Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I might speak at this time.

Mr. Speaker, on April 5, 2005, I rose on the House floor in defense of former Marine Lieutenant Ilario Pantano, who had been accused of premeditated murder for his actions in April 2004 that resulted in the deaths of two suspected Iraqi insurgents.

At that time I encouraged my colleagues to support a resolution calling on the United States Government to dismiss all charges against Lieutenant Pantano who had defended the cause of freedom, democracy and liberty, while serving as a platoon commander in Iraq.

In an action of self-defense, Lieutenant Pantano made a split-second battlefield decision to shoot two suspected Iraqi insurgents who refused to follow his orders to stop their movement towards him. Lieutenant Pantano did his duty as any marine officer should when faced with the enemy.

Following a 5-day military hearing in May 2005, the truth of Lieutenant Pantano's innocence prevailed, and he was cleared of all charges. Lieutenant Pantano left the Marine Corps following the dismissal of the charges brought against him, as the media frenzy surrounding his case may have put him or other corps members at greater risk were he to return to duty.

As an outstanding leader and dedicated servant to the Marine Corps and our Nation, I believe Lieutenant Pantano's resignation was a great loss for the Marine Corps and a great loss for America. Mr. Speaker, I recall these events to draw attention to the recent release of a memoir by Lieutenant Pantano, coauthored by Malcolm McConnell, entitled: ``Warlord, No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy.''

Ilario Pantano first enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of 17 and was inspired to reenlist following the terrorist attack of September 11 of 2001, 10 years after his service as an elite marine sniper and a veteran of Desert Storm.

Answering the patriotic call to duty, Lieutenant Pantano voluntarily left a successful career in finance to head to officer's training school in Quantico, Virginia. As a platoon commander in Iraq, Lieutenant Pantano was praised by his fellow marines and superiors as a capable and devoted leader and an intelligent and motivated officer who embodied the Marine Corps principles of honor, courage, and commitment.

As someone who had the pleasure of meeting Lieutenant Pantano, along with his lovely wife, Jill, and his two sons, I believe every American would benefit from reading the inspiring story of such a great American and a military hero.

Mr. Speaker, I am confident that those who read Lieutenant Pantano's story will come to a better understanding of the depth of his strength and heroism, both on the battlefield and in the courtroom.

Mr. Speaker, I close by asking God to please bless the men and women in uniform and to ask God to continue to bless America.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment, a simple and commonsense statement from this Congress that says we stand with our Nation's Federal civilian employees.

We are here today to take a stand and rein in a personnel system that is opposed by nearly each and every one of the 700,000 members of the DOD Federal civilian workforce.

The National Security Personnel System, or NSPS, is a system that restricts our Nation's Federal civilian employees of their collective bargaining rights, as well as the right to have an independent labor relations board settle disputes, as was recently affirmed in a court of law.

This amendment would withhold the funding to go forward on implementing only those portions of the NSPS declared illegal. It would not arbitrarily kill the system as a whole, but allow Congress to carry out its oversight responsibility.

Congress has continuously affirmed its strong support of the men and women in our Nation's military. Today, with this amendment, we are asking the same thing, reaffirm your support for our Nation's Federal civilian workforce.

Mr. Chairman, by passing this amendment we will help send a message to these highly valuable men and women that we stand with them today; that we stand with those Federal civilians who maintain and repair our Navy and Marine Corps' battle-worn helicopters; that we stand with those Federal civilians who capitalize and upgrade our Army's Bradley fighting vehicles and Abrams tanks; that we stand with those Federal civilians who skillfully manage our Air Force's logistics and distribution operations; and that we stand with those Federal civilians who maintain, overhaul and upgrade our Navy's fleet of ships, submarines and aircrafts.

I hope that my colleagues in this House of Representatives will join us and vote ``yes'' on this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. James ``Jimmy'' Aycock, a native of Fremont, North Carolina, for his dedicated service to his community.

A man of strong faith, Jimmy has been blessed by God with outstanding musical talent. For years, he has shared his talent with others in his community and helped young people develop their own musical talents.

Jimmy began his expansive musical career at the age of 14 and has been a presence on the Carolina scene for more than 50 years as an accomplished pianist, composer, and musical arranger.

In May of this year, the town board of Fremont, North Carolina honored Jimmy with a resolution of appreciation for his 40 years of dedicated service to the community. The resolution expressed gratitude for Jimmy's unselfish contributions of his time and energy.

As a teacher in the North Carolina public school system for more than three decades, Jimmy has made tireless contributions to the musical education of the state's young people. Appointed by Governors Jim Martin and Jim Hunt to serve on the North Carolina Arts Council, he has also volunteered his time and talent by playing at cancer benefits and performing for the Governor of North Carolina.

In an upcoming documentary intended for national broadcast, Jimmy will be the first artist honored in a program by November Entertainment entitled ``Carolina Icons.'' The program aims to exemplify the best of North Carolina's artistic culture. The documentary will feature interviews with Jimmy and those who know him, as well as video of his work in the classroom and in concert.

For Jimmy's long-time service to his community and generous contributions of his time and musical talent, recognition and praise are long overdue.

