Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, first, I want to thank all who have worked on this measure; but I do regret that Ranking Member Bachus did not have greater opportunity for more input.

I will be voting ``no'' on this measure because this is a Band-aid approach that will not save America. We need to infuse capital into our banking system and not more Federal debt. Federal debt is not the way to go.

We also must look at the fundamental cause of encouraging those who have little chance to repay to get loans. Over-encouragement was a fundamental cause, and it is not addressed in this bill.

I hope we will vote ``no'' for a better day and a better bill.

Madam Speaker, Pursuant to the standards set forth by Republican leadership, I submit the following information for publication in the Congressional Record:

Requesting Member: Congressman Virgil Goode

Bill Number: H.R. 2638

Account: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation, Army

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company

Address of Requesting Entity: 1901 Goodyear Boulevard, Danville, VA 24541

Description of Project: $800,000 for development and qualification of tires for current Stryker vehicles and next generation tires for heavier load Stryker vehicles under development.

Requesting Member: Congressman Virgil Goode

Bill Number: H.R. 2638

Account: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation, Army

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Innovative Wireless Technologies, Inc.

Address of Requesting Entity: 1047 Vista Park Drive, Forest, VA 24551

Description of Project: $700,000 to continue development of sensors technology to detect, identify, and classify potential enemy targets for the U.S. Army.

Requesting Member: Congressman Virgil Goode

Bill Number: H.R. 2638

Account: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation, Air Force

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: NextGen Aeronautics

Address of Requesting Entity: 2780 Skypark Drive, Suite 400, Torrance, CA 90505

Description of Project: $500,000 to develop a cognitive, high altitude, long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle.

Requesting Member: Congressman Virgil Goode

Bill Number: H.R. 2638

Account: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation, Defense Wide

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: SPARTA, Inc.

Address of Requesting Entity: 890 East Rio Road; Charlottesville, VA 22901

Description of Project: $2,000,000 for Missile Technology Proliferation.

Requesting Member: Congressman Virgil Goode

Bill Number: H.R. 2638

Account: Other Procurement, Navy

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Sperry Marine, Inc.

Address of Requesting Entity: 1070 Seminole Trail, Charlottesville,

Mr. Speaker, I too want to say welcome to Dr. Danny Davis for delivering the opening prayer this morning. His son works in the office of Congresswoman Thelma Drake. But his church, Mount Hermon Baptist

Church, is located in the Fifth District of Virginia. His predecessor, Dr. Don Davidson, in the last Congress delivered an opening prayer. And Mount Hermon Baptist Church served as the host church for the memorial services of my predecessor in Congress, the late Dan Daniel, 20 years ago.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that the measure passed yesterday for the Commonwealth of Virginia was a hoax and a sham. It provides no funds for the Commonwealth, for its offshore natural gas and its offshore crude oil. I have talked with members of the General Assembly. They will be very reluctant to adopt any drill policy when they are not treated the same as Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. We need to be fair to encourage drilling.

Madam Speaker, high energy prices are a top concern of farmers, small businesses, and citizens across the Fifth District of Virginia. I wish the House would consider a comprehensive measure like the American Energy Act to increase the supply of American-made energy, improve conservation, and promote renewable and alternative energy technologies such as Red Birch Energy's Canola Biodiesel Project in Bassett Forks, Virginia.

Red Birch Energy converts the oil from crushed canola seeds grown by local farmers into a clean-burning, efficient biodiesel fuel that is less efficient than ordinary diesel fuel. Canola provides a great seed for biodiesel production, since the seed's 44 percent oil content is higher than that of soybeans and corn, yet not affecting food prices. The grand opening of their impressive new facility is scheduled for August 25.

