Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I thank the distinguished ranking member.

Mr. Chairman, I want to talk for a minute about process, because I have been on the Appropriations Committee 11 years and on this subcommittee for 9 years. I have served on half a dozen subcommittees of appropriations, and I have seen no subcommittees exert more or better oversight to the programs that they are responsible for than this committee.

First under Chairman Hobson, now under Chairman Visclosky, the two have worked as brothers very effectively to hold accountable these agencies. You heard them both express consternation with the Department of Energy. In my 12\1/2\ years here, the first 6 years it was Democratic leadership of that Department, and now Republican leadership of that Department. Both could improve, and both must improve. But these gentlemen are trying to hold these programs accountable.

There are two issues here on responsibility. One is just holding the line on spending. The other is exerting the Congress' responsibility to make sure these programs work and that we get the bang for the buck, spend the money and get the return. Oftentimes, the bureaucracy and the waste and the mismanagement are more important than the dollars that are being spent. They are doing something about it, and doing it extremely well.

Now, I am also for holding the line on spending in a big way. But if you ask the American people right now which one of these appropriations bills should you be spending more money in, they would say energy independence first. It is the biggest national security issue we have now. It is the confluence of the natural environment, our energy independence, and national security.

So all I would say is, let's be careful we are not penny-wise and pound-foolish. We should be spending more money on renewables and energy efficiency and energy research. We should be trying to encourage biomass and new fuels and new vehicles. So let's be careful, okay?

I definitely want to hold the line on spending. There are going to be some vetoes, and rightly so. But I want to make sure that this particular bill at the end of the day better funds these programs that we are all for.

Remember, ``conservative'' means conserve energy, save energy, more efficient energy. These are important programs. They can be managed better.

This is also the bill that funds nuclear nonproliferation, a big issue right now. We have got weapons activities. Heather Wilson of New Mexico spoke at our conference this morning about things that actually are not in this bill and should be in this bill.

So this is the beginning of the process. I know Senator Domenici is going to weigh in. I love it, because these House leaders have given the House a better position to negotiate this bill from than we have ever had in my tenure here, because we need that leverage. Frankly, the Senate has rolled us on this bill for many years. Not any more. We get fair treatment. We can go in there and negotiate our priorities and come away with a good product.

So I am not going to say this bill is perfect, but I have to tell you, they have done a great job putting it together. We are going to end up with a great bill in the final analysis. Congratulations to all, and thanks to the staff.

Colonel, it is an honor to join you tonight and my colleagues on the floor. Anytime I have the privilege to stand and honor our men and women in uniform, I try to begin with what John Stuart Mill said about war. He said, ``War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which they are willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and who has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.''

Those better persons that Stuart Mill referred to are the people we rise tonight to honor, the men and women in uniform of our Armed Forces.

They understand from time to time it is necessary for people to put themselves between a threat and our civilian population, and they know that freedom, every time it has been extended from one generation to the next, it has been by those people who have been willing to put themselves and their lives, everything they have, their whole measure, between the threat and our civilian population.

Tonight, Colonel, I come to the floor to talk briefly about this threat because, unfortunately, the conversation revolves around one theater in this war and that is Iraq. We know mistakes have been made. We know it has not gone as well as we would have liked. Wars are that way. Stuart Mill said it is an ugly thing.

I don't know of a war that has been perfectly executed. I know that the march to Baghdad was perfectly executed, but I know that intentionally the insurgents have wreaked havoc wherever they could, from bombing the Samarra mosque which initiated the last 16 months of internal strife within Iraq, by design, knowing that that would test our will to see if we were a ``paper tiger'' or if we were the strong and determined United States of America.

I think a lot of people forget who it is that threatens freedom- loving people all around the world. They are called the jihadists, the Islamists, the radicals within Islam. The problem here is this is not just a religious issue, it is a political agenda. The call is for a Shariah, global Islamic rule. That's the truth. Read. I would encourage people to read ``Hatred's Kingdom.'' Read ``America Alone.'' Read ``Looming Towers.'' Read ``While Europe Slept.''

Read ``Londonistan.'' Read ``Epicenter.'' Read ``Knowing the Enemy.'' You will understand the history of how we got where we are.

One slice, the Wahhabi movement, the most radical out of the Saudi Arabia Sunni sect. A man named Sayyid Qutb came to the United States about the time I was born in the late 1950s, was educated at Northern Colorado State University, and went back and began to indoctrinate the Wahhabi sect that western liberalism, self-determination, freedom, would create apostasy and ungodliness and it must be stopped.

One of his lieutenants was Osama bin Laden. One of the people that he taught at university was Osama bin Laden. These things didn't happen by accident. For years this has been brewing. It is a real threat.

Unfortunately, the left has a propaganda campaign in this country to cause people to believe this is all just Iraq, if we would just leave Iraq, if we had never gone we wouldn't have a problem, or that life would just return to normal or that everything would just be okay. It is just simply not the case. We were not in Iraq before September 11. We weren't in Iraq before 1993. They hit us over 40 times since 1979. You have to study the history of it all.

When the Wahhabis took Mecca in the late seventies, the Saudi Arabia Kingdom made a deal with them that they would start spending money in this country.

The words we hear in Washington run almost in denial of the words of our enemy, of Zarqawi when he was still alive, of Zawahiri about expanding the caliphate, reestablishing the caliphate, from Morocco to Indonesia, this huge part of the world, to come back with Islamic rule. And this is dangerous because they don't believe in a theocracy as we do. They don't believe in pluralism. They don't believe in the freedom of religion. We believe everyone should have the right to worship as they please. This is a Shariah. This is Islamic law they are calling for. This is Islamic rule they are calling for, and this is where politics, the military and religion all come together. And we didn't do that, they are doing it. That's the truth.

Frankly, the left has misled and twisted and distorted and run a PR campaign that is driven by politics, denying even the weapons of mass destruction realities. Hans Blitz said, Where did the 8,500 liters of anthrax that we knew were in Iraq go? Two tractor-trailer loads. Probably Syria.

I have news for you, those are weapons of mass destruction. For people to say over and over again there weren't weapons of mass destruction in Iraq is one of the greatest lies ever told in this country.

He gassed his own people. They came running out with their eyes bleeding out of their face. Weapons of mass destruction were in Iraq. The threats were real. Over half the Democrats of the United States Senate voted to remove Saddam Hussein by force, almost half the Democrats in the House voted, and now it is convenient to say we should retreat, we never should have gone. This was a misguided war.