Jimmy Aycock is a man who has given so much of himself to God and to his fellow man, and I consider it an honor and a privilege to call him a friend.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit in its entirety for the Record a letter from the United States Business and Industry Council at the conclusion of my remarks, but I will be reading from parts of this letter.

Mr. Kildee and myself have introduced H.R. 4808, the Unfair Chinese Automobile Tariff Equalization Act. I am going to read several paragraphs from this letter that I will submit. It is a letter to me from Mr. Kevin Kearns, President of the United States Business and Industry Council.

``Dear Representative Jones: On behalf of the 1,500 U.S. companies comprising the U.S. Business and Industry Council, I am writing to express our strong support for H.R. 4808, the Unfair Chinese Automobile Tariff Equalization Act.

``Equalizing U.S. and Chinese tariffs on passenger cars, as the bill would require, is an important and greatly overdue step toward restoring equitable competition in both U.S.-China trade and global automobile trade. Such competition in turn is essential to restoring the health of the U.S.-owned automotive sector, which makes us such a large share of our economy and which has undergirded the American middle class for so many decades.''

I am going to skip on with paragraphs, Mr. Speaker. Again, I have asked that this entire letter be submitted for the Record.

``In fact, according to the latest data available, imports have grabbed two-thirds of the domestic U.S. auto market in 2004, up from 50 percent just 7 years earlier. Small wonder that Ford and GM are downsizing as fast as they can.

``Much of the blame clearly falls on incompetent trade policies, many of course supported by Detroit itself in a triumph of shortsightedness. Presidents of both parties have signed numerous free trade agreements over the years. But despite the promises made to sell them to an increasingly skeptical public, they have manifestly failed to open foreign markets for U.S. producers, or even to limit predatory foreign commercial practices such as subsidizing, dumping, and exchange rate manipulation.

``In fact, the trade flows clearly shows that the main new accomplishments of these trade agreements have been to help U.S. and foreign-brand automakers alike supply the American market from low-wage export platforms like Mexico.

``As symbolized by the ludicrously unequal auto tariffs left in place by U.S. negotiators of China trade deals, U.S. policy on automotive trade with China is speeding down the same road and will likely produce the same results. The United States still runs a small trade surplus in autos with China, but since 2000, Chinese auto exports to the United States have outpaced the United States vehicle exports to China by a four-to-one ratio.

``The Unfair Chinese Automotive Tariff Equalization Act can begin reversing this process and help put the U.S.-owned auto industry and the domestic manufacturing base as a whole back on the path of high- wage growth not low-wage stagnation. And the time to pass it is now, before the Chinese export drive takes off.''

Mr. Speaker, the close on this letter is, ``We strongly urge prompt House and Senate passage, and we will do everything we can to help make it the law of the land.''

Mr. Speaker, I also want to mention that the Chair of the caucus known as the House Automotive Caucus has urged Members of this House to support 4808 that is signed by Mr. Kildee and Mr. Upton, and we are asking just fairness in this trade issue. That is all we are asking, is that the Congress send a message to the trade negotiators that we in this Congress want our manufacturers and our workers to be treated fairly. That is all we are asking in 4808 is to send a message.

If we could get this bill to the floor of the House and pass this legislation, we would say to our trade negotiators that we need you, the trade negotiators, to make sure that we have fair trade as it relates to the American worker and the American manufacturers.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank you for this time, and I want to close by asking God to please bless our men and women in uniform, and to ask God to please bless the families and to ask God to please bless America.

United States Business

and Industry Council,

Washington, DC, Mar. 9, 2006.

Congressman Walter Jones,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Representative Jones: On behalf of the 1,500 domestic

U.S. companies comprising the U.S. Business and Industry

Council, I am writing to express our strong support for H.R.

4808, Tbe Unfair Chinese Automotive Tariff Equalization Act.

Equalizing U.S. and Chinese tariffs on passenger cars, as

the bill would require, is an important and greatly overdue

step toward restoring equitable competition in both U,S.-

China trade and global automotive trade. Such competition in

turn is essential to restoring the health of the U.S.-owned

automotive sector, which makes up such a large share of our

economy, and which has undergirded the American middle class

for so many decades.

For many years, America's trade performance in passenger

cars has been nothing less than disastrous. Despite the

proliferation of foreign transplant factories throughout the

country, the United States ran a $101.8 billion trade deficit

in autos and light trucks in 2005. U.S. imports of these

products last year, which totaled more than $126 billion,

represented fully 84 percent of two-way global U.S. vehicle

trade.

In fact, according to the latest data available, imports

had grabbed two-thirds of the domestic U.S. auto market in

2004, up from 50 percent just seven years earlier. Small

wonder that Ford and GM are downsizing as fast as they can.

Much of the blame clearly falls on incompetent trade

policies (many, of course, supported by Detroit itself in a

triumph of short-sightedness). Presidents of both parties

have signed numerous free trade agreements over the years.

But despite the promises made to sell them to an increasingly

skeptical public, they have manifestly failed to open foreign

markets for U.S. producers, or even to limit predatory

foreign commercial practices such as subsidization, dumping,

and exchange-rate manipulation.

In fact, the trade flows clearly show that the main new

accomplishments of these trade agreements have been to help

U.S.- and foreign-brand automakers alike supply the American

market from low-wage export platforms like Mexico.

