Floor Statements

Somebody asked, Why do this? Just look at the history and the record of the TSA and some of the things they have done. How many of you remember whenever we would fly into Washington National Airport we had to sit in our seats for 30 minutes before landing and we had to sit in the seats for 30 minutes after takeoff? That was a totally nonsensical rule which many of us tried to change.

The point is they make nonsensical rules that are totally unresponsive to our efforts to change it. And that rule was not changed until I offered an amendment on the floor. This was the only case in history I know of where an amendment was passed by acclamation and laughter because everybody supported it.

Now they have done some more regulations about general aviation without consulting the committee, without consulting general aviation interest and doing what I think is really very strange, often stupid regulations. It is clear that they need better review and that they have to use more caution and consult with those affected when they are developing rules. I believe that this amendment is badly needed and will force them to think more carefully and more thoroughly about what they are doing and what they are proposing to do.

So I strongly support this amendment, particularly as it affects general aviation, because that is where a lot of the problems have developed recently.

I urge the body to adopt this amendment.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my friend, Lewis William ``Bill'' Seidman, who died on May 13, 2009 at the age of 88. Bill was well-known and respected not only in the Grand Rapids area, but throughout our nation. He spent a great deal of his life serving our country, and he was a role model from the Greatest Generation. He was also an enthusiastic supporter of his home town of Grand Rapids, Michigan; it is the city I call home, and I have seen first-hand how his passion for public service has improved our community. He is well-known nationally as head of the Resolution Trust Corporation, which was ultimately responsible for cleaning up the Savings and Loan scandal.

Bill was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on April 29, 1921. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1943, served honorably in the Navy in the Pacific theater, during World War II, and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. His record as a communications officer on a Navy destroyer during some of the key battles in World War II clearly shows Bill Seidman's unselfish demeanor. Bill always put his country first.

After the war, he obtained a law degree from Harvard and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan. Bill married Sarah ``Sally'' Berry in 1944, and they had six children, 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Bill had a large hand in shaping West Michigan as we know it today. He founded and was president of the television station WZZM in Grand Rapids. Bill actively encouraged the Michigan legislature to create a state college in 1963 to serve the Grand Rapids area; this has now grown to become Grand Valley State University (GVSU).

Bill's role in galvanizing support for Grand Valley State University was critical in its creation. His affiliation with GVSU is among his proudest legacies. The institution is now a world-class university that serves over 20,000 students in West Michigan. Bill once said, ``There's nothing that I've done in life that gives me more satisfaction than seeing how Grand Valley State University is delivering on its promise to the Western Michigan area.''

Bill helped reform the State of Michigan's financial management practices under the leadership of Governor George Romney in the 1960s. He later was appointed by President Gerald R. Ford as Assistant for Economic Affairs, and focused primarily on controlling inflation. He went on to co-chair the White House Conference on Productivity under President Ronald Reagan.

Mr. Seidman is most well-known for his service as the fourteenth chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. He was appointed in 1985 by President Ronald Reagan at a time when the nation's savings and loan financial system was descending into a crisis caused by ill- considered lending, in which hundreds of firms failed. This led Congress to form the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC), which was the entity ultimately responsible for cleaning up the Savings and Loans scandal. Bill was appointed as head of the RTC by President George H. W. Bush. Mr. Seidman stated during a speech in Tokyo on September 18, 1996, ``. . . the banking problems of the 80s and 90s came primarily, but not exclusively, from unsound real estate lending.''

Bill never stopped working. As an expert on economic and financial matters, he was a regular commentator on CNBC, and an authoritative speaker on our current economic crisis.

Bill's pursuit of public service was a passion born from his drive to do what was right for the country, and for those close to him. He loved his country, and believed public service was a noble and important calling. The nation is far better off for his devoted public service.

I extend my most heartfelt sympathy and prayers to his wife and family. We will all miss him greatly.

Madam Speaker, I had the privilege of co-chairing the 57th Annual National Prayer Breakfast with colleague, Congressman Heath Shuler of North Carolina, on February 5, 2009. This annual gathering is held here in our Nation's Capital and is hosted by Members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives weekly prayer breakfast groups. I would like to request that

the continuation of the transcript of the 2009 proceedings be printed in the Congressional Record at this time.

57th National Prayer Breakfast--Thursday, February 5, 2009, Hilton

Washington Hotel, Washington, DC

Co-Chairs: U.S. Representative Vern Ehlers and U.S. Representative

Heath Shuler

Congressman Todd Akin: More than a hundred years ago there

was a great statesman in England by the name of William

Wilberforce. Some of you may have seen the movie ``Amazing

Grace''--the story of his life. He had two great aims as he

worked in British government. The first was the abolition of

slavery--which he was able to see just about on his death

bed. The second was one that is not as well known--and that

was to spread civility. I guess that means we are being civil

with each other. One of the reasons that I have been involved

in the Members' prayer breakfast is because it is a force for

helping people to be civil and decent to each other--whereas

many other things in politics seem to go the other direction.

