for human decency and restraint have fallen on deaf ears with regard to Burma's generals. It is thus time to send them a message that they understand, a message that is loud and clear.

The international community must no longer subsidize the leaders of this immoral regime by trading in the commodities they peddle on international markets. This rainbow coalition of contraband products for sale by the military junta has included red rubies, white opium, green jade and brown timber.

The legislation put forward today sends a simple, but clear and strong message: It will not be business as usual for the people in Rangoon until they stop their suppression of their own people in the nation of Burma.

Is there any Member here today who has any doubts about making economic sanctions against the current Rangoon regime permanent and hard hitting? This legislation has the full support of leaders of the American gem industry. They have seen the necessity of putting principle ahead of money and profit when it comes to the actions of the Burmese rogue regime.

And this legislation also seeks to put the blame squarely on the backs of those who have earned it, the ruling generals and their families, and not on the backs of the Burmese people who have already suffered too much.

It calls for frozen bank accounts for the generals, an ending to money laundering by the ruling junta, and no visas to the United States for those involved in the continuing acts of repression and no visas for their immediate families.

The urgency with which we are here today in view of this issue of the restoration of the democratic rights to the people of Burma is demonstrated by the fact that already over 240 Members of this House of Representatives have agreed to cosponsor legislation giving official Congressional recognition to Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Burma democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

H.R. 4286, introduced December 5 by Mr. Manzullo and Mr. Crowley, would award a Congressional Gold Medal to Aung San Suu Kyi in recognition of her courageous and unwavering commitment to peace, nonviolence, human rights, and democracy in Burma.

There is no clearer indication than this legislation of the solidarity that exists between the people of the United States and the good people of Burma on the issues of human rights and democracy.

This legislation is also fully in keeping with administration policy. In a statement made on October 19, following the latest series of bloody and tragic events, President Bush announced an executive order imposing additional sanctions on Burmese leaders and entities. The President also instructed the Commerce Department to tighten export control and regulation over Burma. On that occasion, the President noted that ``Burmese leaders continue to defy the world's just demands to stop their vicious persecution. They continue to dismiss calls to begin peaceful dialogue aimed at national reconciliation. Most of all, they continue to reject the clear will of the Burmese people who wish to live in freedom under leaders of their choosing.''

The President concluded with these observations: ``The people of Burma are showing great courage in the face of immense repression. They are appealing for our help. We must not turn a deaf ear to their cries. I believe no nation can forever suppress its own people. And we are confident that the day is coming when freedom's tide will reach the shores of Burma.''

This legislation provides an opportunity to send a strong, bipartisan and loud message that where human freedom is concerned, politics does stop at the water's edge.

I rise today to urge my colleagues to join in voicing their enthusiastic support for a free Burma by supporting the Block Burmese JADE Act of 2007.

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Lantos of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the author of this bill, for his efforts in introducing this bill. We have no other speakers at this time.

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

Madam Speaker, last week hundreds of citizens stood in the first snow of winter in Washington, D.C. for 2 hours, hoping to get a coveted seat in the United States Supreme Court building to see the oral arguments on the case of the detainees in Guantanamo prisoner of war camp and what rights, if any, they have under our Constitution; however, the Supreme Court gallery has a mere 50 seats for spectators.

One of those would-be viewers was a lawyer on my staff, Gina Santucci. I wanted her there to find out more about the case and take notes. But she, like most of the people in line, never got in to see the arguments. There was no room in the room. Those that were allowed into the proceedings were only permitted to stay 5 minutes before they had to leave and make room for other people in the room.

Public interest in what takes place in the Supreme Court is a good thing. It is important that Americans are concerned about what occurs in the Supreme Court, and citizens want to observe the most powerful court in action anywhere in the world. But most Americans will never have this opportunity to see the questions asked by the Justices of the Supreme Court or to hear the arguments over the meaning of our Constitution or hear constitutional cases that will go down in history.

Earlier this year, I introduced H.R. 1299 to allow television cameras to televise Supreme Court proceedings. Since then, both the House and the Senate Judiciary Committees have heard arguments as to why cameras should be allowed inside the Supreme Court.

Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee marked up Senator Specter's bill to allow cameras in the Supreme Court. Some Senators were concerned that the Department of Justice opposed this bill. Justice Department opposed this bill because they say they want to protect the ``collegial environment'' of the Court. I don't mean to intrude on what a ``collegial environment'' is, but what is it?

I thought the business before the Supreme Court is a matter the American people have an interest in, not just the college of lawyers that appear before the court.