As symbolized by the ludicrously unequal auto tariffs left

in place by U.S. negotiators of China trade deals, U.S.

policy on automotive trade with China is speeding down the

same road, and will likely produce the same results. The

United States still runs a small trade surplus in autos with

China. But since 2000, Chinese auto exports to the U.S. have

outpaced U.S. vehicle exports to China by a four-to-one

ratio.

Yet it is vital to realize that the development of China as

an automotive export platform has only just begun. Vehicle

makers from all over the world (Japan, Europe, the United

States, and China itself) are building far more auto

production capacity in the People's Republic than the Chinese

market can possibly absorb. And since China desperately needs

to create jobs to keep politically explosive unemployment in

check, Beijing has no interest in preventing or even slowing

this production glut. Indeed, to reduce joblessness, it has

every interest in encouraging overproduction and exporting

the surplus. The United States, the world's largest single

national automotive market, and the most open major market by

far, is the most promising destination.

Chinese auto makers, who frequently steal U.S. know-how

outright or force their U.S. partners to transfer it, have

already announced plans to sell hundreds of thousands of

vehicles in the United States by 2012. And foreign auto

makers in China (including U.S. multinational companies) will

jump on the export bandwagon as well.

The bottom line is that, without dramatic changes in U.S.

trade policy, China's inevitable emergence as an auto export

power will either further undermine U.S.-owned, U.S.-based

auto production, or it will permit such production to survive

only on a greatly reduced scale, and with a dramatically

lower pay structure.

The Unfair Chinese Automotive Tariff Equalization Act can

begin reversing this process, and help put the U.S.-owned

auto industry and the domestic manufacturing base as a whole

back on the path of high-wage growth not low-wage stagnation.

And the time to pass it is now, before the Chinese export

drive takes off.

We strongly urge prompt House and Senate passage, and we

will do everything we can to help make it the law of the

land.

Sincerely,

Kevin L. Kearns,

President.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I might speak at this time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in sadness to note the recent passing of Buck, a beloved Siberian Husky who has brought awareness to the courage and loyalty of our Nation's heroic K-9 soldiers, the military working dogs. At the age of 15, Buck passed away at home in Lexington, South Carolina, on March 23, 2006.

Buck was the companion to Vietnam Scout Dog Handler Johnny Mayo, who served with the 39th Scout Dog Platoon, 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam as a scout dog handler.

While traveling in my district last July, I had the opportunity to meet Johnny Mayo and his dog Buck. After having the pleasure of spending a few minutes petting Buck, I can honestly say that Buck was a sweet dog who will be missed dearly by those who knew him.

In Johnny Mayo's 2002 book titled, ``Buck's Heroes: A Dog's Tale of Vietnam War Dogs,'' Buck accompanies his master to a reunion of former handlers and their families at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. While gazing at the black granite memorial at his master's side, Buck begins hearing and seeing the ghosts of the dogs who participated in the Vietnam War. Among the scout dogs who speak to Buck are his master's war dogs Tiger and Kelly. The dogs tell Buck what life was like for them and the soldiers they served and protected.

By serving as the narrator and storyteller in Johnny Mayo's book, Buck educated thousands of readers about the invaluable service of military working dogs.

Buck served as a companion and aid to his owner by traveling thousands of miles with him to various war dog events, including three Vietnam Dog Handler National Reunions in Washington, D.C., St. Louis and Phoenix, Arizona.

Continuing the legacy of military working dogs who served our Nation during World War I, World War II and the Korean War, the war dogs who served in the jungles of Vietnam used their keen senses of smell, hearing and sight to detect dangers that threatened American lives.

Of the 4,000 war dogs that served in Vietnam, only 204 survived. Historians believe these trained dogs prevented more than 10,000 American casualties during their deployment from 1965 to 1972.

As both war dogs and their handlers risked their lives in combat, their bond solidified and grew into a relationship of enduring love and shared loyalty to their mission.

With Buck at his side, Johnny Mayo has had the courage to share the story of the loyal service of his war dogs Tiger and Kelly and the bond that develops between K-9 soldiers and their handlers.

To honor the loyalty, courage and sacrifice made by the teams of war dogs and their handlers, I will soon introduce legislation to designate land for the construction of a National War Dog Team Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The National War Dog Team Memorial Fund and its supporters have already begun to raise money for the project and are not asking the taxpayers or Congress for a single penny. The legislation will merely designate a plot of land for the memorial's construction.

The proposed memorial will commemorate all U.S. armed services and all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations where military working dogs have been used to support military ground operations since World War I.

As we join Johnny Mayo in mourning the loss of his Siberian Husky, Buck, let us seek to continue the legacy of educating American citizens about the history of our Nation's war dogs by commemorating the heroic service of K-9 soldiers and their handlers with a National War Dog Team Memorial.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I close by asking God to please bless our men and women in uniform and their families, and I ask God to continue to please bless America.

Madam Speaker, recently Congressman Dale Kildee and myself have introduced H.R. 4808.

We both are very concerned about the jobs that continue to go overseas, ``outsourcing'' some people call it. And with this bill what we are speaking to is the tariff situation that will exist between China and America.

