Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2640) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1050 North Hills Boulevard in Reno, Nevada, as the ``Guardians of Freedom Memorial Post Office Building'' and to authorize the installation of a plaque at such site, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 2640.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 2640, a bill to designate the Reno, Nevada, Post Office as the Guardians of Freedom Memorial Post Office Building. The House version of this legislation, H.R. 4442, introduced by my esteemed colleague, the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons), passed this body on September 7 of this year. I now urge like support for the Senate bill here today.

I am pleased that this deserved legislative tribute to our Nation's military servicemen and women will soon be on the President's desk and become law.

As our Nation is engaged in the global war on terror, courageous American troops work and fight each day to make us all safer here at home. When President Bush accepted his nomination for the presidency this summer, he stated, ``We have fought the terrorists across the Earth not for pride, not for power, but because the lives of our citizens are at stake.''

These words remain true today. And, thus, the sacrifices of our brave troops across the world continue to be so invaluable to all of us.

This Guardians of Freedom Post Office in Reno, Nevada, is a relatively small, but critically important and very relevant, gesture of the American people's appreciation of Nevada's veterans. We will never take their blood, sweat, and tears for granted. I thank both the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) and his colleague in the Senate, Senator John Ensign of Nevada, for their meaningful work towards establishing the Guardians of Freedom Memorial Post Office.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2214) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3150 Great Northern Avenue in Missoula, Montana, as the ``Mike Mansfield Post Office''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 2214.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of this legislation that will name the postal facility in Missoula, Montana, after one of Montana's favorite sons, Senator Mike Mansfield. To put it forthrightly, Mike Mansfield was one of America's finest leaders. He was the longest-serving Senate Majority Leader ever, presiding over the other body during a critical and tumultuous time in our Nation's history from 1961 to 1977.

Before entering government service, Senator Mansfield bravely served stints in three different branches of the military. Perhaps more remarkably, he began his military service as a seaman at just the age of 14 in the United States Navy during World War I. Later, he joined the Army from 1919 to 1920, and the Marine Corps from 1920 to 1922.

Senator Mansfield became a history and political science professor at Montana State University for a decade prior to being elected to the first of his five terms in the House of Representatives in 1942. Then, in 1952 he won election to the Senate, where he would become a national household name, and the body where he would spend the next 24 years. Senator Mansfield rapidly became majority whip, the number two post in the Senate in 1957. When Senator Lyndon Baines Johnson left the Senate to become Vice President, Senator Mansfield was the natural choice to replace him. He became majority leader and held the post for an extraordinary 16 years, again from 1961 to 1977.

After retiring from the Senate, President Jimmy Carter appointed him Ambassador to Japan, an office he held through 1988. The distinguished Senator died of congestive heart failure here in Washington at the age of 98 on October 5, 2001. His body was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Mr. Speaker, the Nation benefited monumentally from Senator Mike Mansfield's legendary, yet humble, leadership. Therefore, I urge all Members to support this legislation that honors him.

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of S. 2214, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2693) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1475 Western Avenue, Suite 45, in Albany, New York, as the ``Lieutenant John F. Finn Post Office''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 2693.

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

Mr. Speaker, this legislation designates the postal facility located at 1475 Western Avenue in Albany, New York, as the Lieutenant John F. Finn Post Office.

Lieutenant John Finn, a 12-year veteran of the Albany Police Department, was shot three times while chasing a robbery suspect on December 23, 2003.

Amazingly, he endured in spite of his wounds for nearly 7 weeks, before sadly passing away on February 12 of this year.

Last month, on October 6, the House passed H.R. 5053, an identical bill that memorialized Lieutenant Finn's service and bravery to his grateful Nation. With passage of the Senate bill here today, the House can ensure that the Lieutenant John F. Finn Post Office will soon be established in Albany.

Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. McNulty) for advancing H.R. 5053, and Senator Schumer of New York for shepherding today's bill, S. 2693, through both Chambers.

Lieutenant Finn and his family greatly deserve this honor, and I urge passage of this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I again urge support for passage of Senate 2693. We are blessed by the courageous service of individuals such as Lieutenant Finn who went into harm's way for the safety and security of all of us fellow citizens.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the International Martial Arts College of the United States, founded in Pennsylvania's 19th Congressional District.