We have cameras in these House Chambers, and I never thought about whether the camera here on the House floor affects the collegiality between the fellow representatives that we work with. Most of us hardly notice the camera at all. And today's cameras are so small and unobtrusive, they are not noticed. They don't affect our daily routine here in the House, but they allow Americans across the vastness of the fruited plain to tune in to see what their government is up to every day.

Now, I doubt if the Supreme Court TV channel will win the fall sweeps, but it will allow Americans who live in the 50 States to observe the oral arguments that take place. Some say they are against cameras in the courtroom because attorneys play to the camera and try to impress the viewing audience.

Madam Speaker, attorneys don't play to the camera, they play to the jury. I know because I played to the jury for 8 years as a prosecutor in Texas. However, there isn't even a jury to impress in the Supreme Court. In fact, there really isn't a time to grandstand in the Supreme Court. Oral arguments in the Supreme Court involve the best appellate attorneys in the country, facing a spew of questions from nine Justices who are asking a barrage of legal questions to these lawyers making them justify their legal positions on their case.

I only explain how the oral arguments work in the Supreme Court because most Americans are unaware of the proceedings and the procedures since they don't have the opportunity to view Supreme Court oral arguments personally. Unless there are cameras, Americans will never have the chance to see what takes place in a courtroom, the most powerful courtroom in the whole world, the Supreme Court courtroom.

I know cameras can be placed in a courtroom without disruption or distraction because I did it. For 22 years,

I served as a felony court judge in Houston, Texas. I heard over 25,000 criminal cases and a thousand jury trials. Some of those were filmed by the TV media. I even televised a capital murder trial. My rules were simple and always obeyed by the media: No filming of rape victims, children, the jury, or certain other witnesses. The camera filmed what the jury saw and heard. And, Madam Speaker, I had no problem with the media at all. We need to let the public see a real trial in progress, and cameras have made that possible.

Americans have the right to watch Supreme Court proceedings in person. We have the best judicial system ever created in the history of the world. Why not prove it by filming these proceedings? Americans should not be deprived of the right to observe just because they cannot physically sit in the Supreme Court courtroom. It is time to remove the veil of secrecy from the hallowed halls of the Supreme Court and allow cameras to film these important proceedings.

Justice would be better served if we open the doors to the Supreme Court to cameras because justice is the one thing we should always find.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, today I am pleased to honor KBTV Channel 4 in Beaumont, TX on their 50th year of service to the Southeast Texas Community.

Community involvement is a tradition at KBTV 4. Whether it is emceeing a local fundraiser or volunteering on boards and committees, KBTV employees are an active part in the community in which they live and serve. They also host the Golden Apple Awards, which honors local teachers for their role in educating and developing the minds of Southeast Texas children.

The importance of passionately and accurately reporting on issues that affect our community cannot be overstated. Over the past 50 years NBC's KBTV has earned the reputation of a hard-working diligent news team. A reputation such as this only arises through hard work and commitment to the community that you serve. Hurricanes and floods have not been able to stop KBTV 4 from informing the public when it matters most. The Second Congressional District of Texas is extremely fortunate to have a first-class news station such as KBTV 4.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, today I am pleased to honor the students and faculty of the Lamar University Department of Communication for their work on Texas Wetlands, a documentary film underlining the importance of Texas Wetlands to our nation's ecosystem. This film was recently awarded first place in the student/amateur category at the North American Association for Environmental Education/Pierce Foundation Environmental Education Film and Video Festival. This prestigious award granted the documentary the opportunity to be premiered last week at the NAAEE's Annual Conference.

Wetlands can be found up and down the 360 miles of Texas' sprawling Gulf Coast. Many of these wildlife sanctuaries are located in or just outside the Second Congressional District. Lamar students and professors along with 42 middle and high school students traveled to wetland areas in the Big Thicket, Shangri La, and the JD Murphee Wild Life Management Area to capture footage for their award winning documentary. Students, with the guidance of their professors in the Communications Department, wrote, edited, did the videography and appeared as reporters in the film.

Lamar University and its students, who I am proud to represent, continue to achieve in all areas of higher learning. Recognizing the importance of Texas' natural resources, Lamar University has taken a proactive approach in preserving these wetlands. Soon our country will need to look to a new generation of leaders to help her face adversity, both foreign and domestic. I am confident that these leaders will emerge from the halls of Lamar University.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, today I am pleased to honor Port Arthur elementary school Principal Dwight Wagner, recent recipient of Port Arthur News' Citizen of the Year Award. The award was given to a man that has spent his entire life displaying excellence and commitment to community. For over 30 years, Mr. Wagner has been employed with the Port Arthur Independent School District, serving as a teacher and an administrator.

