Robert Aderholt

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that we mourn the death of Mr. Truman Glassco, who recently passed away at the age of 73. I am honored to stand before this body of Congress and this Nation to recognize this wonderful man. Truman, a lifelong resident of Boaz, AL, in Marshall County, was born in 1931. Known by all as a wise, humble, loving, generous and prayerful man, his significant contributions to society fell primarily in three areas: Christian Fellowship, Community Service, and Education. Truman dedicated so much of his life to spreading the Gospel through his commitment to the Alabama State Gospel Singing Convention and the Bethany Baptist Church. He was an active member of the Alabama State Gospel Singing Convention for over 40 years, serving in various positions including President in 1972 and 1989 and subsequently serving on the Board of Trustees from 1992 until his death this year. Also, the congregation of his church benefited tremendously from his service as deacon for 45 years, a Sunday school teacher for 38 years, and as Choir Director for 17 years. As if this is not impressive enough, he also served as the President of the Alabama School of Gospel Music from it's inception in 1986 until his death. Mr. Glassco demonstrated outstanding leadership to the Boaz community as well. He held various offices in the Boaz Chamber of Commerce including President for 4 years and Secretary for 18 years. The Chamber further recognized his contributions to society when it selected Truman as their ``Man of the Year'' in 1987 and ``Educator of the Year'' in 1985. He was a long-time member of the Boaz Civitan Club, serving as President and holding various other offices. The Civitan Club recognized Truman's achievements by voting him ``Man of the Year'' in 1974. After earning three masters degrees, Truman served 38 years in public education, 22 years as a principal and 8 years as Assistant Superintendent of Education. Snead College named him ``Alumnus of the Year'' in 2004, an honor which was accepted posthumously by his wife, Dr. Bobbie Glassco. Although he never had children of his own, he was lovingly called ``Papa Truman'' by hundreds of young people. The town of Boaz, Alabama benefited tremendously from Truman's kindness and selfless service to his fellow citizens. I had the privilege of first meeting Truman Glassco and his wife Bobbie as a young boy at Antioch Baptist Church in Marion County Alabama at a convention singing. Many people can tell you that he was a ``real Christian man who made a real Christian difference in an indifferent world.'' I could not agree more. My thoughts and prayers continue to go out to his wife Bobbie, along with his family and friends. Yes, Gospel Music lost a dear friend when it lost Truman Glassco.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise to mourn the death of Dr. James Rutledge, who recently passed away at the age of sixty-five. I am honored to stand before this body of Congress and this Nation to recognize his many accomplishments. Jim was born December 8, 1938 in Ironton, Ohio. Shortly thereafter his family moved to Ashland, KY where he graduated from Ashland High School in 1956, received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kentucky in 1960, and attended medical school at the University of Louisville and received his Doctorate of Medicine in 1964 followed by a 2-year rotating internship. Jim joined the Air Force at the rank of Captain and served his country as a General Medical Officer at Warner Robbins Air Force Base and in Thailand during the Vietnam War in 1967 and 1968. He attained the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Following his return from Thailand, Jim did a 4-year residency in Pathology at the University of Louisville and became board certified in Anatomical and Clinical Pathology in 1972. From 1973 until 1980 Jim was Pathologist and Medical Director of Laboratory Medicine at Greenview Hospital and Bowling Green-Warren County Hospital in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Jim was married to Rhonda Martin in Bowling Green, Kentucky on July 8, 1978. They moved their family to Jasper, Alabama in February 1980 and Jim began his work with Pathology Associates as Surgical and Clinical Pathologist and Medical Director of Laboratory Medicine at Walker Baptist Medical Center. Jim, along with Rhonda, supported good government by supporting candidates and the Republican Party in his county. As the years passed Jim continued to support many activities of the Republican Party at the local, state and national level. Jim was a man who loved his family and was devoted to them. He also loved and served his country with honor during his military service and as an active citizen dedicated to the security of our American heritage and the growth of good government. The Town of Jasper, Alabama benefited tremendously from his kindness and selfless service to his fellow citizens. During Jim's life he served others as a physician helping care for those who needed his oversight, knowledge and expertise in their time of illness. Dr. Jim Rutledge was a man who loved his God, his wife, his family and his country. He was a true American Hero to so many during his life. He was a man many depended upon--a man of little fanfare but deep wisdom and compassion. All who knew Jim were encouraged and uplifted because of having crossed his path. He was a quiet man, a man of great dignity and character who served others and took great pride in the accomplishments of those he helped and loved. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and community at this difficult time of bereavement.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness that I rise this morning to remember the life of Dr. James Rutledge, who recently passed away at the age of 65. I am honored to stand before this body of Congress and this Nation to recognize some of his many accomplishments. He was born in Ironton, Ohio. He was educated in Kentucky. He joined the air force after receiving his degree in medicine. He served his country honorably, and for his service in Thailand during the Vietnam War, he attained the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Jim and his wife Rhonda moved their family to Jasper, Alabama, which is located in the Fourth Congressional District in February of 1980, and he served as the medical director of laboratory medicine at Walker Baptist Medical Center. Dr. Jim Rutledge was a man who loved his God, his wife Rhonda, his family and his country. He was a true American hero to so many during his life. He was a man many depended upon, a man of little fanfare but deep wisdom and compassion. Our prayers continue to go out to Jim's family, friends and community at this difficult time. Mr. Speaker, I could go on much longer about this man but time does not permit. However, I will put an extended tribute to Dr. Rutledge in the Record.