Robert Aderholt

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, on June 19, 1915, a star and a humanitarian was born. Maxwell Emmett, better known as ``Pat'' Buttram of Addison, Alabama, in Winston County brought laughter and untold hours of sheer enjoyment to citizens across this great Nation. His film career spans 46 years from the early days as Gene Autry's sidekick to his parts as a voice in four of Disney's animated movies. Millions of television viewers will remember Pat for his role as the affable Mr. Haney in the television series ``Green Acres'' and ``Petticoat Junction.'' Pat had a keen wit in the style of Will Rogers and was a much sought-after speaker. Pat was brought up in a Methodist parsonage, son of a circuit-riding Methodist minister. He was the seventh child in a family of five boys and three girls. Pat never forgot the early lessons taught by this strong, God-fearing family. Concern for others was a staple in the Buttram household. As Pat's fame grew, he used his celebrity status to perform in benefits and shared his time and talents to help those less fortunate. He never forgot his roots or the place he called home. He donated not only money, but also his time to help build Camp Maxwell near his home in Alabama. This camp has played an important part in the lives of youth and the handicapped. Pat died in Hollywood, California, on January 8, 1994, and was laid to rest in his family church at Maxwell Chapel in Winston County, Alabama. While maybe not as well known, Pat's older brother, Gus Buttram, who lives in my hometown of Haleyville, was equally committed to serving others. Gus was born on June 21, 1913. While in high school, Gus suffered a paralysis that was brought on by tuberculosis. After surgery and rehabilitation, he graduated from Altoona High School in Etowah County, Alabama. Following graduation from Athens State in 1942 with a bachelor's degree in science and history, Gus married Rebecca, better known as Becky Buttram, Eppes of Goodwater, Alabama, on January 18, 1943. He followed his father into the ministry as a fourth generation Methodist minister. His first church appointment was at Remlap Methodist Church in Blount County, Alabama. Over the next 3 decades he would have many assignments in north Alabama. Gus and Becky's desire to serve others is unquestioned. Turning down more lucrative career paths, Gus and Becky enriched the lives of those they serve. Retiring in 1978, Gus and Becky live at Pebble, near Haleyville, in Winston County, Alabama. They take great pride in their children, Mary Buttram Young, who is a dialysis nurse at Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield, Alabama and Marvin McDaniel, better known as ``Mac'' Buttram, who is pastor of St. Andrews United Methodist Church in Cullman, Alabama, and is a fifth generation Methodist minister. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege today to recognize these two brothers, Gus and Pat Buttram, for their unselfish service to others.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, today in a meeting of the House Appropriations Committee to consider the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2001, I added the following Report language to the paragraph about U.S. financial aid to Egypt: ``Nevertheless, the Committee is concerned about ongoing violence experienced by the Christian minority in Egypt. The Committee urges Egypt to expedite the investigations of the murders of 2000 and 1998 in Al-Kosheh, and of the 1998 interrogations.'' Mr. Speaker, it is a fact that Egypt is a valuable ally and has greatly helped U.S. efforts to advance peace in the Middle East. It is also a fact that Christians in Egypt, especially Coptic Christians, face ongoing violence and are in need of full protection of the Egyptian Judicial system. The worst of these outbreaks is the murder of 21 persons in January, 2000 in the town of Al-Kosheh, just a few weeks after I visited Egypt with three other Members of Congress. My report language expresses the concern of the Committee about this violence and urges Egypt to expedite investigations regarding this incident but also of events in 1998 in the same small town. There were two murders in 1998 and allegations of brutal interrogations by the Police, 1014 Christians were arrested and interrogated. President Mubarak ordered an investigation of these arrests, and in August of 1999, 129 persons were interviewed within the course of two days. The interviewing process lapsed and then resumed in October of 1999. To date, only 400 of those 1014 persons have been interviewed. That figure includes the 129. A conclusion of the investigation likely would suggest the dismissal or prosecution of several members of the Egyptian police. There is precedent for such action. When tourists were killed in Luxor, the reaction of Cairo was swift and decisive, including the appointment of a new Minister of the Interior, who oversees the police. That sent a powerful message throughout the country, and Egypt is currently a very safe country to visit. The great majority of Muslim citizens of Egypt are law-abiding and desire peace. I am afraid that because of concerns about possibly energizing extremist Muslim groups to the point of violence, Cairo is reluctant to prosecute Muslims when there are incidents of violence against Christians. Christians face a range of legal challenges and are in need of protection from violence. Since there is no stated government policy of discrimination, it is reasonable for Christian citizens to expect full justice from their courts, just as Muslim citizens do. Mr. Speaker, I suggest that the taxpayers of the United States would be more than happy to see some of their aid to Egypt used to pay for additional personnel or equipment which would expedite these investigations and lead to the prosecution of any found persons found guilty of torture or other violations of civil rights. I am especially concerned that Shayboub William Arsal has been falsely accused and sentenced to 15 years hard labor even though the only two witnesses recanted their testimony and stated that their original accusations were coerced. In accordance with Egypt's strategic alliance with the United States, the Foreign Operations Subcommittee agreed to the President's request to expedite a portion of Egypt's military aid. The adoption of these two sentences by the Full Committee in the Report expresses the expectation of the Appropriations Committee that Egypt will make progress on these important human rights matters.