Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, tonight I would like to read just a few paragraphs from an article written by Mona Charen, who is a well-known journalist here in Washington,

DC, and around this Nation. The title of her article: ``Is the Marine Corps P.C.?'' PC meaning political correct.

``Second Lieutenant Ilario Pantano was making a six-figure income as an energy trader with Goldman Sachs in New York when the World Trade Center was attacked. Pantano had friends who worked in the Twin Towers and friends among the firefighters who perished trying to save them.

``This Marine veteran had already served his country in the first Gulf War, set aside his career, which also included work in film and television, kissed his wife and two children good-bye, and headed to Quantico, Virginia, for officer training school.''

I continue Ms. Charen's comments in her article: ``A Marine Corps colleague asked, `How many guys do you know who would drop 100 grand a year to go sleep in fighting holes in the nasty mud and dust for, what, 25 grand a year?'

``There are a few, and the rest of us owe them more than we can possibly express, which is why it is shocking to learn that Pantano may now be facing murder charges.''

Mr. Speaker, that is why I am on the floor. I want to read from part of a resolution, H. Res. 167, which I introduced the day before we left for Easter:

``On April 15th, 2004, Second Lieutenant Pantano led a platoon in Mahmudiyah, Iraq, that apprehended two Iraqis who were suspected insurgents.

``Second Lieutenant Pantano ordered the suspected insurgents to be detained, then ordered them to search their own vehicle in the event that it contained explosives.

``The vehicle's seats were not bolted down, a tactic commonly used by insurgents to retrieve weapons, and nails and bolts were found in the trunk of the vehicle, items commonly found in improvised explosive devices.

``In response to threatening movements by the suspected insurgents, Second Lieutenant Pantano took action in self-defense that resulted in their deaths.

``Accusations that Second Lieutenant Pantano's actions were something other than self-defense did not surface until almost 2 months after the incident.

``In his Combat Fitness Report dated August 5, 2004, nearly 4 months after the incident, Second Lieutenant Pantano's superior officers gave the following evaluation of his performance from March through July, 2004.''

I am just going to read a couple of these, Mr. Speaker. One, ``He is a Marine who `leads from the front, always, and balances his aggressive style with true concern for the welfare of his Marines.'

``He was `ready for increased responsibility,' and was a soldier who the Marine Corps should `retain, promote and assign to challenging assignments.' ''

Now, ``Therefore be it,'' Mr. Speaker, this is the close of my resolution, ``Second Lieutenant Ilario Pantano, United States Marine Corps, was defending the cause of freedom, democracy, and liberty in his actions of April 15, 2004, that resulted in the deaths of two suspected Iraqi insurgents and that subsequently have given rise to certain charges against him.

``The United States Government should dismiss all charges against Second Lieutenant Ilario Pantano arising from the actions referred to in paragraph (1).''

I hope my colleagues that may be listening tonight will join me or at least look on our Web site or call our office and ask about this resolution, H. Res. 167. I can also say, Mr. Speaker, that his mother, who I have spoken to three times, who is a wonderful lady, has set up a Web site called www.defendthedefenders.com. Mr. Speaker, in closing, last Friday I went down to Wilmington, North Carolina, where the American Legion was holding a barbecue and a fish fry to help Lieutenant Pantano with his defense. I have never met such a fine young man in all my entire life. He's 29 years old, a beautiful wife and two children. I met them and I hope that my colleagues here tonight and those in the office will look at this resolution, H. Res. 167. We need to stand behind our men and women who are in harm's way in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, I close by asking the good Lord in heaven to please bless our men and women in uniform and their families, and I ask the good Lord in heaven to please bless the United States of America and to help us find peace in this world, and May God please, please bless America.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, March 10, 2005, I was unavoidably detained and could not cast a vote on final passage of H.R. 3--the Transportation Equity Act. Had I been here, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 126) to amend Public Law 89-366 to allow for an adjustment in the number of free roaming horses permitted in Cape Lookout National Seashore.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 126, introduced by me, would allow for the adjustment in the number of free-roaming horses permitted in the Cape Lookout National Seashore. Specifically, H.R. 126 would permit the number of free-roaming horses to increase to 110 from its current level of 100, with a targeted population between 120 and 130 horses, and would not permit the removal of the horses unless the removal is carried out as part of a plan to maintain the viability of the herd.