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Marriage Protection Amendment. I am proud to be counted among the cosponsors of this constitutional amendment this afternoon. In the history of our country, I do not believe anyone has ever said that our system of democracy would be easy. Our Constitution was designed to set us on a path, but it also gave us the ability to change that path when it became necessary. Our Founding Fathers wanted to ensure that we took that process very seriously. They set the bar very high. Today, many of us here in this body believe that the time has come to change paths, and many people in our country agree. It is time that their voices are heard in this debate. Today on the floor we have heard a litany of questions about why we are considering this issue. Yes, there are important bills that need to be considered: health care, homeland security, education, jobs. All of them need to be addressed, and no one would argue with that. But how could anyone say that protecting marriage and the future of the American family is not a top priority? Marriage and the family is the very foundation of our society. It is the activist judges in Massachusetts and Oregon that have compelled the Congress to act, not the other way around. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation this afternoon as we support the marriage between a man and a woman.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, I want to commend Chairman Knollenberg and the Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee Staff once again for their hard work and efforts to produce an excellent bill for us to consider here today. The importance of our willingness here in Congress to immediately and effectively take care of the needs of our men and women in the Armed Services, and to look after their families, certainly goes without saying. It does not matter whether they are located here at home protecting our homeland security, or whether they are directly in harm's way while serving abroad to serve their country. We must support them in every way that we possibly can. This legislation represents a vital and immediate need for our troops and their families--to provide adequate and improved facilities for training and equipment; to provide better housing for these brave men and women, and their families, who unselfishly protect our national interests on a daily basis; to provide quality of life improvements such as chapels, child development centers, schools, and fitness centers; to better equip our hospitals and medical and dental facilities; for public safety and security here in our local communities; and to ensure the continued strength, construction and development of our overseas bases and our weapons systems that protect American interests. The sacrifice that these men and women have made to this Nation demands our attention and steadfast support to help them do the job that they have chosen to do, and to better their lives in any way that we can find. Many of you are concerned that this bill contains an increase on the cap on Federal contributions to the Military Housing Privatization program from $850 Million to $1.3 Billion in this Fiscal Year. This money is urgently needed to fully fund family housing construction and maintenance, and to eliminate inadequate housing that our troops must live in. This funding directly supports two bases in my home State of Alabama, at Redstone and at Fort Rucker, and I want to rise in support of the men and women serving there. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to thank the Chairman for an excellent bill, and to urge its passage to fully support these men and women in our Armed Services.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for his leadership on this issue and for his leadership here in the Congress on this issue of space exploration for many years. Today, it has already been mentioned that we celebrate the accomplishments of NASA's Apollo 11 mission. Of course, it was back in 1961 that President Kennedy challenged NASA to meet the goals of sending people to the Moon and back. It was an exciting day only 8 years later when Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins represented all Americans when the first human steps were taken on the Moon. President Bush has issued a new challenge for NASA, the vision for space exploration. I wholeheartedly support NASA in this endeavor, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same. NASA is important to this country's economic well-being, and it inspires our children to dream of distant worlds that they may actually see in their lifetime. It may be one of our children or one of our grandchildren who take the first steps on Mars. Although achieving the President's new vision may be some years in the future, we should all be aware of the many benefits and the spin- offs from NASA that reach all citizens of the United States, including those in each of our districts every day. NASA-inspired communications satellites connect the world. Other NASA-launched satellites enable weather forecasters to track hurricanes, wildfires, volcanoes, and also assist emergency workers in those areas to prepare ahead in time of events that could have devastating impacts. The NASA power source used to separate the solid rocket boosters from the Space Shuttle is used in Lifeshears, a rescue tool which quickly cuts debris to free victims when they have been in accidents. NASA has also made tremendous contributions to the medical field. NASA, technology first used to monitor the health of astronauts in space, has enabled health workers in today's hospitals to monitor many patients. One NASA researcher realized that his work study in small particles suspended in liquids could possibly help to detect cataracts, a condition that his father had suffered from. Now the instrument he designed is being adapted to identify other eye diseases, diabetes, and possibly even Alzheimer's. Another NASA researcher, driven by his own hearing problem, used expertise that he had gained as an electronics instrumentation engineer at NASA's Kennedy Space Center to develop the Cochlear Implant. This device has restored hearing for thousands and allowed others born deaf to hear for the very first time. A silicone chip originally developed for the Hubble Space Telescope makes breast cancer screening less painful, less expensive, and