Please join me in a prayer for our guests here. Dear Lord,

we approach you today with thankful hearts for your great

kindness and love and mercy, which immeasurably exceeds any

merit of our own. We thank you for our guests, here

assembled, guests who join us from the leadership of nations

around the world. We ask your blessing once again on each of

us, on our deliberations, and on the people that we serve.

Dear Father, forgive us our increasing pride, for vainly

considering that we can govern without your superintending

providence. Our first President George Washington said, ``it

is impossible to govern rightly without God and the Bible.''

Help us once again to acknowledge our dependence upon you and

to seek your aid through all of our days. Lord, you inspired

our founders to acknowledge the fact that you have bestowed

certain inalienable rights to all men--that among these are:

life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Forgive us

dear Father for ways in which each of us have fallen short in

our most fundamental duty in preserving the precious gifts

that you grant to all your children. Please, dear Father,

batter down the pride of our stubborn hearts with a battering

ram of your tender love. Lord Jesus, in a quiet place, come

along side each of us, confront us, forgive us, wrap your

arms around us and plant your truth deep within us that our

lives will bless our families, our constituents and above all

be pleasant in your sight. I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

Congressman Ehlers: One of the most difficult tasks that we

have in arranging these Prayer Breakfasts is finding a

speaker who is suitable to address such a large audience and

to do it in meaningful terms that will relate to each and

every one of you. We talked long and hard about different

speakers and who we could get. Finally, we settled on someone

we were hopeful we could get and now we are delighted that he

is here with us today.

I first met our speaker at a NATO conference some years ago

when I was a delegate from the United States Congress to meet

with a NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Scotland. One of the

speakers at the conference was a young man by the name of

Tony Blair. He was erudite, eloquent, thoughtful, gave a

great speech, and I thought, ``this is a young man who could

go places some day.'' Thank you for fulfilling that prophecy.

I was deeply touched by his spirit and his passion as I am

sure we all will be today. Speaking as an American, I deeply

appreciate his friendship and support for our country and our

efforts to extend freedom around the world.

Tony Blair was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for 10

years. He described his approach once as governing from the

radical center, which is something I believe our nation could

well imitate. Since stepping down in 2007, he has been

involved in three challenges. He currently serves as the

Quartet Representative to the Middle East, representing the

United Nations, the European Union, the United States and the

Russian Federation. He has been involved in youth sports in

an effort to combat youth obesity--and we need you in our

country for that too, Tony. And he created the Tony Blair

Faith Foundation with the aim to show how faith is a

powerful force for good in the modern world. He is one of

the great moral leaders on the planet. Ladies and

gentlemen, join me in welcoming the Right Honorable Tony

Blair.

Tony Blair: It is an honor to be here and a particular

honor to be with you, Mr. President. The world participated

in the celebration of your election. Now the hard work

begins. And now, also, we should be as steadfast for you in

the hard work as in the celebration. You don't need

cheerleaders but partners; not spectators, but supporters.

The truest friends are those still around when the going is

toughest. We offer you our friendship today. We will work

with you to make your presidency one that shapes our destiny

to the credit of America and of the world. Mr. President, we

salute you and we wish you well.

After 10 years as British Prime Minister, I decided to

choose something easy. I became involved in the Middle East

Peace process. There are many frustrations--that is evident.

There is also one blessing. I spend much of my time in the

Holy Land and in the Holy City. The other evening I climbed

to the top of Notre Dame in Jerusalem. You look left and see

the Garden of Gethsemane. You look right and see where the

Last Supper was held. Straight ahead lies Golgotha. In the

distance is where King David was crowned and still further

where Abraham was laid to rest. And in the center of

Jerusalem is the Al-Aqsa Mosque, where according to the

Qu'ran, the prophet was transported to commune with the

prophets of the past. Rich in conflict, it is sublime also in

history. The other month in Jericho, I visited the Mount of

Temptation--I think they bring all the political leaders

there. My guide--a Palestinian--was bemoaning the travails of

his nation. Suddenly he stopped, he looked heavenwards and

said ``Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, why did they all have to come