The original International Martial Arts College (IMAC) was created in 1993 in St. Petersburg, Russia with a mission of bringing countries together to promote peace and cross cultural exchange through the universal medium of athletics. Over the last 11 years, competitions sponsored by IMAC have grown from several hundred participants to the largest competition in the world.

When IMAC sought a team from the United States, Master Tony Abel of York, Pennsylvania became the coach and team Captain and remains in both capacities today. Recognizing the importance of the United States role as ambassadors, an international tournament was held in York in 1995 and attended by many countries. Master Abel also officially formed a Board of Directors for the United States chapter of IMAC that same year.

To this day, international competition through IMAC continues, benefiting not only the participants but also helping to break down the barriers of culture and language. IMAC anticipates a future role in the Olympics where representatives, including residents of my District, will be able to compete. I wish them well in the years ahead, and I applaud their devotion to their sport and to international goodwill.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4259) to amend title 31, United States Code, to improve the financial accountability requirements applicable to the Department of Homeland Security, to establish requirements for the Future Years Homeland Security Program of the Department, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4259.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4259, the Department of Homeland Security Financial Accountability Act. This legislation, which I introduced in May 2004, along with the chairman of the Committee on Government Reform, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis); the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman); the chairman of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Cox); the ranking member of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner); the gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns); and the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn), represents a compromise between the House Committee on Government Reform and the House Select Committee on Homeland Security.

Essentially, H.R. 4259 replaces H.R. 2886, which was reported by the House Committee on Government Reform in November of 2003. This latest version, H.R. 4259, was introduced to incorporate key changes requested by the minority and the Select Committee on Homeland Security.

Madam Speaker, let me provide a brief history of this important legislation. On July 24 of last year, I, along with the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman Tom Davis), the gentleman from California (Ranking Member Waxman), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns), and the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn), introduced the original H.R. 2886 to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security is subject to the same financial accountability requirements as all other Cabinet- level Departments.

This bill, and the one before us today, codifies a structure for sound financial management that is mandatory, not optional, for future administrations. H.R. 4259, like its predecessor, achieves this goal by adding the Department of Homeland Security to the list of agencies that are covered by the CFO Act of 1990.

H.R. 4259 puts the Department of Homeland Security's Chief Financial Officer on the same footing as the CFOs at the rest of the Cabinet- level Departments by ensuring that the Department's CFO is a Presidential appointee subject to Senate confirmation, reports directly to the Secretary of the Department, and is part of the statutorily created Chief Financial Officer's Council.

In addition, the bill ensures that the Department will comply with the Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996, which establishes important financial management systems requirements for the CFO Act agencies.

Additionally, this legislation requires an opinion-level audit of the Department's internal controls. Currently, OMB guidance requires a report on internal controls in conjunction with annual financial audits. Having an auditor issue an opinion on the internal controls report would help uncover inherent weaknesses and address problems as business practices are being established, before they become ingrained. Strong internal controls are essential to sound financial management.

H.R. 4259 incorporates a number of important changes requested by the gentleman from California (Ranking Member Waxman) as well as the Select Committee on Homeland Security. Most notably, H.R. 4259 alters the reporting structure for the Department of Homeland Security Chief Financial Officer to allow for dual reporting to both the Secretary and the Under Secretary for Management. It also provides for the establishment of an Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation. It requires a Future Years Homeland Security Program and Homeland Security Strategy. The new bill also delays a requirement for the Department's internal control audit until fiscal year 2006.

H.R. 4259 retains key provisions from the original bill, H.R. 2886, as introduced, including the requirement that the CFO at DHS be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The newness, size, and mission of the Department of Homeland Security calls for more accountability and oversight, not less.

At present, DHS is the only Cabinet-level Department whose CFO is not required to be Senate confirmed. This unique status demotes both the CFO position and the importance of financial management within the Department. Now is not the time to dilute the importance of the CFO position, and we should not require less financial accountability at DHS than we do at other Cabinet-level Departments.

This Department faces many daunting challenges, and these challenges will require strong leadership and a commitment from top-level management to overcome. Financial management at DHS must be of the highest priority. The legislation before the Congress today ensures that it is such a priority.