results in less scarring than the traditional biopsy. If that is not enough for you to support NASA's budget, consider their dedication to the youth of this Nation. NASA-sponsored or cosponsored programs such as the Student Launch Initiative, the Annual Moonbuggy Race and the Team America Rocketry Challenge reach out directly to our young people and inspire them to look within themselves to invent, create, dream and strive for accomplishments. NASA's Explorer Schools Programs have touched hundreds of minority and poverty-stricken communities to help educators in those systems with grants, materials, teaching guides and support for their math and science programs. NASA continues to benefit students even after they reach the college and university level through numerous grants, fellowships and programs. Through these and other programs, NASA and Vision for Space Exploration will inspire this Nation's youth, motivating future generations to study math, science and engineering. The work these young people will aspire to assists them to reach dreams beyond their imagination. What better memorial could there be for the noble astronauts who have given their lives in pursuit of space and exploration than to create a brand-new generation of explorers and visionaries? As I have detailed here, all citizens of the United States of America benefit in some way from NASA, whether from the thousands of jobs that were created in support of the programs, the commercial spin-offs from the research and technology developed, or by the impact of our young people through NASA's education initiative. I hope my colleagues this afternoon will join me as we look forward to supporting NASA's budget for fiscal year 2005 and as we celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Apollo mission.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Speaker, what do you say about a man like Ronald Reagan that has not already been said? Ronald Reagan took the oath of office here in Washington D.C. in 1981 and, actually, just a short distance from where we are standing here this afternoon. At that time that he took office, I was 15 years old. I did not realize at that time the impact that this new President would have on this Nation and the world. I did not realize the moral and strong leadership that he would provide this Nation. Ronald Reagan served in the highest office of our land throughout my time in high school, college, and my first couple of years of law school. And with most of America, I listened to the tributes as they started pouring in over this past weekend. During the weekend and since that time, President Reagan's speeches, his remarks and comments have been played and reviewed time and time again. However, over the weekend I heard one speech that I had never heard before. It was a speech that President Reagan delivered at a prayer breakfast in Dallas, Texas, on the morning of August 23, 1984. It is so relevant to our situation today that if you did not know better, you would think he delivered the speech just a few days ago. He discussed religion and its role in the political life of our Nation. He made clear from the beginning of his speech that he was not speaking as a theologian or as a scholar, but rather as someone who had been around for quite a few years. He talked about the critical role in the political life of this Nation that faith and religion had played and, furthermore, how that had worked to benefit our Nation. He went on to say that the Founders understood that there was a divine order which transcends the human order. He then eloquently stated that he believed George Washington knew the city of man cannot survive without the city of God, and that the visible city will perish without the invisible city. While time will not permit me to discuss all of his remarks today, I would like to include his remarks in the Record that President Reagan made at that prayer breakfast in Dallas in 1984. Of course, it would not be appropriate to talk about Ronald Reagan without talking about how much he loved life and how much he valued life. He was a man of compassion, and people of all ages would do well to emulate Ronald Wilson Reagan. Remarks at an Ecumenical Prayer Breakfast in Dallas, Texas, August 23, 1984 Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, very much. And, Martha Weisend, thank you very much. And I could say that if the morning ended with the music we have just heard from that magnificent choir, it would indeed be a holy day for all of us. It's wonderful to be here this morning. The past few days have been pretty busy for all of us, but I've wanted to be with you today to share some of my own thoughts. These past few weeks it seems that we've all been hearing a lot of talk about religion and its role in politics, religion and its place in the political life of the Nation. And I think it's appropriate today, at a prayer breakfast for 17,000 citizens in the State of Texas during a great political convention, that this issue be addressed. I don't speak as a theologian or a scholar, only as one who's lived a little more than his threescore ten--which has been a source of annoyance to some--[laughter]--and as one who has been active in the political life of the Nation for roughly four decades and now who's served the past 3\1/2\ years in our highest office. I speak, I think I can say, as one who has seen much, who has loved his country, and who's seen it change in many ways. I believe that faith and religion play a critical role in the political life of our nation--and always has--and that the church--and by that I mean all churches, all denominations--has had a strong influence on the state. And this has worked to our benefit as a nation. Those who created our country--the Founding Fathers and Mothers--understood that there is a divine order which transcends the human order. They saw the state, in fact, as a form of moral order and felt that the bedrock of moral order is religion. The Mayflower Compact began with the words, ``In the name of God, amen.'' The Declaration of Independence appeals to ``Nature's God'' and the ``Creator'' and ``the Supreme Judge of the world.'' Congress was given a chaplain, and the oaths of office are oaths before God. James Madison in the Federalist Papers admitted that in the creation of our Republic he perceived the hand of the Almighty. John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, warned that we must never forget the God from whom our blessings flowed. George Washington referred to religion's profound and unsurpassed place in the heart of our nation quite directly in his Farewell Address in 1796. Seven years earlier, France has erected