Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to H.J. Res. 65, a resolution disapproving the recommendations of the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

It is clear that we have too much military infrastructure in this country, whose operations and maintenance compete for scarce resources needed by our warfighter and modernization efforts. This BRAC process has become the most effective way to rid the military of installations that provide minimal military value.

I am pleased that the commission recognized the importance of keeping the Operations and Sustainment Systems Group--OSSG--at Maxwell-Gunter AFB in Montgomery, Alabama. After an extensive review, the BRAC commissioners did not adopt the Department of Defense's recommendation to realign the OSSG and its 1,251 civilian and military jobs from Maxwell-Gunter AFB to Hanscom AFB.

The BRAC decision was due in large part to the world-class combat operational support provided by the OSSG to Air Force bases and DOD agencies around the world from Montgomery for more than 30 years. It did not need to be moved in order to continue to perform this critical national security mission. The OSSG is the only organization with experience fielding systems across the entire Air Force and DOD. Moreover, Gunter is home to one of four major Defense Information Systems Agency--DISA--nodes, which provide the backbone on which Air Force Systems run. The DISA presence, along with the OSSG, enables testing of enterprise-wide combat support software applications in an operational environment. With its extensive background, experience, and expertise, this organization is truly a one of a kind national resource and belongs in Montgomery.

While I intend to vote for the implementation of the commission's recommendations, I remain very troubled by some of the things the commission did not do. Specifically, I have trouble seeing the logic in overturning DOD's recommendation to move the Aviation Logistics School to Fort Rucker. I am disappointed that the commission failed to see the significance of co-locating the Aviation Logistics School with the aviation pilot training under one roof at Fort Rucker. This move would have consolidated Army Aviation training and doctrine development at Fort Rucker. I still hold the belief that consolidating aviation logistics training with the Aviation Center and School will foster consistency, standardization, and training proficiency. As the premier rotary wing aviation training center in the United States, this move would have completed the formation of the Army's decision to create an aviation branch in 1983. The benefit of being able to train the entire flight crew, from the maintainers to the pilots, is quite significant. A flight crew who must go to war as a team, should train as a team.

A second notable absence from the BRAC recommendations is consolidation of rotary wing pilot training at Fort Rucker. Although DOD did not make this recommendation, I believe a thorough review of the facts would have led the commission to include this in its final list. Currently, both the Army and Air Force conduct their rotary wing pilot training at Fort Rucker, which has sufficient capability to support Navy initial rotary wing pilot training as well.

Numerous reviews conducted by DOD and the GAD dating back to 1974 have been made regarding the relocation of this Navy mission. In addition, when Colin Powell was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he testified before the House Armed Services Committee that he supported this consolidation at Fort Rucker. Similarly, the overwhelming majority of the reviews have called for the Navy to move their operation to Fort Rucker for a number of reasons. Past studies have indicated that tens of millions of dollars per year could be saved by going through with this consolidation. Unit costs would be reduced for both aircraft maintenance and logistics. Additionally, both the Army and the Navy use the same training helicopter which would allow for further savings by using the Army's existing instructor pilots. This consolidation will also advance a key component of DoD's way ahead, jointness.

Finally, I was troubled to see that the commission supported the DOD recommendation to move the Aviation Technical Test Center--ATTC--to Redstone Arsenal. This issue is very close to me personally as I have been intimately involved with it for over 10 years. In the mid-90s, there was an effort made within the Pentagon to move the ATTC out of Fort Rucker. As is the case now, I was very disturbed by this, and began to investigate in an effort to determine if this would be best for the Army, highlighted by a personal meeting with the then-Secretary of the Army, Togo West. This culminated when my amendment was included in the House version of Fiscal Year 1996 National Defense Authorization Act--H.R. 1530--which blocked the Army's proposal to relocate the ATTC until an outside independent study of the proposal could be completed. After the Army reviewed this further, not only did the ATTC stay at Fort Rucker, but the Airworthiness Qualification Test Directorate was moved from Edwards AFB to Fort Rucker as well. I believe the arguments presented then still have substantial merit today.