These men and women in uniform, they know that these threats are real and we have to stand up and face these threats. I pay tribute tonight to the Guard and Reserve from my State, the 181st where my nephew is at Fort Bliss training to go to Iraq right now. And the 278th that just came back, the might battery of the Marine Corps Reserve; Colonel Brett Hale who just commanded the Dragonslayers in Iraq for a year, my constituent, my patriot, my hero, who says in the public square in Chattanooga, Tennessee: I have been there and I have seen what we are doing. I know that it is important.

These are the people who have been. These are not the people at home saying things about the ones who have gone.

Eight brave men from my district have given their life in defense of our freedom; and when some people say they have died in vain, it makes me angry because they didn't die in vain, nor has any patriot who has ever given their life in defense of freedom for this country died in vain. Freedom comes with a huge price, and these men and women are willing to put their life on the line for us, and we come to the floor tonight to honor them so they know we stand behind them.

And there is widespread bipartisan support for our troops. But our troops are in harm's way on our behalf. You can't say they shouldn't be there, we are not for them; and then say, oh, we are for them. It is a paradox. It is just wrong-headed sometimes for the leader of the United States Senate to say the war is lost while they are in harm's way fighting for what they believe in. They know these threats are real.

We can leave Iraq tomorrow and this threat is not going away. This threat is a greater threat to freedom in the world than Nazi Germany ever was. It is growing all over the world. Read these books. If you haven't read to understand the threat, there is no way you could be there to know what is happening in Europe and all across the country. The radical elements of Islam have infiltrated through the mosque and trained people up all over the world. That is the truth. And they are in this country. Nobody wants to hear it because it is not politically correct, but that is the truth. I hope, I hope that God showers us with his grace so we don't get hit hard again like we did on September 11, but the threats are real.

I come to the floor tonight and say ``thank you'' to the men and women in uniform on our behalf. All of them. We came to honor General Pace tonight, but every one of those Guardsmen and Reservists whose families didn't know that they were going to have one or two or even three deployments, thank you families for allowing your son or daughter or husband to go, or wife to go, on our behalf.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to enter into a colloquy with the distinguished chairman of the subcommittee.

I commend the gentleman from North Carolina for putting together a bill that meets the security needs of this country. As a former member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee, I respect the enormous task the subcommittee has in providing oversight to a department that is still finding its way.

Of particular concern to me are the Department's Infrastructure Protection analysis centers, which provide basic analytic services to the Department of Homeland Security. PSAC, the Protective Security Analysis Center, is one such tool. PSAC is a collaborative effort between a number of Department of Energy national labs and industry partners which exist to collect, analyze and share infrastructure risk information within DHS, as well as with the communities in which the infrastructure is located.

PSAC integrates infrastructure information, risk analysis and data collection through assessment tools to support the process of risk- based decision-making. PSAC also hosts a number of DHS systems supporting chemical facility security and bombing prevention, as well as the National Asset Database, all of which are essential to accomplishing the DHS mission.

It is also important to note that DHS has made a $52 million investment in PSAC over the past 4 years to develop these capabilities and expertise. Without continued support, this significant investment would be lost and DHS would be left with numerous unfunded mission requirements. It is my understanding the committee has approved $78.9 million for identification and analysis.

Chairman Price, I ask if you will work with me, please, to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security provides adequate funding for these analysis centers, particularly the PSAC, in FY 08.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Marshal Mize from my hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee, as he retires from the Board of Directors of the Enterprise Center. Mr. Mize has been an outstanding leader in our business and civic communities. Now that he will be devoting more time to his family, I want to take a moment to recognize his tremendous accomplishments and thank him for all he has done in Chattanooga.

Marshal is a graduate of Georgia Southern University and served his country honorably, achieving the rank of Captain in the U.S. Air Force. After his military service, he went to work for the Ford Motor Company, eventually starting his own dealership in Chattanooga where he received countless awards for his leadership in sales and customer service. Mr. Mize is currently the president, chief manager and owner of Chandler LLC, a diversified company with interest in land, commercial real estate, businesses and airplanes.

Marshal has served in numerous civic endeavors. His term as President of the Chattanooga Rotary Club and member of the

Board of Directors of The Enterprise Center will both be fulfilled in June. He has been active in the Chamber of Commerce, public television, Boy Scouts of America and was awarded the 10-Year Major Giving Award by the American Cancer Society. He serves as an elder and deacon of Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church.

Marshal Mize is a shining example of integrity, loyalty and outstanding leadership, and I am proud to recognize him today.

I thank the speaker.

Mr. Speaker, tonight I come to the floor with several of my colleagues over the next hour to recognize that while even tonight we've heard these divisions on the floor from both parties and Members in each party that have differences of opinion about Iraq and the war, we come tonight to talk about the threats around the world that continue to emerge, that are real.

But before we get to the discussion about those threats and global security and the need for our country to be the leader of all of civilization, civilized countries versus, frankly, uncivilized, organizations, factions, even countries around the world who actually believe that blowing themselves up somehow is right or just. This is the struggle, and I do not think we can afford to deny the threats. I want to start first, though, by honoring the people who are volunteering to this very day to put themselves between the threat in our civilian population and serve in the uniform of our Armed Forces, first and foremost, the ones that have actually given their life for us.

Last week, over the Memorial Day district work period, I joined the families of two heroic East Tennesseans, one here in Washington at Arlington National Cemetery as I left. Sergeant First Class James David Tiger Connell, Jr., of Lake City, Tennessee, was laid to rest here in Arlington a week ago Friday for answering the Scriptural call that ``no greater love hath any man than to lay down his life for a friend.'' And then on Memorial Day, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, I joined the family of Private First Class Travis Haslip from Ooltewah, Tennessee, to lay his body to rest. Two great American heroes who joined six other heroes from my district who have given their life for us. And contrary to what some people say, they not only did not die in vain, they joined the ranks of the greatest Americans ever who were willing to give their life for the cause of freedom.

They were willing to lay it all on the line for the principles that this country holds so dear, knowing that every generation sooner or later has to face threats like this and somebody has to go and answer the call.

If you believe they died in vain, then many, many, many others through other wars throughout the history of our country also did, and I don't believe it for a second, because I know that it is those patriotic Americans that have paid the price.