a government that was intended to be purely secular. This new government would be grounded on reason rather than the law of God. By 1796 the French Revolution had know the Reign of Terror. And Washington voiced reservations about the idea that there could be a wise policy without a firm moral and religious foundation. He said, ``Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man (call himself a patriot) who (would) labour to subvert these . . . finest [firmest] \1\ props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere Politician . . . (and) the pious man ought to respect and to cherish (religion and morality).'' And he added, ``. . . let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion.'' \1\ White House correction. I believe that George Washington knew the City of Man cannot survive without the City of God, that the Visible City will perish without the Invisible City. Religion played not only a strong role in our national life; it played a positive role. The abolitionist movement was at heart a moral and religious movement; so was the modern civil rights struggle. And throughout this time, the state was tolerant of religious belief, expression, and practice. Society, too, was tolerant. But in the 1960's this began to change. We began to make great steps toward secularizing our nation and removing religion from its honored place. In 1962 the Supreme Court in the New York prayer case banned the compulsory saying of prayers. In 1963 the Court banned the reading of the Bible in our public schools. From that point on, the courts pushed the meaning of the ruling ever outward, so that now our children are not allowed voluntary prayer. We even had to pass a law--we passed a special law in the Congress just a few weeks ago to allow student prayer groups the same access to schoolrooms after classes that a young Marxist society, for example, would already enjoy with no opposition. The 1962 decision opened the way to a flood of similar suits. Once religion had been made vulnerable, a series of assaults were made in one court after another, on one issue after another. Cases were started to argue against tax-exempt status for churches. Suits were brought to abolish the words ``under God'' from the Pledge of Allegiance and to remove ``In God We Trust'' from public documents and from our currency. Today there are those who are fighting to make sure voluntary prayer is not returned to the classrooms. And the frustrating thing for the great majority of Americans who support and understand the special importance of religion in the national life--the frustrating thing is that those who are attacking religion claim they are doing it in the name of tolerance, freedom, and openmindedness. Question: Isn't the real truth that they are intolerant of religion? [Applause] They refuse to tolerate its importance in our lives. If all the children of our country studied together all of the many religions in our country, wouldn't they learn greater tolerance of each other's beliefs? If children prayed together, would they not understand what they have in common, and would this not, indeed, bring them closer, and is this not to be desired? So, I submit to you that those who claim to be fighting for tolerance on this issue may not be tolerant at all. When John Kennedy was running for President in 1960, he said that his church would not dictate his Presidency any more than he would speak for his church. Just so, and proper. But John Kennedy was speaking in an America in which the role of religion--and by that I mean the role of all churches--was secure. Abortion was not of religion--and by that I mean the role of all churches--was secure. Abortion was not a political issue. Prayer was not a political issue. The right of church schools to operate was not a political issue. And it was broadly acknowledged that religious leaders had a right and a duty to speak out on the issues of the day. They held a place of respect, and a politician who spoke to or of them with a lack of respect would not long survive in the political arena. It was acknowledged then that religion held a special place, occupied a special territory in the hearts of the citizenry. The climate has changed greatly since then. And since it has, it logically follows that religion needs defenders against those who care only for the interests of the state. There are, these days, many questions on which religious leaders are obliged to offer their moral and theological guidance, and such guidance is a good and necessary thing. To know how a church and its members feel on a public issue expands the parameters of debate. It does not narrow the debate; it expands it. The truth is, politics and morality are inseparable. And as morality's foundation is religion, religion and politics are necessarily related. We need religion as a guide. We need it because we are imperfect, and our government needs the church, because only those humble enough to admit they're sinners can bring to democracy the tolerance it requires in order to survive. A state is nothing more than a reflection of its citizens; the more decent the citizens, the more decent the state. If you practice a religion, whether you're Catholic, Protestant Jewish, or guided by some other faith, then your private life will be influenced by a sense of moral obligation, and so, too, will your public life. One affects the other. The churches of America do not exist by the grace of the state; the churches of America are not mere citizens of the state. The churches of America exist apart; they have their own vantage point, their own authority. Religion is its own realm; it makes its own claims. We establish no religion in this country, nor will we ever. We command no worship. We mandate no belief. But we poison our society when we remove its theological underpinnings. We court corruption when we leave it bereft of belief. All are free to believe or not believe; all are free to practice a faith or not. But those who believe must be free to speak of and act on their belief, to apply moral teaching to public questions. I submit to you that the tolerant society is open to and encouraging of all religious. And this does not weaken us; it strengthens us, it makes us strong. You know, if we look back through history to all those great civilizations, those great nations that rose up to even world dominance and then deteriorated, declined, and fell, we find they all had one thing in common. One of the significant forerunners of their fall was their turning away from their God or gods. Without God, there is no virtue, because there's no prompting of the conscience. Without God, we're mired in the material, that flat world that tells us only what the senses perceive. Without God, there is a coarsening of the society. And without God, democracy will not and cannot long endure. If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under. If I could just make a personal statement of my own--in these 3\1/2\ years I have understood and known better than ever before the words of Lincoln, when he said that he would be the greatest fool on this footstool called Earth if he ever thought that for one moment he could perform the duties of that office without help from One who is stronger then all. I thank you, thank you for inviting us here today. Thank you for your kindness and your patience. May God keep you, and may we, all of us, keep God. Thank you.