Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I submit the following: H.R. 5658, The Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2009, contains $7,412,000 for MXG Consolidation and Forward Logistic Center, Phase 2 in the Air Force, Military Construction account. This project is for McConnell Air Force Base located 57837 Coffeyville St., Kansas, 67221. The funds will help complete phase two of the Maintenance Group (MXG) Consolidation and Forward Logistics Center that will streamline many different facilities into one maintenance facility, resulting in improved military operations and saving taxpayer dollars by reducing operations and maintenance spending. No matching funds are required for this military construction project.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my reluctant opposition to the Food and Energy Security Act of 2007. This legislation is a real mixed bag for Kansas farmers. While there are many provisions that will benefit them, it contains many provisions that I believe will hurt them in the long run.

The latest information from the Congressional Budget Office indicates that this bill will cost us $714.2 billion over the next ten years--a pretty significant increase over the last farm bill. In fact, the only reason we are having this debate on the floor today at all is because the rule that provided for consideration of this bill waived points of order against violations of the pay-as-you-go, or PAYGO, rules, which require any additional spending to be offset by tax increases, or spending cuts.

House rules require the use of the most recent budget numbers available from CBO. And although we have numbers for FY 2008 available, the bill before us today is based on FY 2007's numbers. Why has this legislation not been updated to reflect the current fiscal year? Because doing so would reduce the baseline of available spending. If the Farm Bill followed the rules and instead used the updated baseline, it would violate PAYGO by $3.1 billion over 10 years. Ignoring the most recent budget numbers is like going to the gas station, and instead of paying $3.66 a gallon to fill up my car, I decide that I liked the price of a year ago better, and only pay $2.60 a gallon. Someone ends up getting stuck with the extra cost, and in our case, it's the American taxpayer. Time shifts and budget gimmicks hide another $8.5 billion. That's $11.6 billion worth of hidden costs in this bill, all born in the backs of American taxpayers.

Yet, with all of the extra money that seems to be magically available in this bill, the majority could not find enough money to avoid cutting $300 million from direct payments and $6 billion from crop insurance. These are the two programs that benefit Kansas farmers the most. We couldn't find the money to help them, which seems strange, as there was plenty of money available for pet projects.

During the debate today, several of my colleagues have mentioned two programs that were airdropped in conference. One would provide for the purchase of 400,000 acres of forest land for the preservation of fish, and allow the Nature Conservancy to receive a $250 million tax refund, even though they are a non-profit organization, and pay no taxes. A second program provides $170 million--more than we provided for the victims of Hurricane Katrina--for the restoration of salmon fisheries.

By themselves, these are rather ridiculous and unnecessary programs that should have been subject to House approval. Instead, they were inserted into the Conference Report without undergoing the scrutiny of this great body. That alone is disconcerting. But what makes these provisions especially painful for the farmers in my district is the fact that, if these two programs were eliminated, there would be more than enough money to restore the $300 million cut from direct payments. The cuts to crop insurance and direct payments remove the two most important aspects of the farm bill for Kansans. Taking money from these programs is unacceptable given the significant spending increases elsewhere.

There are, however, good provisions in this bill. The conference report addresses many of the concerns voiced to me by Kansas livestock producers. Especially of note are the country-of-origin labeling provisions that will allow producers to transition into compliance in a smooth and cost-effective manner while providing consumers with more information about where their food comes from.

This bill creates, for the first time, limitations on income for those receiving federal farm assistance. It provides for nearly 49 million acres to be enrolled in conservation efforts, preserving the land for future generations.

Another positive provision included in the farm bill is the tax incentive for cellulosic ethanol production. Cellulosic ethanol has great potential for helping lower the cost of fuel for American consumers while lessoning the strain on food prices.

Mr. Speaker, this is the third farm bill I have had the privilege of considering here on the House floor. As a Kansan, I take pride in the work it does to help Kansas, its farmers, ranchers and producers. It saddens me, however, that for the first time, I cannot vote for the original bill or this conference report before us today. I cannot endorse a bill that follows the same song and dance we've seen all too often in Washington--a disregard for the rules of this House, coupled with large increases in wasteful Federal spending.

This farm bill leaves farmers in the dust and sacrifices Kansas food producers on the altar of special interest fish projects. It is a shame some have forgotten the ``farm'' in our consideration of the farm bill.