I want to honor tonight Sergeant Paul Thompson III of Jefferson City, Tennessee; Sergeant First Class Stephen Curtis Kennedy of Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Sergeant David Thomas Weir of Cleveland, Tennessee, and I want to talk about his mom in a minute; Staff Sergeant Daniel M. Morris of Clinton, Tennessee; Sergeant John Michael Sullivan of Hixon, Tennessee; and Sergeant Terrance W. Prater of Speedwell, Tennessee.

I want to say that Jackie Weir, Sergeant David Weir's mom, wrote me a letter which I received over the Memorial Day weekend. This incredible mom has on the bottom of her letterhead a quote from General George S. Patton. It says, ``It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived.'' This is on her letterhead. She gave her son for our country and its future.

This coming Monday, I will be privileged to join my nephew with the 181st Field Artillery Brigade as they deploy for Iraq from Chattanooga. Jeffrey Watts is my nephew, so a member of our family is going as well. May God be with all of them, protect them and strengthen them.

Because, as John Stuart Mill once said, ``War is an ugly thing, but it is not the ugliest of things.'' He said, ``The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse.'' He said, ``A person who has nothing for which they are willing to fight, nothing they care more about than their own personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of ever being free unless those very freedoms are made and kept by better persons than himself.''

That is etched in my memory, because I don't believe everything John Stewart Miller ever wrote, but I agree with that, that the alternative to war sometimes is complete loss of freedom, and it is tyranny, and it is terror all the time, and it is oppression. Without the courage to fight and stand up, that is where we may end up.

It is easy to forget the timeline. I want to go through it. Then I want to recognize the gentleman from Michigan. The timeline though goes back a long time.

Twenty-five years ago, April, 1983: A suicide car bombing against the U.S. Embassy in Beirut killed 63, 17 Americans.

October, 1983: A suicide car bomb attack against the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut kills 241 servicemen. A simultaneous attack on a French base kills paratroopers.

November, 1984: A bomb attack on the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia, kills a passerby. The attack was preceded by death threats against U.S. official by drug traffickers.

April, 1985: A bomb explodes in a restaurant near a U.S. air base in Madrid killing 18, wounding 82, including 15 Americans.

June, 1985: San Salvador, El Salvador, 13 people are killed in a machine gun attack in an outdoor cafe. Four U.S. Marines and two American businessmen.

June, 1985: A TWA airliner is hijacked over the Mediterranean, the start of a 2-week hostage ordeal. The last 39 passengers are eventually released in Damascus after being held in various locations in Beirut.

August, 1985: A car bomb at a U.S. military base in Frankfurt, Germany, kills two and injures 20. A U.S. soldier murdered for identity papers is found the day after the explosion.

October, 1985: Palestinian terrorists hijacked a cruise liner, the Achille Lauro, in response to the Israeli attack on PLO headquarters in Tunisia. Leon Klinghoffer, an elderly, wheelchair-bound American is killed and thrown overboard.

November, 1985: Hijackers aboard an Egypt Air flight killed one American. Egyptian commandoes later stormed the aircraft on the island. Sixty people are killed.

December, 1985: Simultaneous suicide attacks are carried out against U.S. and Israeli check-in desks at Rome and Vienna international airports. Twenty people are killed in the two attacks, including four terrorists.

I am going on and on. There are 44 incidents in 25 years by the Islamic radicals. You can deny it if you want to. You can say this is all about Iraq if you want to. But I continue.

April, 1986: A bomb destroys a West Berlin disco frequented by U.S. servicemen, killing one American and one German woman and wounding 150, including 44 Americans.

An explosion in April, 1986, damages a TWA flight as it prepares to land in Athens, Greece. Four people are killed when they are sucked out of the aircraft.

December 21, 1988: A bomb destroys Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. All 259 people aboard the Boeing 747 are killed, including 189 Americans, as are 11 people on the ground.

February, 1993: A bomb in a van explodes in an underground parking garage in New York's World Trade Center killing six people and wounding over 1,000, 1993.

April, 19, 1995: A car bomb destroyed the Murrah Federal building in Oklahoma City. This was not al Qaeda. We know what that was.

November 13, 1995: A car bomb in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, killed seven people, five of them American military and civilian advisers for the National Guard training center.

June 25, 1996: A bomb aboard a fuel truck explodes outside a U.S. Air Force installation in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Nineteen U.S. military personnel are killed.

July 27, 1996: A pipe bomb explodes during the Olympic games in Atlanta. That was also not them.

June, 1998: Rocket propelled grenades explode near the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.

August, 1998: Terrorist bombs destroyed the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

October 12, 2000: A terrorist bomb damages the destroyer USS Cole in the Port of Yemen, killing 17 sailors and injuring 39.

September 11, 2001: It is all I need to say.

April 11, 2002: Explosions at ancient synagogue in Tunisia leaves 17 dead.

May of 2002: Car explodes outside hotel in Pakistan, killing 14.

June of 2002: Bomb explodes outside American consulate in Pakistan, killing 12.

October of 2002: Nightclubs bombed in Bali, Indonesia, killing 202, mostly Australians.

October suicide attack on a hotel in Mombasa, Kenya, killed 16.

May 4, 2003: Suicide bombers kill 34, including eight Americans, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

May of 2003: Four bombs kill 33 people, targeting Jewish, Spanish and Belgian sites in Casablanca.

August, 2003: Suicide car bomb kills 12, injures 150 at Marriott Hotel in Jakarta.

November, 2003: Explosions rock Riyadh Saudi Arabia, killing 17.

November, 2003: Suicide car bombers simultaneously attack two synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey, killing 25 and injuring hundreds.

March, 2004: Ten terrorist bombs explode almost simultaneously during the morning rush hour in Madrid, Spain, killing 202 and injuring more than 1,400.

May 29 through 31, 2004: Terrorists attacked the offices of a Saudi oil company in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, taking foreign oil workers hostage in nearby residential compound. Twenty-two people dead.

June, 2004: Terrorists kidnap and execute Paul Johnson, Jr., an American in Riyadh. Nearly a week after his capture, photos of his body are posted on an Islamic website.

December, 2004: Militants believed to be linked to al Qaeda drive up to U.S. Embassy consulate in Saudi Arabia, storm the gates and kill five.

July, 2005: Bombs explode on three trains in London, England, killing 52.

October, 2005: Twenty-two killed by three suicide bombers in Bali.

November, 2005: Fifty-seven killed at three American hotels in Jordan.

March, 2006: Two residents arrested in this country, one a Georgia Tech student.