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Major Timothy C. Dunn NCOA Commandant of the 124th Regiment of the Vermont Army National Guard, a former member of the Alabama Army National Guard and Alabama native recently returned from Kabul, Afghanistan. While stationed in Afghanistan, his duties included mentoring and advising the Sergeant Major of the Afghan National Army. During his travels throughout the Afghan Army Battalions, he noticed that the Afghan Army was wearing different rank insignia from the American, French, British and Korean. Sergeant Major Dunn along with two other Sergeant Majors decided to create the insignia of the Afghan National Army. He wanted to create something that the Afghan National Army would be proud to wear. After the new rank insignia was completed, Sergeant Major Timothy Dunn met with the Afghan Ministry of Defense to see if they liked the idea. To the Sergeant Major's surprise, they liked the new insignia and immediately adopted the new insignia. It is still to be determined as to where the insignia will be located on the uniform. This will soon be decided by the Afghan National Army. It is with great honor and pride that Sergeant Major Dunn has served our country. To this day his exemplary service has represented our area and moreover this great nation. I applaud him for his courageous and meritorious efforts while serving in the United States Military. I want to publicly say, not only to Sergeant Major Timothy C. Dunn, but to all the troops serving our country, thank you for your hard work and dedication to this country.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me this time. Of course, as has been said on numerous occasions this morning, we are considering the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. I joined 136 Members of this body to cosponsor this legislation, and I want to commend the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Hart) for her sponsoring this legislation this morning. I do believe the time has come for the House to pass this legislation again and help ensure that it is signed into law. And again, as has been stated this morning, this legislation takes an important step that recognizing that violence against an unborn child, against the will of a mother, can be prosecuted in the Federal courts. This law is very simple. It would establish that if an unborn child is injured or killed during the commission of an already defined Federal crime of violence, then the assailant may be charged with a second offense on behalf of the second victim, the unborn child. This bill recognizes an unborn child as a separate victim in the eyes of the Federal law. I have supported this law previously; but as I stand here today, the bill takes on a little bit different meaning. My wife, Caroline, is due to give birth on Monday in Alabama to our second child; and looking at her and feeling the baby move and seeing the sonograms, I do not think there is a shadow of a doubt that the child is a child. This child certainly deserves the full protection of the law. Caroline reminded me just a few weeks ago that she and Laci were at about the same stage of their pregnancies during the Christmas holidays, and of course that is when she was killed during that time. So it, like I said, takes on a special meaning not only for me but also for my wife, Caroline. But if something should happen to any mother or to any child who is in the womb and they become a victim of a crime, I think the American people would want to see justice on behalf of both individuals, the mother and the child. So I respectfully ask my colleagues this morning to send a strong message to the Senate and to the President that our goal is to protect the most vulnerable and the most innocent among us.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the business in order under the Calendar Wednesday rule be dispensed with on Wednesday, November 19, 2003.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 2 p.m. on Friday, November 14, 2003.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns on Friday, November 14, 2003, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, November 17, 2003, for morning hour debates.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. First of all, let me say it is a great day in the House, it is a great day in the United States Senate and it is a great day in the United States of America. I say to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence), as we have said and talked about on many occasions, a lot of times we hear the courts speak on different issues. Well, today we have had an opportunity to hear the people speak, that this is an issue that we should not put up with in this Nation. I believe we will be judged by how we treat those who are the most vulnerable in society. For that reason, it is especially exciting to be here on the Floor of the United States House of Representatives in the United States Capitol when this legislation has passed. Certainly, I was pleased to join 161 of my house colleagues in cosponsoring this legislation. This is the fifth Congress during which this debate has taken place. I am thankful we have done the right thing to outlaw this procedure once and for all, and look forward to President Bush having a signing ceremony and inviting all the Members of Congress that are very interested in this issue to be there, because I think this will be a great day for America and I think it will be a great day for not only this administration when he signs that, but also the United States Congress.