In 2008, the Chinese will be selling in America Chinese cars that are made in China. These cars obviously will be made by people who make in many cases less than $1 an hour, $1.25 an hour, no benefits, but yet they will be selling these cars in this country.

What Mr. Kildee and I have done, along with other Members in both parties, is to say, we want to see fairness in this arrangement. If we try to sell an American car in China today, tonight, tomorrow we would pay 28 percent tariff. When the Chinese sell their cars in this country in the year 2008, they will pay 2.5 percent.

What this bill does is simple. It says fairness, fair trade. What is good for the Chinese economy should be good for the American economy. What is good for the American economy, let it be good for the Chinese economy. But for this country, we have lost so many manufacturing jobs in my own State of North Carolina. Since NAFTA was enacted, we have lost over 200,000 manufacturing jobs. Just the past 4 years, between 2001 and 2005, we have lost 2.9 million manufacturing jobs in this country.

This Nation cannot and will not remain strong if we do not have a manufacturing base. So this bill that Mr. Kildee and I have put in is very simple. I will repeat it again and then I will close very shortly.

That is, if we are going to accept Chinese cars to be sold in this country in 2008, and right now they will pay a 2.8 percent tariff while we are selling American cars in China and American cars have a tariff of 28 percent.

Madam Speaker, I will tell you this, I think the American people are tired and really kind of fed up, if you will, with the fact that we have not done a better job in this Congress, both sides, of trying to protect the American worker. This really is a bill that we are trying to send a message. With the WTO and the relationship we have, it would be very difficult for this bill to be signed by the President, but Mr. Kildee and I believe that the Congress, on the floor of this House, should debate H.R. 4808 and let the American people, or as good as the American people, let the negotiators know that the Congress does care about fairness in these trade agreements.

With that, Madam Speaker, I will close by saying that I appreciate the honor of serving in the House. I hope that we will always do our best to protect American jobs and the American worker.

I also want to close by asking God to please bless our men and women in uniform. And, God, please bless the families of our men and women in uniform. And, God, please bless America.

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman for the time. The reason I am on the floor, I am like anyone else in Congress. It is a privilege to serve in the United States House of Representatives. And every time I go home, like all other Members of Congress, and I see the people of the Third District of North Carolina, the home of Camp Lejeune, 60,000 retired military, they want to know why we are not doing a better job with oversight.

When you read in the papers that a DOD inspector says we cannot find $8 billion, and yet here we are in the Congress owing $8.2 trillion in debt, and the American people are out there working hard trying to do their best, they support our troops, they want us to support our troops.

But we have a responsibility, and that is to rebuild public trust. The public has lost faith in the Congress of meeting its responsibility for oversight. And I join the gentlewoman from Ohio and my other colleagues, and there are those on the Republican side too, that want to have an accountability to the American taxpayer.

It is time that we do so. So I ask my colleagues on both sides of the political aisle, for goodness sakes, let us support the American taxpayer. Let us do what Truman did, saying to the people during World War II, we are going to fight this war, and we are going to defeat the enemy, but we are going to do it in a wise way, we are going to protect the investment of the taxpayer.

Let's do the same thing in 2006 that he did during the 1940s. I thank the gentleman for this time, and I close by saying, let's do what is right. This is a good-government issue. It is time that we have accountability to the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my opposition to any limitations on religious freedom In Romania.

The religion bill that recently passed the Romanian Senate, discriminates against virtually all Christians except the dominant Orthodox Church. The bill that now stands before the Chamber of Deputies would in many ways treat Evangelical Protestants and Catholics as inferior.

The Romanian bill would restrict minority religious education and the use of church cemeteries, and would not protect private legal rights for all religious denominations or allow tax incentives to donors.

The spokesperson for a leading human rights group in Bucharest said ``the draft law infringes many laws and the Constitution of Romania, as well as international human rights commitments to which Romania is subject'' and that ``it would close the possibility for religious communities, such as the Greek Catholic churches, to reclaim any property in the hands of other faiths.'' The head of the Romanian Evangelical Alliance, Dr. Paul Negrut, pronounced NAY GROOTS, with whom I met two weeks ago said: ``this is a very critical time for religious liberty in Romania.''

Because we as Americans have to stand for religious freedom everywhere, we are especially concerned about this development in an emerging democracy that is a friend and ally of the U.S.

As one who has championed the Houses of Worship bill in the U.S. Congress, it is a personal matter of importance to me.

I urge the Romanian President and the Romanian Parliament to reject this discriminatory religious bill to help protect freedom of religion and to help improve U.S.-Romanian relations.

Mr. Speaker, the United States national

debt is $8.2 trillion. More than 25 percent, or $2 trillion of that national debt, is owned by foreign countries. China owns $300 billion of our public debt in bonds and Treasury notes. Our trade deficit with China is $200 billion alone.

Between 1989 and 2003, the United States lost 1.5 million jobs to China. According to the Wall Street Journal, China plans to increase its military spending by 14.7 percent, the biggest increase in its defense budget in 4 years.

A U.S. Government report issued in July said China is building up its military to be able to project power beyond Taiwan. The Pentagon budget issued this January stated that in the future China will have the greatest potential to compete militarily with the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, China has taken proceeds from our trade deficit and budget deficit and used the money to fund its military buildup. America has done nothing to address the problem as our trade policy continues to give every advantage to China's state-owned companies who continue to take American jobs and sell cheap goods that American workers used to produce.

