Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, as the sponsor of this measure, I am pleased to present H.R. 2034 for consideration by the House today.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 593) recognizing and celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the entry of Hawaii into the Union as the 50th State, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

I rise in support of House Resolution 593, a resolution recognizing and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the entry of Hawaii into the Union as our 50th State.

The gentleman from Hawaii, Mr. Neal Abercrombie, introduced this measure on June 26, 2009; and having met all of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform requirements and criteria, the bill is now being considered today on the House floor. I should add that the measure comes to the floor with bipartisan support from over 56 cosponsors, demonstrating this body's eagerness to celebrate the admittance of our 50th State, the Aloha State.

Hawaii is one of our country's great treasures. Its cultural heritage is rooted in centuries of precolonial history, and the State continues to protect it with efforts such as Hawaiian language immersion schools and cultural centers. It is home to Pearl Harbor, the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet and the site of the surprise attack that led the U.S. to enter the Second World War. Its eight national parks preserve rich natural beauty and intricate ecosystems that support one- fourth of the endangered species in the United States.

Hawaii also contributes to the racial and ethnic diversity of our Nation and of this Congress. It elected this body's first woman of color, Patsy T. Mink; as well as its first Asian American, Hiram Fong. It has also elected Native Hawaiians to Congress, including Senator Daniel Akaka. The State also enjoys being the childhood home State of our current Commander in Chief, President Barack Obama.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the State of Hawaii by supporting this measure.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, at this time I would like to yield 5 minutes to my good friend and proud native of Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie).

I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman, first for the happy birthday wish, and I fish a lot, too, so I will try to make it to Minnesota also to catch some of those big, whopping fish.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to my friend, the delegate from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).

(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend from American Samoa for that interesting history and perspective on Hawaii. I want to urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hawaii's entrance into the Union as our 50th State by supporting this measure.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 373) expressing support for designation of the month of September as ``National Hydrocephalus Awareness Month''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

I now yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 373 which expresses the support of Congress for the designation of the month of September as National Hydrocephalus Awareness Month. It is important for us to recognize the severity of this neurological condition that is estimated to affect 1 million Americans. The resolution was introduced on April 28 by my colleague from Minnesota (Mrs. Bachmann) and has secured more than 80 cosponsors while meeting all requisite criteria for approval by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Hydrocephalus is defined as ``excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain.'' The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke estimates that 1 in every 500 children are afflicted with this condition. Additionally, hydrocephalus is the leading cause of brain surgery in children. Since 2005, the National Institutes of Health has increased its focus on improving hydrocephalus care, but more needs to be accomplished. The NIH currently provides less than $1 million in annual funding for hydrocephalus research, but hopefully National Hydrocephalus Awareness Month can spur renewed efforts in this area of study.

Mr. Speaker, during our efforts to overhaul the health care system, it is critical that we remember to support important public health initiatives like National Hydrocephalus Awareness Month. I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 373.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers, and I will continue to reserve.

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

Mr. Speaker, again, I urge support for House Resolution 373.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3072) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 9810 Halls Ferry Road in St. Louis, Missouri, as the ``Coach Jodie Bailey Post Office Building''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present for consideration H.R. 3072, a bill to name the post office located at 9810 Halls Ferry Road in St. Louis, Missouri, after a true Missouri legend, Coach Jodie Bailey.

H.R. 3072, which I introduced on June 26, 2009, was reported from the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on July 10, 2009.

The St. Louis community lost one of its true giants with the passing of Coach Bailey at the age of 94. He was an icon in the public high school league for five decades. During his career, he coached at Vashon, O'Fallon Tech, and Northwest High Schools in St. Louis.

Coach Bailey accumulated an outstanding total of 828 victories and only

198 losses in a great career that spanned 42 years. He coached many great sports stars, including the late Elston Howard of the New York Yankees and the great Boston Celtic player Jo Jo White.

His accomplishments led him to be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1989. Coach Bailey put an emphasis on teaching fundamentals in the game of basketball. Coach Bailey was also treasured for making personal investments in each of his students' lives, which they remember until this day.