Madam Speaker, it is important to note that under the leadership of President George Bush and Department Secretary Tom Ridge, my fellow Pennsylvanian, the Department has shown a determination to be fiscally responsible, and they are to be applauded for this approach. I want to emphasize that, although they are not required to comply with the CFO Act, they have made a determined effort to do so and are setting a good example. What we are trying to do is make sure that is a permanent example followed by future administrations.

Future administrations are not bound by law, as I said, to follow this same path of fiscal responsibility. This bill rectifies that situation by codifying compliance with the provisions of the CFO Act. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4259.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to just thank our ranking member, the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns), for his work and his staff's work with me and our subcommittee staff on the majority side. It has certainly been a bipartisan effort, and I am grateful for his assistance.

Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 4259, the Department of Homeland Security Financial Accountability Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a great institution of higher learning, the Pennsylvania State University, as a leader in post-secondary education. On July 1, 2004, Penn State began a year-long celebration of its 150th Anniversary, marking the historic achievements it has made in Pennsylvania, the Nation, and around the world.

Penn State, known at its inception in 1855 as ``the Farmers'' High School,'' was born at the behest of the State's Agriculture Society. The Society members recognized the need to base the growing field of agriculture in sound sciences. College President Evan Pugh rose to the challenge, uniquely combining classical studies with practical application. Pugh's vision soon became the foundation of the institution's mission: to provide ``instruction, research, outreach and extension''.

As student and business interest grew over the following decades, Penn State grew along with it. Recognizing the limitations the Depression placed on households in the 1930's, Penn State began opening satellite campuses throughout the state. Penn State began renting classroom space in York, Pennsylvania, which is in my Congressional District, as early as 1926.

In 1955, the Penn State York campus officially opened and began offering courses to students at its current location. The campus was much-admired for having one of the highest concentrations of students enrolled in technical courses and studying the field of engineering on a satellite campus. As a student who studied engineering at the Penn State York Campus, I can attest to the high quality education provided to Penn State students. Continuing its mission for outreach and extension, Penn State merged with the Dickinson School of Law in 1997, also located in my Congressional District in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

There can be no doubt that Penn State has played a strong and vitally important role in the education of students around the world. With three members of my staff, both past and present, as Penn State alumni, I can attest to the quality education Penn State provides. Even as the proud son of a University of Pittsburgh graduate, a known ``rival'' of Penn State, I wish to congratulate the Pennsylvania State University on its successful 150 years, and extend best wishes for continued successes in the years to come.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. I want to commend him and the gentleman from Maryland for their sponsoring this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased and proud to be a cosponsor of this amendment. I respect all Members' opinions, but I do take exception to the premise that we who maybe do not have tobacco growers have no business offering an amendment that deals with the expenditure of $9.6 billion of our taxpayers' funds. I think we have every right to offer this amendment.

It is important to recognize that there are other proposals that would allow this quota system to end, allow for these small tobacco farmers to be adequately compensated for that right they have in these quotas, but it would be done in a way that is more responsible and that the beneficiary of the buyout, the tobacco industry, which CRS, Congressional Research Service, says will benefit to the tune of about $15 billion over the next 10 years, that the tobacco industry will pay for the buyout, as opposed to the American taxpayer.

So I support the amendment. I think it is well thought out, it is reasonable, it is responsible. It is important to note just in the last several weeks two new reports have come out. In one, the latest data tells us that smokers, on average, have 10 years shorter life expectancies than non-smokers, yet we are proposing the American taxpayer pay $9.6 billion, instead of the industry, to help an industry that shortens the life of users of their products by, on average, 10 years.

I commend the makers of this amendment, I am pleased to stand with them, and I certainly urge a yes vote.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me this time for an opportunity to speak about a great American, a great statesman, a great leader for our Nation and for all of the free world.

I will submit my written statement for the Record, but I am honored to state just briefly how much I admired and how grateful I am for the service of President Ronald Reagan.

I am honored to say that the first vote I cast in a Presidential election as an 18-year-old freshman in college was in 1980 on behalf of Ronald Reagan. He turned the tide for our Nation at a difficult time in our Nation's history. He taught us to again believe in our Nation and believe in the principles for which our Nation stood and continues to stand this very day. He also reminded us to be grateful for the blessings we have as Americans.

My mom and dad showed me by example the importance of caring about our fellow citizens, and they taught me about community service and led me to an interest in public service.