I commend Red Birch Energy for their efforts to develop a clean alternative fuel that reduces America's dependence.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1235, a resolution to designate National D-Day Remembrance Day and recognize the spirit, courage, and sacrifice of the men and women who fought and won World War II. One of modern history's defining events, D-day was the climactic engagement of the Second World War. On June 6, 1944, an Allied Expeditionary Force representing twelve nations launched more than 5,000 boats and ships, 11,000 aircraft, 28,000 aerial sorties, and landed 150,000 ground troops. Among those troops were more than 30 soldiers from Bedford, Virginia, a small, rural community which experienced the highest per capita loss rate of any community in the United States on D-day. For this reason, Bedford is the home to the National D-Day Memorial, which was dedicated by President Bush on June 6, 2001. The National D-Day Memorial exists in tribute to the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice of the Allied Forces on D-day. The Memorial preserves the lessons and legacy of that fateful day and reminds all who enter it of the heavy price that heartland communities have paid, and still pay, for freedom.

I urge all members to support H. Res. 1235 and honor the great sacrifice of our veterans who served on D-day and in all the other conflicts that preserved American freedom throughout our history.

Mr. Chairman, I too want to salute the gentleman from New York and his work on the Armed Forces Committee, but I must respectfully disagree with this amendment and what I believe is the philosophy behind it.

We need to be encouraging Iraqis to stay in Iraq. Iraq is improving. The situation there is expanding. They need to rebuild Iraq. They need to have a better economy. And by encouraging the best and the brightest to come to this country, we are doing a disservice. We should not be encouraging the Iraqi translators to abandon their country, to leave their country. We should be promoting their staying in Iraq.

If we have jobs programs, I suggest that first, with the mandatory language that exists in this amendment, that we focus on jobs for U.S. citizens. Refugees get food stamps, SSI and Medicaid. That is often more than U.S. citizens get. We should be rolling out the red carpet for our citizens first, instead of adopting programs like this.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Bruce H.T. Dallas of Martinsville, Virginia. Bruce passed away on August 26, 2007, and is survived by his wife Shirley K. Dallas, 6 children, 3 brothers, 11 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren.

Bruce was born on November 4, 1938, in Martinsville. He attended Albert Harris High School and then began his career of active participation in a number of civic and community-building ventures. He served as a member of the Martinsville City Council, Virginia Municipal League, 5th District of Virginia Democratic Party Committee, and State Central Democratic Committee. He was president of the 5th District Black Caucus and former Chairman of the Martinsville Democratic Committee.

Bruce was a member of the Board of Directors of the Virginia State Conference of the NAACP and the Martinsville/Henry County Voters League.

Bruce was an active member of the Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, serving as trustee and steward. In 1997, he was named ``Man of the Year'' by the Virginia Annual Conference of the AME.

The impact of Bruce Dallas' legacy will forever live in the Martinsville community. He will be remembered as a fearless leader who was unafraid to challenge the status quo. Bruce was a ``man of the people'' and held a deep belief that a man's success could and should be measured by his service to the people. He will long be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and father-in- law.

I am grateful for the opportunity to rise today to salute Bruce's legacy of service and commitment to improving the quality of life for citizens of Martinsville and Southside Virginia.

Madam Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise today to recognize the U.S. Army 8th Battalion, 4th Regiment on the occasion of their association reunion, which will take place May 2-6.

The 4th Artillery was authorized and constituted by an Act of Congress in June 1812, as the 4th Artillery Regiment. The regiment has seen continuous duty since that date. The 8th Battalion, 4th Artillery, has served in varied capacities throughout its illustrious service: Coast Artillery, Harbor Defense, Anti-Aircraft Artillery, Pack Artillery, 177mm Gun Battalion and as a 175mm 18 inch (SP) Gun Battalion.

On March 1, 1967, the 8th Battalion, 4th Artillery was activated at Fort Sill, OK, as a 175mm gun battalion. Its mission was to deploy on July 24, 1967, to the central highlands

of Vietnam. The only battalion from Fort Sill to deploy on its original deployment date, the 8th Battalion, 4th Artillery departed Ft. Sill, OK, with the personal good wishes and promised continued support from the Fort Sill commanding general. The battalion's equipment, including its 12 175mm guns, departed in early July. The equipment was moved by rail to Houston, TX, then by ship through the Panama Canal and on to Vietnam.