June, 2006: Canadian plot to behead the Prime Minister and bomb the Canadian Parliament. Seventeen arrested.

June, 2006: Florida-based plot to attack the Sears Tower in Chicago, seven arrested.

December, 2006: Chicago area Muslim convert arrested for plotting to attack a local mall and government buildings using grenades.

May, 2007: New Jersey-based plot to attack soldiers in Fort Dix, New Jersey.

Last week, another huge plot exposed to cause unbelievable damage at JFK Airport on an energy system that runs between New Jersey and New York.

We sure better not ignore these threats. We better stand in the gap for the next generation and quit denying that these threats are mounting against us. I don't want our country to be the last country in the world willing to face this reality.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan, the Chairman of the Policy Committee here among Republican Members of the House, Thaddeus McCotter, an expert on these issues.

I thank the gentleman.

We all desire a better course in Iraq. We all desire changes, not just General Petraeus' leadership and the increase in security forces from our country necessary to prevail in Iraq, but even more regional cooperation, and some of the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group so that people in this country will truly recognize, especially in the Congress, that this is not our President's war. This is our country's war. This is our country's fight.

Now a very prominent person from my State wrote a book called ``The Inconvenient Truth.'' He wrote it about the environment, but I have to say tonight on the floor of the House that a bigger inconvenient truth than the one he wrote about is the inconvenient truth that is lost around here a lot, that over half of the Democratic Members of the United States Senate and almost half of the United States House of Representatives voted to remove Saddam Hussein by force. Now, many people are running from that commitment and decision, but it is an inconvenient truth that they said it needed to be done and they committed us to doing it. And we went as a nation and there was not that much criticism as there is now, but it is convenient to blame or cast aspersions or to say that intelligence went wrong instead of accepting the responsibility that we removed a genocidal mass murderer from the world stage in an important time in the history of the Middle East and an important time in the history of the world.

I have two pages, and I am not going to go through these quotes like I did the time line, but two pages of quotes from the most prominent leaders in the Democratic Party in this country saying why Saddam Hussein had to be removed by force.

The quotes I will go through tonight, though, are from the terrorists themselves because I think they must be quoted so we understand what they are doing.

Zawahiri, al Qaeda's top leader in the region now, we don't know where Osama bin Laden is, but Zawahiri said, ``The jihad movement is growing and rising. It reached its peak with the two blessed raids on New York and Washington. And now it is waging a great heroic battle in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, and even the crusaders' own homes.''

Al Manar said, ``Let the entire world hear me. Our hostility to the Great Satan, America, is absolute. Regardless of how the world has changed after September 11, death to America will remain our reverberating and powerful slogan: Death to America.''

Zarqawi said, ``They are aware that if this Islamic giant wakes up, it will not be satisfied with less than the gates of Rome, Washington, Paris, and London.''

Bin Laden's top lieutenant said, ``The fire has not and will not be put out, and our swords, which have been colored with your blood, are thirsty for more of your rotting heads.''

The leader of Hezbollah said, ``We have discovered how to hit the Jews where they are most vulnerable. The Jews love life; so that is what we shall take from them. We are going to win because they love life and we love death.''

Zawahiri said, ``Knights under the prophet's banner, al Qaeda's most important short-term strategic goal is to seize control of the state, or part of a state, somewhere in the Muslim world.'' He wrote, ``Confronting the enemies of Islam and launching jihad against them require a Muslim authority established on Muslim land. Without achieving this, our actions will mean nothing.''

Osama bin Laden said, ``The whole world is watching this war and the two adversaries. It is either victory and glory or misery and humiliation.''

Osama bin Laden has said, ``The most important and serious issue today for the world is this Third World War.'' That's what he said. ``It is raging in the land of the two rivers, Iraq. The world's millstone and pillar is in Baghdad, the capital of the caliphate.''

These are the words of jihad.

Before yielding to the gentlewoman from North Carolina, I would like to encourage people to open a book called ``America Alone'' by Mark Steyn. The gentlewoman has just finished the book. It is on our reading list as we are trying to educate Members of the House on the threats. We all know you can't believe everything you read. But if you do your homework and you follow people who do their research, reading is the best way to understand this threat.

Let me say first, I am for pluralism. Every religious view is welcomed in this country, period. We are tolerant. It is a tenet of our foundation, religious pluralism is the American way. We do not believe in theocracy. It doesn't come with freedom, not our way. But let me say tonight, and this may not be popular in some quarters, that is not the Muslim way today. It is not.

The Islamists, the radicals, are insulated within Islam and they are not being challenged by the rest of Islam. And they call for a global sharia. That is Islamic rule. There were challenges all around the world right now about whether Islamic law, their law, a theocratic system, trumps the laws of any country, including this country. And if you don't think this is infiltrating most of the countries around the world, you are not paying any attention. This threat is growing and rising.

All you have to do is study the demographics that are articulated in this book and you realize that countries like our and Japan and Russia, they are actually declining in population. Our country is barely growing. The most rapid growth in the world is among the Muslim countries. Sheer demographics overtake us if the radicals continue to be insulated within Islam and not challenged because the numbers are exponential in terms of how many people are now willing to kill themselves for a cause. I could spend the rest of the night going through the latest statistics which ought to shock every American, that 26 or 30 percent, depending on two different questions, of Muslims in this country, many of whom are citizens, believe it is acceptable, this is scientific polling 2 weeks ago, it is acceptable to blow yourself up for a cause. That's a problem. I have to tell you, that is not acceptable in this country.

It is not acceptable that jihadism is fashionable or a way of life. How many people in the Muslim world now think that 9/11 was justified. I have to tell you, America is not perfect, we have made mistakes; but anybody in the world who apologizes for our country is wrong.

And these apologists who somehow blame us for what happened are wrong. Many others are here to speak. I yield to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman.

One of the most articulate and knowledgeable Members of the U.S. House of Representatives on radical Islam is Representative Trent Franks from Arizona, and I yield to him.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman.

Every Member of this body has an obligation to do their best to share their beliefs in what they think we face with the American people and their constituents. I believe that this problem in Iraq that we've got to do better with is not the end of this at all.

For some reason, God spared us again with the JFK plot and allowed us to actually interdict that before another September 11 or even worse happened. For some reason, He granted us grace, but it is a matter of time, given the conflicts that we face.