H.R. 126 is identical to legislation that was supported by the majority and minority and passed the House of Representatives during the 108th Congress.

I urge adoption of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 186) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation and in coordination with other Federal, State, and local government agencies, to participate in the funding and implementation of a balanced, long-term groundwater remediation program in California, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

This legislation, authored by the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), distinguished chairman of the Committee on Resources, helps remediate the groundwater basin in Santa Clara, California.

Chemicals, such as perchlorate, have been detected in over 500 wells around the communities of Morgan Hill and San Martin, California. As a result, more than 1,000 residents are now being supplied with bottled water.

This bill provides a long-term solution to this growing problem. H.R. 186 would provide up to $25 million in Federal funding to clean up groundwater near these communities over a 10-year period.

This funding mechanism is based on a practical working model currently under way in the San Gabriel Basin in southern California. Everyone agrees on the need for safe drinking water for our communities. This bill reflects this consensus and puts words into real action. I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 584) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to recruit volunteers to assist with, or facilitate, the activities of various agencies and offices of the Department of the Interior.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 584.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 584, introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish voluntary programs in the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Office of the Secretary. With this authority, these four bureaus would be able to parallel the successful volunteer programs in the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to recruit volunteers to assist with or facilitate the activities within the agencies.

Over 200,000 volunteers annually serve as campground hosts, clear trails, help with seasonal bird surveys, collect new information for maps and assist with many other day-to-day activities. Simply put, volunteers provide the Department of the Interior vital services to help it meet its mission responsibilities. Volunteer programs within the Department also provide outstanding opportunities for community service and public involvement in conservation programs.

H.R. 584 is identical to legislation that was supported by the majority and minority and passed the House of Representatives with a voice vote during the 108th Congress. I urge adoption of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 680) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain land held in trust for the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah to the City of Richfield, Utah, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 680.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 680 is sponsored by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Cannon). The legislation authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to take a three-acre parcel of land owned by the Paiute Indian Tribe out of trust so that the tribe can sell it to the City of Richfield, Utah. The land would be sold only on a willing seller's basis for fair market value and would be used by the city to expand its municipal airport.

The bill also authorizes the Secretary to transfer three parcels of trust land to two of the Tribe's constituent bands. The parcels, each of which is one acre or less, will remain in trust for the benefit of the individual bands.

Finally, H.R. 680 changes the name of the Cedar City Band of Paiute Indians of Utah to the Cedar Band of Paiute Indians of Utah.

The tribe and all local entities support the bill. An identical version of this bill was passed in the House on October 10, 2004, but no action occurred in

the Senate before the Congress adjourned.

I urge the adoption of this noncontroversial bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 816) to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to sell certain parcels of National Forest System land in Carson City and Douglas County, Nevada.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 816.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons), the author of this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 62) to create the Office of Chief Financial Officer of the Government of the Virgin Islands, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 62.

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

Mr. Speaker, our colleague, the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen), has introduced legislation to address a potentially serious problem relating to her territory's financial future. Her legislation, H.R. 62, would create an Office of Chief Financial Officer for the United States Virgin Islands.

For over a decade now, multiple factors have led to a worsening financial outlook in this territory. Natural disasters, a gradually declining tourism industry and resulting spending decisions by the local government have left the U.S. Virgin Islands with significant annual deficits. Further, this territory now faces a debt totaling $1 billion.

This legislation uses local and Federal input to select a Chief Financial

Officer. The CFO will tackle the difficult fiscal and related political decisions with regard to spending on these islands. This position will be temporary and will be empowered to stop wasteful spending and put this territory on the track to more sound economic footing.

The financial practices of the United States Virgin Islands have taken a primary position in the minds of its citizens and thus remain of great importance to my colleague, the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen). Without this legislation, one must worry that the Federal Government may have to take even more direct action if this debt continues to increase.

Finally, I would like to also point out that identical legislation, H.R. 3589, was passed by the Committee on Resources in the 108th Congress and by the whole House on September 22, 2004. We are hopeful that early action on this legislation during the Congressional session will translate into more momentum for the enactment of H.R. 62.

I hope bipartisan support of this legislation will continue, and I urge adoption of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 412) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Western Reserve Heritage Area.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 412.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 412 introduced by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan), would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Western Reserve Heritage Area. The proposed study area under this bill would encompass 14 modern-day counties in Ohio which throughout history have made a unique contribution to the cultural, political, and industrial development of the United States.