Mr. Speaker, I have joined with Republican Dale Kildee of Michigan and other Members of Congress in both parties to sponsor legislation to say that trade should be fair. What is good for America should be good for China. And what is good for China should be good for America.

H.R. 4808, the Unfair Chinese Automotive Tariff Equalization Act, does not require U.S. tariffs on passenger cars to be raised or Chinese tariffs to be lowered. The bill simply states that until tariff rates are equal, no Chinese-made cars may be imported into America.

Mr. Speaker, right now if America sells cars in China, they pay a 28 percent tariff. But the United States tariff on Chinese cars will only be 2.5 percent. That is unfair and unacceptable. I hope that the House of Representatives will bring H.R. 4808 to the floor, and, by passing this legislation, say to the trade negotiators, both Chinese and American, all we want is fairness for the American workers.

Mr. Speaker, with that I yield back my time, but I will close by also saying that I pray to God that He will bless our men and women in uniform and their families, and I ask God to continue to bless America.

Mr. Speaker, on March 1, Mr. Kildee of Michigan, a Member of Congress, joined me in a bill, H.R. 4808, which would prevent imports of passenger cars from China until the United States and Chinese tariffs on these items are equal.

Mr. Speaker, I think we all know that our trade deficit with China is well over $200 billion. We all agree that we live in a world where we have to work with each other and trade with each other. The problem is that under the current agreement, these cars that will be coming in from China put us at a disadvantage, our workers and our car companies.

Let me just share with you that if we ship a car from America to be sold in China, the Chinese Government slaps a 28 percent tariff on American-made cars. If those Chinese cars come into America, we charge them a 2.5 percent tariff on their cars. That is not a level playing field.

I think China has enough advantages, quite frankly. They manipulate their currency, violate intellectual property rights, utilize heavy equipment, government subsidies, pay their workers just pennies a day, and they do not have to worry about the labor and environmental standards that Americans must abide by. The tariffs just give China another unfair advantage, an advantage that threatens the job of every worker in the United States auto industry.

I hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join us in this fairness issue. That is all this is about, fairness, because our workers work hard to produce a quality product. When we send it to China, they, again, put a 28 percent tariff on our cars going to China, while we only put a 2.5 percent tariff on passenger cars coming to America.

Mr. Speaker, there is something else that we fail to realize. With that $200 billion trade deficit, in The Wall Street Journal this week it said: ``China defends outlay to increase by 17.4 percent, the most in 4 years.'' The Chinese are making money off the American people, and they are taking that money and, in many cases, they are putting it into their military.

Now, I am not so concerned about China and America going to war, but I do know this: China is trying to build one of the strongest militaries we have ever seen in this world, and what they want to do is to dominate Southeast Asia.

What Mr. Kildee and I are asking for is just a simple matter of fairness. If we are going to sell their cars, let us charge them the same tariff they are going to charge us to sell our cars in China. I would hope that my colleagues, both Republican and Democrat, would join us in this effort. This, again, is nothing but an issue of fairness.

In fact, the Economic Policy Institute has said that since 1989 through the year 2003 we have lost 1.5 million jobs to the Chinese. Here, again, on this floor tonight I am announcing H.R. 4808, a bill introduced by a Democrat and Republican, that says that we need to charge the same tariff for American cars going to China as Chinese cars coming to America. We should all pay the same. That is a simple matter of fairness.

So tonight, Mr. Speaker, I shall be speaking on this issue quite a few times, but I will tell you that we need to be aware of what is happening to the jobs that have been going overseas, and particularly those jobs going to China. So I hope tonight that my colleagues will look at the letter that is signed by Mr. Kildee and myself asking our colleagues in the House to join us on H.R. 4808. All it is is a tariff fairness issue.

I will close by saying this again: American cars that go to China to be sold have to pay a 28 percent tariff, Chinese cars coming to America later on this year will pay only a 2.5 percent tariff. That is not fair to the American workers.

Mr. Speaker, I ask God to please bless our men and women in uniform; to please bless their families; and, God, please continue to bless America.

Mr. Speaker, though it is now 2006, I want to take the opportunity to recognize a great success story from my district last year.

One great story of accomplishment from Eastern North Carolina in 2005 is an outstanding athletic achievement by the Rampants of Junius H. Rose High School in Greenville, North Carolina.

This past December, the Junius H. Rose High School varsity football team finished an undefeated season by claiming then third consecutive North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4-A state football title.

Rose High School is one of only four 4-A teams in North Carolina to win at least three consecutive titles, with a total of four state titles.

I am very proud of the Rose High varsity football team's hard work and determination in establishing this winning tradition. Rose coach Greg Thomas, the 2004 AP state prep coach of the year, has declared that the ultimate goal of his team each year is winning a state championship.

I wish to congratulate all of the team's coaches and players:

Coaches: Greg Thomas, Todd Lipe, Lee Nicholson, Walt Pollard, Stephen Walters, Ronald Pugh, Ron Jones, Nick Anderson, Ty Nelson, Brent Jamison, Phoenix Evans, Will Wiberg, Robert Grant, Bill Grimm.

