Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding group of men and women in Northern Virginia. The Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce annually recognizes individuals who have demonstrated superior dedication to public safety with the prestigious Valor Award. Several

members of the Fairfax County Police Department have earned this highest honor that Fairfax County bestows upon its public safety officials.

There are several types of Valor Awards that are awarded to a public safety officer: the Lifesaving Award, the Certificate of Valor, or the Gold, Silver, or Bronze Medal of Valor.

It is with great pride that I enter into the record the names of the recipients of the 2006 Valor Awards in the Fairfax County Police Department. Receiving the Lifesaving Award: Master Police Officer James J. Greeves; Police Officer First Class Chris R. Musser; Officer Travis L. Tate; the Certificate of Valor: Officer Robert M. Bauer; Officer Connie E. Gerten; Police Officer First Class Timothy A. Judd; Officer Ryan A. Kaspar; Police Officer First Class Michael S. Lamper; Police Officer First Class Gregory McNiff; Officer Thomas E. Wilbert; the Bronze Medal: Police Officer First Class Keith J. Baker; Police Officer First Class Raymond E. Betts; Police Officer First Class Jonathan J. Bobel; Master Police Officer John D. Brocco; Police Officer First Class Sean M. Brodrick; Second Lieutenant Michael L. Connor; Master Police Officer Paul G. DeHaven; Officer Ryan L. Fisher; Police Officer First Class Edward F. Hanko; Officer Louis J. Marino; Officer Brandon C. McAleese; Master Police Officer Michael L. Mountjoy; Police Officer First Class Michael S. O'Brein; Master Police Officer John F. Pennington; Officer Anthony N. Taormina; Sergeant Paul Thompson; the Silver Medal: Police Officer First Class Anthony D. Erway; Police Officer First Class Lance T. Guckenberger; Officer Paul A. MeIer.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the men and women who serve in the Fairfax County Police Department. Their efforts, made on behalf of the citizens of Fairfax County, are selfless acts of heroism and truly merit our highest praise. I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding this group of remarkable citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding group of men and women in Northern Virginia. The Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce annually recognizes individuals who have demonstrated superior dedication to public safety with the prestigious Valor Award. Several members of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department have earned this highest honor that Fairfax County bestows upon its public safety officials.

There are several types of Valor Awards that are awarded to a public safety officer: the Lifesaving Award, the Certificate of Valor, or the Gold, Silver, or Bronze Medal of Valor.

It is with great pride that I enter into the record the names of the recipients of the 2006 Valor Awards in the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. Receiving the Lifesaving Award: Apparatus Technician Cliff E. Sweeney; the Certificate of Valor: Lieutenant David P. Conrad; Firefighter Lawrence L. Ellison; Firefighter Kimberly A. Schoppa; Technician Jeffrey S. Seabright; Captain II Clayton Thompson; Lieutenant Chester E. Waters; the Bronze Medal: Firefighter Justin D. Childs; Lieutenant Gary C. Dize; Firefighter James P. Hobgood; Captain IVEMS Supervisor Lorenzo M. Thrower.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the men and women who serve in the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. Their efforts, made on behalf of the citizens of the Fairfax County, are selfless acts of heroism and truly merit our highest praise. I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding this group of remarkable citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding group of men and women in Northern Virginia. The Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce annually recognizes individuals who have demonstrated superior dedication to public safety with the prestigious Valor Award. Several members of the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office have earned this highest honor that Fairfax County bestows upon its public safety officials.

There are several types of Valor Awards that are awarded to a public safety officer: the Lifesaving Award, the Certificate of Valor, or the Gold, Silver, or Bronze Medal of Valor.

It is with great pride that I enter into the Record the names of the recipients of the 2006 Valor Awards in the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office. Receiving the Lifesaving Award: Private First Class Nicole L. Arnett; Private First Class Laval L. Collins; Private First Class Clifton Cooley; Private First Class Michael D. Ford; Master Deputy Sheriff Marvin S. Johnston; Private First Class Thomas V. Kyle; Private/Deputy John J. Roth; Second Lieutenant Gregory E. Schossler; Deputy Ryan E. Tassey; the Certificate of Valor Award: Second Lieutenant Brian Johnston; Private First Class Teena M. Putman.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the men and women who serve in the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office. Their efforts, made on behalf of the citizens of Fairfax County, are selfless acts of heroism and truly merit our highest praise. I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding this group of remarkable citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the Dewberry Companies' 50th anniversary.