Mr. Speaker, on a personal note, Jodie Bailey happened to be my YMCA camp counselor and taught me how to swim. The camp was called Camp Rivercliff, located in Bourbon, Missouri, and, at a very young age, required me to swim across the Meramec River. And you can bet I learned how to swim at a young age in order to survive that river. And I will always remember Coach Bailey for that and what he gave to that community.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Coach Jodie Bailey by agreeing to pass H.R. 3072.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Minnesota for her support of this and wanted to also add that Coach Jodie Bailey was a true scholar, a graduate of Coe College in Iowa who studied at Springfield College in Massachusetts, which was also the school of Dr. Naismith, who created basketball. And there's one thing he always stressed to his players, that academics will take you much further than basketball, so he always pushed them to excel in the classroom as well as on the basketball court.

I reserve my time.

Mr. Speaker, again, I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life and legacy of Coach Jodie Bailey by supporting

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 483) supporting the goals and ideals of Veterans of Foreign Wars Day.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to rise today in support of House Resolution 483, a bill supporting the goals and ideals of Veterans of Foreign Wars Day. Every day more and more brave Americans join the ranks of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and they deserve every ounce of praise we can possibly provide.

I would like to thank my colleague, the Honorable John Kline from Minnesota, for introducing this important resolution. I would also like to thank Chairman Towns and my colleagues on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for bringing this bill to the floor.

Just before the turn of the 20th century, the United States was called upon to defend the hemisphere in the Spanish-American War. American troops fought valiantly and emerged victorious in this, our first modern foreign conflict. On September 20, 1899, the American Veterans of Foreign Service was established to guarantee that troops receive the benefits to which they were entitled.

The following decades demanded millions of young Americans, men and women, heed their Nation's call for service. War against fascism and tyranny in Europe, first in 1917, and again in 1941, proved that American soldiers are the greatest protectors of freedom in the world. When they returned home, the troops were greeted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The organization was and continues to be a vital advocate for veterans' well-being. It helped establish, among other things, the GI Bill, which provided college education for all veterans and fueled the greatest economic boom our Nation had ever seen.

In 2008, the VFW was instrumental in passing a 21st century GI Bill to continue to provide educational assistance to servicemen and -women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Today, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and its auxiliaries represent 2.2 million veterans. With 8,100 locations worldwide, help is never far away from those who deserve it most.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars' mission is to ``Honor the dead by helping the living.'' For 110 years they have done just that. For this, I send my personal gratitude.

I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the invaluable work of the VFW and support House Resolution 483.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I do not have any other speakers, and I will continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to thank my friend from Minnesota (Mr. Kline) for offering this resolution for such a worthy organization. Again, I urge support for House Resolution 483.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, as we endeavor to end the war in Iraq, and to prevent any further military action in that region, I want to call attention to a resolution adopted by the European parliament on April 24, 2009. This resolution addresses Camp Ashraf which is located in Iraq about 50 miles from the Iranian border. Approximately 3,000 Iranian exiles are now residing at the Camp; these individuals have not been involved in the war and signed agreements with the U.S.-led Multi- National Force regarding their status in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. Unfortunately, Iraqi officials have allowed the Iranian clerical regime to pressure those residing at Camp Ashraf and human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, have expressed concern for their safety and well being.

The European Parliament resolution urges the Iraqi government to uphold the human rights of those living at Camp Ashraf. I share this sentiment and urge my colleagues to review the full text of the resolution enacted by the European Parliament.

Humanitarian Situation of Camp Ashraf Residents

European Parliament resolution pursuant to Rule 115 of the

Rules of Procedure on the humanitarian situation of Camp

Ashraf residents The European Parliament,

having regard to the Geneva Conventions and notably Article

27 of the Fourth Geneva Convention on the legal status of

Protected Persons,

having regard to the Geneva Convention of 1951 relating to

the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Additional Protocol,

having regard to the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)

signed between the US and Iraqi Governments in November 2008,

having regard to its resolutions of 12 July 2007 and of 4

September 2008 including references to Camp Ashraf residents

having legal status as Protected Persons under the Fourth

Geneva Convention,

having regard to Rule 115 of its Rules of Procedure, A.