The Western Reserve is every bit as distinctive as the land settled by the people of Connecticut after the Revolutionary War and holds a unique mark as the original wilderness in the West that many settlers migrated to in order to begin life outside the original 13 colonies.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 412 mirrors legislation that was supported by the majority and minority of the committee and the administration and passed the House during the 108th Congress. I urge adoption of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 694) to enhance the preservation and interpretation of the Gullah/Geechee cultural heritage, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 694.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 694, introduced by the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn) and amended by the Committee on Resources, would establish the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, comprised of lands and waters important to preserving this unique culture in parts of South Carolina and Georgia.

By way of background, throughout the early 1800s the Gullah/Geechee settled in the coastal counties of South Carolina, Georgia, and Northern Florida, and due largely to their isolated locations have remarkably maintained a great deal of their West African heritage. This bill would assist State and local governments with preserving and interpreting the story of Gullah/Geechee culture and its wonderful folklore, arts, crafts, and music.

H.R. 694, as amended, supports legislation that was supported by the majority and minority as passed the House of Representatives by voice vote during the 108th Congress. The committee amendment simply adds the correct map number and date to the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 486) to provide for a land exchange involving private land and Bureau of Land Management land in the vicinity of Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, for the purpose of removing private land from the required safety zone surrounding munitions storage bunkers at Holloman Air Force Base.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 486, the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 486, introduced by the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce), would provide for a land exchange involving private land and land managed by the Bureau of Land Management in the vicinity of Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico for the purpose of removing that land from a required safety zone surrounding munitions storage bunkers at the Air Force base.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce), the author of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill. I have no other speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am back on the floor again. This will be the third year that the House Committee on Armed Services has supported a bill that I have put in to rename the Department of Navy to be Navy and Marine Corps.

Both the Marine Corps, the Navy, the Air Force and the Army have great histories, and I think the American people know and respect each and every one of them. But the Marine Corps does not have a Secretary of the Navy/Marine Corps.

The Marine Corps, in my opinion, deserves to have and it is about time that we recognize the four services equally and respectfully of each one of them.

Quite frankly, for two Congresses over the last 30 years, the Congresses have passed legislation that has said that we have four separate services, four separate services: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. And actually the Navy and Marine Corps are a team. And this is said so many times in the Committee on Armed Services. I have been on it for 10 years, and every time the commandant of the Marine Corps comes in or the CNO of the Navy or the admiral comes in or the Secretary of the Navy, they all say we are a fighting team. We are a team. We are this and we are that.

I agree with that, and I have great respect for both, but my question is why is the Marine Corps not recognized for its greatness? The Navy is great. The Army is great. The Air Force is great. Yet, we do not have a Department of Navy/Marine Corps. We do not have a Secretary of Navy/Marine Corps.

Mr. Speaker, tonight I brought on the floor an enlargement of the official letter of the Secretary of Navy to a Marine named Sergeant Michael Bitts. Sergeant Bitts was killed at the battle of Nasiriyah. He left a wife and three children, twins that he never saw. They were born after he was deployed.

It so happened that about a year ago the Department of Navy decided that Sergeant Bitts deserved and earned the Silver Star for valor in Iraq. What my colleagues see tonight, Mr. Speaker, is an enlargement of the citation itself and it says at the top, the official heading says Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D.C., ZIP code, and then to the left it has the Navy flag.

My question would be, Mr. Speaker, to the House and Senate, is, yes, this is

one wonderful way to remember a man who gave his life for his country who happened to be a Marine, but Mr. Speaker, I wonder if it would not mean more to his children, 10 and 15 years down the road, if the second post behind it, I have had an enlargement made of what it should be, which it says at the top, Mr. Speaker, it says the Secretary of Navy and Marine Corps, with the Navy flag and the Marine flag.

Mr. Speaker, this is what it is all about. This is a team, and I think it is time that the House, which has for 3 years, and now the Senate, seriously look at making the Department of Navy, Navy and Marine Corps, and I hope that this will be the year, 2005, that this will happen.

Again, I want to praise everyone in uniform, whether it be Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and thank them for their service.