Dewberry was established as a small land design and survey practice on Friday, April 13, 1965, in Arlington, Virginia. Currently, Dewberry has more than 1,800 employees in 30 offices nationwide. The company has expanded from a small business to a nationwide company with over 1,800 employees and 30 offices. Dewberry provides an array of services, including civil engineering, surveying, design-build, environmental sciences, land development, security and homeland defense.

The company has assisted in major project in the Northern Virginia area including the full planning and engineering of services for Kings Park (a residential community in Fairfax County), Tysons II, the Dulles Toll Road, and assisted with work for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Moreover, Dewberry has consulted for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development during presidential-declared disasters.

Dewberry has been a strong member of the community through various charitable and scholarship programs. An example would be the Dean Meyers Scholarship fund, named for a Dewberry engineer who tragically lost his life in the DC sniper attacks of 2002. This scholarship which is awarded annually to a civil engineering student from a rural Pennsylvania high school has grown to $100,000. Dean Meyers was a civil engineer who worked for Dewberry until his tragic death in October of 2002 when he became a victim of the Washington, DC area sniper attacks. Dewberry has also donated $20,000 to the victims of the tsunami and another $20,000 to the victims of the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes.

The founder of Dewberry, Sidney O. Dewberry, has not only propelled the success of Dewberry, but has served in numerous positions within the community including the Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education, and the Commission on Transportation. Additionally, he has served as member of the Commission on Fiscal and Spending Priorities in Fairfax County, as chairman of the Arlington County, Virginia Planning Commission, and as chairman of the Fairfax County, Virginia Engineering Standards Review Committee. Currently, Mr. Dewberry is the Rector of George Mason University Board of Visitors and part of the George Mason University Foundation Board of Trustees.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to commend and congratulate Dewberry on all of its contributions and accomplishments. They have served their community well, truly meriting recognition. I call upon my colleagues to join me in the applauding Dewberry's past accomplishments and in wishing the company continued success in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with Representative Frank Wolf and Representative Jo Ann Davis of Virginia to recognize the achievements and contributions of the Prince William Regional Chamber of Commerce as they plan to commemorate their 50th anniversary.

The Prince William Regional Chamber's mission is to sustain the strong business climate and high quality of life that has made Prince William one of the best places to live in the Nation. It is an organization comprised of more than 1,000 businesses and community groups that work together to strengthen the community and promote the region's business development.

Prince William's business community has grown and diversified tremendously over the Chamber's 50 years of existence. In order to effectively represent the range of member industries, the chamber is comprised of various business councils to ensure all industry perspectives are represented as policies and programs are developed and implemented.

The Regional Chamber is integral to promoting businesses' profitability and effectiveness, but also serves as an important resource for startup and existing businesses. They provide valuable information for area businesses and hold informative seminars on everything from developing successful business plans to creating effective marketing strategies. In addition, the Chamber is active in enhancing the community's quality of life by providing scholarships for area high school students, promoting the efforts of area not-for-profit organizations and community help organizations, and each year honoring area regional public safety professionals who have preformed beyond the call of duty.

We have had the privilege to meet and work with the members of the Chamber on various occasions to discuss the issues that affect the Prince William community and the Nation. The Regional Chamber has maintained a relationship with policy makers at the Federal, State and local level, and they have worked tirelessly to ensure that area businesses grow and succeed.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, we call upon our colleagues to join us in congratulating the Prince William County Regional Chamber of Commerce on 50 years of success and wishing the Chamber success in the years to come.

it is with great sadness that I rise today to honor the life of Coretta Scott King.

Born April 27, 1927, in Marion, Alabama, Mrs. King led a life of activism beside her husband during the civil rights movement, and carried on his work after he was killed in 1968. Coretta Scott King is a great American heroine who possessed the determination to make the seemingly impossible, possible. Soon after her husband's death, she stated, ``I'm more determined than ever that my husband's dream will become a reality.''

Mrs. King came from humble beginnings; her father ran a country store, and she worked as a waitress to put herself through college. Her strength and resolve guided her through many difficult times as a young widow left to raise four children on her own, but her determination propelled her to achievements of great significance. For almost a decade, she pushed Congress for a national holiday in observance of her late husband's birthday. She was ultimately successful in 1983 when Congress passed and the president signed legislation creating the holiday. The first national celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day occurred in 1986. In 1969, she founded the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta to serve as a living memorial to the Rev. Dr. King's legacy. Additionally, she spoke out against the promotion of violence by movie and television companies.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the King family and call upon my colleagues to forever remember her legacy and message.