whereas Camp Ashraf in Northern Iraq was established during

the 1980s for members of the Iranian opposition group

People's Mujahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI), 8. whereas in

2003 US forces in Iraq disarmed Camp Ashraf's residents and

provided them with protection, having been designated

`protected persons' under the Geneva Conventions, C. whereas

the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in a letter dated

15 October 2008 urged the Iraqi Government to protect Ashraf

residents from forcible deportation, expulsion or

repatriation in violation of the non-refoulement principle,

and to refrain from any action that would endanger their life

or security, D. whereas after the US/Iraqi Status of Forces

Agreement Camp Ashraf has been returned to the control of

Iraqi security forces as of 1 January 2009, E. whereas

according to recent statements reportedly made by the Iraqi

National Security Advisor the authorities intend gradually to

make the continued presence of the Camp Ashraf residents

`intolerable' and whereas he reportedly also referred to

their expulsion/extradition and/or their forcible

displacement inside Iraq, 1. Urges the Iraqi Prime Minister

to ensure that no action is taken by the Iraqi authorities

which violates the human rights of the Camp Ashraf residents

and to clarify the government's intentions towards them;

calls on the Iraqi authorities to protect the lives, and the

physical and moral integrity of the Camp Ashraf residents and

to treat them in accordance with the obligations under the

Geneva Conventions, notably not to forcibly displace, deport,

expel or repatriate them in violation of the principle of

non-refoulement; 2. Respecting the individual wishes of

anyone living in Camp Ashraf as regards to their future;

considers that those living in Camp Ashraf and other Iranian

nationals who currently reside in Iraq having left Iran for

political reasons could be at risk of serious human rights

violations if they were to be returned involuntarily to Iran,

and insists that no person should be returned, either

directly or via a third country, to a situation where they

would be at risk of torture or other serious human rights

abuses; 3. Calls on the Iraqi government to end its blockade

of the camp and respect the legal status of the Camp Ashraf

residents as `protected persons' under the Geneva

Conventions, and to refrain from any action that would

endanger their life or security, namely full access to food,

water, medical care and supplies, fuel, family members and

international humanitarian organizations; 4. Calls on the

Council, the Commission and the Member States together with

the Iraqi and US Governments and the UN High Commissioner for

Refugees and the International Committee for the Red Cross to

work towards finding a satisfactory long-term legal status

for Camp Ashraf residents; 5. Instructs its President to

forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the

Governments and Parliaments of the Member states, the UN High

Commissioner for Refugees, the International Committee for

the Red Cross, the Government of the United States and the

Governments and Parliaments of Iraq.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Jodie Bailey a Missouri coaching and community legend. Mr. Bailey had a positive influence in the sport of basketball, in the lives of the young men he coached and his community.

My first encounter with Mr. Bailey was 45 years ago at the age of 7 years old. He was Head Camp Counselor for Camp Rivercliff of the YMCA, where I attend summer camp. He had a positive impact on my life at an impressionable age and helped make me the man I am today.

Mr. Bailey set unprecedented records and won championships over the span of 42 seasons at three different area St. Louis Public High schools. He had an outstanding record of 824 wins with only 198 losses. He coached many great sports stars, including the late Elston Howard of the New York Yankees and the Boston Celtics Jo Jo White. His accomplishments led him to be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1989.

He put an emphasis on teaching fundamentals in the game of basketball. He always worked to get young people to be the best they could be. In addition, Mr. Bailey was a teacher who took time to make personal investments in each of his student's lives, which they remember until this day.

Mr. Bailey always sought to impart knowledge into the people that came into his life. He was a tenacious but mild-mannered coach; always ready to give constructive and encouraging words of advice.

His success as a coach spanned four decades including the turbulent 1950's and 60's that included segregation and the Civil Rights movement. He continued coaching through the 1980's. Mr. Bailey was a role model on and off of the court teaching integrity and self-respect to his players. He was a respected community leader and viewed as a ``Godly'' man.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Mr. Bailey, a man of humility and passion who's influence surpassed his coaching success. He made a difference in all the lives he touched. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Jodie Bailey, coaching and life legend.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 211) supporting the goals and ideals of National Women's History Month.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H. Res. 211, which is designed to provide recognition and support for National Women's History Month, which is commemorated annually during the month of March.