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, June 7, 2003 the City of Fayette, the Fourth Congressional District and the State of Alabama lost three public servants in a senseless act of violence. Officer Arnold Strickland, Corporal James Crump and Dispatcher Leslie Mealer. These men were performing their duties inside the Fayette Police Department when they were tragically struck down. Arnold Gunther Strickland was a veteran law enforcement officer with twenty-three years of experience with other departments in West Alabama and nearly three years with the Fayette Police Department. James Eddie Crump was a 1994 graduate of the Tuscaloosa Law Enforcement Academy and had served in law enforcement for nine years, including over six years with the police department in his hometown of Hamilton and nearly three years in Fayette. Leslie Franklin Mealer, better know as ``Ace,'' had a fifteen year association with law enforcement in Fayette County. He served as a Reserve Deputy for the Fayette County Sheriff's Department, Reserve Officer with the Town of Berry Police Department, Dispatcher for the Fayette County Sheriff's Department and Dispatcher for Fayette County E-911. We live in a world today that puts our police officers in harms way each and every day. More and more, these brave men and women find their lives at risk. The uneasy feeling that washes over their families as they do their jobs is heightened when such a tragedy occurs. I wish I could offer some words that would comfort the loved ones left behind. Three families have had their hearts broken. Officer Arnold Strickland, Corporal James Crump and Dispatcher Ace Mealer were assets to their community. They were sons, husbands, fathers and friends. They were citizens and Americans who gave back to their community and had so much more to offer, so much more to give to make the world a better place. They made the ultimate sacrifice and we honor them today. I am grateful to Officer Strickland, Corporal Crump and Dispatcher Mealer for their courage, dedication to duty and the protection they provided to the citizens of Fayette. As Fayette Mayor Ray Nelson has said, ``These three men gave their ultimate sacrifice, but not in vain. They died doing what they loved best, and they gave their best.'' They will always be heroes.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, today we are considering, as has already been said, the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. I have joined with 161 Members in cosponsoring this legislation, and I commend the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) for bringing forward this legislation. This is the fifth Congress during which this debate has taken place, four of which I have been a part of, and I believe an overwhelming majority of Americans hope this will be the last and that we will pass this bill and have it sent to the President and signed into law. I know that it has been repeated time and time again here on the floor of the House, but this afternoon I think it is important to remind my colleagues of the details of this deplorable procedure. Partial-birth abortion is a procedure in which the mother's cervix is forcibly dilated over a 3-day period. On the third day the child is pulled feet first through the birth canal until his or her entire body, except for the head, is outside the womb. While the fetus is stuck in this position, dangling partly out of the mother's body and just a few inches from taking its first breath, the physician inserts and opens scissors into the base of the baby's skull, creating a hole in the baby's head. The physician then either crushes the baby's skull with instruments or suctions out the baby's brain. With the head now small enough to slip through the mother's cervix, the physician pulls the now-lifeless body the rest of the way out of its mother, and discards the baby's body as medical waste. Today you will hear some supporters of partial-birth abortion claim this procedure is a critical alternative that must remain legal to protect women's health. However, the medical profession offers no support for such claims. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill to protect the most vulnerable in our Nation.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 187 I was inadvertently detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to rise and introduce our guest chaplain for today, the Reverend Riley P. Green III. Riley Green is an ordained minister and a graduate of Beeson Divinity School, as well as Samford University where he received his master's in theological studies. He is currently working on his doctorate in education. He is a member of Hunter Street Baptist Church and serves as the director of administration of the Alabama Baptist Children's Homes & Family Ministries. The goal of Alabama Baptist Children's Homes & Family Ministries is to protect, nurture, and restore children and families through Christ- centered services. Over 110 years ago, a Southern Baptist preacher affectionately known as Father Stewart wanted to help widows and orphans. His desire became a reality in 1891 with the establishment of the Louise Short Baptist Widows and Orphans Home in Evergreen in southern Alabama. From that one facility has grown to be Alabama's most diverse child and family care agency. Riley lives in Birmingham with his wife, Yvonne, and their three sons, who are with him here today. Riley's mom is in the Chamber today as well. He is a friend whom I have known for many years and someone I know has a heart for seeking and doing the will of God. I thank him for his inspiring prayer this morning. We appreciate him taking his time to come and lead this Nation in a time of prayer, especially when our troops are at war.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 522 which merges the Bank Insurance Fund and the Savings Association Insurance Fund, and which updates a successful program by increasing the standard maximum deposit insurance limit to $130,000 and indexing it every 5 years for inflation, doubling the new coverage level for certain retirement accounts and increasing the coverage amount for in-State municipal deposits. The FDIC deposit insurance system has served a critical role in the stability of our Nation's financial system. The reform to increase deposit insurance coverage from $100,000 to $130,000 will provide American savers the ability to better secure their nest egg while ensuring ongoing consumer confidence and the stability of the banking system. At an earlier time in history, a person may have felt it better to put their money in a metal box underneath a loose floor board in the house. At the other end of the spectrum would be the venture capitalists. They take risks, but that is their choice. The FDIC deposit insurance system creates some stability for the average person looking to secure some of their savings, not only for their retirement but for education and family needs as well. The increase in protection for retirement funds is significant