Ronald Reagan furthered that interest and further inspired my desire to serve, first in the statehouse and now here in Congress.

On behalf of all of the people in the 19th Congressional District, I am honored to say, Mr. President, thank you on a job well done and on a life well lived. My deepest sympathies go to your family at this time of great loss. May God bless you and your family, and may God continue to bless the country which you so deeply loved, the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Ronald Wilson Reagan, our Nation's 40th President, a true statesman and patriot, a husband and father, and a Great American. I offer my sincerest condolences to Mrs. Reagan and the entire Reagan family. My prayers are with them in this time of mourning and remembrance.

When Ronald Reagan was elected President in 1980, America was facing a crisis. The crisis went deeper than the economic problems of double- digit inflation, rising unemployment, long gas lines, and threatening military actions of the Soviet Union. After Vietnam, Watergate, and the hostage situation in Iran, America actually began to experience a crisis of faith in itself. More than any other person, President Reagan helped us to overcome our doubts and remind us that America is, in fact, a ``shining city on a hill.''

Ronald Reagan was the eternal optimist, a believer in America's abilities, ideals, and innate goodness. His faith in the greatness of our Nation was perhaps best expressed when he said, ``In this land of dreams fulfilled where greater dreams may be imagined, nothing is impossible, no victory is beyond our reach, and no glory will ever be too great.'' Through his outlook and conviction, President Reagan restored America's confidence in itself.

As a result of Ronald Reagan's inspiring leadership as our President, the world changed dramatically. Economic stagnation was replaced with a dynamic economy. President Reagan challenged the Soviet Union to ``tear down this wall,'' and the Berlin wall came down. He saw a day when Eastern Europe would join the Free World, and it did. He stayed firm at Reykjavik and, for the first time, Russia and America stopped building, and started destroying, nuclear weapons.

Ronald Reagan understood the price of freedom. Forty years after D- day, and 19 years and 364 days before he passed away, President Reagan commemorated ``the boys of Pointe du Hoc'' who took the cliffs at Normandy for the Allies during World War II. He said:

The men of Normandy had faith that what they were doing was

right, faith that they fought for all humanity, faith that a

just God would grant them mercy on this beachhead or on the

next. It was the deep knowledge--and pray God we have not

lost it--that there is a profound moral difference between

the use of force for liberation and the use of force for

conquest. You were here to liberate, not to conquer, and so

you and those others did not doubt your cause. And you were

right not to doubt.

You all knew that some things are worth dying for. One's

country is worth dying for, and democracy is worth dying for,

because it's the most deeply honorable form of government

ever devised by man. All of you loved liberty. All of you

were willing to fight tyranny, and you knew the people of

your countries were behind you.

It is this understanding of history, this moral clarity, that helped Ronald Reagan to lead us to the freer world we have today. It is what helps to make President Reagan one of the giants of the 20th Century, along with his personal hero, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Six years ago, in commemoration of Ronald Reagan's 87th birthday, I had the pleasure of joining First Lady Nancy Reagan and Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick at the Reagan Library in California. I was there as an elected member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. But I was there, most importantly, as an American citizen who was honored to pay tribute to and to express my deep gratitude to President Reagan for his tremendous service to our Nation. In my conversation with Mrs. Reagan that day, my message was simply one of thanks. Thanks to her and, through her, to President Reagan for their dedicated, hard-working and outstanding service to our great Nation and its citizens.

Ronald Reagan's service to others, his statesmanship, his love of country, and his unwavering commitment to the principles of freedom, liberty, and justice for which our Nation stands, were great examples for all of us fellow citizens to emulate. President Reagan was truly inspiring to countless citizens. His example helped to affirm my own commitment to the ideals of public service, to the ideals of giving back to one's Nation, and certainly helped to affirm my interest in serving the public office, including here in Congress.

I am greatly honored to join with fellow Americans in saying: Mr. President, thank you for a job well done and a life well lived. You will long be missed and never forgotten. God bless you and God bless this great Nation you loved so dearly, the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor and privilege for me to participate today in this opportunity for members of the House to pay tribute to fallen heroes across the Nation and in our individual Districts.

It is difficult to find the right words to adequately express the deep respect I have for those who have sacrificed their lives for our great Nation. America would not have been born, nor would our Nation's citizens enjoy the unparalleled blessings of liberty, freedom, and justice for all, but for the courageous and selfless sense of patriotism of countless men and women throughout America's history such as the fallen heroes we honor today.