At Fort Rucker, the ATTC is able to have their fleet of approximately 40 test aircraft maintained by the large maintenance and logistics operation that supports the training mission on post. A move to Redstone disregards these significant costs of keeping the test fleet flying. The vast pool of pilots and aircraft from the Aviation Center also facilitates the ATTC's ability to realize a greater return on the testing dollar invested.

Another problem with this recommendation revolves around airspace. As the home of Army Aviation, Fort Rucker is blessed with over 32,000 square miles of airspace to conduct its mission. This irreplaceable natural asset cannot be duplicated in Huntsville. A potential move also undermines the synergies that currently exist between the schoolhouse and the experimental pilots. Finally, with Fort Rucker being the Army proponent for unmanned aerial vehicles--UAVs, it is crucial that the ATTC be able to leverage the expertise associated with this proponency to conduct its tests on UAVs.

While I do not agree with all of the recommendations included in the commission's report, I do recognize that the BRAC process must go forward. At present, DOD has excess infrastructure which needs to be realigned or closed in order to achieve the billions of savings which will result from the implementation of these recommendations. As costs of weapons systems crucial to winning the war on terror continue to rise, it is important that we explore all avenues in order to find the money necessary to give the warfighter everything he or she needs to complete their mission. In conclusion, I would like to thank all of the commissioners and their staffs for their tireless efforts on one of the most thankless jobs in government. I urge a no vote on the resolution and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an American hero from my congressional district who recently gave his life in defense of freedom.

Lance Corporal Carl L. Raines II, age 20, of Enterprise, Alabama, died October 6 from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces near Al Qaim, Iraq.

He was assigned to Combat Service Support Detachment 21, 2nd Force Service Support Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Cherry Point, North Carolina. As part of Operation Iraqi Freedom he was attached to Regimental Combat Team 2, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force.

I am very sorry to hear about the loss of Lance Corporal Raines and I pass along my condolences to his family, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Raines of Enterprise.

Lance Corporal Raines' courage and selfless service will be an inspiration, to all who treasure freedom. May our grateful Nation always honor the memory of his brave service and sacrifice.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today as a cosponsor of H.R. 3824, the Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act. Alabama ranks in the top five States in the number of listed species, and passage of this legislation will move us closer to achieving the goal of protecting and recovering the Nation's threatened and endangered species by adding a layer of common sense.

The Endangered Species Act, ESA, although enacted with honorable intentions, has strayed from its original purpose of conserving plants and wildlife. Currently, there are nearly 1,300 domestic species listed as threatened or

endangered. Since the enactment of the ESA, only 10 species, less than 1 percent of those listed as endangered, have been recovered. This is just one of the numerous reasons why this legislation needs updating.

Most importantly, the manager's amendment includes a significant provision that requires the Fish and Wildlife Service to consider the economic and national security impact of listing a species. This impact analysis is an important tool that provides vital information to Congress, federal agencies, states, and landowners about the potential effects of the ESA within those geographic areas deemed to be essential for the species' survival and recovery. Private property owners ought to have this information at the time a species is proposed for listing. Such timely notice serves to let everyone know whether they should be interested in the listing process and, ideally, brings them to the table to participate. I would like to thank Chairman Pombo for all his hard work on crafting this important piece of legislation, and I am very appreciative of his efforts to include this provision in his manager's amendment.

By enhancing the rights of private property owners and improving the impact analysis of the listing process, the ESA will actually work to protect endangered species. I urge all of my colleagues to support this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3045, the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act. Passage of this important legislation will give Alabama exporters greater access to Central American markets and bolster American security.

When I co-chaired the Republican anti-NAFTA task force in 1993 we were determined to defeat NAFTA, but we failed by a few votes. I remain convinced that NAFTA has been bad for my district and increased the Nation's trade deficit with Mexico. While CAFTA and NAFTA sound alike, the two trade agreements have substantial differences that cannot be overlooked. NAFTA exported thousands of jobs to Mexico, while dramatically increasing the flood of Mexican made products into the U.S. market. CAFTA, meanwhile, gives U.S. goods the same market access to Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua as those countries already enjoy here, thereby leveling the playing field for American exporters.