here?'' It is a good place to reflect on religion: a source

of so much inspiration; an excuse for so much evil. Today,

religion is under attack from without and from within. From

within, it is corroded by extremists who use their faith as a

means of excluding the other: ``I am what I am in opposition

to you; if you do not believe as I believe, you are a lesser

human being.'' From without, religious faith is assailed by

an increasingly aggressive secularism, which derides faith as

contrary to reason and defines faith by conflict. Thus do the

extreme believers and the aggressive non-believers come

together in unholy alliance. And yet, faith will not be so

easily cast. For billions of people, faith motivates,

galvanizes, compels and inspires, not to exclude but to

embrace; not to provoke conflict but to try to do good. This

is faith in action. You can see it in countless local

communities where those from churches, mosques, synagogues

and temples tend the sick, care for the afflicted, work long

hours in bad conditions to bring hope to the despairing and

salvation to the lost. You can see it in the arousing of the

world's conscience to the plight of Africa. There are a

million good deeds done every day by people of faith. These

are those for whom, in the parable of the sower, the seed

fell on good soil and yielded sixty or a hundred-fold. What

inspires such people? Ritual or doctrine or the finer points

of theology? No. I remember my first spiritual awakening. I

was 10 years old. That day my father--at the young age of

40--had suffered a serious stroke. His life hung in the

balance. My mother, to keep some sense of normality in the

crisis, sent me to school. My teacher knelt and prayed with

me. Now my father was, and is, a militant atheist. Before we

prayed, I thought I should confess this. ``I am afraid my

father doesn't believe in God,'' I said. ``That doesn't

matter,'' my teacher replied, ``God believes in him; He loves

him without demanding or needing love in return.''

Tony Blair, Continued: That is what inspires. The

unconditional nature of God's love. A promise perpetually

kept. A covenant never broken. And in surrendering to God, we

become instruments of that love. Rabbi Hillel was once

challenged by a pagan, who said: ``if you can recite the

whole of the Torah standing on one leg, I will convert to

being a Jew.'' Rabi Hillel stood on one leg and said, ``That

which is hateful to you, do it not unto your neighbor. That

is the Torah, everything else is commentary, go and study

it.'' As the Qu'ran states: ``if anyone saves a person, it

will be as if he has saved the whole of humanity.'' Faith is

not discovered in acting according to ritual, but acting

according to God's will and God's will is love. We might also

talk of the Hindu: ``living beyond the reach of I and mine,''

or the words of the Buddha: ``after practicing enlightenment,

you must go back to practice compassion,'' or the Sikh

scripture: ``God's bounties are common to all; it is we who

have created divisions.''

Each faith has its' beliefs. Each is different. Yet at a

certain point each is in communion with the other. Examine

the impact of globalization. Forget for a moment its' rights

and wrongs. Just look at its' effects. Its' characteristic is

that it pushes the world together. It is not only an economic

force. The consequence is social, even cultural. The global

community--it takes a village, as someone once coined it--is

upon us. Into it steps religious faith. If faith becomes the

property of extremists, it will originate discord. But if by

contrast, different faiths can reach out to, and have

knowledge of, one another, then instead of being reactionary,

religious faith can be a force for progress.

The foundation which bears my name, and which I began less

than a year ago, is dedicated to achieving understanding,

action and reconciliation between the different faiths for

the common good. It is not about the faith that looks inward,

but the faith that resolutely turns us towards each other.

Bringing the faith communities together fulfills an objective

important to all of us, believers and non believers. But for

me, as someone of faith, this is not enough. I believe

restoring religious faith to its rightful place, as the guide

to our world and its' future, is itself of the essence. The

21st century will be poorer in spirit, meaner in ambition,

less disciplined in conscience, if it is not under the

guardianship of faith in God.

I do not mean by this to blur the correct distinction

between the realms of religious and political authority. In

Britain we are especially mindful of this. I recall giving an

address to the country at a time of crisis. I wanted to end

my words with ``God bless the British people.'' This caused

complete consternation. Emergency meetings were convened. The

system was aghast. Finally, as I sat trying to defend my

words, a senior civil servant said, with utter disdain:

``Really, Prime Minister, this is not America you know.''

Neither do I decry the work of humanists, who give gladly

of themselves for others and

who can often shame the avowedly religious. Those who do

God's work are God's people. I only say that there are limits

to humanism, and beyond those limits, God and only God can

work. The phrase ``fear of God'' conjures up the vengeful God

of parts of the Old Testament. But fear of God means really

obedience to God: humility before God; acceptance through God

that there is something bigger, better, and more important

than you. It is that humbling of man's vanity, that stirring

of conscience through God's prompting, that recognition of

our limitations, that faith alone can bestow. We can perform

acts of mercy, but only God can lend them true dignity. We

can forgive but only God forgives completely in the full

knowledge of our sin. And only through God comes grace; and

it is God's grace that is unique. John Newton, who had been

that most obnoxious of things, a slave trader, he it was who

wrote the hymn, ``Amazing Grace'' --''`Twas grace that taught

my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.'' It is

through faith, by the grace of God, that we have the courage

to live as we should and die as we must.