Sponsored by our colleague, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey of California, H. Res. 211 was introduced on March 5, 2009, and is currently cosponsored by 115 Members of Congress, both men and women, as well as from both sides of the aisle. The measure was considered by Chairman Towns and the Oversight panel on March 10, 2009, where it was passed without objection by voice vote.

Mr. Speaker, I contend that it would be challenging to recount history without recognizing the profound role that women have played in every community, State, and country throughout the world. While only a small measure of appreciation, today's consideration of H. Res. 211 is designed to express the appreciation and the gratitude of this legislative body for the priceless and timeless contribution of women throughout history.

The origins of National Women's History Month dates back to 1978 when organizers in Sonoma County, California, established a public celebration of women's history, calling it ``Women's History Week.'' In 1987, Congress expanded the celebration to a month-long commemoration by declaring March as Women's History Month.

Since the 1970s, we in American have seen notable growth in the study and expansion of women's history. In fact, today almost every college offers women's history courses and most major graduate programs offer doctoral degrees in this important field of study.

Even today, we continue to witness women history makers--from our very own Speaker of the House to the Speaker of the California State Assembly. From Governors and mayors to successful businesswomen, scientists, athletes, teachers and, of course, mothers, women are clearly making a difference in our country and in our world.

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

Mr. Speaker, I recognize the sponsor of the resolution, Ms. Woolsey of California, for 4 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 2 minutes to my good friend from the State of Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).

Mr. Speaker, at this time I recognize my friend from Ohio, the most senior female in the House, Ms. Kaptur, for 2 minutes.

I yield the gentlewoman another 30 seconds.

Let me first of all thank the gentlewoman from Ohio for that quick history lesson on women's history in this Capitol. I want to yield to my friend from South Dakota (Ms. Herseth Sandlin) for 2 minutes.

MS. HERSETH SANDLIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Missouri for yielding. I rise in strong support of House Resolution 211, a resolution Supporting the Goals and Ideals of National Women's History Month.

I am proud to be a cosponsor of this resolution, along with many of my colleagues, and would like to thank Congresswoman Woolsey for introducing this legislation, recognizing the critical role women have played in shaping the Nation we are proud to call home today.

Women like the pioneers who helped settle the great plains in the West, the women who were the suffragettes working to ensure women's right to vote, the role of so many women on the home front and abroad throughout our Nation's history and serving in our Armed Forces, the important and positive influence of women across the country in the workplace, in public service, and throughout our communities.

Although we have certainly come a long way in ensuring equal treatment of women, challenges do remain. In recognition of the need to address the obstacles women still face, President Obama signed an executive order recently, creating the White House Council on Women and Girls, and I was honored to participate in the signing ceremony at the White House.

Given the number of working mothers in South Dakota, one of the highest numbers per capita in the country, and having recently become a working mother myself, I will be particularly interested in this new council's focus on this aspect of women and families. I am proud of the progress we have made to integrate the stories of heroic American women into the discussion of our Nation's history. I encourage schools and organizations across the country to participate in the celebration of National Women's History Month and make their own unique contribution to the ongoing narrative of the history of women in America.

I would like to thank again Congresswoman Woolsey for introducing this important resolution. I thank her for her leadership, and I encourage my colleagues to support the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to recognize the distinguished gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus) for 2 minutes.

At this time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize my friend from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) for 2 minutes.

At this time, we yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 955) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 10355 Northeast Valley Road in Rollingbay, Washington, as the ``John `Bud' Hawk Post Office''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House subcommittee with jurisdiction over the U.S. Postal Service, I am pleased to present for consideration H.R. 955, a bill to designate the U.S. postal facility located at 10355 Northeast Valley Road in Rollingbay, Washington, as the ``John ``Bud'' Hawk Post Office.''

Introduced by Representative Jay Inslee on February 10, 2009 and reported out of our full committee by voice vote on March 10, 2009, H.R. 955 enjoys the support of the State of Washington's entire House delegation.