To the people, this Iraq conflict is a chapter in the war that is mounted against us, and it's not the end, anymore than the first bombing in 1993 of the World Trade Center was the end. We denied that it happened, but we weren't willing to address it, and September 11 happened. But Iraq is no different in the long-term conflict which is a generational struggle with radical Islam.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

And I did not know he was coming to the floor tonight on this topic, but when I heard that he was here, I wanted to come and join him. I thank him very much once again for bringing this important issue to the American people. And I just want to touch on a couple of points tonight, as the gentleman from Iowa yields to me, about this bill.

Many people out there may say how is the Congress responding in this kind of a way to this problem? And I just want to say, having served over 12 years in this body, that I compare the U.S. House of Representatives especially to a very large church-building committee, well-intended people who have the ability to get together and make colossal mistakes, because everyone here wants to try to do a better job of fixing the problem than the person beside them. And it is almost a proliferation of do-gooders that get together and make colossal mistakes even though their intentions are good. And as physicians have to swear an oath that, above all else, do no harm, we need to remember that as lawmakers, when we look at the problems that our country faces, that we need to ensure that the solutions that we propose do not cause more problems than the current challenges that we face. And that is exactly the devil in the details of this so-called comprehensive immigration reform proposal that the Senate is moving this week.

The most problematic element of this whole bill to me is Title VI. It is the Z visa path to citizenship. It is amnesty. No matter how they package it, how they spin it, how they explain it, it is amnesty. It is something that, at 4 years at a time, can be extended all the way through that illegal alien's life. They can stay here. It's just that simple, and that is amnesty.

Z-1 is the illegal alien themselves. Z-2 is their spouse or their parents. Z-3 visa is their children, which basically means all of these people are given permanent residency, a path to citizenship in this country. And as the gentleman pointed out so well, it flies in the face of the rule of law. And how much can you water down the rule of law than not having the rule of law in this country?

And I want to point out two things that I see are very problematic in this kind of a solution where the Congress gets together trying to solve a problem, and the Senate product actually creates a whole lot more problems.

The provisions in this bill are not practical or workable, and you almost have to be, sometimes in our position, handling casework for people in your district that come to your office and say, we have someone working in our company that are trying to become United States citizens, or they have a family member that right now is going through the process of being cleared or checked through a background check or an FBI investigation. I have got one in my district. I can't disclose the names or the details, but it has been pending for over 2 years. Yet in this bill they somehow think that magically we are going to be able to, this government, approve these people quickly and do background checks.

That will not happen. The backlog will be enormous, given what we have seen with the rise of immigration into this country in recent years. And 20 years ago was Simpson-Mazzoli with 2\1/2\ million illegals. They came up with a solution that was very similar at that time to what the Senate is proposing today, and it was a catastrophic failure in the sense that we did not enforce the provisions in that law, and 2\1/2\ million illegals became 12 million illegals over 20 years. Why would we think that doing the same thing again will produce different results?

I will guarantee you this legislation will not be enforceable. It will be a colossal mess. If you thought at the Medicare prescription drug bill that this Congress passed without my voting for it, I voted against it, but if you thought it was problematic in its implementation, wait until this bill becomes law and they try to implement all of these details associated with this legislation. It will be ridiculous and absurd, their trying to actually bring this about.

And then I want to close with this: These individuals are not like traditional immigrants. My family has German roots. Those relatives on my father's side of the family, they wanted to come to this country and be American citizens. They came here throwing it all into this country. The people we are talking about here are here for one reason and one reason only, and that is money, so that they can make money. Because of cell phones and Western Union, this money and this support goes back to where they are from, and they are here simply to make money. They are not here to assimilate. As a matter of fact, a lot of them proudly carry the flag of their country of origin around with them, not wanting to be Americans and carry our flag, but actually carry the flag of the country they came from. They are even protesting in the streets that they should be able to stay here illegally and, frankly, defy the rule of law. So these people are not trying to assimilate to become citizens, or, as what former Senator Phil Gramm used to say, they don't want to pull the wagon; they want to ride in the wagon.

And we have all the documentation showing that they are a huge drain on the U.S. taxpayer. Respectfully, most of them do not have a high school equivalency, and therefore they will actually draw three times as much out of the Treasury as they will contribute to the Treasury. So just do the math, and we are talking a multi trillion dollar burden on the U.S. taxpayer over time by opening up the country to more and more immigration at this level. We are not talking about an H1B Visa increase for high-skilled technical workers who actually contribute more to the U.S. economy than they take from it. We're talking about the people that come in and take more from the government than they contribute. That's not the American way. They don't want to assimilate. They don't want to dedicate themselves to our country's principles. They're here for money.

So many people in the Immigration Reform Caucus might disagree with me, but a limited Guest Worker Program that says, on a temporary basis, you can work here is fine with me; we can do that. But let me tell you, this solution goes so far beyond trying to

regulate the workers that we need here that it should be rejected wholesale. They should go back and start over.

The border security is necessary. In the last 2 years, we have made great strides to secure the southern border. Actually, Secretary Chertoff hasn't received the credit that he is due, or this administration, on the steps that we have taken to secure the southern border. We no longer have Catch and Release, which was a policy that evolved, or devolved, from the 1986 legislation, where for years, if you were caught coming across our southern border, you were released into our country on your own recognizance pending your court date. And we all know they didn't show up for court, and 2.5 million illegals became 12 million illegals. We no longer do Catch and Release. It's Catch and Return; 99 percent of the people coming across the southern border that are apprehended today are returned to their country of origin, and we detain them. We consolidated the prison space. We have detained them; all of this has happened in the last 24 months. So great strides are being made.

But job one here is, secure the southern border. For national security reasons, to restrict this illegal immigration problem, the enforcement of our existing laws, the workplace enforcement, these things need to be done. But to go into this title 6Z Visa Path to Citizenship, my goodness, that's going to cause more problems than we have today. It's going to cause more immigration than we have today. It's going to cause more stress on the Federal budget than we have today. And the thought that these individuals would draw from our Social Security system and our Medicare system, or walk in our fee-for- service hospitals that guarantee emergency room care. And they're there; you go to any one of the 100 safety net hospitals in this country on a Friday and Saturday night and you will see these people getting health care at the most expensive point of service, which is the emergency room, because it is guaranteed to people in this country.