``Gather 'round the good stuff.'' That's what Pizza Hut says in their ads today. But they have been gathering around the good stuff for 50 years.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th anniversary of an American success story, Pizza Hut. It has grown from a single brick building in Wichita, Kansas, to more than 11,000 stores worldwide with sales of more than $1.8 billion in the last fiscal quarter alone.

Founded on May 31, 1958, by Dan and Frank Carney, Wichita, Kansas, natives, Pizza Hut represents the very essence of the American Dream. The Carney brothers borrowed $600 from their mother, purchased used kitchen equipment, and rented a 550 square foot brick building and began selling pizzas.

The business grew quickly, and in 1959 they opened their first franchise restaurant in Topeka, Kansas. By 1966, just 8 years after opening, Pizza Hut established its first home office in Wichita to oversee the booming business of 145 restaurants.

In the late 1960s, a pizza company from California was beginning to expand eastward, and the Carney brothers were faced with new business challenges. They decided that Pizza Huts would be the neighborhood pizza restaurants, with standard layouts and looks. In 1969 the red roof was instituted as the national standard for Pizza Hut locations. The move paid off, as Pizza Hut became the number one pizza chain in the world, both in term of sales and in the number of restaurants.

Frank Carney attributes the early success of Pizza Hut to the good values and solid work ethic he and his brother learned from helping their father at his neighborhood grocery store. They believed that growth would come through a commitment to quality and an attitude of service from dedicated employees.

The 1970s were a significant time of growth for Pizza Hut. They became a publicly traded corporation in 1970, opened their 1,000th store in Wichita, Kansas, in 1972, and their first international restaurant in Costa Rica that same year. Four years later the 100th international store opened in Australia and the 2,000th Pizza Hut store worldwide. In 1977 they merged with PepsiCo.

Since then Pizza Hut has grown in terms of restaurants and menu options. In 1986 they began offering delivery services. In 2000 Pizza Hut joined with several other restaurant holdings, including KFC and Taco Bell, to become YUM! Brands.

A number of events are planned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Pizza Huts' founding, culminating in a gala at the Gaylord Hotel in the DC area here on the evening of May 31. I want to especially commend Bev Jeskie for all her hard work in organizing these events and for making sure that I remained informed of their activities.

Madam Speaker, the idea began 50 years ago in a little hut in Wichita, Kansas. It has been immensely successful. Dan Carney cites the relationships he developed, strengthened with friends, family members, co-workers, and franchisees, as being the most important aspect of Pizza Hut. Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to take a cue from a couple of good Kansans: ``Gather 'round the good stuff.''

I thank the gentleman from California.

Madam Speaker, Washington is broken and it needs to be changed. This rule is poorly devised and the underlying bill is poorly conceived. This bill did not go through the committee process, it is unprecedented and it violates the intent of the rules of the House.

Why is this important, Madam Speaker? Well, the American people would not allow the Democrat leadership to cancel the next election. The American people would not allow one person to determine who our next President is going to be; but on a smaller scale, that is exactly what has happened on this bill.

The Speaker of the House has determined what is in this bill, not the appropriate committee. An election was cancelled. There was no vote. The representatives of the people did not have a voice in this process. We did not have any committee hearings. This is not the democratic process. Washington is broken and it needs to be changed.

The rule accepts this violation of our own House rules, that's why I ask my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this rule because Washington is broken and it needs to be changed. We have to change the process here because Washington is broken and it needs to be changed.

I thank the gentleman from California.

Mr. Speaker, Washington is broken and it needs to be changed. This bill has been excluded from the normal rules and regulations of the House, and America's Representatives have not had their voices heard or their rights allowed. It would be a totally different bill if we had not violated the House rules and let the committee process work. Washington is broken and we need to have it changed.

For example, if we had committee meetings, we would not have had a tax increase in here. We have a huge tax increase in this bill that affects small business owners. Eighty percent or 83 percent of the taxes here, of the people that are going to be taxed here, are small businessmen.

Now, in Kansas, just like a lot of America, four out five jobs are created by small businesses. And for those of

you that have not been reading the newspaper, our country is in a period of slow growth. This is exactly the time we need to strengthen small businesses, instead of punishing them through this bill. Eighty- three percent of the people punished in this bill are people that are creating jobs.