The men of the battalion traveled by air to Tacoma, WA, and boarded a U.S. naval troop ship, the USNS UPSHUR, along with two smaller Army units. On the high seas, after a 12-hour shore break on Okinawa, we were notified our mission had changed. We were being diverted to Da Nang with a support mission to the 1st and 3rd Marine Divisions. The battalion was originally assigned the dual mission of supporting both the 1st and 3rd Marine Divisions with long-range heavy artillery fire until November 1, 1967, when it was assigned to the 108th Artillery Group, reinforcing the 12th Marine Regiment.

From January 31, 1968 until March, the battalion supported the 5th Marines and the Americal Division during ``Operation Auburn.'' It participated in ``Operation Rock'' by firing in support of the 7th Marines from March 6 until March 10, 1968. From March 13 until March 26, 1968, it supported the 7th Marines during ``Operation Worth.'' From August 1968 until September 1968, the battalion provided general support for units operating near the DMZ.

During the first year in Vietnam, the battalion changed over 300 gun tubes. In its 4 years in the Republic of Vietnam, the battalion had fired more than 450,000 rounds of 175mm/S inch ammunition in support of the United States and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) forces. It had supported operations throughout the northern sector of South Vietnam and had fired from positions at Da Nang, Dong Ha, Quang Tn, Bastone, Camp Lo, Camp J J Carroll, Thon Som Lam (``Rockpile''), True Khe, FSB C-I, FSB C-2, and FSB A-4 (Con Thien).

In ceremonies held August 6, 1971, at Dong Ha Combat Base, the battalion was presented the Meritorious Unit Citation. The award covered the period from January 31, 1968 to January 31, 1969, and was primarily for actions in support of the 1st and 3rd Marine Divisions. The battalion was also awarded the Naval Presidential Unit Citation in support of the 3rd Marine Division and the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry.

As the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces began their withdrawal from Laos and the Khe San area, the need for artillery support along the route of egress became vital. By April 1971, all remaining elements of the battalion departed the Khe San Plains. The 8th Battalion, 4th Artillery, was the first heavy artillery battalion into the Khe San area and the last heavy unit to return.

In the 63 days that the battalion was involved with the Khe San Operation, it suffered losses of 4 persons killed and 41 wounded, with 17 vehicles destroyed. It was credited with costing the enemy 1,238 killed, unknown numbers wounded, 26 field guns destroyed, 3 tanks destroyed, 5 fighting positions destroyed, 16 wheeled vehicles destroyed, and 2,644 secondary explosions. During this same period, in line with increased troop withdrawals, the American ground troops in the area turned over their fire bases to the ARVN and withdrew to Quang Tri for their consolidation.

At 0930 hours, 15 October 1971, the 8th Battalion, 4th Artillery, conducted a redeployment ceremony at Quang Tri Combat Base. The battalion colors were furled and cased for redeployment to Fort Sill, OK, where the 3rd Battalion, 73rd Artillery, was being redesignated the 4th Battalion, 4th Artillery. On this date, the unit completed its tactical mission, and after completing the Keystone stand down operations from October 15 through November 15, 1971, sent its color guard and colors to Fort Sill to begin a new phase in the illustrious career of the 4th Artillery.

After a stay of 4 years on the DMZ, the battalion had truly earned its unofficial motto, ``The Guns of the DMZ,'' with 26 killed in action and numerous wounded. Today the 4th Artillery continues with the 2nd Battalion, 4th Artillery, a multiple launch rocket system battalion stationed at Fort Sill, OK. The 2nd Battalion, 4th Artillery deployed to Iraq during the initial assault of ``Desert Storm,'' and continue their combat role in the great tradition of the historic 4th Artillery Regiment.

I appreciate the opportunity to offer these remarks and share my appreciation for our veterans. We are forever grateful to the 8th Battalion, 4th Artillery and all the veterans who have preserved our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5631, a bill I introduced to designate the Charlottesville Post Office as the ``Corporal Bradley Arms Post Office Building'' in honor of a young man from the 5th District of Virginia who made the ultimate sacrifice in defending the United States of America.