We can't afford this legislation. We can't afford this response to this problem. This is a large church building committee gone amuck; well-intended people who are getting together and making a bad situation even worse. So we need to reject it and start over. And if ever there was a time for restraint in the United States Congress, it is on this immigration bill. Because they call it ``comprehensive,'' and it goes so far beyond the cure that is necessary that it should be rejected. Go back, get to the bare bones minimum of enforce the law in the workplace, internally in this country, with law enforcement, secure the southern border, restrict illegal immigration, and then manage the people that are here.

You're right. You're right. It's possible to round up 12 million illegals and deport them, but it is not practical at all. Let's manage the ones we have, but let's stop 12 million illegals at 12 million illegals. And let's give them a way, with a counter-proof card, you can't counter-proof the card, for a Guest Worker Program. They've got to rotate in and out of this country. That is the only solution we need; not comprehensive, no Path to Citizenship, no amnesty. Reject it.

And as the Democratic leadership sent word to the President of the United States it was going to take 70 Republicans in the House of Representatives to send this legislation to the President so that he can sign it, I hope and pray that there is at least 70 of us that will stand against this legislation so that they will be forced to go back and just do what is necessary, not all of this extra stuff, like a Path to Citizenship, which is bad for the rule of law and bad for this country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support legislature, H.R. 1260, to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service, located at 6301 Highway 58 in Harrsison, TN, as the ``Claude Ramsey Post Office.'' This legislature would rename the City of Harrison Post Officer after one of Hamilton County's most notable leaders, Mayor Claude Ramsey.

As he serves his fourth term as County Mayor, Claude Ramsey continues to set a high standard as a dedicated manager and leader in the community. Prior to his term as County Mayor, he was the Assessor of Property, served on the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners, and was a member of the Tennessee State Legislature. Claude Ramsey's career as a public servant exemplifies diligence, hard work, and tremendous results for the people of Hamilton County.

During his tenure, Mayor Ramsey fought to strengthen public education in Hamilton County. He recently rallied the community to participate in an education summit to create solid initiatives to address the issues and challenges facing the public education system. Mayor Ramsey created six task forces and presented their findings and recommendations to the community. He then organized the introduction of eight key initiatives, including early education programs and a greater supply of laptop computers, to strengthen the public education system and increase graduation rates of students.

In addition, Mayor Ramsey has been a true leader in promoting economic development in Hamilton County. Mayor Ramsey's vision of creating more technology-based jobs in Hamilton County has shown strong results. His administration has secured Federal funding for the development of the Center for Entrepreneurial Growth, which provides local entrepreneurs assistance in developing new advanced-technology companies. Mayor Ramsey also secured over $2.8 million in grant funds for local businesses, which have helped create over 2,000 jobs, and played a vital role in the transfer of the 1200-acre Enterprise South Industrial Park property from the U.S. Army.

For his dedicated service and results, Mayor Ramsey was named ``Chattanooga Area Manager of the Year'' in 2003, which is the largest local awards program in the Nation.

Mayor Ramsey also has contributed to the community by serving on the boards of numerous agencies, including the Orange Grove Center, the Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise, the RiverCity Company, and the United Way. Claude Ramsey also served on the Board of Trustees at Erlanger Medical Center and was Chairman of the Board of Associates at Chattanooga State Technical Community College.

Most importantly, Claude Ramsey is a loving husband to his wife, Jan; a proud father to his son, Rich, and his daughter, Stacy; and a doting grandfather to his grandchildren Madison, Meredith, Macy, John Ross, and Claudia.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of this legislation that honors Mayor Claude Ramsey for his commendable public service to the people of Hamilton County and the State of Tennessee.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the works of the Chattanooga Bar Association in my hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and join them in celebrating the CBA's upcoming Law Day Luncheon on May 9, 2007. Law Day USA is set aside each year on May 1st by a joint resolution of Congress and Presidential proclamation as an occasion for honoring the place of law in our lives. It is not a national holiday, nor is it a ``lawyer's day.'' Instead, Law Day is an occasion for all Americans to learn more about our law, our legal system, and our rights. It is also a day to reflect on our legal heritage, our responsibilities as citizens, and the principles of our democratic government. Law Day has been a vital part of American life for several generations. Law Day has celebrated our great heritage of liberty, justice and equality under law since it was first proclaimed in 1958 by President Eisenhower. Law Day gives us the opportunity to reflect on how the law protects and guides America's quest for equal justice and equal opportunity, just as it permits us to express our opinions, select our leaders, worship where we choose, and pursue our livelihood. Thanks to the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution, and protected by our laws and courts, we American have the opportunity--unmatched anywhere in the world--to develop our capabilities to the fullest.

This year, on May 9th, the Chattanooga Bar Association will honor the legal community of Chattanooga, Tennessee, with their annual Law Day Luncheon. The theme of this year's Law Day USA is ``Liberty Under Law: Empowering Youth, Assuring Democracy.'' The featured speaker is Bill Curry. Mr. Curry is an ESPN analyst, a legendary college/pro football coach, and the Executive Director of The Baylor School's Leadership Baylor Program. Curry says he has ``been smitten'' with the study of leadership since he was a young child. ``I was one of those hyperaggressive boys who had too much energy and my teachers had to find ways to keep me occupied,'' said Curry. He recalled one teacher in particular who propped him in a corner next to a shelf loaded with biographies of U.S. historical figures and he proceeded to soak up the stories of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Lou Gehrig and many others. ``I was absorbed with study of leadership, and I decided I wanted to find out what made these people tick. How could Helen Keller do what she did? What could I do to be an effective leader myself? Leadership has been a passion almost as long as I can remember,'' said Curry.

During the luncheon, the Chattanooga Bar Association will honor Paul Neely with the 2007 ``Liberty Bell Award.'' This award, given to a person who is not in the legal profession, is one of the Chattanooga Bar Association's highest honors. The purpose of the ``Liberty Bell Award'' is to recognize community service that has strengthened the American system of freedom under law. In selecting the recipient of this award, the Chattanooga Bar Association considers activities which (1) promote a better understanding of our Constitution and

the Bill of Rights; (2) encourage a greater respect for the law and the courts; (3) stimulate a deeper sense of individual responsibility so that citizens recognize their duties as well as their rights; (4) contribute to the effective functioning of our institution of governments; and (5) foster a better understanding and appreciation of the rule of law. I ask all Members of the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Paul Neely for his contributions to the Chattanooga community.

The winners of the Law Day Essay Contest, which is open to all Hamilton County, private, and home school students, grades 9-12 are in Division 1--1st place winning a $1,000 college scholarship is Christine Marie Leavens of Red Bank High School School. The 2nd place winner is Rachael Stewart of Ooltewah High School, and 3rd place winner is William Andrew Whitener of Ooltewah High School.