Ratifying CAFTA actually benefits the United States significantly more than it does Central America since those nations already have 90 percent duty-free access to our markets. CAFTA simply gives American companies and workers equal access to Central America. As such, Alabama agriculture and other industry will benefit from the ability to export more goods duty-free, resulting in lower prices and increased consumption in this area. Alabama ranks eighth among all U.S. states in exports to Central America and that is expected to grow with CAFTA's passage.

However, I did not give my support to this agreement without carefully considering several issues. First, I remain concerned about saving thousands of remaining textile jobs in Alabama and protecting agriculture and other industries in my district. Secondly, I have serious concerns over the return of leftist insurgencies in the struggling democratic countries that are a part of CAFTA and the harm that would do to our national security. Finally, I also have concerns about the threat of illegal immigration.

Most of the Alabama textile plants that survived the effects of NAFTA did so by establishing relationships with Central American partners who assemble Alabama-made components. This delicate balance would be upset if this relationship were not allowed to continue; ultimately forcing the remaining U.S. textile industry to Asia. CAFTA strengthens this beneficial arrangement by making these current trading arrangements permanent.

While I have consistently supported tougher immigration laws, the Congress has resisted approving some of these measures. Also, the Administration has not been as helpful as I would like in trying to solve the border security problem.

I am convinced that should CAFTA fail the illegal immigration flow into America would increase. Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez is using his country's vast oil money to create anti-American and anti- democratic upheaval in the countries affected by CAFTA. Should CAFTA fail and Chavez is successful in bringing down these fragile governments, thousands more would flood our borders seeking to escape new leftist regimes. Such an unstable situation would increase many times over our worry of terrorists crossing into the United States.

In summary, passage of CAFTA will provide a tremendous economic boost to our critical industrial base, support fledgling democracies in a crucial part of the world, and help stem the tide of illegal immigration into the U.S.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a unique university based in my congressional district in southeast Alabama which is truly transforming itself into a global force in education.

On July 29th, Troy University, formerly Troy State University, will officially join its 60 campuses in 11 countries and 13 time zones across the world into ``One Great University.''

This change will unite the entire student body of each campus. All curriculums will be the same at each campus making it easier for students to transfer within the system. Besides a common curriculum, the students will now have unified identification cards, the same student handbook, as well as pay the same fees.

The unification of Troy University is more than a clerical notation, however. A long established leader in higher education in the Southeastern United States will officially raise its banner high enough to be seen around the world. This is a very proud moment for Troy University and Alabama.

I would also like to congratulate Chancellor Jack Hawkins and his staff on their great efforts to make this transition a success. Their hard work and dedication will be recognized and remembered for years to come as Troy takes center stage in uniting our world through the promise of higher education.

Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.

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

I rise today in opposition to this amendment. This amendment attempts to commit the United States to a policy that would be detrimental to our national security. U.S. space assets underpin the economic livelihood of our Nation and provide critical capabilities for our warfighters around the world. It would be irresponsible not to ensure that we have the means to protect these assets and our troops. We should not be forced to enter into an agreement that would prematurely tie our hands from the ability to freely and peacefully operate in space.

This Congress and the administration are seriously concerned with the potential problems we have with our existing space satellites, both economically and militarily. As a Member of the House Armed Services Committee and chairman of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, we have had several sessions in order to fully understand how to best protect these assets. We are currently engaged in constructive discussions on how to best proceed on this very complex issue. The American people deserve and the Congress must engage in the first ever national discussion on space control before we can even begin to think of approaching the rest of the world, as this amendment would have us do.

This amendment forces a course that would greatly hamper our economy and our national security. I strongly oppose this amendment and urge my colleagues to do the same.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Cramer).

Mr. Chairman, how much time is remaining?

Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).