If we'd had a committee process, we may not have added in other ancillary issues into this idea. Instead, we would have had a clean bill that would address the needs of our young men and women who are faithfully serving this Nation, protecting our families, take the fight to the enemy and helping us keep this country safe.

But, Mr. Speaker, Washington is broken and it needs to be changed. We have avoided the committee process and because of that, there are portions of this bill that could have been improved, portions of it that could have been improved for our veterans that have served so faithfully, come home to us broken, people we need to take care of. But because the committee was not involved in this process, we have not had the ability to improve this care for those who have done so much for us. The reason is, Mr. Speaker, is because Washington is broken and it needs to be changed.

We need to use the committee process. The committee process is a very important part of this. It's been violative of our own House rules. Washington is broken and it needs to be changed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to protest the Democrat Leadership's dictatorial tactics. Our Founding Fathers, in their infinite wisdom, created a system of government by which the people's voice would be heard in legislative decisions, especially those affecting the use of their hard earned taxpayer dollars. The House of Representatives has the awesome responsibility to represent the will of the people, and for that reason, under the Constitution of the United States, spending bills originate in this body. What we have here today, however, is the suppression of the people's voice. This bill is brought to the floor without consideration by the committee of jurisdiction whose chairmen didn't even have input and without true consideration by the House with a lockdown rule that does not allow for consideration of amendments or a substitute bill. Democrat and Republican Members have been shut out of this process.

This bill contains funding for the men and women who protect this nation at home and abroad--yet the defense subcommittee which holds hearings year round about their needs has not been consulted. This bill contains funding for our nation's veterans, yet again the subcommittee that best understands their needs has not been consulted. This bill contains funding for domestic priorities and yet again the subcommittees of jurisdiction have not been consulted.

Why is the Speaker of the House opposed to allowing the House of Representatives have their say? I can only assume it is that she knows the American people would reject this irresponsible use of their hard earned tax dollars. This bill takes $250 billion out of the pockets of American workers. $250 billion. That cannot be taken lightly. Families across this nation are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of gas, rising food prices, rising education costs, etc. The people must have a say in whether this is a wise use of their money.

I strongly support our troops, as do my constituents, yet we are not given a chance to have a say in how to best supply them. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to stand up for their constituents and demand that we have a say. Vote against the bill and force the Democrat Leadership to bring this bill through regular order.

Madam Speaker, congratulations to the people of Israel and their fore bearers on the 60th anniversary of the reestablishment of the State of Israel. Born out of genocide and conflict, the modern State of Israel has developed into a free, democratic and prosperous country. An unfailing ally of the United States, Israel is a beacon of freedom and religious tolerance in the Middle East. I am honored to strongly support the modern State of Israel and reaffirm the bonds of close friendship and cooperation between the United States and Israel.

The narrow strip of land that now constitutes modern Israel has been important to the Jewish people for four millennia, and the first Jewish kingdom was established in this region over 3,000 years ago. Although forced to emigrate from the historical Jewish homeland over the centuries, the Jewish people have continuously yearned for and often returned to their home. History shows that waves of Jewish people returned to the Holy Land at the very least during the 12th, 15th, 16th, and 18th centuries. Large-scale migration back to Israel started in the late 1800s and continues through today.

On November 29, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly formally approved the partitioning of the British Mandate of Palestine and the creation of a Jewish State. On May 14, 1948, the people of Israel proclaimed the establishment of the modern State of Israel. Under the leadership of President Harry S. Truman, the United States was the first nation to recognize the State of Israel and establish full diplomatic relations.

Over the course of three wars, countless military operations, constant terrorism, and unjustified diplomatic and economic boycotts, Israel's existence has been continuously threatened. But, through it all, the Jewish people have remained vigilant and continue to build a strong and vibrant state.

Today, Israel has one of the leading economies in the Middle East, while maintaining a strong commitment to human rights, freedom of speech, press and religion, and democratic values. With open and free elections, and an independent judiciary, Israel remains the most democratic country in the region.

Since the creation of the modern State of Israel, the hallmark of the relationship with the United States has been a strong friendship. Israel has been a trusted military ally and partner for six decades. The close relationship between our governments and continued military assistance are essential for promoting democracy and peace in the Middle East and throughout the world.