When I was Prime Minister I had cause often to reflect on

leadership. Courage in leadership is not simply about having

the nerve to take difficult decisions or even in doing the

right thing -since oftentimes God alone knows what the right

thing is. It is to be in our natural state--which is one of

nagging doubt in perfect knowledge, an uncertain prediction--

and to be prepared nonetheless to put on the mantle of

responsibility and to stand up in full view of the world, to

step out when others step back, to assume the loneliness of

the final decision-maker, not sure of success but unsure of

it. It is in that ``not knowing'' that the courage lies.

When in that state our courage fails, our faith can

support it, lift it up, and keep it from stumbling.

As you begin your leadership with this great country, Mr.

President, you are fortunate, as is your nation, that you

have already shown in your life courage in abundance. But

should it ever be tested, I hope your faith can sustain you,

and your family. The public eye is not always the most

congenial. I was reminded of this, as I waited in London in

the snow to fly to America and made the mistake of reading a

British newspaper. It was the very conservative Daily

Telegraph. A few days ago I gave an interview in which I

remarked how much cleverer my wife was than me. The Telegraph

has a famous letters page. In it was a letter from a

correspondent that read something like, ``Dear sir, with

reference to your headline, `Blair admits wife more

intelligent than him,' I fail to see why this is news. Most

of us have known this for a long time,'' and as a P.S.

perhaps: ``the bar has not been set high.''

I finish where I began: in the Holy Land at Mount Nebo in

Jordan, where Moses gazed on the Promise Land. There was a

chapel there, built by pilgrims in the fourth century. The

sermon that day was preached by an American, who spent his

life as an airline pilot and then, after his wife's death,

took holy orders. His words are the words of a Christian, but

they speak to all those of faith, who want God's grace to

guide their life. He said this:

``While here on earth, we need to make a vital decision . .

. whether to be mere spectators or movers and shakers for the

Kingdom of God . . . whether to stay among the curious, or

take up a cross. And this means no standing on the

sidelines--we are either in the game or we are not. I

sometimes ask myself the question: `If I were to die today,

what would my life have stood for?'. . . The answer can't be

an impulsive one, and we all need to count the cost before we

give an answer. Because to be able to say yes to one thing

means to say no to many others. But we must also remember

that the greatest danger is not impulsiveness but inaction.''

It is fitting at this extraordinary moment in your

country's history that we hear that call to action; and we

pray that in acting we do God's work and follow God's will.

And by the way, God bless you all.

Congressman Shuler: Our next speaker, the 44th President of

the United States has consistently made unity an important

part of his ongoing message. His message of national and

international unity is one that has given people around the

world faith, hope, and the spirit to follow their dreams. I

have met with numerous leaders who tell me that the citizens

of their nations have a higher hope for the future because of

the inspiration provided by this President.

My own children moved by the experience of the recent

inauguration said to me, ``Daddy, let's pray for the

President.'' Children, politicians, and everyday citizens

around the world are showing their hope and faith, through

their prayers for this President. Today we continue in an

unbroken tradition of 57 years as we are joined by the First

Family at the National Prayer Breakfast. Ladies and

gentlemen, it is my great honor to introduce to you the

President of the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of Dr. George Vande Woude. After a long and successful career in cancer research, Dr. Vande Woude has recently decided to retire from his administrative post, and I appreciate the opportunity to recognize him and his body of work.

Dr. Vande Woude earned his Master of Science degree and doctorate from Rutgers University. Early in his career, he served the federal government as a research virologist for the United States Department of Agriculture at Plum Island Animal Disease Center, and shortly after began a long tenure at the National Institutes of Health. Initially, he joined the National Cancer Institute as Head of the Human Tumor Studies and Virus Tumor Biochemistry Sections. Thereafter, he served in a variety of different organizations within the Institute from 1972 until 1999, when he was selected to be the first Director of the newly created Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Dr. Vande Woude's commitment to public service and improving the health of our nation has undoubtedly saved many lives. His pioneering research has resulted in new ways to isolate and detect cancer cells, and has led to earlier treatments and interventions. By identifying the biological players in cancer tumor progression and development, Dr. Vande Woude and his laboratory have supported expansive research which was instrumental in finding innovative strategies to eliminate harmful cancer cell precursors.

Dr. Vande Woude has made significant and substantial contributions to our current understanding of the molecular biology of cancer. His career is peppered with many firsts, including being the first to use recombinant DNA technology to isolate certain retroviruses and compare their behavior. He was first to determine the structure and sequence of DNA precursors which are instrumental in the development of cancer. His laboratory was first to demonstrate that a normal gene could be activated as a cancerous gene. These findings provided a foundation for the search for active cancerous cells (oncogenes) in tumors. His long- term studies of the mos oncogene have led to the first direct connection between cancer cells and the enzymes which regulate cell cycles. Equally important was his discovery of the human met oncogene that is involved in a wide range of cancers and has become a leading candidate for new cancer therapies. There are numerous other advancements which have emerged from Dr. Vande Woude's laboratory, all of which have helped the healthcare community understand how to combat cancerous tumors and address their risks even prior to development.