Marine Corporal Bradley Arms died in combat at the age of 20 in the Anbar Province of Iraq on November 19, 2004 in service to his country. Originally from Charlottesville, Virginia, ``Brad'' attended the University of Georgia until he was called into service with the Marine Corps Reserve.

Friends and family described Brad as a friendly, caring, optimistic, patriotic and purposeful person. The three personal items he brought to Iraq appropriately illustrate his personality: a Bible, a picture of his family, and a University of Georgia flag. Brad was also a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity at the University of Georgia. Family members recalled that Brad greatly enjoyed his fraternity brothers, friends, music, and faith in God.

While in Iraq, Brad often wrote to friends and family, displaying his positive attitude toward his mission in the military and demonstrating how proud he was to serve and defend his country. He said that his experiences in the military, ``strengthened his resolve to live the life of a balanced man and lead by example.''

Connor Rund, a young man who attends the same high school that Corporal Arms graduated from, contacted me suggesting that the Charlottesville Post Office be dedicated in Brad's honor. Since then, I have received several communications from members of the Charlottesville community in support of this tribute to Brad.

Please join me in honoring the memory of this young man who was a great son, friend, and patriot by supporting H.R. 5631 and renaming the Charlottesville Post Office as the ``Corporal Bradley T. Arms Post Office Building.''

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my name as a cosponsor of H.R. 5515.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of the victims of the Virginia Tech shooting incident, which occurred one year ago today. On April 16, 2007, a great tragedy shocked and saddened the world, claiming the lives of 32 innocent members of the Virginia Tech community and injuring many others. I continue to pray for the families and friends of the victims as they cope with the pain this heartbreaking incident brought upon them. At the same time, I am moved and touched by how the world united over the past year to support the Virginia Tech community as it navigates the difficult recovery process.

In the days that followed the tragedy, citizens across America and around the world watched as the Virginia Tech community pulled together to demonstrate the power of ``Hokie Spirit.'' The Nation also provided an outpouring of support, caring, and compassion for the students and families affected by this event. With the world's assistance, the Virginia Tech community exhibited its resilience, collective strength, and courage in the days, weeks, and months following the tragedy. Virginia Tech Professor Peggy Meszaros described this process by stating, ``The reverberations around our campus, and the community, and the state and the nation, if not the world, this Hokie spirit, this belief that we will support one another, that we will survive this tragedy that we will, if we can, even become stronger--that's been a real unifying theme in all of this.''

Moving forward, we should remember the victims for how they lived: as loving, caring scholars and citizens who wanted to make the world a better place. Today, the victims' families and friends carry on this legacy on behalf of those who lost their lives. For example, last year Virginia Tech created V.T.-Engage, a volunteer program for persons in the university community to perform public service in honor of the victims of the tragedy. The program volunteers have already completed more than 200,000 hours of service this year, paying tribute to the memory of those lives lost.

I ask Congress to honor and remember the victims of this tragedy and continue to show support for those affected by it. May God continue to bless the families and friends who lost loved ones and the entire Virginia Tech community on this day of solemn remembrance.

Madam Speaker, Jeanette Lancaster, PhD, RN, FAAN, Sadie Heath Cabaniss Professor of Nursing and Dean of the University of Virginia School of Nursing, will soon step down as Dean after an extraordinary 19 years of service in that role. It is not only for her status as one of the longest tenured deans in the University's modern history that she is known by her peers as the ``Dean of Deans.''

During her deanship, the UVA School of Nursing national rankings rose by at least ten points to now stand at 19th in the United States; among the country's top five percent of nursing schools. U.S. News & World Report ranks two of the School's master's programs in their Top Ten and two others in the top twenty. Dr. Lancaster has expanded the School's enrollment by 28 percent and projects additional increases to help meet the country's current and future health care needs. She has been an avid supporter of ROTC and military nursing enrollment.

Under her visionary leadership, the UVA School of Nursing has been in the vanguard launching innovative programs to meet the more complex and technical needs for nurses in today's health care environment and to address the current and growing shortage of well educated nursing clinicians and faculty.