These are the names of the heroes, with ties to the 19th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, who gave their lives for us while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan: Army Specialist Ryan G. Carlock; Army Specialist Martin W. Kondor; Army Specialist George A. Mitchell; Navy SEAL Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Roberts; and Army Staff Sergeant Kimberly A. Voelz.

My deepest sympathies go out to the family members and friends of our fallen heroes. I hope all citizens will keep them in our prayers and forever remember the selfless sacrifices that these heroes have made on our behalf.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 177 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, as the Member with the proud privilege of representing the

19th Congressional District, including Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, I have tremendous admiration and respect for this Nation's thirty-fourth President, Dwight D. Eisenhower.

When President Eisenhower left the White House in January of 1961, he and his wife Mamie settled down on their small farm in Gettysburg to enjoy their retirement together. This farm remains a popular tourist attraction today.

The former Supreme Commander of the Allied Troops on D-Day, Supreme Commander of NATO, and President of the United States passed away on March 28, 1969. On the 35th anniversary of this loss, John Burke Jovich, a Presidential Historian and constituent of the 19th Congressional District, wrote a remembrance of Ike that very effectively captured the character of this great American. I am honored to commend this article to my colleagues.

The Eisenhower Legacy . . . Remembering Ike on 35th Anniversary of His

Death

It seems that Americans have a funny way of remembering

their past presidents. Last November 22nd, for example, the

40th anniversary of the assassination of President John F.

Kennedy, our nation was barraged with television specials and

print commemorations focusing on JFK's life and death. Even

during the non-milestone years, there is always some public

reminder of President Kennedy on the 22nd of November.

But do we remember the deaths of those presidents who

served immediately before and after Kennedy? Do we bother to

observe the death of Harry Truman each December, or Dwight

Eisenhower in March, Lyndon Johnson in January, or Richard

Nixon each May?

Of course not.

None of those presidents were assassinated. They did not

die suddenly in office. And all four lived into their senior

years and enjoyed the elder statesman status that comes with

presidential longevity.

It was thirty-five years ago today, March 28, when Dwight

David Eisenhower passed away at Walter Reed Army Hospital. As

his wife, Mamie, held his hand in hers, he spoke his last

words to her and their son, John: ``I've always loved my

wife. I've always loved my children. I've always loved my

grandchildren. And I have always loved my country. I want to

go; God take me.''

Americans called him Ike. He was the commanding military

figure of the 1940s, the dominant national leader of the

'50s, and the respected elder statesman of the '60s. He had

an enduringly handsome grin, and Mamie's curls were as much a

trademark in her day as Farrah Fawcett's locks became twenty

years later.

Over the years, several historians have made the mistake of

discrediting Eisenhower's two administrations over his habit

of relying heavily on the advisement of presidential aides.

While Ike did not possess quite the persuasive personality of

Franklin Roosevelt or the cajoling force of Lyndon Johnson's

in-your-face prevalence, he worked equally hard to achieve

his goals.

As president, Eisenhower worked diligently with the United

Nations to end the Korean War shortly after taking office. He

lobbied behind the scenes to put the brakes on Joe McCarthy's

red-baiting hearings. Ike dispatched federal troops to Little

Rock to allow black students to safely enroll at the all-

white Central High. It was on Eisenhower's watch, not those

of Kennedy and Johnson, upon which NASA was initially formed

and the Mercury 7 Space Program established. And it was Ike,

in his last nationally-televised address as president, who

warned the American people about the eminent dangers of

the military-industrial complex, a full three years prior

to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and the tragic escalation

of the Viet Nam War.

But perhaps the most crowning of all Eisenhower's

achievements as president was his determined work with a

Democratic Congress to establish this nation's interstate

highway system, which today stretches some 42,000 miles

across our land.

The idea for such a national undertaking occurred to Ike as

a young first-ever Tank commander in the Army at Camp Colt

(Gettysburg) during World War I. He witnessed what can happen

when entire brigades of tanks and artillery became mired in

mud or fell off impassable roads. He told fellow officers

that if he ever achieved an important position in public

service, one of his goals would be to create a magnificent

system of highways for the convenience of all Americans.