His efforts have gone beyond personal excellence. Over the years, Dr. Vande Woude has mentored more than 70 postdoctoral fellows, students, and visiting scientists. By investing in future generations, he has inspired countless researchers, and his legacy will last far beyond his personally prolific research.

Dr. Vande Woude has been honored as an elected Fellow of both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences, and is a recipient of the National Institutes of Health Merit Award, the Robert J. and Claire Pasarow Foundation Award for Cancer Research, and a Lifetime Achievement Award in Technology Transfer from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. He has also served on advisory panels too numerous to name and authored and edited hundreds of research articles and other publications.

Undoubtedly, ``retirement'' for Dr. Vande Woude will be in name only, as he continues to keep a fierce pace of life and contribute in a variety of ways to the advancement of science and the education of future generations. He will maintain a role at the Van Andel Institute as a Distinguished Scientific Fellow and head of the Laboratory of Molecular Oncology. Grand Rapids has been blessed by his leadership at the Van Andel Institute, and the world will note and remember his contributions to science and education for generations to come.

Madam Speaker, I supported Reading is Fundamental, a national project, that received funding through H.R. 1105, the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009.

Reading is Fundamental (RIF) is authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. RIF promotes youth literacy by providing underserved children access to free and new books at programs across our nation.

It is a good program, and I am pleased to support it.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 219, I was inadvertently detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Madam Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to rise today in commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the First Reformed Church of Grandville, Michigan. On Sunday, April 19, 2009, a commemorative worship service and celebration will memorialize this extraordinary milestone, and it is a privilege to recognize and honor Reverend Christopher Wolf and the congregation of this remarkable church for the model of Christian service and the beacon of hope they have offered to the Grandville community over the past 150 years.

From the first service on April 13, 1859 up until today, First Reformed has faithfully served The Lord, the residents of Grandville, and the world through its ministries, involvement in the community, and missionary outreach. The commemoration of First Reformed's sesquicentennial anniversary during the April 19 service is the highlight of a year-long celebration of spiritual, historic and community events.

This remarkable anniversary reminds all of us that wonderful things do happen when we seek to serve and glorify God. Reflecting on the journey experienced by the congregants of First Reformed over the last 150 years, it is appropriate to reaffirm and strengthen our own faith, acknowledge the blessings bestowed upon us, and recognize the call to reach out to others and share God's love.

I am proud to represent the people who call First Reformed their church home, and am grateful to this congregation for their Christ-like example. I am honored to extend my best wishes on this sesquicentennial occasion, and look forward to their service and ministry to the people of Grandville for many more years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 247, which expresses support for designating March 22, 2009, as National Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation Day.

I am surprised by the number of individuals who do not understand what rehabilitation counselors do, and they might be well advised to read the Doonesbury comic strip where, for the past 6 months or more, there's been an ongoing discussion on how to rehabilitate veterans, and describes the work of rehabilitation counselors.

Nearly one in five Americans lives with some type of long-lasting condition or disability that requires extensive rehabilitation. Rehabilitation counselors help people deal with the personal, social and vocational effects of disabilities. They counsel individuals with disabilities resulting from birth defects, illness or disease, accidents or other causes. They evaluate the strength and limitations of individuals, provide personal and vocational counseling and arrange for medical care, vocational training and job placement. All of these are invaluable to those who need the help.

Rehabilitation counselors interview people with disabilities and their families, evaluate school and medical reports and confer with physicians, psychologists, occupational therapists, and employers to determine the capabilities and skills of the individual.

They develop rehabilitation programs by conferring with clients, which also includes training to help clients develop job skills. Rehabilitation counselors also work toward increasing the client's capacity to live independently. These professionals work with individuals, professional organizations and advocacy groups to address the social barriers that create obstacles for people with disabilities. They are instrumental in building bridges between the often-isolated world of people with disabilities and their families, communities, and school and work environments. They empower individuals to make informed choices so that they can become productive members of society.

Rehabilitation counselors are employed in private practice, by community health organizations and hospitals, and in State and Federal Government positions. There are approximately 141,000 rehabilitation counselors in the United States, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That number is expected to grow rapidly as medical advances help people survive serious injury or illness, including veterans returning from both the Afghanistan and Iraqi wars.

Rehabilitation counselors provide a great service to the millions of Americans with disabilities. They encourage people with disabilities to participate as active citizens within their communities. These highly trained professionals help many disabled Americans cope with their life-altering situations, and today we recognize them for their hard work and dedication.