Principal Wagner is a Port Arthur native who has spent a lifetime giving back to his community. After graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School, he received his bachelor's and master's degrees right down the street at Lamar University.

His honors are numerous, including Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year Award, NAACP Amos Evans Service Award, and the Sertoma Organization's Service to Mankind Award.

Known throughout his community for his musical ability, Principal Wagner composed the official city song of Port Arthur, ``City by the Sea.'' His vocal talents provide entertainment at numerous community events and various local stage performances.

On behalf of the entire Second Congressional District of Texas, I would like to congratulate Principal Wagner on his latest award and thank him for his many years of service to the Port Arthur Community.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, on November 3, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf suspended the national constitution, fired appellate judges, detained 8 members of the Supreme Court, and arrested hundreds of lawyers. In the weeks that followed, nearly 3,000 lawyers were arrested. Musharraf's explanation was that martial law was necessary because of terrorism threats. This is a poor excuse.

Musharraf fired or arrested members of the legal community for protesting Musharraf's abuse of power and for defending the rule of law. These men and women are courageous. They've faced beatings, threats, tear gas, and arrests for promoting democracy.

A nation cannot succeed without impartial application of law. A nation cannot succeed when a President suspends a cornerstone of government for his own political convenience.

Although Musharraf eventually released many, he also cracked down on the Pakistani press. On November 20, approximately 100 journalists were arrested at a protest.

A nation without courts promotes tyranny. A nation without a free press promotes uninformed citizens and unaccountable politicians. The rule of law and democracy are indebted to lawyers and judges, who ensure that rights are protected and laws are obeyed.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, Theodore Roosevelt said: ``No man is worth his salt who is not ready at all times to risk his well-being, to risk his body, to risk his life, in a great cause.'' The Patriot Guard Riders are a group of motorcyclists who pay tribute to those who have died serving our country. Their mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen soldiers upholding President Roosevelt's belief that brave soldiers who gave the utmost sacrifice for their country deserve respect and reverence during their final tribute.

Each mission has two objectives, to show sincere respect for America's fallen heroes, their families, and their communities; and to shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors. In 2 short years, the Patriot Guard Riders has become a 501(c)(3) charity, comprised of more than 140,000 volunteers across the country that take off from

work and use their own funds for gas and whatever else is needed to attend missions.

The Guard is activated each time the military reports the death of a soldier in Iraq. This nationwide organization of volunteers is very efficient. State Captains send out e-mails to members in the city where the soldier will be buried, and everyone jumps into action. They ensure that streets along the funeral procession are lined with American flags. Each mission is accomplished through legal and non-violent means. If protestors are present and become loud, the Patriot Guard Riders form a flag line, turn their backs on protesters, and will even drown the sound of the protestors by singing and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

One involved Patriot biker, Rich ``Boomer'' Ford, a former Navy SEAL who served in Vietnam is the State Captain for the Texas Patriot Guard Riders. He is the man in charge of the ``missions''. If you ask Boomer why he rides, he will tell you that he remembers the lack of respect received when returning home from Vietnam. He wants to make sure that doesn't happen to these brave men and women. Boomer feels that each ``mission'' recognizes and honors the hard work our soldiers are doing for us overseas. These men and women like Boomer, who volunteer their time to help guard our nation's heroes should be forever remembered for their honor and dignity.

I commend the Patriot Guard Riders for riding for our soldiers whose lives were given in pursuit of a great cause, American freedom. I am proud to recognize these angels on bikes with hearts bigger than Texas. They show their respect for our troops, their families, and our community in an honorable way, one funeral at a time. They make a difference and represent all that is right and good in America.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, in the third world country of Sudan, the government is controlled by the religion of Islam. Religious hard- liners were successful in prosecuting a British first grade teacher for insulting Mohammed. She was sent to jail. Her crime: her 7-year-old students named a class Teddy Bear ``Mohammed,'' and that was supposedly an insult to the Prophet. The punishment could have been worse. She could have received 40 lashes. In fact, thousands of Sudanese citizens marched demanding the school teacher be executed for the insult!

Of course, the teacher never meant to insult Islam, but the truth was not an issue in her trial.

The Sudan, this is the same ``righteous'' government that is allowing ethnic cleansing and genocide of its own citizens in Darfur.

But thanks to two Muslim members of the British House of Lords who disagreed with the arrest, the school teacher, Gillian Gibbon, was pardoned after serving 8 days in jail.