A long time resident of Bremerton, Washington, Sergeant John ``Bud'' Hawk received the Medal of Honor, the U.S. military's highest commendation, from President Harry S. Truman on July 13, 1945. Following his military career, Sergeant Hawk continued his devotion to public service by serving as a longtime educator in Bremerton, Washington.

In April of last year, Sergeant Hawk was again honored for his bravery during World War II as he was presented with a Medal of Honor flag at Olympia's Capitol Rotunda by Brigadier General Gordon Toney, Commander of the Washington Army National Guard.

Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Hawk's service stands as a testament to the brave men and women that have served and continue to serve our Nation at home and abroad. And it is my hope that we can further honor this distinguished veteran through the passage of H.R. 955.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 4 minutes to my good friend from the State of Washington (Mr. Inslee).

Mr. Speaker, at this time I urge my colleagues to support

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1323) to require the Archivist of the United States to promulgate regulations regarding the use of information control designations, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I want to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns).

I want to thank the ranking member, Mr. Issa, for his remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize one of our newest members on the committee, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Driehaus) for 5 minutes. And, by the way, this is his inaugural bill on the floor, so I want to congratulate him too.

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

Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 1323, the Reducing Information Control Designations Act.

This bill is being considered with an amendment to address some concerns that have been raised with the provision in the bill requiring incentives for individuals who successfully challenge the information control designation. This amendment strikes the language requiring incentives but continues to require a process through which individuals can challenge the information control designation.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1323 promotes transparency and government efficiency by promoting a common language within government. Therefore, I urge swift passage of the 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. 1216) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1100 Town and Country Commons in Chesterfield, Missouri, as the ``Lance Corporal Matthew P. Pathenos Post Office Building''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

I now yield myself such time as I may consume.

On behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I stand and join my colleagues from my home State of Missouri for the consideration of H.R. 1216, which names a postal facility in Chesterfield, Missouri, after Lance Corporal Matthew P. Pathenos.

As stated, H.R. 1216 has the support of the entire House congressional delegation from Missouri but is sponsored by my friend, Representative Todd Akin. The bill was introduced on February 26 of 2009 and was considered by and reported from the Oversight Committee by voice vote on March 10.

As a member of the 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces and Reserve out of Bridgeton, Missouri, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Matthew Pathenos enlisted in military service with the hope of helping those who could not help themselves.

Unfortunately, on February 7, 2007, Lance Corporal Matthew Pathenos was killed while conducting combat operations in Fallujah, Iraq. In recognition of Corporal Pathenos' commitment to country and the concept of freedom, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues join me in commemorating the life of this brave Marine by supporting the passage of H.R. 1216.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Again, I would like to thank my friend and colleague, Mr. Akin, for introducing such a thoughtful measure.

I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of renaming the Town and Country Commons Post Office in Chesterfield, Missouri, after Lance Corporal Matthew Pathenos by passing H.R. 1216.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great American--a feminist, social activist, and accomplished attorney, Margaret Bush Wilson was born before women had the right to vote. A pioneer and champion of woman's rights, she was the first woman to be president of both the St. Louis chapter and Missouri chapter of the NAACP and the second woman admitted to practice law in the state of Missouri. I am privileged to recognize this outstanding member of the St. Louis community as her friends and family honor her on the occasion of her 90th birthday.

Margaret Bush was born on January 30, 1919 in St. Louis, Missouri. Her father James Thomas Bush was a railway postal clerk and her mother Margaret Bernice Casey Bush was an outstanding educator. Both of her parents were very active in the local NAACP. As a young woman, she attended Talladega College where she was awarded a Julia Prescott Fellowship to study at Visva Bharati College in India.

After graduating from college with a B.S. degree in Economics, Mrs. Wilson benefitted from the Supreme Court ruling in the case of Gains v. Canada. That decision required the state of Missouri to admit African Americans to the University of Missouri School of Law, or to establish separate but equal law school facilities. Missouri chose to create Lincoln University law school, rather than to integrate. Margaret Bush Wilson graduated from that law school and passed the Missouri bar in 1943.

A dedicated public servant, Margaret Bush Wilson served as U.S. Attorney for the Department of Agriculture's Rural Electrification Administration and as the Assistant Attorney General for the state of Missouri. After her marriage to Robert Wilson in 1944, the couple established the St. Louis real estate law firm known as Wilson and Wilson.