Mr. Speaker, please include the attached exchange of letters between Chairman Michael G. Oxley of the Committee on Financial Services and myself in the Congressional Record at the end of the debate on H.R. 3508 under general leave.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Financial Services,

Washington, DC, December 12, 2005.

Hon. Tom Davis,

Chairman, Committee on Government Reform, House of

Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Davis: On September 15, 2005, the Committee

on Government Reform ordered reported to the House H.R. 3508,

the 2005 District of Columbia Omnibus Authorization Act.

Thank you for consulting with the Committee on Financial

Services on those matters in H.R. 3508 within the

jurisdiction of this Committee, especially the provisions in

section 123 making technical and conforming amendments

relating to banks operating under the District of Columbia

Code. I am writing to confirm our mutual understanding with

respect to the further consideration of H.R. 3508. This bill

will be considered by the House shortly.

As a result of this consultation and in the interest of

expediting the House's consideration of H.R. 3508, the

Committee on Financial Services did not request a sequential

referral of the bill. However, the Committee did so only with

the understanding that this procedural route will not

prejudice the Committee's jurisdictional interest and its

prerogatives with respect to this bill or similar

legislation. I respectfully request your support for an

appropriate appointment of outside conferees from this

Committee in the event of a House-Senate conference.

Finally, I request that a copy of this letter and your

response be included in the Congressional Record during the

floor consideration of this bill. Thank you again for your

assistance.

Yours truly,

Michael G. Oxley,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, it is with extreme pleasure today that I rise in support of H. Res. 487. This resolution supports the goals and ideals of Korean-American Day and honors the many important contributions Korean-Americans have made to the United States.

January 13, 1903, marked the arrival of the first 102 Korean immigrants to America. For more than 100 years, Korean-Americans, like the immigrants from other Nations who came to the United States before them, have established roots and thrived in the United States through strong family ties, community support and hard work. The influence of Korean-Americans has been observed in all facets of American life, including, but not limited to, entrepreneurship, the arts and education.

Since my first term in Congress, I have had the pleasure of working hand-in-hand with a large Korean-American community in Northern Virginia. Through this warm and prosperous relationship, I have only become more impressed with a people whose heritage displays such a strong sense of determination, discipline and compassion. I am very proud of how rapidly the Korean-American community has spread its roots in Northern Virginia and am extremely appreciative of their numerous contributions to our community.

From Annandale to Fairfax to Prince William County, Korean-American- owned shops and businesses dominate the retail landscape. Their children are succeeding in our schools and going on to start their own businesses and bring up their families, making our community better and more prosperous by far.

I traveled and led a congressional delegation to the Republic of Korea in August of 2004 to discuss the prosperous relationship between our two countries. The Republic of Korea is an important ally and trading partner of the United States, and this is why many Korean immigrants have chosen to make the U.S. their home. It is the United States' seventh largest trading partner and is the third largest source of foreign students studying in the United States.

In addition, the U.S. embassy in Seoul is the busiest American consular post in the world. I have been working diligently with the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security to help create a roadmap which will eventually admit Korea into the Visa Waiver Program.

In closing, I want to remind my colleagues that it is all too easy to overlook the invaluable contributions that Korean-Americans have made, not just in Northern Virginia but to our Nation as a whole. This bill provides well-deserved recognition to the Korean-American community for the indelible mark they have made upon the diversity and prominence of our great Nation.

I also want to thank the distinguished representative from Utah for handling this bill on the floor, thanks to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), who has been a leader in these efforts, and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Capuano) for their work as original sponsors on this resolution, and I urge all of my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Peter A. Tamilin on his achievements in public service by serving the United States Army for over 33 years.

Mr. Tamilin began his civil service career as an engineer-in-training in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1972. He held positions of progressive responsibility as a civil engineer in the Walter Reed Area Office, the Baltimore District and the Europe District, and began serving at Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1990. In 2002, Mr. Tamilin moved to his current position as the assistant for construction in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army Installations and Housing, Assistant Secretary of the Army, Installations and Environment. As assistant for construction, he has been an invaluable asset in the development and issuance of installation policy with focus on Military Construction

which included facilities for the Active and Reserve Components and Army Family Housing.

His efforts, recognized within the Army Family Housing, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and Congress, have focused specifically on the Secretariat policy and oversight for the Army's Transformation to the Army Modular Force, Integrated Global Presence and Basing Strategy, and supplemental request to support the global war on terrorism and responses to natural disasters. Throughout his career, he has provided outstanding leadership, advice, and sound professional judgment to his colleagues. He is an exemplary civil servant and will be missed by the United States Army.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to congratulate Peter Tamilin for his service to our country. I call upon my colleagues to join me in applauding his past accomplishments and wishing him the best of luck in all future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a dedicated law enforcement official at the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, David L. Brant, who is retiring after 28 years of service with NCIS.