This case is an example of what happens when government punishes people for violating a religious doctrine.

And, by the way, the Teddy Bear was originally so named to honor the great President Theodore Roosevelt.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, the first amendment is first in our Bill of Rights because the provisions in it are the most important. Without those provisions the rest of the Bill of Rights are meaningless.

The first amendment states in part that ``Congress,'' that's us, ``shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.''

This amendment, like many others, was a reaction to colonial life under King George III. The Church of England was the official Church of England and some of the colonies. The Framers hoped to protect the exercise of any religion by prohibiting the establishment of a national religion. A national religion like the Church of England was supported by taxation. Attendance at services was even mandatory. No marriage or baptism outside of the Church was sanctioned. There were civil and even criminal penalties for members of religious minorities.

So the U.S. Constitution's framework made it possible for all religious groups to gain legal protection. The freedom to practice one's own religion is the reason why the colonists settled and founded this great country. That is the primary reason why people left England, to seek religious freedom.

The Founding Fathers did not believe that government and religion had to be entirely separate, however. The first President, George Washington, said in his first inaugural address, declared as his ``first official act'' his ``fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe'' and that this Almighty Being ``might bless this new government.''

President Washington also echoed this religious attitude in his farewell address in 1796 when he said, ``Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.''

When our Constitution was drafted, the elderly statesman Benjamin Franklin said that if the Good Lord is concerned about a sparrow that falls from the trees, He certainly would be concerned about a new Nation at its birth, and he encouraged Congress to go in prayer. And Congress did so that morning and prayed, and ever since then our Congress starts each morning with a prayer.

The first Congress recognized the importance of religion in government when it enacted the Northwest Ordinance in 1787, and it begins: ``Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.''

The first amendment includes the free exercise clause. Like the establishment clause, the framers included the free exercise clause to protect religious minorities from persecution. The establishment clause prohibits government creation of, support, or endorsement of a national religion. And the free exercise clause protects individual religious beliefs and practices from government interference.

The significance of the free exercise of religion clause is that it affirms the value of religion in American culture and even promotes public display of religion.

Many Americans believe that the first amendment created a separation between church and state, but those words do not exist anywhere in the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, nor the Declaration of Independence.

These words came from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson in 1801 to the Danbury Baptist Association, who was concerned about the Congregationalist Church becoming the national religion, and that is why Jefferson made the comment to the Danbury Baptist Association that there is a separation between church and state. These words do not promote a prohibition by government against religion in the public sector.

Billy Graham once said that ``The Framers of our Constitution meant we were to have freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.'' But antireligious radicals are on the offensive, trying to make the United States free from religion. These radicals want the United States to be a secular government like France. But that's not what our Founding Fathers intended when they created our country.

When Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, he proclaimed that God gives us all of our rights. He wrote that ``all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.''

Jefferson's reference to God is echoed throughout this Nation. Our currency mentions God. Our government buildings have religious scenes and words etched into them. We pledge allegiance to the Nation under God. We even have the great lawgiver Moses on the far wall looking directly down on the Speaker's chair.

So, Mr. Speaker, the mention of God in our culture is not an establishment of religion. It's a fact that this Nation was founded on religious beliefs and religious values. That is an historical fact.

And that's just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, It has been said that ``child abuse casts a shadow the length of a lifetime.'' Nancy Chandler has dedicated her life to changing this. For over 25 years, Nancy has advocated for children and improved their futures.

After receiving her Masters in Social Work from the University of Georgia, Nancy was the founding Executive Director of the Memphis Child Advocacy Center. This Center helps ``victims become children again.''

Since April 1994, Nancy Chandler has served as the Executive Director of the National Children's Alliance (NCA), a not-for-profit membership organization that represents more than 700 Children's Advocacy Centers. For 13 years, Nancy has led and managed NCA's finances, and developed resources, training, programs, communications, and membership services. Nancy also led and inspired a staff of dedicated advocates. As Executive Director of NCA, Nancy educated and motivated advocates at over 400 conferences and workshops across the United States.

Throughout her remarkable career in children's advocacy, Nancy was a member of Leadership Memphis and a founding board member of the National Network of Children's Advocacy Centers. She also served on the National Advisory Committee for Darkness to Light, a primary prevention program aimed at reducing the incidence and consequence of child sexual abuse, and as Senior Warden of The Church of the Epiphany in Washington, DC. Nancy has proven herself as an experienced leader and a compassionate advocate for children.

And that's just the way it is.