Players: Jonathan Williams, Maurice Weaver, Josiah Andrews, Rashard Green, Brian Blick, Jamie Williams, Chris Townsend, John Wilhelmsen, Scott Hodges, Carmeron Johnson, Brandon Taylor, J J Bryant, Marcus Best, Adam Carraway, Malcolm Blount, Demetrius Dixon, Anthony Adams, Phillip Turner, Montrel Miles, Brandon Cox.

Carter Gagnon, McGiver Nicholson, Akeem Thomas, E J Gilbert, Eborn Rawl, Matt Board, Drew Batts, Gabe McCuller, Byron Tyson, Javan Burney, Beau Corey, Danny Jones, Joe James, Billy Cates, Beau Benfield, Jonathan Little, Mike Royston, Bryan Deans, Jameson Bryant, Taylor Ward.

Ian Baro, Tyrone Spinks, Larry Chamblis, Charlie Craigle, Brentley Richardson, William Batts, Malcolm Rook, Jimmie Booth, William Brewington, Demarus Williams, John Phillips, Jake Ovitt, Clay Douglas, Garrett Oakley, Morgan Randall, Max Joyner, Louis Muldrow, Sammy Becirovic, Trey Coleman, Anthony Williams.

Mr. Speaker, I, like many of my colleagues in Congress, have had the fortunate opportunity of playing on a high school state championship team. More than 40 years later, I can still vividly recall in my mind the wonderful memory of the night my high school basketball team at Hargrave Military Academy won the Military League Championship.

I close by once again congratulating the J.H. Rose High School coaches and players for their hard work and their success in achieving an athletic victory which they will remember with pride for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, though it is now 2006, I want to take the opportunity to recognize, on two separate occasions, two great success stories from my district last year.

One great success story from eastern North Carolina in 2005 is an outstanding athletic achievement from my hometown of Farmville.

Though Farmville Central High School's 2005 boy's varsity baseball team began their season with a rocky start, the Jaguars were able to turn their season around and capture the school's very first State baseball championship.

I am very proud of my hometown team's record and their historic victory in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association State I- A championship in June of 2005.

I wish to congratulate all of the team's coaches and players: Head Coach John Galeazzi; Assistant Coaches Ed Hines and Brian Perry; Statistician Joe Allen; Athletic Director Dixon Sauls; Players: Justin Bagley, Chad Bagley, Brad Bagley, Bill Fisher, Cameron Moore, Robbie Jones, Spencer Albritton, Jonathan Landen, Brandon Cox, Landon Walker, Tommy Cobb, Chris Tomlin, Jordan Corbett, Will Rhem, Mike Dail, Warren Rhem, and Craven Taylor.

Mr. Speaker, I, like many of my colleagues in Congress, have had the fortunate opportunity of playing on a high school State championship team. More than 40 years later, I can still vividly recall in my mind the wonderful memory of the night my high school basketball team at Hargrave Military Academy won the Military League Championship.

I close by once again congratulating the coach and players of the 2005 Farmville Central High School varsity baseball team for their hard work, and for their success in achieving an athletic victory which they will remember with pride for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, prior to the break I came on the floor and announced that we had sent a letter in October of this past year to the President of the United States signed by 76 Members of the House, 3 United States Senators asking the President of the United States to use his constitutional authority as Commander-in-Chief to guarantee the first amendment rights of our chaplains in the military, whether they be Muslim, Jewish or Christian, to pray in their faith and their tradition.

Tonight, I am on the floor to give an example of what is happening in our military. I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, in the 3 years that I have talked to chaplains from the Navy, from the Marine Corps, from the Army, Air Force, that there is a prohibited rule that they should not pray in the name of Jesus, if they happen to be of the Christian faith, outside of their church.

Give you two examples. Last year, I spoke to a Navy chaplain in Hawaii who had been asked to pray at a remembrance service for Marines killed in Afghanistan and Iraq. At the close of his prayer, he closed in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. About an hour later, he got a phone call from a Marine Major that asked him to please, in the future, outside of his church not to pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

He was so upset, Mr. Speaker, that he went to a Jewish rabbi who was a friend of his, and he asked the Jewish rabbi, are you offended when I pray in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? The Jewish rabbi said, absolutely not. This is your faith and your tradition, and you should pray as you see fit.

Mr. Speaker, 3 weeks ago, I spoke to a chaplain in Iraq. His name is Jonathan Stertzbach. He happens to be an independent Baptist. He is a chaplain, and he was asked by a commander of a unit to pray over the grave of a shoulder who professed to be a Christian who had been killed in battle. It so happens in the Army that this chaplain had to submit his prayer in writing to the senior chaplain. The senior chaplain, Mr. Speaker, struck through the words Jesus Christ. The young chaplain whose name is Jonathan Stertzbach, I talked to him by telephone, said, Congressman, I could not pray if I could not pray as I thought my Lord wanted me to pray. It so happens that the company commander, before he removed himself, asked him if he was going to be at the service and if he was going to pray. And he said, sir, I have asked to be removed because my prayer has been struck down. The Major told him, you go to the funeral. You are going to pray as you see fit.