In Division 2 of the Law Day Essay Contest--1st place winning a $1,000 college scholarship is Taylor Dickinson of Girls Preparatory School; 2nd place winner is Radhika Patel of Baylor School; and receiving 3rd place is John D. Whitehurst of McCallie School.

The Law Day Poetry Contest is open to all sixth, seventh, and eighth graders of the same demographics. Winning 1st place is Margaret M. Copler; 2nd place winner is Mary Woodruff Griffin; and 3rd place is Parker Mallchok, all of Girls Preparatory School.

The Law Day Visual Arts contest is open to fourth and fifth graders of the same demographics. Winning 1st place is Dennis Sohn on his artwork titled ``Protect Peacefully''; winning 2nd place is Victoria Reed Schaaf on her artwork titled ``Step By Step . . . Drinking and Driving''; and winning 3rd Place is Lauren Michelle Hood on her artwork titled ``Liberty Empowering Future Leaders''. All winners in the art division are from St. Peter's Episcopal School.

Madam Speaker, I ask the United States House of Representatives to join me in thanking the Board of Governors of the Chattanooga Bar Association for their contributions and commitment to the legal profession and to the Chattanooga community. The members of the CBA Board of Governers are Lynda Minks Hood, Executive Director; James M. Haley, IV, President; Cynthia D. Hall, President-elect; The Honorable Barry A. Steelman, Secretary-Treasurer; Joseph R. White, Immediate Past President; Barry L. Abbott, David Elliott, Ira M. Long, Jr., John T. Rice, The Honorable Jacqueline Schulten, and Christopher T. Varner.

Mr. Speaker, I want to make five points.

First, we need to realize that this threat is real. And I say to the members of the Get Out of Iraq Caucus that if we were not in Iraq tomorrow, this threat is not going away. We don't spend enough time focusing on this fact that the jihadists within Islam are insulated within the Islamists and the moderates, and there is not enough confrontation from them to each other. This threat is mounting globally. It is spreading. Europe is basically lost. And I don't want America to end up alone, but this threat is not going away, and we need to know it.

Former Senator Fred Thompson said here 2 weeks ago, and he is right, that when we do leave Iraq, it is either going to be a dangerous world or a more dangerous world, and it depends on what we do in Iraq as to whether it is dangerous or more dangerous, and this legislation is at the heart of that challenge.

Number two, words matter. The majority leader of the United States Senate saying that the war is lost was on the front page of al-Jazeera in Arabic. That is not good for our country, not in this conflict or the future. Words matter.

Number three, this legislation was flawed. We said it early on. You shouldn't have this kind of micromanagement, tying the hands of the generals, telegraphing retreat, and then adding a bunch of extraneous matters to this legislation that should go through the regular order and the regular appropriations process. It was a bad bill. You porked it up and slowed it down.

Number four, the veto was the right thing to do. The President is not popular. We all know that. But isn't it refreshing that the President is doing the right thing even though it is unpopular because he is putting the interest of our country above that of his party or even this moment doing the right thing? That is leadership.

Our distinguished Speaker came and said a few minutes ago that she was substituting the President's judgment for her judgment. And I say respectfully to our Speaker, I have served under three Speakers. She has her constitutional role, and it is not the Commander in Chief. She is the Speaker, not the Commander in Chief. She is also not General Petraeus, and this is a wrong-headed approach. We can do better.

Lastly, the solution is for the leadership to go and sit down with the President of the United States and put our troops above our parties. Clearly ask: What do you require?

The President should clearly ask what can I do for the Congress, and let's not go through this again.

My nephew is on his way to Iraq, as many Members of this House know. Let's make sure they have what they need. Let's not give up here. We don't need another Somalia. We don't need another Beirut. We don't need to lose this war. We need to stay and improve and do better and come out with our head up.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in tribute to a special life that ended this week after 97 years of service to the Lord Jesus Christ. Dr. Lee Roberson, longtime pastor of the Highland Park Baptist Church and founder and Chancellor Emeritus of Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, Tennessee, persevered in faith for years to reach the world, teach and preach the Gospel and inspire generations to be bold in their work for the Lord here on earth. Dr. Roberson made significant contributions to all aspects of our society and leaves a great legacy of service to others for all in our nation to follow.

In his presence, you felt as though you were with Moses himself. Steadfast and deliberate, Dr. Lee Roberson made a mark on this world and lifted up the Kingdom of God. Rarely will you meet a man who made a greater impact on the world around him than Dr. Roberson. We stand on his shoulders at the foot of his Savior's cross thanking God for his life and knowing that heaven will be even more glorious when we meet him there. We celebrate his 97 years of life.

I thank the gentleman for yielding and for this moment for us to come and celebrate the Lady Vols' victory of the national championship.

Mr. Speaker, two of my favorite things in life, as people know who know me, are the game of basketball and the Tennessee Volunteers. In 3 months, I will have a son who is a junior at the University of Tennessee, and a daughter who is a freshman, as my son has been there for 2 years, and Kim and I are about to have both of our children as students at the University of Tennessee, and we very much love the school.

I want to speak a moment about the school, because with the HOPE scholarship and the tremendous influx in new students at the University of Tennessee, standards and scores continue to go up. With each and every freshman class, the University of Tennessee becomes a much better, even better institution of higher learning. The quality is very much on the rise, and we are very proud of our school.

But one of the aspects of the University of Tennessee that is so unique is the quality of student athletes that we see there at the University of Tennessee across the spectrum, and then the quality of the athletics that go with those student athletes, from sports like basketball and football, which are nationally well known, but across the spectrum to baseball and swimming and other athletic endeavors. And we are glad that Bruce Pearl is there now as well, and the men's team is sweet 16 and very, very strong. But we are known for ladies' basketball.

The Lady Vols are the best organization in the country for years and years. I won't go back through all the numbers. But, to me, the student athletes represent the very best of the University of Tennessee. We are very, very proud of them. As a Volunteer dad, I am especially proud and look forward to many successful years in the future and a great future for the University of Tennessee.

And I, too, want to pay tribute to Rutgers, a lot of attention, but incredible young women that I have seen on television articulating who they are and how proud they are of who they are, an outstanding coach. And so today we, frankly, come in joint recognition of two great teams, two great schools with great traditions. And you have got to feel good about the future of our country by looking at the Lady Vols and the Scarlet Knights. So congratulations to all.