Mr. Brant graduated with a master's degree in criminology from Indiana State University in 1975. He began his law enforcement career as a police officer with the Dade County Metropolitan Public Safety Department in Miami, Florida. In 1977, he accepted an offer from the Naval Investigative Service and began his service as a Special Agent assigned to NISRA Norfolk, VA on January 31, 1977. During his 4 years in the Norfolk area, Director Brant served in 4 different NIS offices and also completed an assignment as Special Agent Afloat aboard the USS Independence.

Following his assignment as a Special Agent Afloat, Director Brant transferred to the Philippines to become the Special Operations Squad Leader from 1981-1983. He then was assigned to the Headquarters Training Division as the Executive Assistant to the Director, and then was the Special Agent in Charge at NISRA Mayport. He returned to the Philippines in 1989 to serve as the Deputy Regional Director for the NCIS Southeast Asia Region. In 1991 he returned to NCIS Headquarters and holding various positions until he was appointed to the Senior Executive Service and was selected as the Assistant Director for Counterintelligence. Mr. Brant served in that capacity until he succeeded Roy D. Nedrow as Director in May 1997.

Mr. Brant has been widely recognized within the Department of the Navy, the Department of Defense, and the Federal law enforcement community for his innovative and transformational approaches to enhancing law enforcement and counterintelligence capabilities. He led NCIS in developing and implementing operational strategies, established the Counterterrorism Directorate, and built the Multiple Threat Alert Center (MTAC) to specifically enhance NCIS's ability to counter threats facing the Navy and Marine Corps.

During his career, Mr. Brant has been recognized as an outstanding leader by multiple organizations. His awards include the Department of Defense Presidential Rank Award and the Department of the Navy Distinguished Service Award. Additionally, in 2004 he was awarded the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association (HAPCOA) Aguila Award for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice and the Outstanding Advocate for Women in Federal Law Enforcement Award from the Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE).

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to congratulate Mr. David L. Brant for his service to our country. I call upon my colleagues to join me in applauding his past accomplishments and wishing him and his wife, Merri Jo, and children Emily and Andrew, the best of luck in all future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Eve Newman for her contributions and dedicated service to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

I first met Mrs. Newman when I was a teenager working alongside her daughter, Lee, as a volunteer for the Republican National Committee. Her impressive, professional nature inspired the young volunteers she was overseeing at the time. Mrs. Newman and her husband, the late Eugene L. Newman, were longtime residents of Fairfax County and unselfishly served their community over the years. Mrs. Newman and her daughter now reside in Strasburg, Virginia, where she remains active in her community.

Over her lifetime, Mrs. Newman has held several distinguished positions and has received countless awards for her service. Mrs. Newman served as the general registrar for Fairfax County for eight years, was president of the Voter Registrars Association of Virginia, president of the Republican Women's Club and Board member of the State Board of Republican Women. With each organization, she dedicated herself fully to each cause and came up with innovative ideas to improve the organization. While serving on the State Board of Republican Women, she organized a scrap booking contest that was an instant success for a number of years. While serving as the registrar for Fairfax County, she created a tabulation system utilizing age brackets as an election prediction tool.

Her love and dedication to the Republican Party is matched by her love for the arts. She studied at the Art Institute in Philadelphia, and has she served on the Board of Directors of the Wayside Theatre located in the Shenandoah Valley. Mrs. Newman was not a board member that simply warmed a seat; she served as an active participant who contributed immensely to the theatre. Her assistance was merited in 2002 when she was awarded the theatre's highest honor, the Leo M. Bernstein Award. Mrs. Newman is also an accomplished artist; her most notable artistic contribution can be seen on each official document of the Virginia Federation of Republican Women, as she is the designer of the official seal.

On Saturday, November 20th, many from around the Commonwealth will gather with Eve at a luncheon in her honor. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I call upon my colleagues to join me in recognizing her accomplishments and applauding her for all that she has done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas A. Wren and to recognize his service to our Nation.

Lt. Col. Wren graduated from George Mason University and received a commission in the Army Reserve through the Reserve Officer Training Corps. He joined the 80th Division Army Reserve unit in 1984 and held positions in Virginia, Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania. He was called to active duty four times since 2000, serving in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq. While not on active duty, Lt. Col. Wren worked as a project manager at Sytel working on projects at USAID, USDA, Army Research Laboratory as well as the State Department. His numerous decorations include two Bronze Stars.