Today, whenever you see one of those familiar blue and

white signs adorned with five stars along the interstate that

read, ``Eisenhower Interstate System,'' think of Ike.

Dwight Eisenhower was not a perfect individual. But his

affable and honorable disposition made him friends all his

life. He was a brilliant military tactician and a gifted

leader among men. But he was also very much a common man who

preferred watching ``Gunsmoke'' on the back porch of his

Gettysburg farmhouse while eating a TV dinner atop a tray, as

opposed to hosting a formal dinner at the White House.

One of the classic stories about Eisenhower occurred one

evening in Washington. The President picked up the telephone

and asked the switchboard operator to please get Senator

Young on the line. After a couple of minutes, the senator

respectfully said, ``Good evening, Mr. President.''

``Hello, Milt, I want to touch base with you about the

status of our Agricultural bill. These Democrats on that

committee are holding this thing up and . . .''

The senator on the other end of the line attempted to

interrupt Ike, saying, ``But Mr. President. . .''

Eisenhower ignored him and kept on urging the senator to

get fellow Republican senators together and ``talk some sense

to those Democrats about this legislation. . .''

The senator again tried to interrupt Ike, without success.

Finally, the senator raised his voice and said, ``Mr.

President, this is Senator Steve Young, not Senator Milt

Young.''

Stunned, Ike realized that the White House operator had

mistakenly called the Democratic Senator Stephen Young from

Ohio rather than the Republican Senator Milton Young from

North Dakota.

Ike muttered, ``Oh damn,'' and hung up.

Despite the error, Senator Young of Ohio continued to like

Ike.

And so did America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate an organization that has dedicated its efforts to the education and prevention of tobacco use among our Nation's young people. Founded on March 4, 1999, as a result of the historic Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA), the American Legacy Foundation celebrates its 5th anniversary this week.

Over the past 5 years, the American Legacy Foundation has made great strides in improving health for all Americans by creating an environment which allows young people to reject tobacco products and assists others to quit.

The American Legacy Council is best known for their award-winning truth youth counter market campaign. Truth advertisements provide a blunt and frank approach to the negatives of smoking and tobacco usage. These advertisements are credited as one of the reasons for the recent declines in youth tobacco usage. Additionally, the foundation's programs extend well beyond targeting youth. Through their cessation programs, the Circle of Friends creates circles of support around women who wish to quit, the Great Start Program helps to provide counseling for pregnant women regarding the risks of tobacco usage during pregnancy, and the Priority Populations Program focuses on those groups disproportionately harmed by tobacco use.

In addition to celebrating the American Legacy's Foundation wonderful achievements, I wish to take this opportunity to share with my colleagues the very real threat to the financial existence of programs such as truth, and the existence of the Foundation itself. This year the American Legacy Foundation has received its last payment from the MSA. Because of the dramatic reduction in resources, all of the successes that the Foundation has achieved are in jeopardy. Already, the Foundation is cutting programs. It is imperative that members of Congress join together to not only congratulate the American Legacy Foundation on their great success over the past 5 years, but also join together to ensure that the American Legacy Foundation will be able to continue on their path for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce important legislation to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our Federal government--the Program Assessment and Results Act, or PAR Act. As elected representatives of the people, we have a responsibility to use taxpayer dollars in the most effective way possible. As Congress formulates its budget each year, we must have the best information available to us on which to base our spending decisions.

The Government Performance and Results Act, or GPRA, has laid a solid foundation for agencies working with Congress to set strategic goals and begin to utilize performance based information. Building on GPRA, we must take the next step toward reforming the way the government conducts business.

One of the key aspects of any reform effort is to change the prevailing mind set. If our emphasis is on creating a more results- oriented government, then we must change our mind set from outputs to outcomes. It takes time to achieve this type of cultural shift. The reforms of the early 1990s--the CFO Act, GPRA and others--are just beginning to work as intended.

Prior efforts to make the federal government more effective--the Hoover Commission, Zero-Based Budgeting, the Planning-Programming- Budgeting System, Reinventing Government--have come and gone with little lasting effect. Federal managers have learned that if they wait, each new administration is likely to attempt yet another broad-based reform. From a management standpoint, it is difficult in that type of environment to make long-range plans; and it's next to impossible to achieve the kind of cultural shift needed to reform the management of the federal government.