Mr. Speaker, as I close tonight, I want to say, I ask the good Lord to bless our men and women in uniform and their families. I ask God to please bless the families who have lost loved ones, in His loving arms to hold them, and God, I ask the good Lord to please bless America, to please bless the House and Senate that we will do what is right. I ask God to bless the President with wisdom, strength and courage to do what is right for this Nation. Three times I ask God bless, God bless, God bless America.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time of the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer).

Mr. Speaker, I have introduced H.R. 34, which would expand the name of the Department of the Navy to be Navy and Marine Corps.

Mr. Speaker, we have four services that stand alone that represent the greatness of our men and women in uniform, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Marine Corps. Mr. Speaker, all these services have great heritage and great history. The Marine Corps and the Navy are a team. Both are separate under the Department of Navy. The Marine Corps is not part of the Navy. The Navy is not part of the Marine Corps. It is under the Department of the Navy.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important to recognize that the four services should be appreciated and recognized separately. I think it is important that the Marine Corps and the Navy, which are a team and remain a team, that the coach of the team, in this case which is the Secretary of the Navy, carry the name Secretary of Navy and Marine Corps.

Mr. Speaker, this is the third year that this bill has been introduced. Each year the House in a bipartisan way sends this bill over to the Senate, but so far the other body has not been willing to accept the House position. Already we have close to 70 Members, both Republican and Democrat, who have joined me again in H.R. 34 to expand the name of the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps.

Mr. Speaker, let me share with you some of the comments from those who have served, the first one being Wade Sanders, who in 1993 to 1998 served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Reserve Affairs. I want to read from his letter:

``As a combat veteran and former Naval officer, I

understand the importance of the team dynamic, and the

importance of recognizing the contributions of team

components. The Navy and Marine Corps team is just that, a

dynamic partnership, and it is important to symbolically

recognize the balance of that partnership.''

Let me also read a letter from the former commandant of the United States Marine Corps, General Charles Krulak: ``I heartily endorse this bill as an initiative that appropriately honors all of the superb men and women of the Naval Service, sailors and Marines.''

Mr. Speaker, very quickly, from the Fleet Reserve Association, which is made up of Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guardsmen: ``And, finally, the Corps as the second most senior armed service should receive the honor it truly deserves, equitable distinction among the military departments in the U.S. defense structure. Recognizing the Corps as an equal partner in a new Department of the Navy and Marine Corps gives the Marines the distinction and esteem they truly deserve.''

Mr. Speaker, let me close by pointing out why I believe this is so important. To my left is a blow-up of the citation of the Silver Star presented to the family of a Marine who was killed at Nasiriyah. His name was Michael Bitz.

Mr. Speaker, as you can see at the top, it was in the official heading, the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D.C. and there is a Navy flag. Mr. Speaker, the Navy and the Marine Corps are a team, and this headline should be as a team.

Let me show you, Mr. Speaker, when I take down the order and we had the graphic department to work with us on this. Let me show you just how dynamic this team is, this Marine who gave his life for his country, and his family received the Silver Star, tell me 15 years down the road, Mr. Speaker, when his children look up at their daddy and their daddy gave his life for this country and he was a Marine. If this was hanging on the wall, the Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps with the Navy flag and the Marine flag, the team, Mr. Speaker, would that child not be proud of his daddy to know that his father died for this country and he was recognized as a Marine in the heading, Secretary of Navy and Marine Corps?

Mr. Speaker, I intend to come down on the floor at least once a week for the next few weeks and try to get more and more of my colleagues, both Republican and Democrat, to co-sponsor this legislation with me. It is time that the Marine Corps be treated equally and fairly. There are four services, which the Congress has said twice over the last 30 years. We have four services: Marine Corps, Army, Navy, and Air Force. It is time that the Department of the Navy carry the name Navy and Marine Corps.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I want to close by asking God to please bless our men and women in uniform and to bless their families. I ask God to please bless the families who have given a child dying for freedom in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, I close by asking God three times, please, God, please, God, please, God, continue to bless America.

Mr. Speaker, November 11, 2004 marked the 80th anniversary of the Fleet Reserve Association whose original charter was issued on that date in 1924 at Philadelphia, PA. Known by the acronym, FRA, the association is the oldest and largest professional military organization representing men and women serving in or retired from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

FRA grew out of a need for an organization to safeguard sailor's rights and benefits. The idea for organizing such an association stemmed from the earlier action of a small group of enlisted men, who pooled their monies in 1919, to send two senior enlisted Navy chiefs from their ranks to Washington, DC to represent their viewpoint on pay legislation then under consideration in the U.S. Congress. The result of their testimony was a substantial enlisted pay increase the following year. These two pioneers were the first enlisted persons ever to testify before a congressional committee.