not only for the overall picture, but also it is important that we pass this as reported out by committee. The image of a metal box brings up another point. If that money is in a bank as opposed to underneath a house, it obviously becomes part of the Nation's overall cash flow and investment system. This bill updates, at even less than the rate of inflation, the deposit insurance amount. That allows depositors who wish to put their funds in local independent banks to do so with confidence. In turn, those banks are able to approve loans related to local projects. I think even opponents of this bill in its current form would agree that competition is indeed good. For Congress to keep this amount of $100,000 is a not a harmless action. Not increasing the insurance amount in the face of 21 years of inflation in effect makes Congress a partner in the erosion of the ability of local communities to compete fairly with larger banks. References to the savings and loan crisis have to be weighed in the context of the actions taken after that situation by both government and industry. This bill passed last year by a vote of 408 to 18. I urge support today for this bill as reported out of committee and a ``yes'' vote on final passage.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, first of all, let me thank the full committee Chair for his support for this amendment. We think this is certainly important, and it speaks well of him and his committee for accepting this amendment, support of it. I am proud to stand here today in strong support of this amendment offered by the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence), my good friend and colleague. Passage of this legislation represents a positive step towards protecting our children from pornographic Web sites. As the dad of a 3-year-old, I know personally that there is no substitute for parental supervision when it comes to the safety of our children. This bill does not assume to be the solution to parents who make the Internet a baby-sitter for their kids. Instead, this is meant to be a tool in the arsenal of responsible parenting. I believe this is why the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is supporting this amendment. The purpose of this bill is to punish those who use misleading domain names to attract children to pornographic Web sites. These sites use legitimate-sounding names to lure children to view pornographic material. This amendment, as has been cited, would authorize punishment of up to a quarter million dollars and imprisonment to 4 years. I would urge my colleagues to support this amendment and support final passage.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the work of a great American, Phyllis Schlafly. Mrs. Schlafly was named one of the 100 most important women of the 20th century by the Ladies' Home Journal, and has been a national leader of the conservative movement since the publication of her bestselling 1964 book, A Choice Not An Echo. Mrs. Schlafly has been a leader of the pro-family movement since 1972, when she started her national volunteer organization now called Eagle Forum. In a ten-year battle, she led the profamily movement to victory over the principal legislative goal of the radical feminists, called the Equal Rights Amendment. An articulate and successful opponent of the radical feminist movement, she appears in debate on college campuses more frequently than any other conservative. Mrs. Schlafly's monthly newsletter called The Phyllis Schlafly Report is now in its 36th year. Her syndicated column appears in 100 newspapers, her radio commentaries are heard daily on 460 stations, and her radio talk show on education called ``Phyllis Schlafly Live'' is heard weekly on 45 stations. Both can be heard on the internet. In addition, she is the author or editor of 21 books on subjects as varied as family (The Power of the Positive Woman) and feminism (Feminist Fantasies), nuclear strategy (Strike From Space and Kissinger on the Couch), education (Child Abuse in the Classroom), and child care (Who Will Rock the Cradle?). Her recent book, Turbo Reader, is a system to enable every parent to teach his child to read. Mrs. Schlafly is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Washington University, received her J.D. from Washington University Law School, and received her Master's in Political Science from Harvard University. She is a lawyer who served on the Commission on the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution appointed by President Reagan, has testified before more than 50 Congressional and State Legislative committees on constitutional, national defense, and family issues. The mother of six children and an Illinois Mother of the Year, Mrs. Schlafly is America's best-known advocate of the dignity and honor that we as a society owe to the role of fulltime homemaker. Phyllis Schlafly was honored in 2002 by Focus on the Family as the Mother of the Profamily Movement, and in 2003) she was the honoree at dinners hosted by the Council for National Policy and the Conservative Political Action Committee. She has since 1972 traveled at least annually to Alabama to debate and speak eloquently on issues that affect the family. The Alabama Policy Institute, Christian Coalition of Alabama, and the Southeast Law Institute have joined the Eagle Forum of Alabama to honor Mrs. Schlafly and express their admiration, appreciation, and affirmation of her exemplary service to God, family and country. As President Ronald Reagan said: ``Our nation needs the kind of volunteer service you and Eagle Forum have demonstrated . . .'' And as American Conservative Union Chairman David Keene said in a statement this year about Mrs. Schlafly: ``If there are giants among us, you are certainly one. The movement of which we are all part would never have achieved the successes it has without you . . . you had the courage to be `conservative before it was cool'. . . the fact that so many young people are attracted to our banner today is a tribute to your work.'' I stand with these groups and individuals to honor Phyllis Schlafly for her service to our country and culture, and her commitment to conservative family values.