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

The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes), who is the ranking member of my committee, unfortunately or fortunately we have moved the discussion this morning on this bill forward kind of rapidly. And I am at liberty to say that he was going to also oppose this amendment. As I said, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes) is the ranking member of the strategic subcommittee. And I might point out that the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Cramer) is the ranking member of the Intelligence oversight committee.

We do not even know what a weapon in space is. We are having the first-ever hearings in the history of this country to try to define the course of action that we should take in the future regarding our space assets. Our space assets underpin the economy of our Nation, in addition to being so helpful, as a matter of fact, very necessary to our military. It is a multibillion dollar economy. If we were to go blind in space, if for some reason someone should shut down our assets in space, you would not be able to use a cell phone. You would not be able to use any communications, television or any other kind of communications. You would not be able to use your ATM machine. It would literally cause this entire country to go blind.

This is not a well-conceived amendment. I do not know the purpose of the amendment. I know the gentleman is not on the House Armed Services Committee. I know he is also not on the Intelligence Committee. And I just would have to say I am not real certain of the gentleman's knowledge of this subject.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, on June 30th, I met with Governor Bob Riley and attended the Base Realignment and Closure Commission Regional hearing in Atlanta, Georgia in support of Alabama's military installations. As a result, I was unable to vote on rollcall votes 345- 362. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows:

Rollcall Vote 345: ``no.'' An amendment by Jim Davis to prohibit use of funds in the bill to enforce regulations preventing family travel to Cuba. Amendment failed.

Rollcall Vote 346: ``no.'' An amendment by Barbara Lee to prohibit use of funds in the bill

to enforce regulations preventing travel to Cuba by academic institutions. Amendment failed.

Rollcall Vote 347: ``no.'' An amendment by Bernie Sanders to prohibit use of funds in the bill to provide for the competitive sourcing of flight service stations. Amendment passed.

Rollcall Vote 348: ``no.'' An amendment by Charlie Rangel to prohibit the use of funds from being made available to implement, administer, or enforce the economic embargo of Cuba, except that the foregoing limitation does not apply to the administration of a tax or tariff. Amendment failed.

Rollcall Vote 349: ``yes.'' An amendment by Mark Souder to prohibit the use of funds to enforce the DC gun ban. Amendment passed.

Rollcall Vote 350: ``yes.'' An amendment by Scott Garrett to prohibit the use of funds to enforce the Supreme Court ruling about eminent domain. Amendment passed.

Rollcall Vote 351: ``no.'' An amendment by Rosa DeLauro to prohibit use of funds in the bill to enter into any contract with an incorporated entity where such entity's sealed bid or competitive proposal shows that such entity is incorporated or chartered in Bermuda, Barbados, the Cayman Islands, Antigua, or Panama. Amendment failed.

Rollcall Vote 352: ``yes.'' An amendment by Joel Hefley to reduce the overall level of spending by one percent. Amendment failed.

Rollcall Vote 353: ``yes.'' An amendment by Carolyn Kilpatrick to prohibit the use of funds from being made available to recommend approval of the sale of Unocal Corporation to CNOOC Ltd. of China. Amendment passed.

Rollcall Vote 354: ``no.'' An amendment by David Obey requiring testimony before Congressional committees and communication with Members of Congress, witnesses will give frank and complete answers to all questions. Amendment failed.

Rollcall Vote 355: ``no.'' An amendment by Sherrod Brown to prohibit the use of funds from being used by the Council of Economic Advisers to produce an Economic Report of the President regarding the average cost of developing and introducing a new prescription drug to the market at $800 million or more. Amendment failed.

Rollcall Vote 356: ``no.'' An amendment by Nydia Velasquez to prohibit funds made available in the Act from being used by the General Services Administration to carry out the eTravel Service program. Amendment passed.

Rollcall Vote 357: ``no'' An amendment by Chris Van Hollen to prohibit funds made available in the Act from being used to implement the revision of Office of Management and Budget Circular A-76 made on May 29, 2003. Amendment passed.

Rollcall Vote 358: ``yes.'' Final passage of the Transportation- Treasury Appropriations bill.