Her expertise in real estate law proved instrumental when she served as counsel for the black Real Estate Brokers Association, an organization initiated by her father. The organization was active in Shelley vs. Kramer, a 1948 Supreme Court ruling in which racially based restrictive covenants were ruled unconstitutional and unenforceable. Mrs. Wilson also served as the head of Lawyers for Housing where she championed one thousand new housing units.

In her capacity as president of the St. Louis chapter of the NAACP, Mrs. Wilson was involved in landmark civil rights cases, including

the Jefferson Bank and Trust demonstrations and case. In 1975, she became the first chairwoman of the national NAACP board and served nine terms. During President Lyndon B. Johnson's administration, Wilson served as deputy director of the Model Cities Program.

During the 1980's, she served as chairman of the board of the Mutual Insurance Company of New York, Real Estate Investment Trust. She continues to be a beacon in the African American community. She served as board chair of two Historically Black Colleges: St. Augustine's College and Talladega. She is also a member of numerous nonprofit organizations and trustee-emeritae of both Washington University and Webster University.

Madam Speaker, this Ms. Wilson is the epitome of a great American. She is an inspiration to all who cherish justice and equality. I am honored to salute her for her countless contributions to the state of Missouri and to this nation. I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to the works of Margaret Bush Wilson; with tenacity, grace and courage she has blazed a trail for generations to come.

I thank the chairman for yielding, and I wanted to engage in a colloquy with the chairman.

There is a provision in your amendment that helps the automobile rental industry finance debt secured by their fleets. This does not help the one company which is located in my district that uses unsecured commercial paper to fund the acquisition of their automobile fleet. Therefore, this omission puts them at a competitive disadvantage. And I understand that this was an unintended consequence, and I am asking for a minor correction.

I thank the chairman for the explanation and appreciate your cooperation.

I thank the chairman for yielding.

I look forward to working with Chairman Towns, the new Chair of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, as well as the ranking member, Mr. Issa.

Let me also say, as an original cosponsor of H.R. 35 and chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee, I am pleased to see the measure presented for consideration by the House today.

Introduced by Chairman Towns, this bipartisan bill is intended to promote the timely release of Presidential records under the Presidential Records Act of 1978 by rescinding Executive Order 13233. Issued by President Bush in November 2001, the executive order granted new authority to Presidents, former Presidents, their heirs and designees, and Vice Presidents, allowing them to withhold information from public view unilaterally and indefinitely.

Executive Order 13233 undermines the Presidential Records Act by removing discretion from the archivists of the United States and delaying the release of records that are necessary to give historians and the public a full picture of a President's tenure.

I thank the chairman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, the American people value the importance of transparency and having an open government. Citizens have a right to know how and why important decisions are made at the highest level of government. This straightforward and bipartisan legislation would ensure that this will be the case by requiring Presidential records to be treated as the property of the American people.

I urge all of my colleagues to support the bill.

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

As an original cosponsor of the Presidential Library Donation Act, I rise in strong support of H.R. 36, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of it.

Federal election law limits the amount a single source can give to a political campaign and requires that donations and donor information be disclosed to the public. These requirements help to preserve the integrity of our democratic system by ensuring that campaign donors do not exercise undue influence over elected policy-makers.

Similar requirements do not apply to Presidential library fund- raising campaigns, and this creates the potential for large donors to exert, or appear to exert, improper influence over a sitting President.

The fact that private foundations are required to raise money to build and maintain Presidential libraries lowers the burden on taxpayers, but it also increases the incentive to pursue aggressive fund-raising for libraries that have become more and more expensive over the years.

Under H.R. 36, Presidential library foundations would be required to report on a quarterly basis all donations of $200 or more. This requirement would apply to donations made to the foundation during the time that the President is in office and during the period before the Archives agrees to use the land or the facility.

In addition, the proposal calls on the Archivist to make all reports available to the public online through a searchable and downloadable database.

I commend Chairman Towns for his leadership in bringing this bill to the floor, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this important bipartisan bill.