I ask for my colleagues' support of this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back my time.

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

First of all, Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize Congressman Grijalva, who is the principal majority party cosponsor of this resolution. He has a deep interest in libraries as well.

I also wanted to say that I am a great fan of libraries for a number of reasons. First of all, I have served on a city library board, on a county library board, on the board of the State Library of Michigan, and also, through my service on the House Administration Committee, I have been on the committee governing the Library of Congress. But the main reason is that, when I was a young child, I was quite ill and could not attend school. This gave me a lot of spare time, and I read between six and eight books a week. I was totally dependent on the library for those books, so twice a week I would trudge down to the library--which was only open 2 days a week--and haul out a pile of books which I could read. So I fully appreciate the importance of libraries. There is another factor as well. My daughter, Marla, is Assistant Director of the Grand Rapids Public Library in my hometown and keeps me fully informed about library affairs. And so I say all this in preface as to why I introduced the resolution and why it is so important that we recognize libraries.

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries across the States. This is done every year in April. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our Nation's libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support.

In the mid 1950s, research showed that Americans were spending less time on books and more on radio, television, and musical instruments. Concerned that Americans were reading less, a nonprofit citizens' organization called the National Book Committee formed in 1954. The committee's goals were ambitious and ranged from encouraging people to read in their increasing leisure time, to improving incomes and health and developing a strong and happy family life.

In 1957, the committee developed a plan for National Library Week based on the idea that once people were motivated to read, they would support and use libraries. With cooperation from various organizations, the first National Library Week was observed in 1958 with the theme, ``Wake Up and Read!''

This year's theme, ``Worlds Connect at Your Library,'' highlights how libraries are narrowing the digital divide by providing no-fee public computer and Internet access to meet the growing needs for access to digital and online information, including e-government, continuing education and employment opportunities.

I can vouch for the big changes in libraries. Last year, I visited my daughter's library--perhaps, I should say the Grand Rapids Public Library--and I was just amazed at the number of computers available to the public, and every single computer was in use. I would say there were at least a dozen there, and people working heartily on them. This has become even more important with the unemployment situation because many workers don't have their own computer and they have to go to the library to polish up their resume, look online for jobs, and so forth. So the library's usefulness has continued to grow over the years.

Libraries truly play a vital role in supporting the quality of life in their communities. They help us discover a world of knowledge, both in person and online, and are a key player in the national discourse on intellectual freedom and the equity of access. In fact, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, library use was up to 1.3 billion visits last year nationwide among all types of library users, continuing a long-term trend of increased library usage.

By recognizing National Library Week, we show our appreciation to libraries, librarians, library workers, and supporters across America. I also should mention that we should at this point recognize and mention the support that Andrew Carnegie gave to libraries initially. When he began giving

away his fortune, much of it went to libraries across the country, and you will find Carnegie libraries throughout our Nation, including in my hometown.

I am honored to support this resolution. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the great contributions of libraries and librarians.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1824, the Best Buddies Empowerment for People with Intellectual Disabilities Act. This bill would authorize funding for Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization that provides mentors and friends for individuals with intellectual disabilities in order to increase their social relationships and other aspects of community life.

I appreciate Mr. Tonko's comments about bullying. I have introduced a bill dealing with bullying. And I got a letter--not from one of my constituents, but some other constituents--outlining a terrible situation where a young man was bullied so severely he decided he couldn't take it anymore and committed suicide at a very young age. That is the sort of tragedy we have to stop, and Best Buddies is a very important way in which that can be stopped.

Best Buddies was founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver as the first national, social, and recreational program for people with intellectual disabilities. Since that time, this has grown from one chapter to more than 1,400 middle school, high school and college campuses all around the country. It also operates programs on six continents around the world, with additional country programs under development.

Best Buddies offers six programs to students with special needs. Best Buddies Citizens pairs adults with intellectual disabilities with their nondisabled working peers. Best Buddies Jobs is a supported employment program targeting high-paying white collar jobs for people with intellectual disabilities. Best Buddies High Schools pairs special education students in one-on-one friendships with high school volunteers. Best Buddies Middle Schools pairs students with middle school volunteers. And Best Buddies Colleges pairs students with intellectual disabilities with college student volunteers. And the sixth program, e-Buddies, is a cutting-edge online friendship program.

According to independent researchers, an estimated 7 million individuals--2 percent of the population of the United States--have intellectual disabilities which impair their adaptive skills. These skills, such as communication, self-care, home living, social skills, functional academics, community participation, and employment are daily living skills needed to live and work in the local community as productive citizens.