Procedural and Suspension Votes

Rollcall Vote 359: ``yes.'' Previous question vote

Rollcall Vote 360: ``yes.'' Suspension vote expressing the sense of the House that a Chinese state-owned energy company exercising control of critical United States energy infrastructure and energy production capacity could take action that would threaten to impair the national security of the United States.

Rollcall Vote 361: ``yes.'' Suspension vote expressing the grave disapproval of the House of Representatives regarding the majority opinion of the Supreme Court in the case of Kelo et al. v. City of New London et al. that nullifies the protections afforded private property owners in the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment.

Rollcall Vote 362: ``yes.'' Suspension vote providing supplemental funding for VA health care.

Mr. Speaker, with the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, it is worth noting that this country has seen an increase in consumer and investor confidence, and a significant market recovery. Corporate scandals and plunging stock prices forced Congress to pass the most sweeping regulation of corporate activity since the 1930s, when the SEC was created.

Many positive developments have resulted from the passage of Sarbanes-Oxley, however more can be done. I fear that we have not seen the last of the corporate abuse exhibited by the Enrons and Worldcoms of the world, especially with regard to the raiding of pension funds.

I am concerned about a growing number of corporate executives in America who are less than fully accountable to their shareholders or employees. Some continue to demand and receive outrageous salaries and perks while their companies flounder. In some cases, these executives face civil and criminal investigations for fraud and corruption.

The current environment under which Corporate America pays its executives allows for minimal, if any, input by the shareholders. Oftentimes their will is suppressed, as was the case with Alcoa Inc. in 2003, when the board of directors rejected a proposal approved by the majority of shareholders that urged the board of directors to seek shareholder approval for future severance agreements with senior executives. Boards of directors continue to reward their executives with outrageous retirement packages regardless of the company's performance. Not only is the discrepancy between pay and performance a problem, but the fact that the disclosure to shareholders comes months after the payments are made is troubling.

One of the most disturbing facts of these misguided or criminal actions by corporate leaders is that their employees see their hard- earned profit sharing plans disappear. Yet, these corporate ``rock stars'' ride off with their guaranteed benefits package intact, while the

workers and shareholders take it on the chin. Their investments and savings, tied to corporate growth and built up over the years, have vanished. Plans of retirement are halted, either permanently or indefinitely; and many workers find themselves forced to work in their golden years.

Today, I have introduced legislation to require an advance disclosure to a company's shareholders upon the creation of or substantial increase in special retirement plans for executives. This will bring desperately needed transparency to the boardroom. Under current law, benefits payable under these plans are not considered reportable compensation, which is why this disclosure is necessary. This would allow shareholders to be proactive in determining whether or not their CEO deserves the millions he or she is getting paid.

I understand that this is a departure from the typical form of disclosure, however I believe the current environment under which Corporate America operates needs to change. We must improve investor confidence, and the advance disclosure of excessive corporate compensation will move us in that direction.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2475, the Intelligence Authorization Bill for fiscal year 2006.

As one of several ``cross-over'' members who serve on both the Intelligence and Armed Services Committees, this legislation strikes a reasonable balance between our national intelligence needs, and the needs of our warfighters. As we know from our work on the Intelligence Reform Act last fall, this is not an easy task.

Madam Speaker, it would be disingenuous to state that all is well within the Intelligence Community. For a number of years, the Select Committee on Intelligence has been systematically identifying major shortfalls in providing for our foreign intelligence needs. These include: funding shortfalls, major limitations in human intelligence, limited capabilities in foreign language specialists, aging information technology systems, and the lack of strategic planning with regard to the Intelligence Community's overhead intelligence collection programs.

Madam Speaker, this bill represents a major step forward in correcting many of these problems by funding programs, operations, and personnel that are vital to the security of the United States. The policies and programs in this bill will enable us to strengthen our intelligence capabilities to ensure that we are providing the best foreign intelligence efforts possible.