Since that time, it so happens that a newspaper in America called Chaplain Stertzbach and he did comment about what happened, and so now he has been removed from his chapel in Iraq.

I have written to the Inspector General, General Stanley Green. I have asked him to look into this matter.

Mr. Speaker, I would be on the floor of the House tonight if this was a Jewish rabbi, if it was a Muslim cleric, and protect their rights to pray as they see fit. That is what America is all about, is the first amendment rights to pray, to speak as we see fit.

I hope that my colleagues in the House will join the 76 of us who have signed this letter and say to the President of the United States, protect the first amendment rights.

We are not talking about having altar calls. We are just talking about in certain ceremonies and services that they pray as they think their faith and tradition asks them to pray.

Mr. Speaker, I will ask, as I close, God to please bless our men and women in uniform and ask God to please bless the families of our men and women in uniform and ask God to please bless America.

Mr. Speaker, I have read reports, received letters, and seen

documentation which verifies that suppression of religious freedom throughout our Armed Forces is a pervasive problem, affecting military chaplains from all denominations and religions.

Of particular concern is an incident involving Army Captain Chaplain Jonathan Stertzbach. This chaplain who is serving our troops in harm's way in Iraq was asked by another unit, whose chaplain had to return home to start chemotherapy after cancer was discovered, to serve the spiritual needs of the unit's soldiers in weekly movement to an undisclosed FOB (Forward Operating Base). During a mission, tragically, one of the soldiers was killed in action. The unit's Commanding Officer asked this chaplain to perform the memorial ceremony because he had bravely served the soldiers and risked his own life.

Before the memorial ceremony, the chaplain submitted two prayers for review. The Brigade Chaplain attempted to remove the chaplain from praying at the memorial ceremony because he concluded his prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. The chaplain, adhering to his conscience and faith tradition, said he would not strike the words Jesus Christ.

The unit's Commanding Officer intervened, explaining that Chaplain Stertzbach volunteered to serve a different unit outside of his assigned unit and placed his life in harm's way to provide for the needs of the unit's soldiers. The Commanding Officer instructed that Chaplain Stertzbach would pray according to his faith tradition.

After the incident, Chaplain Stertzbach's story reached the media. Consequently, his answers to the media and the incident surrounding the memorial ceremony resulted in Chaplain Stertzbach's removal from his chapel. This is unacceptable!

Since the beginning of our nation's military, chaplains have played an integral role, fulfilling the spiritual and emotional needs of the brave men and women who serve--and they have always prayed according to their faith tradition. It is in the best interest of our Armed Services and this nation to guarantee the constitutional right of military chaplains to pray according to their faith.

Congress of the United States,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC, February 6, 2006.

LTG Stanley E. Green,

Department of the Army, The Inspector General, Army Pentagon,

Washington, DC.

Dear LTG Stanley Green: It has come to my attention that in

all branches of the military it is increasingly difficult for

chaplains to pray in adherence to their faith. I have read

reports, received letters, and seen documentation which

verifies that suppression of religious freedom throughout our

Armed Forces is a pervasive problem, affecting military

chaplains from all denominations and religions. Of particular

concern is an incident involving Army Captain Chaplain

Jonathan Stertzbach of the 3-6 FA HHB in Iraq. I am writing

to request that the Army Inspector General investigate

whether Chaplain Stertzbach was illegally removed from his

chapel.

This chaplain who is serving our troops in harm's way in

Iraq was asked by another unit, whose chaplain had to return

home to start chemotherapy after cancer was discovered, to

serve the spiritual needs of the unit's soldiers in weekly

movement to an undisclosed FOB (Forward Operating Base) as

well as his own battalion. During one of the missions,

tragically, one of the soldiers was killed in action. The

unit's Commanding Officer asked this chaplain to perform the

Memorial Ceremony because he had bravely served the soldiers,

and gone to the risk of convoying to the FOB (Forward

Operating Base) weekly.

Before the Memorial Ceremony, the chaplain submitted two

prayers and a meditation for the Division Chaplain and his

direct supervising chaplain to review and was approved. The

Brigade Chaplain, having just arrived from Fort Drum,

attempted to remove the chaplain from administering the

prayers of the Memorial Ceremony because he concluded his

prayer in the name of Jesus Christ in a public forum. The

chaplain, adhering to his conscience and faith tradition,

said he would not strike the words Jesus Christ.

The unit's Commanding Officer intervened, explaining that

Chaplain Stertzbach volunteered to serve a different unit

outside of his assigned unit and placed his life in harm's

way to provide for the needs of the unit's soldiers. The

Commanding Officer instructed that Chaplain Stertzbach would

pray according to his faith tradition and the prayers that he

had already submitted. The Brigade Chaplain told him to

qualify his prayer at the beginning with ``Please pray

according to your faith tradition, as I pray according to

mine'' and then close the prayer with ``in thy name we pray,

and in Jesus' name I pray.'' Chaplain Stertzbach delivered

the Memorial Meditation and prayers for the fallen hero, but

still followed orders with the `qualifier' remaining in

place.

After the incident, Chaplain Stertzbach's story reached the

media. The chaplain was directly contacted by the Washington

Times and referenced in a Washington Times January story.