In times of humanitarian need or global crisis, the United States can always count on Israel to stand close and provide assistance. From contributing search-and-rescue teams following the 1998 bombings of the American Embassies in east Africa, to providing humanitarian aid following the 2005 devastation of the Gulf Coast from a series of hurricanes, the State of Israel has always been a stalwart friend to the American people. The United States must remain committed to supporting the State of Israel.

It is important to honor this historic milestone. The United States Congress and the American people look forward to continued growth and success of the State of Israel. I ask that all my colleagues honor this important anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I move to reconsider the vote.

Motion to Table Offered by Ms. Castor

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

I thank the Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, they say that in America all you need to do to be successful is to work a half a day, and you can choose whether it's the first 12 hours or the second 12 hours. The American people probably expect double from their government these days when we have serious challenges to our economic and national security. So what is Congress doing? Are we doing what it takes to be successful to solve these problems? No. We're not starting business today until noon. Congress is sleeping in. Maybe we're on California time, but I will wager we will not be here until midnight.

Any Third World dictator would be pleased at the way we are operating today. Our economy is in a precarious situation. We learned this morning that oil is at $120, could go to $200 per barrel, that gas is at $4, easily could go to $5. We're still denying our intelligence community the tools important to keep this country safe. And Congress is sleeping in.

Many of us came to Washington sacrificing a good, normal lifestyle in our respective States' districts to serve this nation and work hard to help make America stronger, but we're not being given a chance to do our job. Kansans have been asking me for months, ``What is the government going to do about the rising cost of gas?'' In April 2006, the Democrat house leadership assured Americans they ``have a commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices.'' Well, Mr. Speaker, it is time for the Democrat leadership to unveil this plan. Since 2007 when the Democrats took control of the House, gas prices have risen 50 percent. We have $4 a gallon, going to $5.

Today we hear that the House Democrat leadership has intentions to bring a $250 billion supplemental on the American people without proper input from Congress. I guess we don't have time. Congress is sleeping in till noon. As a body, Republicans and Democrats are very proud of our responsibility to oversee the power of the purse, but the Democrat leadership has completely undermined that power.

What is this defense supplemental appropriations bill about? We don't know. Nor does the chairman of the respective appropriations subcommittees. Why? Because the Speaker doesn't think it's important for Members of Congress to weigh in and oversee the appropriations process. We don't know if this package will give our men and women in uniform the resources that they need to protect themselves. We don't know if this package will address price of gasoline or the price of food. We don't know if this package will ensure that our veterans are properly taken care of.

The experts, the men and women, Democrat and Republican, who serve in Congress on the committee could answer these questions. We spend time overseeing the process, the funding needs of our agencies, but we've been cut out of the process. In other words, the people's representatives have been cut out of the process. How do the American people feel about a $250 billion monstrosity that has no input from their representatives? Unless you're from San Francisco, who will be represented in this bill?

Mr. Speaker, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, David Obey, and I are friends. Last year, as a part of overseeing the national park system, we went to Death Valley National Park in California. As fate would have it on that very hot day, we took a drive into Death Valley and the truck that we were in that the Park Service gave us had not one, not two, but three flat tires. With the capable assistance of Rob Nabors, the committee staff director, Chairman Obey and I changed all the flat tires and got ourselves back on the road. By working together we got it back on the road.

In many respects, the development of the emergency supplemental reminds me of that day in Death Valley. The environment on the House floor is hot and getting hotter every minute. The Democrat leadership is having a very difficult time getting this legislation on the road. I believe Chairman Obey would have better success if he enlisted the assistance of his fellow appropriators, Democrats and Republicans. Let us work together on this legislative vehicle, together through the normal process, as we did on that hot day in Death Valley last year.

This has been the most disappointing Congress in recent memory. The Democrat leadership shirks their duty to tackle the real issues facing American families. They've left Congress out of the workload. It's no wonder that we have the lowest approval ratings in history. A banana republic could not do it better. Mr. Speaker, don't slip on the banana peel.

Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Speaker, I move to reconsider the vote.

Motion to Table Offered by Mr. Hastings of Florida

Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my support for H. Res 1096, Head Coach Bill Self, and his national champion basketball team at Kansas University. Congratulations to the team on an outstanding season, and a thrilling ride through March Madness.