Mr. Speaker, I know this is unusual, but God is good, and I just wanted her colleagues to welcome back to the floor of this House the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis).

Mr. Speaker, we'll keep praying, and I yield back.

I thank the distinguished ranking member.

Mr. Speaker, for over 12 years in this House and over 10 years on the Appropriations Committee, I have worked really hard to try to be fair, bipartisan, cooperative.

I have to say, though, here today that campaign rhetoric is one thing but when the rubber meets the road on this huge, important bill to have this kind of a process in this kind of a bill is not right. To have over $21 billion of extraneous spending added to this bill, under a closed rule, which is not the regular way here in the House, especially on appropriations, and, frankly, to then even violate your own budget rules is not right.

I have to say that first. It is kind of insider talk, but it is important to know that this is not the regular order and not the way this should be done.

Then I respect all the Members in this House that have served in the military, and I respect so much the gentleman from Pennsylvania and his expertise here. But I disagree that if you vote against this bill, you are not supporting the troops, and you are not supporting the veterans, because I am going to do both, and I always do both.

I do believe that this bill needs to be changed dramatically. I hope to serve on the conference committee, and I hope that the product that comes back from the conference committee is very different, that it is more about supporting the troops and not all these extra things, and that we don't micromanage the war through the appropriations process.

Now, let me also say this. When the President said mission accomplished, he was talking about removing Saddam Hussein. We agreed as a Congress, over half the Democrats in the Senate voted to do it, almost half the Democrats in the House voted to remove Saddam Hussein. I wish that wouldn't have sent the signal that it was accomplished because the mission wasn't accomplished. The mission is not accomplished, and the mission may not be accomplished in August of 2008.

As a matter of fact, this threat is not going away. One thing I know a lot about is this threat of jihadism. I have read 20 books. I have been to lectures. We cannot retreat from this threat. We must stand against this threat.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge an outstanding young lady from the Third Congressional District of Tennessee, Kaylee Marie Radzyminski, of Cleveland, Tennessee. Kaylee is an incredibly special young lady with great ambitions and a strong sense of pride in her country and her military.

Kaylee joined the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corp in December 2002 and has befriended many of our men and women in uniform as she has traveled to our military bases and met with our soldiers first hand. In talking with some soldiers who had just returned from Iraq, she learned that among the things they missed while away from home was entertainment. So when Kaylee was 14 years old, she started an organization known today as Tunes 4 the Troops which consists of her collecting compact discs and DVDs and sending them to our soldiers who are defending our country.

As of last week, Kaylee has sent over 25,000 CDs and DVDs with a value of over $375,000.00. Kaylee has raised over $19,000 in cash, goods, and services. The Tennessee Titans NFL team sent her $4,000 and Outback Steak House provided her with 300 free meals recently for a fundraiser where she raised over $5,000. The money pays for cases, printing, and shipping costs. So many others are pitching in now . . . a box manufacturer in Ohio donates all the boxes and tape; David Smith, owner of Dick's Graphics in Cleveland, Tennessee, does all the printing at cost; Cleveland News Now.net, a media group in Cleveland, has given Kaylee office space with all utilities and Internet access as well as a computer to use there for 2 years; Cleveland High School, her sponsor in this endeavor, has given Kaylee a checking account at school to facilitate the bookkeeping.

Kaylee has set up drop-off locations all over Bradley County including the Armed Forces Recruiting Offices, Award Realty, Bradley County Courthouse, Circuit Court Clerk's Office, Cleveland City Mayor Tom Rowland's Office, Cleveland High School, Dick's Graphics, Bradley County Justice Center, and Southern Heritage Bank. As of this March, Kaylee has set up 27 other locations across the country to collect more CDs and DVDs for Tunes 4 the Troops with over 20 more boxes scheduled for delivery in combat zones this month.

Madam Speaker, 15-year-old Kaylee Radzyminski understands that she is the future of America and that she can look forward to her future because of the sacrifices made for her and all Americans. I'm so proud to represent Kaylee who is using her voice to say ``thank you'' to all those serving in the Armed Forces of the United States of America!

Madam Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6301 Highway 58 in Harrison, Tennessee, as the ``Claude Ramsey Post Office.'' This legislation would rename the city of Harrison Post Office after one of Hamilton County's most notable leaders, Mayor Claude Ramsey.

As he serves out his third term as County Mayor, Claude Ramsey continues to set a high standard as a dedicated manager and leader in the community. Prior to his term as County Mayor, he was the Assessor of Property, served on the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners, and was a member of the Tennessee State Legislature. Claude Ramsey's career as a public servant exemplifies diligence, hard work, and tremendous results for the people of Hamilton County.

During his tenure, Mayor Ramsey fought to strengthen public education in Hamilton County. He recently rallied the community to participate in an education summit to create solid initiatives to address the issues and challenges facing the public education system. Mayor Ramsey created six task forces and presented their findings and recommendations to the community. He then organized the introduction of eight key initiatives, including early education programs and a greater supply of laptop computers, to strengthen the public education system and increase graduation rates of students.

In addition, Mayor Ramsey has been a true leader in promoting economic development in Hamilton County. Mayor Ramsey's vision of creating more technology-based jobs in Hamilton County has shown strong results. His administration has secured Federal funding for the development of the Center for Entrepreneurial Growth, which provides local entrepreneurs assistance in developing new advanced-technology companies. Mayor Ramsey also secured over $2.8 million in grant funds for local businesses, which have helped create over 2,000 jobs, and played a vital role in the transfer of the 1200-acre Enterprise South Industrial Park property from the U.S. Army.

For his dedicated service and results, Mayor Ramsey was named ``Chattanooga Area Manager of the Year'' in 2003, which is the largest local awards program in the Nation.

Mayor Ramsey also has contributed to the community by serving on the boards of numerous agencies, including the Orange Grove Center, the Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise, the RiverCity Company, and the United Way. Claude Ramsey also served on the Board of Trustees at Erlanger Medical Center and was Chairman of the Board of Associates at Chattanooga State Technical Community College.

Most importantly, Claude Ramsey is a loving husband to his wife, Jan; a proud father to his son, Rich, and his daughter, Stacy; and a blessed grandfather to his grandchildren Madison, Meredith, Macy, John Ross, and Claudia.

Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of this legislation that honors Mayor Claude Ramsey for his commendable public service to the people of Hamilton County and the State of Tennessee.