The three major known causes of intellectual disabilities are Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, and Fragile X. With early intervention, effective education, and appropriate support into adulthood, many individuals with intellectual disabilities are able to lead independent lives in their communities.

Best Buddies assists in this effort by building personal relationships between Buddies and individuals with intellectual disabilities. The organization currently operates programs in 20 States, including a Best Buddies College program at Grand Valley State University, which is in my congressional district, as well as five other universities in Michigan.

However, there is a great need to ensure that there are programs operating in all 50 States. This new authorization would assist the organization in getting dedicated funding through the U.S. Department of Education in support of its expansion to all 50 States.

I want to thank my good friend, Mr. Blunt, for his strong support for initiatives that assist students with intellectual disabilities and for introducing this legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield to the sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), for as much time as he wishes.

Mr. Speaker, we have no other speakers on this side.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act.

For many years, organizations in my congressional district have run excellent service programs. For example, approximately 26 AmeriCorps members serve low-income people with health care needs through the Cherry

Street Health Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I applaud the efforts of all of the organizations and participants that have served the needs of West Michigan and our nation.

Recently, I met with a group of seniors who were very motivated to help their community with energy efficiency projects. They gave me the idea to expand the focus of the Senior Corps programs. I am very pleased that the Education and Labor Committee accepted my amendment to clarify that activities for older adults who participate in the National Senior Volunteer Programs may include conducting energy audits, insulating homes, and conducting other activities to promote energy efficiency.

The number of participants in the Senior Corps programs will be increasing as the almost 79 million members of the ``Baby Boomer'' generation retire and look for other activities to fill their days. Many of these individuals have unique skill sets that could be put to use in helping our country become more energy efficient. Also, in the modern home, insulation and other energy efficiency techniques have become very sophisticated.

This program will provide participants with the opportunity to learn about these new methods. These participants can also pass their knowledge on to the younger generations through the relationships developed with youth, including disadvantaged youth, through the Senior Corps programs. The concept of energy efficiency provides multidisciplinary learning opportunities in math, science, and language arts--subjects that America's Baby Boomers and seniors can assist students with by using hands-on, real-world projects.

I urge all Members to support this important legislation to reauthorize our national service programs, and I encourage people of all ages to seek ways to serve our communities.

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in strong support of H.R. 1262, the Water Quality Investment Act of 2009. As previously stated, this legislation is an accumulation of five bills that individually overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives in the 110th Congress but which were held up or significantly altered in the Senate.

I echo the comments made by Chairman Oberstar at the Transportation and Infrastructure markup, that, by bundling these bills together, we can make it even easier for the Senate to act quickly. The provisions in this bill will go far toward helping restore and protect the Great Lakes, the largest fresh water source on the planet.

I have spent a considerable amount of time on this issue over the years. I want to deeply thank Chairman Oberstar for his dedication to this and his willingness to combine these bills in a very meaningful fashion. I also thank Mr. Boozman for his good work on it, and Ranking Member Mica for his help as well.

Of particular interest to me is the reauthorization of the Great Lakes Legacy Act. The Great Lakes are plagued by toxic contaminants from years of industrial pollution that have settled in the sediment of tributaries to the lakes. These legacy pollutants degrade the health of both humans and wildlife and, if they are not cleaned up, they will remain toxic for generations to come.

We have known about these toxic materials for years. We lived in the vain hope that they might just stay in the sediments at the river bottom and not move into the lakes. But we now know that they are moving into the lakes. And that is the reason I authored the Legacy Act several years ago.

I have to say that the highest compliment I have received on that bill, and I have received it numerous times, is that this is the most effective, best Federal cleanup bill that was ever passed. Maybe we can now use this as a successful model to go back and clean up all the rest of the toxic dumps using the same approach we used here.

That is why I introduced the Great Lakes Legacy Act in the 107th Congress. With bipartisan support, Congress passed, and the President signed, the Legacy Act in 2002. Since then, the Legacy Act has been heralded, as I said, as the best and most effective Federal environmental cleanup program.

The interesting aspect of it, which was gratifying in some ways but disappointing in others, is that while the President of the United States every year requested the full authorization in his budget request, the Congress did not appropriate the money that the President had suggested. And I hope, Mr. Chairman and Mr. Ranking Member, that we can both work on this and make sure the appropriators are willing to appropriate the full ammount that the President requests. We would be far ahead in cleaning up the toxic sediments.

Last year, Chairman Oberstar and I introduced the Great Lakes Legacy Reauthorization Act, which increased the authorization from $50 million per year to $150 million per year for 5 years. According to the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy, if fully appropriated, this amount can potentially clean up all of the toxic sediments in the Great Lakes watershed in 10 years. That would be a major accomplishment at relatively low cost, and will stop the problem for all time.