The season began with high expectations, as the Jayhawks were ranked fourth in the preseason ESPN/USA Today poll. These expectations were justified, as KU won the first 20 games of the season and climbed as high as number 2 in the polls, before losing to Kansas State University at the end of January. Two additional losses, including a heartbreaker to then 7th ranked Texas, dropped them as low as 7th in the national polls, and many sports pundits questioned their ability to win in big games.

Coach Self and his players continued to believe in themselves, however, and finished the season ranked fourth in the Nation, with a 28-3 record. It was a rocky trip through the Big XII Conference Tournament, with narrow wins against Nebraska and Texas A&M, before avenging their regular season loss against co-conference regular season champion Texas. The Jayhawks were getting hot at the right time. Their 10 point victory over the Longhorns gave them their 7th Conference Tournament championship in 12 years, and was enough to lock up a number one seed in the national tournament.

KU did not meet a significant challenge in the tournament until the regional final, where they met tournament darlings Stephen Curry and Davidson. They played each other neck and neck throughout the game, with neither team leading by more than 5 points at any time during the game. An errant three point shot by Davidson as time expired gave Kansas the win, and secured their place in the Final Four.

Kansas avenged another loss in the national semi-final--that of former coach Roy Williams, who left the university in 2003. Thought to be the best team in the country this year, North Carolina could not keep up with KU's fast paced game plan, and had no answer for their swarming defense. Kansas won in a rout, 84-66.

The national final against Memphis was an instant classic. Though the teams were close for much of the game, Memphis began to pull away towards the end. Undeterred, KU was able to capitalize on the Achilles' Heel of Memphis--free throw shooting. Even so, they were still trailing by 3 with 10 seconds left when Sherron Collins drove the length of the floor, and passed to Mario Chalmers who drained a 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left, sending the game into overtime. Kansas continued to perform well through overtime, and won the game 75-68. This was the first national championship for Coach Bill Self, and the first for KU since Danny and the Miracles in 1988.

Congratulations to Coach Self, the basketball team, and the entire Kansas University community. Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk!

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H. Res. 1130, and for our Nation's teachers. Their hard work and dedication to the students of this Nation is exemplary, and I commend them for it.

If the United States is to remain competitive, if our economy is to continue to grow, our children must have access to quality education, specifically in the areas of science and mathematics. One of the best ways to stimulate the economy is through a well-rounded and well- educated workforce. A quality education provides options for students to achieve the skills necessary to successfully compete in today's demanding job market. And our students would not be able to obtain a quality education were it not for the dedication of America's educators.

Teachers in this Nation are over-worked, and under-appreciated. Teaching has never been an easy profession. The work of teachers extends far beyond the time spent in the classroom, preparing lessons, grading papers, and looking for additional ways to enhance the educational experience in the classroom. We in Congress have not made their jobs any easier. In our, albeit laudable, effort to enhance the performance of our students, we have placed additional requirements on our teachers that demand more and more of their time. Federal regulations place additional pressure on both teachers and students. Our teachers do not receive nearly enough recognition for the care and concern they show for their students.

So today, I take the time to thank the many teachers who helped educate a restless boy that now has the honor of serving in this remarkable institution, the teachers who have guided my children and given them the skills to pursue their dreams, and also my beloved wife, Vicki, who has used her many talents to help teach children with disabilities. I urge my colleagues to show their support for America's teachers by voting in favor of this resolution.

Madam Chairman, I rise today to offer my support for H.R. 5715, the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act. As many of my colleagues are, no doubt, aware, the rupture of the housing bubble in this nation has had a ripple effect across our economy. The student loan industry has not been immune to these economic difficulties. In fact, in recent months, 57 providers of student loans have announced that they will no longer offer loans to students. This legislation is a good effort on the part of Congress to address this situation.

We should delude ourselves by believing that this legislation is a panacea, bringing a complete solution to the circumstances we find ourselves in today. By and large, the lending market will need to take actions of its own to right the tottering ship. These efforts are things that Congress is not, and should not be, in the business of mandating. But this legislation does take steps to protect students and their families by providing assurances that the opportunities to finance a college education are not jeopardized while the lending market is in flux.