Dr. Lancaster, holder of the first endowed nursing professorship in the United States, has been recognized with the first endowed professorship named for a female dean at the University of Virginia (1999). She has been honored as both the first nursing dean and the first woman to be invited in her own right to live in one of Thomas Jefferson's Pavilions on the historic UVA Lawn. Her innovative efforts to improve gender imbalance at the University of Virginia to give women a more equal role in decision-making are well acknowledged.

In foreseeing and navigating the sea changes now occurring in the nursing profession, Jeanette Lancaster has been a national leader. She also is recognized internationally as an authority in community health nursing, nursing education and public policy. As president of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), she has testified before the U.S. Congress to advocate for support of nursing education. The AACN is a national organization that sets standards, recommends curricula and advocates for nursing baccalaureate and higher degree education to improve patient outcomes.

Her peers have elected her as a Fellow in the prestigious American Academy of Nursing and National Academies of Practice. She has held numerous national leadership positions in professional associations and been honored nationally with multiple awards and honorary degrees. Recently, she served on the Commonwealth of Virginia's statewide Healthcare Workforce Task Force and has long been an effective advocate for greater Commonwealth support for nursing education.

We hereby commend Jeanette Lancaster for her outstanding career as Dean, her effective

and visionary leadership combined with commitment and dedication to improve health care for the people of the United States and for her ability to inspire others to excellence.

I rise to salute the Prince Edward County and Longwood University Relay for Life for their fundraising efforts for the American Cancer Society.

Cancer affects millions of families across the United States each year. The 2008 Prince Edward/Longwood Relay for Life is particularly special because this year's walk will honor Sarah Terry, a long-time community activist and a manager of my Farmville office. Sarah served on the Virginia Board of Corrections, the Longwood University Board of Visitors, and as Executive Director of the Farmville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Sarah battled breast cancer for almost a decade before succumbing to the illness on December 1, 2007. Even while ill, Sarah continued to fight diligently for the Farmville/Prince Edward community in many capacities to promote the local economy, outdoor recreation and tourism.

I commend the Relay for Life for honoring an inspirational figure and community leader in Sarah Terry.

Madam Speaker, I rise to thank the men and women in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard for serving our Nation in Iraq and Afghanistan and around the world. They are honorably and bravely fighting terrorists overseas in order to protect American families at home.

One way we can say ``thank you'' to these brave men and women is to adopt a Veterans appropriations bill, stand-alone, with a unanimous or near unanimous vote. It does not need to be wrapped up into something else. We need to send a loud and clear ``thank you'' to our veterans in a veterans-only bill. Let's do it. Let's vote it up and say a great ``thank you'' before Veterans Day to our veterans.

I too want to thank Congressman Wolf and Congressman Scott for arranging this Special Order on behalf of Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the service of my friend and colleague, Jo Ann Davis. She worked tirelessly on behalf of Virginians in the General Assembly and in the United States House of Representatives. Jo Ann was a stalwart defender of the rights of the unborn and a leader on numerous other commonsense issues.

In 2000, Jo Ann surprised many political pundits and prognosticators by winning a hard-fought primary in which she was heavily outspent by her opponents. She was easily reelected in subsequent campaigns because of her devotion to the constituents in her district and her focus on the concerns of the citizens in the eastern part of Virginia.

She was a feisty fighter and frequently reminded others in Virginia and around the country that she represented not only Virginia's First District, but also America's first district, as it includes Jamestown, Virginia, where our Nation's first settlement was founded in 1607. She was a vigorous proponent of celebrating the 400th anniversary of Jamestown and made sure it received notice throughout Virginia, the United States and around the world.

As evidenced by the comments and tributes made here this evening, she touched everyone on both sides of the aisle. Her good works and her fighting on behalf of this great Nation will be long remembered.

Her husband, Chuck, and her family are in our thoughts and prayers. It was an honor to have served the Commonwealth of Virginia and this Nation with Jo Ann Davis.