Chaplain Stertzbach's incident was not printed, but he was

quoted as saying the following:

``You need to allow people to pray according to their faith

group. Many faith groups do not pray in general and generic

terms . . . For Christian groups, the name of Jesus is from

where all the power comes.''

I believe Chaplain Stertzbach answered questions fairly,

accurately, and within his legal rights. Consequently, his

answers to the media and the incident surrounding the

memorial ceremony resulted in Chaplain Stertzbach's removal

from his chapel.

I am concerned that Chaplain Stertzbach was removed without

justification. Again, I am requesting that you investigate

this incident and provide an explanation.

Sincerely,

Walter B. Jones,

Member of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize an American hero, a loyal friend to everyone who wears the uniform of our Nation's military. C.A. ``Mack'' McKinney, veteran of three wars and distinguished military legislative advocate for over 30 years died November 15, 2005. He was 80 years old.

In 1942, Mack McKinney enlisted with the Marine Corps at age 17 to join America's. fight against tyranny and oppression, and shipped off to war. He served honorably and tirelessly for over 29 years and participated in the invasion of Okinawa during WorId War II, the Korean conflict, and the Tet Offensive during the Vietnam War before retiring as a Sergeant Major of Marines in 1971. McKinney is the recipient of 16 medals and commendations including the Combat Action Ribbon.

McKinney's service to this country did not end with his retirement, however. Over the next 34 years he lent his time and efforts to improving the recruiting, retention and readiness of the Armed Forces by petitioning Congress for military compensation and benefits packages commensurate with the ``extraordinary demands and sacrifices associated with military service.'' McKinney devoted his talents to a number of organizations dedicated to bettering the lives of America's fighting forces, as well as their families. At the time of his death he was legislative counsel for the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), headquartered in Alexandria, Va.

Mack McKinney began his long public-service career with the Marine Corps League (MCL) and the Non-Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA). He played a key role in these organizations and was credited with helping stem the losses of highly skilled mid-career military personnel by convincing leaders of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees to authorize two consecutive double-digit pay raises during the late 1970s.

Recognizing that there is strength in numbers, McKinney became a driving force behind the creation of The Military Coalition (TMC) in 1985, and the original 12 co-founding organizations stopped legislation that would have zeroed out retired pay cost-of-living adjustments for a 7 year period. He served as TMC co-chairman, coordinator and administrator--having been reelected as the latter on November 3, 2005. He also mentored numerous TMC organization representatives, imparting them with his vast knowledge of military benefits and the legislative process. Today TMC is comprised of 36 military and veterans' organizations and represents more than 5.5 million active duty, National Guard, Reserve, retirees and veterans of the uniformed services as well as their families and survivors.

In 1987 McKinney was appointed a member of the Veterans Administration Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials, a position he held until 1993.

NCOA recognized his accomplishments by establishing an award in his name--the C.A. ``Mack'' McKinney Award--presented annually to current or former uniformed service members who exemplify professionalism, dedication, and service to the country.

He was also the first ever recipient of the Marine Corps League's Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Award for Commitment, and was honored by the U.S. Coast Guard with the Meritorious Public Service Award ``for providing consistent and exceptional support to the Coast Guard.''

McKinney was a member of numerous professional organizations and held leadership roles in many of them. He was a founding member and President Emeritus of the Exchange Club of Capitol Hill and helped found the Gang of 30 for the purpose of fostering good fellowship and staying abreast of Corps' activities for active duty and retired Marines. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, First and Third, Marine Divisions Associations, Marine Corps Aviation Association, Congressional Marines, Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation, Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, the Marine Corps Association and the Fleet Reserve Association. He was also a charter member of and second president elected to head the Combined National Veterans Association as well as a charter member of the Combined National Veterans Associations of America.

In 2004, he was awarded the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service, the Award citation reads in part:

Mr. McKinney played a decisive role in winning enactment of

virtually every significant legislative initiative affecting

compensation and benefits for active, Reserve and Guard, and

retired service members...

Above and beyond his enviable work ethic, Mr. Speaker, Mack McKinney's most memorable quality was his impressive knowledge of legislative issues affecting the service member. McKinney could speak to the issues passionately and convincingly, whether it was one-on-one, or to an entire room. He had a way of speaking that drew attention to his words, and his presence commanded attention. Well known at military retiree and transition seminars, McKinney constantly implored service members to stay abreast of the issues that affected their quality-of- life, remarking often that ``what Congress gives, Congress can take away.''

McKinney was also famous for his sense of humor and was quick with a joke. When remarking about his time in the Marine Corps he would say, ``I stayed in 29 years and 6 months because I didn't want to make it a career.'' In an interview with Navy Times reporter Rick Maze in 2000, he remarked on his position with the FRA, one he held for 10 years: ``I've been here longer than all but a handful of Senators and Representatives but I'm not ready to retire. In fact, my wife won't let me. She says she married me for better or worse but not for lunch.''

Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Major Mack McKinney worked until the very end to better the quality-of-life for America's veterans and their families. He held strong to his belief that: ``There is a lot more that needs to be done, and I'm going to keep trying to do it. Enlisted people need someone looking out for them.'' I am proud to have known Mack and honored to call him my friend, I will miss him dearly. Mack McKinney is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Rosemarie, three children, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.