His most recent assignment was assisting with the training of the Iraqi military. Tragically, Lt. Col. Wren was killed in an accident on November 5, 2005 in Tallil, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Words cannot express the gratitude we feel to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. This is a debt that can never be repaid. I know words are not much comfort for the family of Lt. Col. Wren, who are no doubt suffering in the wake of the loss of this intelligent and dedicated man. I hope they will take some solace in knowing that we will never forget Lt. Col. Wren's sacrifice or the sacrifices made by other patriots like him in defense of our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I call upon my colleagues to remember in our minds and in our hearts the bravery and sacrifice of Lt. Col. Thomas A. Wren, as well as that of all the men and women of the armed services who honorably protect the American people.

Under clause 2 of rule XII, bills and reports were delivered to the Clerk for printing, and bills referred as follows:

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia: Committee on Government Reform.

H.R. 2829. A bill to reauthorize the Office of National Drug

Control Policy Act, with an amendment (Rept. 109-315, Pt. I).

Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce for

a period ending not later than December 17, 2005, for

consideration of such provisions of the bill and amendment as

fall within the jurisdiction of that committee pursuant to

clause 1(e), rule X. Ordered to be printed.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia: Committee on Government Reform.

H.R. 3699. A bill to provide for the sale, acquisition,

conveyance, and exchange of certain real property in the

District of Columbia to facilitate the utilization,

development, and redevelopment of such property, and for

other purposes, with an amendment (Rept. 109-316, Pt. 1).

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce for a period

ending not later than December 17, 2005 for consideration of

such provisions of the bill and amendment as fall within the

jurisdiction of that committee pursuant to clause 1(f) rule

X; and to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

for consideration of such provisions of the bill and

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Douglas M. Wagoner, Sr., on the occasion of his retirement after 40 years of service to the Northern Virginia community and to our Nation.

Mr. Wagoner began his business, Wagoner Welding Supply, 40 years ago. The company has been integral in servicing the growing construction needs of the Northern Virginia area. Wagoner Welding Supply has held a prominent role and an outstanding service record in the construction community as it has serviced many of the area company's welding needs and has had a working relationship with most of the construction companies in the area. Wagoner Welding Supply has also served the White House Engineering office for 35 years and has been recognized for outstanding service. The White House Engineers are responsible for the upkeep of the residence and Executive Office Buildings, and demand nothing short of outstanding service which Mr. Wagoner's company has provided for over three decades. Servicing the White House entails being on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and Wagoner Welding Supply has always answered that call.

As a long time resident of Alexandria, Virginia, Mr. Wagoner has made time to service his community by belonging to organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, Alexandria Art League, and the Knights of Columbus. Now in retirement, Mr. Wagoner will certainly look forward to some additional leisure time and spending time with his granddaughters Lydia and Madeline.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Douglas M. Wagoner, Sr., and wishing him the best of luck in all future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 20th anniversary of George Mason University's School of Information Technology and Engineering.

2005 is a year of great significance for the School of Information Technology and Engineering. On October 28, 2005, George Mason

University invited alumni and friends to join in celebrating the school's many accomplishments and its exciting plans for the future. This event also served as the commencement of the school's first-ever fund-raising campaign, the ``2010 Campaign.'' Through this campaign, George Mason aims to raise more than $20 million in private funds by June 2010. This funding will enable the School of Information Technology and Engineering to continue its path of national prominence and leadership and to create new programs in the area of information technology in the biosciences including bio-informatics, bio- technology, and bio-engineering.

Led by Dean Lloyd Griffiths, George Mason's School of Information Technology and Engineering is the first engineering school in the United States to focus on information technology rather than the traditional engineering science, and is also the first engineering school to offer a doctoral program in information technology. It was also one of the first engineering schools in the country to be named as a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education by the National Security Agency and the White House Complex. Additional research areas of expertise within the School of Information Technology and Engineering include genetic algorithms, robotics, learning agents, air transportation, infrastructure protection, and data visualization.

Indeed, while many other colleges are experiencing a decrease in engineering enrollments, student enrollment at George Mason's School of Information Technology and Engineering continues to grow. To compliment the increase in enrollment, George Mason University has committed to raising the quality of the program to an even greater degree by making changes such as hiring a substantial number of new faculty members, leveraging research and donor funding, and enhancing its participation in high school mentorship programs, among others.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in commending and congratulating George Mason University's School of Information Technology and Engineering on 20 years of excellence. I look forward to applauding its continued growth and success for many years to come.