Presently, experts in the field are unsure that the situation is, in fact, a ``crisis,'' pointing to a number of additional factors that may have contributed to the narrowing of the market. We will not know for several more months, when requests for student loans reach their peak, just how serious a problem we are facing. That is exactly the reason this legislation is the correct approach. It takes preventive steps to ensure that funding is available to students and their parents, if a crisis does arise. It does not create new mandates, but instead gives the Secretary of Education the authority to address potential problems.

Ensuring access to affordable student loans is of great importance to this nation, to our economy, and to our millions of students in college. I appreciate the efforts of Mr. McKeon and Mr. Miller to bring this legislation to the floor in such a timely manner, and hope that this bill will be enough to stave off larger problems down the road.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in support of H.J. Res. 70, congratulating the Army Reserve on their 100- year history. The U.S. Constitution of 1789 and the Militia Act of 1792 officially reaffirmed the continued reliance of the new Nation on the citizen-soldier for defense. According to Army Reserve Historian Lee S. Harford, Jr., the antecedents and heritage of the current United States Army Reserve are found in the tradition of the ``federal'' or ``national'' American citizen-soldier, dating back at least as far as the French and Indian War (1756-1763). America would be a very different place were it not for the patriotism and dedication of these citizen-warriors.

Members of the Army Reserve bring maturity, experience and civilian- acquired skills to the active military components and since September 11, 2001, over 188,025 soldiers have been mobilized in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Army Reserve provides trained and ready soldiers and units with the critical combat service support and combat support capabilities necessary to support Nation strategy during peacetime, contingencies and war. They are a key element in the Army multi-component unit force, training with Active and National Guard units to ensure all 3 components work as a fully integrated team.

Since September 11th, the Nation's Reserve Components have evolved from a strategic force in reserve to an operational force that is constantly deployed. Gone are the days of working 2 weekends a month and 2 weeks in the summer. The on-going Global War on Terrorism has seen citizen-warrior deployments go from 1 in every 5 years to now 1 in every 2-3 years. Army Reserve members are deployed all around the world and fulfill a wide range of capabilities that include war-fighting, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and post-conflict and transitional operations such as democracy building, stability efforts and peace-keeping. Many of my fellow Kansans share in this tremendous Army Reserve tradition, as members of the 89th Regional Readiness Command. Their mission is to help train and deploy America's most effective supporting ground forces.

Army Reserve soldiers must balance military obligations with family obligations and also manage a delicate balance with their full-time civilian careers. Employers must cope with these year-long deployments and balance the instability created from having one less employee to conduct business. Additionally, we as a Nation must ensure that these Army Reserve heroes are taken care of when they return from deployments. We must properly treat returning soldiers for post traumatic stress disorders, and ensure their transition back to civilian life is as smooth as possible.

I encourage my colleagues to support this important resolution and am pleased that today the House recognizes the role of the Army Reserve.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in support of H. Res 265, honoring military children during ``National Month of the Military Child.'' While we understand and praise the personal sacrifices our brave men and women make in defending our great nation, we frequently forget about the sacrifices and burdens that children and families face while their parents are serving in the United States Armed Forces.

In peacetime, children of military parents bear the burdens of numerous military moves, both overseas and in the United States. In these moves, they cope with attending several different schools, losing good friends, leaving good communities, and typically have parents who cannot attend their sporting events, music recitals, and other after school activities. The military duty is a 24-7, 365-day commitment for the soldier and also their families.

In wartime, children of deployed military parents spend every day living in fear of the unknown. When will my mom or dad return? Will they be severely injured? Will they be killed? In years past, military children often faced one deployment lasting anywhere from 4 to 18 months. However, in today's long Global War

on Terror, many military members and families are facing their second, third, or fourth deployments.

The impacts of these additional and prolonged separations are not clear and may have lasting adverse effects on military children and families. When military members return from deployments, we focus on the impact of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; we also need to study and analyze the impacts of traumas created by war and deployments on the children of these military parents.

The children of military members play a vital role in the defense of this country. Their contributions and sacrifices have not gone unnoticed. This is our opportunity as a Nation to recognize their dedication and support. We honor our brave men and women in the Armed Forces who have dedicated their lives to defending our freedoms, but we must also pay great tribute to the children and the families of soldiers, who bear the burden of their tremendous sacrifice.

I encourage my colleagues to support this important resolution and am pleased that today the House recognizes the role of the military children.