Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, unfortunately this afternoon, April 10, 2008, due to severe weather in the Midwest I had to leave before being able to cast my vote on Amendment No. 8 to H.R. 2537, the Beach Protection Act, offered by my colleague Jeff Flake.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 182 on the Flake Amendment No. 8 barring earmarks from the Beach Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

While I generally believe that Congress should have the power to control where Federal spending should be spent, the Beach Protection Act was intended to be formula-based and was never intended to be funded through the direction of Congress and I believe that this amendment is consistent in that goal.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 40th anniversary of the Prairie Center Health Systems, Inc. (Prairie Center) in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. The Prairie Center has provided affordable, effective drug and alcohol education and treatment to the communities of Illinois since 1968.

The Prairie Center originated in 1968 with three grassroots organizations: the Mustard Seed Club, the Champaign County Council on Alcoholism and the Gemini House. Today, the Prairie Center is responsive to the needs of Ford and Vermilion County as well the 7,000 annual residents in need of substance abuse services.

The Prairie Center provides a variety of substance abuse services. These services include school-based prevention education, community education, early intervention counseling, outpatient care, DUI services, adult inpatient care and detoxification care. Regardless of the service the Prairie Center follows their vision to help people improve their lives.

Today the Prairie Center has expanded to three locations and provides numerous outreach services throughout Central Illinois. On behalf of the people who have benefited from these services, I thank the Prairie Center for their work and look forward to their next 40 years.

I hope all of you will join me in recognizing the services provided by the Prairie Center that restore the lives, families and communities of Illinois.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately last night, April 8, 2008, my plane was delayed due to a delay in my plane arriving from its previous destination and I was unable to cast my vote on suspending the rules and passing H.J. Res. 70 and wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 161 on suspending the rules and passing H.J. Res. 70, Congratulating the Army Reserve on its centennial, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 161, I was unavoidably detained due to a delay in U.S. Airways flight number 3088. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Representative Jim Moran's House resolution expressing the sense of Congress to recognize and honor Earl Lloyd for breaking the color barrier as the first African-American to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

In addition to Earl Lloyd's accomplishments during the 1950 season, I want to take this opportunity to also recognize the Boston Celtics franchise and legendary coach and general manager Red Auerbach for their work in the advancement and inclusion of African-Americans in the

Madam Speaker, unfortunately last night, March 4, 2008, my plane was delayed due to weather and I was unable to cast my vote on Suspending the Rules and passing H.R. 1143, H.R. 1311, and H.R. 816 and wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 88 on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 1143, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to lease certain lands in Virgin Islands National Park, I would have voted ``yea.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 89 on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 1311, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey the Alta-Hualapai Site to the city of Las Vegas, Nevada, for the development of a cancer treatment facility, I would have voted ``yea.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 90 on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 816, to provide for the release of certain land from the Sunrise Mountain Instant Study Area in the State of Nevada and to grant a right-of-way across the released land for the construction and maintenance of a flood control project, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, unfortunately last night, February 12, 2008, I was unable to cast my vote on Suspending the Rules and passing H. Res. 954 and wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 43 on passing H. Res. 954, Honoring the life of senior Border Patrol agent Luis A. Aguilar, who lost his life in the line of duty near Yuma, Arizona, on January 19, 2008, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, unfortunately yesterday, January 22, 2008, my flight to Washington, DC was delayed, and I was unable to cast my votes on H.R. 4211 and H. Res. 866 and wish the Record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 19 on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 4211, naming the Judge Richard B. Allsbrook Post Office, I would have voted ``aye''.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 20 on suspending the rules and passing H. Res. 866, honoring the brave men and women of the United States Coast Guard whose tireless work, dedication, and commitment to protecting the United States have led to the Coast Guard seizing over 350,000 pounds of cocaine at sea during 2007, far surpassing all of our previous records, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 1163 and 1164, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, unfortunately yesterday, December 11, 2007, due to my flight being delayed due to mechanical issues, I was unable to cast my votes on H. Res. 842, H. Res. 847, and

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 1145 and 1146, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Chorale musical group based in Champaign, Illinois. This musical group founded by director Julie Beyler has been performing for audiences around the State of Illinois and abroad for the past 25 years and I would like to take this opportunity to recognize this milestone in the group's history.

The Chorale is a unique blend of individuals from various walks of life who share a love for singing and performing. The organization of mixed voices performs four concerts during a season and often provides music for a variety of community events.

Since the group's inception in 1982, The Chorale has grown from a small ensemble of singers performing holiday music in the Village of Mahomet to presently having 70-75 members from numerous local communities and performing in the areas most historic venues in front of sellout crowds.

One of the group's most notable performances was in May of 1991 at the Virginia Theatre in Downtown Champaign. After three decades of being used primarily as a movie house, the Virginia Theatre made its return to hosting live performances by having the Chorale perform its ``songs of America'' concert. The group is proud to have been a part of returning this historic building to a performing venue once again.

Whether it is at the Virginia Theatre, community events around the state, or abroad, the Chorale offers its audience an unforgettable musical experience and I want to congratulate the members of the group for 25 years of success.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately yesterday, November 13, 2007, I was unable to cast my votes on H.R. 3315, H.R. 1593, H.R. 3403, and H.R. 3461 and wish the Record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 1082 on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 3315, to provide that the great hall of the Capitol Visitor Center shall be known as Emancipation Hall, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 1083 on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 1593, the Second Chance Act of 2007, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 1084 on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 3403, 911 Modernization and Public Safety Act of 2007, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 1085 on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 3461, Safeguarding America's Families by Enhancing and Reorganizing New and Efficient Technologies Act of 2007, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately earlier today, November 14, 2007, I was unable to cast my votes and wish the Record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 1086 on ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 813, providing for consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 1429, I would have voted ``nay.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 1087 on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 812, Expressing sympathy and pledging to support the victims of the devastating flooding in southern Mexico, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 1088 on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 3320, Support for the Museum of the History of Polish Jews Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 1089 on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 811, Condemning the November 6, 2007, terrorist bombing in Afghanistan and expressing condolences to the people of Afghanistan and the members of the Wolesi Jirga, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, unfortunately yesterday, November 5, 2007, I was unable to cast my vote on Closing Portions of H.R. 3222, H.R. 513, and H. Res. 744 and wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 1034 on Closing Portions of the Conference on H.R. 3222, Making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 1035 on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 513, the National Heroes Credit Protection Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 1036 on suspending the rules and passing H. Res. 744, Recognizing the contributions of Native American veterans and calling upon the President to issue a proclamation urging the people of the United States to observe a day in honor of Native American veterans, I would have voted ``aye.''