Major reform takes time. By enacting GPRA, Congress put government reform in statute. Because of this statutory framework, federal managers now look at the requirements for performance plans and strategic plans required by GPRA and know they are here to stay regardless of changes in Congress and the Executive Branch. When the first round of strategic plans fell short of expectations, the reform effort was not scrapped--it was improved. Now, ten years after GPRA was enacted, we have strategic plans that are more in line with what was envisioned. We have seen slow, sustainable improvement.

GPRA requires that agencies focus attention on program evaluation as one of six aspects of their strategic plans. Unfortunately, according to a draft report from the General Accounting Office, program evaluation is the one area where departments consistently come up short. Not only have agencies failed to comply with this requirement, the valuable information that stands to be gained from these evaluations is not culled, coordinated, or presented in a useful way.

We have seen great progress in meeting other objectives set out in GPRA. In 1997, only 76 percent of federal managers had developed performance measures. By 2003, that number had risen to 89 percent. It is now time to strengthen GPRA to address the shortfall we see in program evaluation.

By creating and using the Program Assessment Rating Tool, or PART, this Administration has gone a step beyond the strategic plans required by GPRA and implemented a system for evaluating the performance and results of federal programs. The next logical step is to codify the requirement for a coordinated evidence-based review of programs. In looking at this legislation that I am introducing today, we must ask ourselves, do we believe that better understanding how government operates program by program is a good idea. If the answer to that question is yes, and I believe it is, then we should work to ensure that program assessments be required for this and every future administration.

This legislation does not seek to codify the use of the PART specifically. Rather, this bill amends GPRA by establishing a requirement for program reviews. Specifically, the Office of Management and Budget is required under the Act to review each program activity at least once every five years. By requiring OMB to be responsible for overseeing program assessment data, we will take a great step forward in realizing the reform envisioned by GPRA and make the federal government more efficient and results oriented.

Information gleaned from these program reviews needs to be useful across the board to all stakeholders. Members of Congress, taxpayers, federal managers and the Executive Branch need to know if programs are being managed effectively and if they are achieving the desired result. Further, this legislation, once enacted, will allow us to compare data among different agencies, to see how different programs with similar goals are achieving results. Members of Congress can use the information to make informed budget decisions and conduct more effective oversight. It will help the taxpayers see what they are getting for their money. Most important, federal managers will use the information to improve the way they manage programs. The results will be a more effective and efficient government for the good of all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I introduced House Concurrent Resolution 176 to reaffirm the value of sound financial planning in achieving life's goals and to recognize the dedication of American families and financial planning professionals for their adherence to the financial planning process.

Across our Nation, financial planning helps American families manage higher education costs, purchase homes for the first time, and achieve short and long-term financial objectives. Sound financial planning empowers American workers and their families to successfully overcome unexpected financial challenges, preserve personal wealth, and to improve their overall quality of life. As my colleagues and I debate national economic policy in the United States Congress, it is equally important to emphasize the benefits of sound financial planning to the American family.

I would like to commend the Financial Planning Association and its members in South Central Pennsylvania and across our Nation for their work in increasing public awareness about the importance of sound financial planning.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting the financial planning profession and all American families striving to realize the American dream by passing this important resolution and promoting the week of October 6, 2003 as Financial Planning Week.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the exceptional life of Mother Teresa, who began her decades of service to humanity with the simple goal of helping the less fortunate and grew to be a symbol for human rights all over the world.

At the age of eighteen, Mother Teresa became a Roman Catholic sister, the beginning of her life as an educator, a leader, and a servant of God. Perhaps her greatest accomplishment was the establishment of the religious order, Missionaries of Charity. With over 5,000 sisters, the goal of Missionaries of Charity is to help the poor in all aspects of life, providing food, clothing, and shelter to millions of the world's most destitute. Additionally, Mother Teresa initiated countless relief projects, international peace-keeping missions, and medical assistance projects for the needy. Later in life, even as her own health deteriorated, she pressed on with new projects, including the creation of hospice programs for those living with AIDS.

A well-deserving recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the impact of this remarkable woman will last forever. I could not be more pleased to join in remembering Mother Teresa of Calcutta as a shining example of selfless dedication to human kindness. She was an inspiring example for us all.