In particular, this bill begins to balance the resources applied to technical collection programs with those applied to human source collection. In years past, funding cuts greatly reduced the Intelligence Community's ability to provide global collection and analytic coverage. The global war on terrorism has led to increased funding, but there is still only limited capability to focus on other issues around the

world. This bill reinvigorates capabilities that have long been ignored.

I have a personal concern about the Intelligence Community's capabilities against foreign missile systems. Therefore, at my direction the bill includes specific funding increases to allow for expanded modeling and simulation of foreign systems, exploitation of foreign missile systems, and all-source missile event analysis.

Madam Speaker, this bill puts a great deal of emphasis on getting the Intelligence Community ``back to the basics.'' In short, this bill continues to correct the systemic problems that left us underprepared for warning against terrorist attacks on America, and begins the process of returning human intelligence collection to a worldwide endeavor.

I feel that this is a good bill that balances the increased investment against critical priorities with procedures for effectively monitoring the wise investment of the taxpayers' money. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2475.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the outstanding work of Dr. Bill McCorkle, who serves as the Director of the Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) at Red Stone Arsenal, Alabama. As Director, Dr. McCorkle is responsible for providing major research and development I support to more than 25 Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) project systems, and over 200 Defense agencies.

Dr. McCorkle came to Redstone Arsenal in 1957 from Tulane University and has since served in a number of scientific and engineering positions, including an 18-month rotational assignment in the Department of Army Staff as Science Advisor to the Director of Weapon Systems. In November 1980, Dr. McCorkle was selected for the dual role of Technical Director of the Missile Command and Director of the U.S. Army Missile Laboratory. Additionally, Dr. McCorkle was named the first Director of AMRDEC in 1999.

Dr. McCorkle has been involved with missile-related research and development on virtually every Army missile and rocket system. His contributions include numerous papers and patents for guidance and control systems, such as the HAWK missile system and include the most recent improvement permitting multiple simultaneous engagements. Dr. McCorkle has received national recognition for initiating and guiding AMRDEC's highly successful work in fiber optic guidance links for missiles, providing a revolutionary countermeasure-resistant capability for finding and engaging both rotary wing and armored targets out of the gunner's line of sight. Dr. McCorkle has long championed the use of simulation techniques for missile design and analysis, which led to AMRDEC's Advanced Simulation Center, a major national facility and key to a number of successful missile development and improvement programs.

I join with Dr. McCorkle's family, friends, and the state of Alabama in saluting Dr. McCorkle for his nearly 5 decades of service, and congratulate him on his outstanding career on behalf of our national defense.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the efforts of Ann R. McNair, who serves as the Director of the Mission Operations Laboratory in the Engineering Directorate, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama.

A native of Moundville, Alabama, Ms. McNair is a graduate of the University of Alabama where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics. Ms. McNair accepted an engineering position with the Army in 1958 and was transferred with the von Braun team to NASA in July 1960 when that group became the nucleus for the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Ms. McNair is responsible for the expert technical and programmatic direction of the operations ground support facilities, including operational control, engineering, and training for all programs supported at the Huntsville Operations Support Center. Her work encompasses the Payload Operations Integration Center (POIC) for International Space Systems, the U.S. Payload Control Center for International Space Systems, and the U.S. Operations for International Space Systems. Additionally, Ms. McNair has been involved in the development, implementation, and verification of Chandra Operations Control Center and deployment for a remote non-NASA location, the Smithsonian Astronomical Observatory at Cambridge, Massachusetts--a first for NASA.

Ms. McNair has authored several technical papers and has been recognized with numerous awards, including the NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 1973 and 1989 as well as the NASA Exceptional Achievement medal in 1998. She has also been selected as a member of the 1998 SES Center Development Program.

I join with Ms. McNair's family, friends, and the state of Alabama in honoring, the public service of Ms. Ann R. McNair and congratulate her on an outstanding career.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the full committee chairman, the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), and our ranking member, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton). And I would be remiss for not saying thank you to my ranking subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes), for the kind remarks that he has made. And without question, we do have some of the most complex and controversial issues in the mark. And I appreciate the hard work of all the members in trying to reach agreement on this. We did not always agree, but we did reach a bipartisan mark; and I again thank all the members and the hard work done by the staff.