Although the House last year passed this bill by a resounding 371-20 vote, the Senate was unable to overcome the objection of a single Senator who did not want to increase this authorization. A compromise was reached to reauthorize the program at its prior funding level, but to only reauthorize the program for 2 years.

During floor debate last year, Chairman Oberstar vowed to address this issue in the 111th Congress, and I am grateful that he has honored that promise in one of the first committee water bills to be taken up by the House in this Congress.

I also thank Chairman Oberstar and Ranking Member Mica for their support, as well as Ranking Member Boozman. Their dedication to the Great Lakes issues have been most appreciated throughout the entire Midwest. The Great Lakes are the greatest treasure of pure water in the United States, and I am convinced that in the future water is going to be worth more than oil to the industrial machinery of our Nation. I believe you will see a resurgence of manufacturing and population around the Great Lakes, simply because of the availability of abundant clean water.

I am hopeful the Senate will be able to pass this bill soon so that we can

speed our efforts to clean up and protect the Great Lakes. I urge all Members to support this important legislation. Once again, I thank all those who worked so hard on these bills so that they could reach this state. We hope to see them signed into law very soon.

Thank you, again, for the time.

Madam Speaker, due to illness, I unfortunately was unable to be present and to vote on legislation considered by the House on March 3, 4, 5, and 6, 2009.

On rollcall numbers 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 98, 99, 106, 108, and 109, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''.

On rollcall numbers 97, 105, and 107, had I been present, I would have voted ``no''.

On rollcall number 104, had I been present, I would have voted ``no''. Though the Helping Families Save Act of 2009 (H.R. 1106) included some good provisions, the bill also included troubling bankruptcy provisions. On the amendments considered, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcalls 101 and 102 and ``no'' on rollcall 100. Also, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on the Motion to Recommit with Instructions (rollcall 103).

I regret that I did not have the opportunity to vote on these important measures.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 1105, the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009.

Requesting Member: Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers

Bill Number: H.R. 1105

Account: Health Resources and Services Administration--Health Facilities and Services

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Saint Mary's Health Care

Address of Requesting Entity: 200 Jefferson Street SE, Grand Rapids,

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 91, to honor the life and service of William Spoelhof, president emeritus of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I am honored to represent Calvin College and am very thankful for its excellent education efforts. I am also proud to say that I attended Calvin College, and served as a professor of Physics at Calvin College.

Dr. William Spoelhof was born in 1909 in Paterson, New Jersey, and passed away on December 3, 2008, at the age of 98.

William Spoelhof graduated from Calvin College in 1931, and began teaching social studies at the middle school level. In 1937, he received his Masters of Arts degree, and began his doctoral studies at the University of Michigan.

During World War II, Dr. Spoelhof enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and served our country in the Office of Strategic Services. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal by the Navy for this service. Also, for his contributions in liaison with the Dutch Resistance Movement, Dr. Spoelhof was honored by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands with the Order of Orange-Nassau with swords and a laurel wreath.

Following the war, in 1946, he completed his doctoral work, and returned to Calvin College to teach history and political science. After becoming president of Calvin College, Dr. Spoelhof oversaw the process of moving Calvin College from its original Franklin Street campus, located in urban Grand Rapids, to its current campus in southeast Grand Rapids.

Dr. Spoelhof carefully balanced Calvin College's vision for excellent academics with its relationship with the Christian Reformed Church, as he effectively steered the college through occasional church conflicts and the tumultuous, nationwide student protests of the 1960s.

In 1976, after 25 years of service as an administrator, Dr. Spoelhof became the longest-serving president in Calvin College's history to date and announced his retirement.

After his formal retirement, he was named president emeritus and maintained an office and steady presence at the College, offering continued support and goodwill whenever needed.

William Spoelhof was married to Miss Angeline Nydam in 1935, and they had three children, Robert Spoelhof, Elsa Scherphorn, and Peter Spoelhof. Ange, as Dr. Spoelhof lovingly called his wife, passed away in 1994, after almost 60 years of marriage.

Dr. Spoelhof was a Christian role model and mentor to many faculty members, staff and students, as he provided wisdom and counsel to thousands during his more than six decades of service to Calvin College.

On a personal note, Dr. Spoelhof recruited me from the University of California at Berkley to teach Physics at Calvin College. I am deeply grateful for his guidance and for leading me to teach at a wonderful, Christian liberal arts college.

Dr. Spoelhof lived a life of gratitude, and desired to bring God glory in all he did. On December 3, 2008, the Calvin College community lost a visionary leader and wise friend. He is to be honored and recognized for his outstanding devotion and service as a member of the military, a Calvin College professor and president and friend.

It is with sincere admiration to him, and gratitude to God, that I pay my respects to Dr. Spoelhof on a life well lived, and I urge my colleagues to join me in doing so.