The Fleet Reserve Association derived its name from a program, the Fleet Naval Reserve, established by the Navy to separate sailors who had at least 16 or more years of active enlisted service but less than 30 for retirement purposes. Sailors could return to civilian life, receive retainer pay (in lieu of retirement pay), and be subject to immediate recall to active duty by the Secretary of the Navy until their combined service equaled 30 years.

FRA originally was formed in 1922. Its first successful endeavor occurred in 1923 when Congress overruled an unfavorable and inequitable judgment by the Comptroller General of the United States. The CG's decision had rejected the eligibility of certain enlisted personnel who had already transferred to the Fleet Naval Reserve and settled in the civilian community. The CG ruled that those holding commissions in WWI could not count their wartime commissioned or warrant service to qualify for transfer to the Fleet Naval Reserve. The FRA effort saved any number of enlisted sailors from returning to active duty to make up time served in the commissioned ranks.

Since its inception, FRA has produced an enviable record of representing enlisted men and women of the Sea Services. In the 1930s, the Association authored two legislative proposals that were signed into law by then-President Herbert Hoover. One law banished a requirement that Fleet Reservists and other enlisted retirees pay 75 cents for rations while hospitalized in government treatment facilities. The other authorized the payment of death gratuities to the estate of Fleet Reservists who perished while recalled to active duty. In 1937, an FRA proposal to authorize commissary privileges to military widows was enacted into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Two years later, FRA's efforts to restore reenlistment allowances (bonuses) succeed when the President signed the legislation into law.

For the next five decades FRA racked up success after legislative success on behalf of its members and others, including all uniformed personnel of the armed services. Its ``Hospital Rights'' study led to the creation of the Civilian Health Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) in 1966. Almost immediately thereafter, the Association financed a study of the military's survivor benefit program. The result of the study, entitled ``Widow's Equity,'' led Congress to the 1972 adoption of the Uniformed Services Survivor Benefit Program (USSBP).

In the late 1970s and early 1990s FRA concentrated on protecting the rights of its membership. Much of its work was devoted to preserving the status quo for many of the benefits available to military personnel. FRA shared a major role in defeating an overhaul of the uniformed services retirement system and the proposed unionization of the armed forces. It targeted the defeat of a proposed plan to phase out funding for military commissaries, petitioned Congress not to adopt the former spouses' protection act, and joined as a founding member of The Military Coalition leading to the repeal of the reductions in cost of living adjustments (COLA) for military retires and their survivors.

FRA published a pay study in 1999 that led to a major victory in obtaining targeted pay hikes for mid-grade enlisted personnel in 2001. It also authored the first legislation introduced that eventually led to the repeal of the 1986 military retirement system (REDUX), and urged the Navy to authorize sea pay for junior enlisted personnel.

In addition to its award-winning legislative advocacy work, the Association encourages participation in community activities wherever its 300-plus branches are located throughout the United States and overseas. FRA also conducts an annual scholarship program and awarded nearly $90,000 to deserving students in 2004. Its Americanism Essay Contest is highly successful awarding more than $75,000 to students each year. The Association also generously supports a number of recognition awards for outstanding uniformed personnel of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. The Association is recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs as a veterans' service organization, and employs a full time Veterans Service Officer who has the authority to assist any veteran in filing a claim or representing them before the Board of Veterans Appeals.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have been a part of the Association's efforts to serve the men and women of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. At the Association's request I introduced the first proposal in the House to repeal the military's REDUX retirement program, to provide a targeted pay increase for mid-career enlisted personnel, and an amendment to the Coast Guard authorization bill to authorize the Commandant of the Coast Guard to speak his mind before members of Congress in the same manner as that of the other service chiefs; all of which have been enacted in law. There are others issues related to both military personnel and veterans that FRA and I will continue to work, most of which I plan to sponsor again in the 109th Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I commend the Fleet Reserve Association for its eight decades of representing our men and women of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. May its success in effectively serving active duty, reserve, and retired enlisted personnel, as well as those in the commissioned ranks, sustain the FRA through many more years of loyalty, protection, and service--not only to its members but to the U.S. Navy, the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard and the United States of America.