The subcommittee's portion of the bill makes some very hard decisions containing appropriate development of transformational capabilities while imposing reductions in certain areas where the technology is not yet mature.

In the Missile Defense Agency, the bill before you adds $150 million for additional testing of the ground-based midcourse defense system.

While we fund both the boost phase defense programs and the budget request, the bill does call for a cost-and-capability comparison between the Airborne Laser and Kinetic Energy Interceptor programs.

In the area of military space, the bill addresses concerns with space acquisition programs. In particular, we slow the pace and provide direction on two programs: Transformational Satellite Communications, or TSAT; and the space radar program. The bill also calls for development of a strategy for space situation awareness, and takes steps to move forward with operational responsive space.

Within Atomic Energy Defense Activities, the bill funds the Department of Energy programs at the budget request. The report includes minor reductions in direct stockpile work, while adding just under $50 million for badly needed infrastructure upgrades.

The bill includes a provision that establishes the objectives for the Reliable Replacement Warhead program, a critical step towards ensuring our nuclear arsenal remains reliable, safe, and secure. The bill includes funding for penetrator study to explore all options for holding Hard and Deeply Buried Targets at risk. The bill also adds $122 million for environmental cleanup activities at Hanford site in Washington State.

Mr. Chairman, the committee's work addresses the administration's objectives on funding military requirements and military member priorities. I certainly urge all Members to support this mark.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the completion and grand opening of Hyundai Motor Company's first U.S. automotive assembly and manufacturing plant on May 20th in Montgomery, Alabama.

Hyundai broke ground on its $1.1 billion Alabama facility in April 2002. When Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama reaches peak production, it will employ approximately 2,000 people and produce 300,000 vehicles per year. Hyundai's in-state suppliers will provide another 4,500 jobs and invest more than $500 million in the local economy.

This plant is the most advanced automobile manufacturing facility in the world, using state of the art robotics and other technologies. Hyundai is truly creating quality jobs and quality products in Alabama.

I am proud to welcome Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama to our Montgomery area and look forward to the job opportunities it will provide for our motivated workforce from central Alabama to the Wiregrass.

I would like to applaud Hyundai for its commitment to building quality products, and its confidence in the great state of Alabama to continue that tradition.

Mr. Speaker, the Congress has been called upon to take emergency action to protect the rights and life of Terri Schiavo.

While I normally do not favor Federal government involvement in personal decisions, there are a number of aspects to the Schiavo case which disturb me and call for further investigation.

I am concerned about the lack of written evidence that Terri Schiavo did not want her life preserved, the fact that her husband waited years before telling anyone that his wife supposedly did not want to live, and also the fact that her husband is pushing for her feeding tube removal after he has become involved with another woman and had children.

Terri Schiavo is a living human being and every reasonable effort should be made to ensure that her constitutional rights have not been denied.

I encourage all Members to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a personal friend and a long-time resident of Shorterville in Henry County, Alabama in my Congressional district who passed away on February 15.

Among the sizeable farming community in Alabama, James Earl Mobley would need no introduction. He was a tall man both physically and in character. Indeed, for many years in the Halls of Congress, Mobley was also well-known to more than a few agriculture lawmakers.

Considered a `statesman' of agriculture, Mobley's diplomatic skill, coupled with his vast knowledge of peanut farming, were assets to growers, the industry and Congress. For decades there was probably no stronger, or more

consistent advocate of peanut farming, particularly in the Tri-States region of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, than Mobley. He is credited with helping successfully guide his industry through many farm bills.

A farmer for much of his life, he was an active voice for peanut farmers as the president of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association. His expertise was tapped statewide as well when he served as vice president and a member of the board of directors of the Alabama Farmer's Federation. He was also a board member of the National Peanut Council.

I speak for a great number of present and former lawmakers as well as farmers and friends in expressing my condolences to the family of James Earl Mobley. His gentleman farmer manner and his tireless dedication to agriculture will be sorely missed.