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, on March 5 a year ago, President Bush boldly gave temporary trade relief to our domestic steel industry. I believe his plan is succeeding. It is my understanding that since 1973, Alabama's steel industry had steadily lost 16,000 employees, or about half the labor force. We needed a bold plan. I am proud to have supported the President and his initiative to stop the illegal dumping of foreign steel in the United States. His proposed Section 201 trade relief over three years was also intended to leverage negotiations to address the root cause of the world's surplus capacity, what the President called a ``50-year legacy of foreign government intervention in the market and direct financial support of their steel industries.'' Well, a year later, some of our steel companies, including those in Alabama, are actually rehiring workers as domestic steel prices have firmed up, although they are still below the level two years ago. Also, to the best of my understanding, the critics' predictions of hefty price increases in consumer goods proved mistaken. And I am pleased that international negotiations are underway, thanks to the leverage of the Section 201 tariffs. The results of the President's leadership on steel look good so far. I urge him to finish his program on schedule.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I offer a resolution (H. Res. 47), and I ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of Alabama's greatest native sons--Dr. George Vernon Irons, Sr. Dr. Irons recently received Alabama's highest posthumous honor-- induction into the Alabama Men's Hall of Fame in Birmingham. The Alabama Men's Hall of Fame was created by the Alabama legislature in 1987. Its selection board is comprised of members from all seven congressional districts, the Governor, director of archives and history and the President of Samford University. Past inductees include America's most distinguished leaders: Wernher Von Braun, famed scientist who developed the rocketry to blast American astronauts to the Moon and return safely--a first in human history; George Washington Carver, botanist who mutated plants to give the south vital food sources; and James A. ``Brother'' Bryan, humanitarian, who gave sacrificially to fellow Alabamians during its severest economic times. Its most recent inductee, Dr. Irons, was distinguished professor of history and political science, Samford University for a near half century and one of the Nation's greatest athletes. Born in the ``Shadows of Gaineswood'' in Demopolis, Alabama in 1902, a century later, he is still breaking records. Dr. Irons is the only athlete inducted by the Alabama Men's Hall of Fame--the only Samford University Professor--and the only individual inducted by both the Alabama Men's Hall of Fame and the prestigious Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. While at the University of Alabama, he was first spotted by Coach Hank Crisp running across the campus--late to class. He promptly put him on the track team, where he broke a collegiate record the first time he ever pulled on a Crimson Tide uniform. Here's how a southern Governor described Bama's ``Chariot of Fire:'' ``Long before Bama had been to its first bowl game, before legendary Coach Paul Bear Bryant had won a game, Captain George Irons blazed a crimson streak across southern skies establishing an athletic tradition, smashing records in distance events as `Ironsides' and the `Knight of the Cinder Path.' '' As road racing champion (distance events begun at halftime of major football games and finishing as the halftime show--after a hill and dale course of about 4 miles), Bama's superstar was the ``best there ever was.'' Legendary Crimson Tide coach Wallace Wade (three time Rose Bowl winner) said Irons was: ``The greatest distance runner of his era.'' He is the only Crimson Tide track man--the only distance man ever inducted by the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame--rare honors he may hold forever. Remarkably, some of his records still stand--nearly a century later. Pretty swift in the classroom too, Irons was Phi Beta Kappa honor graduate, Rhodes scholar nominee, earning his doctorate at Duke University. Dr. George Denny, president of the University of Alabama, appointed him assistant to the faculty beginning his ``longest run'' in higher education. He later joined Howard College (now Samford University) in 1933. He also distinguished himself in World War II, rising to the rank of colonel, serving 33 years active and reserve duty--a Samford record. Dr. Irons received Freedom Foundation's (Valley Forge, Pennsylvania), George Washington Medal of Honor for his speech in 1962 entitled: ``Freedom, America's Weapon of Might.'' It was broadcast worldwide on the U.S. Armed Forces Network. Irons was the first southerner to win this prestigious national award. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Irons was the only man elected by the Alabama Men's Hall of Fame from the 20th century. J. Lamar Monroe Curry, former Member of the United States Congress and Ambassador to Spain, was elected for the 19th century. To be considered, nominees must have strong connections to our State and have made a national or international impact in his profession. Dr. Irons taught seventeen students who became university presidents--a record in American education. His innovations in curriculum became a model for higher education across the South and Nation. A former student wrote: ``Dr. Irons was more than a teacher, he was an architect of the human mind. When he looked out to teach a class, he did not see simply students--he saw the mirror image of God.'' His influence continues through the many students who were inspired by his life. It's no surprise his student roster included those who became captains of industry, Supreme Court Justices, Governors, law school deans and America's leaders. The induction ceremony was held at the club in Birmingham by the Committee of 100 Women (leaders of Alabama's civic and social communities) and the Alabama Men's Hall of Fame. Dr. Irons' son, Mountain Brook attorney, William L. Irons, gave a moving speech highlighting his father's contributions to Alabama and the American Nation. His bust was unveiled by Dr. Irons' great grandson, Dylan Alexander Irons of Charlotte, North Carolina. Inductees' busts are housed in the Alabama Men's Hall of Fame located in the Harwell G. Davis Library of Samford University. As inductee of both of Alabama's most prestigious halls of fame, Dr. Irons has placed a footprint where no man or woman has trod and should inspire future Alabamians. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the article in the University of Alabama Alumni Magazine, entitled: ``Knight of the Cinder Path,'' be included in the Congressional Record for America to share the achievements of this great American who served his university as distinguished educator a near half century, his country in war and peace for a third of the 20th century and his alma mater, the University of Alabama, as record breaking champion athlete and honor graduate.