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, on June 14, 1775, the Continental Congress adopted a resolution which authorized the enlistment of ten companies of riflemen to serve the United Colonies for a period of one year. This marked the birth of the Army and was the prelude to the birth of our Nation the following year on July 4, 1776. For the past 225 years, the Army's central mission has been to fight and win the Nation's wars. As General McArthur said, in a 1962 address at the United States Military Academy: ``Yours is the profession of arms, the will to win, the sure knowledge that in war there is no substitute for victory--and that if we fail, the Nation will be destroyed.'' Whatever the mission, the Nation has turned to its Army for victory. Throughout this Nation's history the soldiers of the Army have risked their lives to protect others. With patriotism, valor and sheer selflessness, from the Revolutionary War to the Gulf War, they have fought to protect our freedoms here and those abroad. In light of this, it is appropriate and fitting that the Army Recruiting Station, Jasper, Alabama, has organized a celebration of the Army's 225 years of dedicated service. I want to commend the soldiers of the Army Recruiting Station, Jasper, Alabama who are doing their part to ensure that this historic day is not forgotten. I want to publically say, not only to the soldiers currently serving in the Army, but to all soldiers who have served in wars to protect the interests and national security of the United States--thank you for protecting us. Thank you for your courage which has inspired generations on this shore and beyond. May God bless you, and may God bless America.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, today I commend the Carraway Methodist Health Systems for their leadership and vision in providing rural health care for residents of Alabama. Today I am especially mindful of the tremendous contribution of Carraway to the high quality of life enjoyed by the citizens of Winfield, Alabama. The dedication and vision begun by Doctor Ben Carraway is continued by his son Doctor Robert Carraway and the staff of the Carraway Methodist Health Care System. By investing time and money to provide health care services to Winfield beginning in 1981, Carraway has been a pillar of stability and a witness to the importance of community. Winfield Hospital, established in 1949, became Rankin Fite Memorial Hospital in 1964. Rankin Fite became part of the Carraway system in 1981 and under their leadership has enjoyed steady progress in the range of health care services available to the citizens of Winfield. The facility was renamed Winfield Carraway Hospital in 1985, and then Carraway Northwest Medical Center in 1993, and is currently serving Winfield with the help of a multi-million dollar expansion in 1998. What began as a facility of four doctors and one surgeon is now a campus of state-of-the-art care centers, including the Northwest Regional Cancer Center, and employs over three hundred fifty persons, including nineteen doctors. I thank the Carraway family and their staff for recognizing the importance of providing the highest quality health care not just for those who live in large cities but for smaller communities as well.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize two schools in my district that have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for their achievements as Title I schools. These schools, Carlisle Elementary Schools in Boaz, Alabama and McCord Elementary School in Albertville, Alabama, were selected for this award through a competitive process coordinated and managed by the state education agency. The principals of these schools, Ms. Kim Mintz and Mr. Richard Cole respectively, deserve this national recognition for their unwavering dedication to the academic achievement of their students. Title I schools are located in high poverty areas and receive funding to improve teacher training and learning for at-risk children. These two schools and the 97 others in the nation that are also receiving these awards, are schools that have far exceeded expectations; they have truly gone the extra mile to give these children a chance to succeed. In turn, these children, supported by their families, have worked hard and set an example for students everywhere. The recognition is based on six criteria: opportunity for all children to meet proficient and advanced levels of performance; professional development for teachers and administrators; coordination with other programs; curriculum development and instruction to support achievement to high standards; partnerships developed among the school, parents, and the local community; and three years of successful achievement and testing data. The awards will be presented on May 2 in Indianapolis at the 2000 International Reading Association Conference. Mr. Speaker, I commend the faculty, staff, parents, and students for making these schools such a landmark of achievement in the State of Alabama.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, today, as we are considering the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, I want to commend the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Canady) for sponsoring this legislation. The time has come for us to take firm and decisive action against this deplorable procedure. Our last attempt to ban partial-birth abortions failed, but we must continue to do everything in our power to save these innocent lives. But do not take my word for it alone. Listen to the voice of the medical professionals as has been said in here before today. A number of high ranking members of the medical community have voiced their strong opposition to partial-birth abortions. As has already been stated that C. Everett Koop, former Surgeon General, ``Partial-birth abortion is never medically necessary to protect a mother's health or her future fertility. On the contrary, this procedure can pose a significant threat to both.'' Dr. Pamela Smith at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago has stated that the abortion methods used in this procedure are associated with a range of complications, including extensive bleeding, infertility, and even death. The majority of partial-birth abortions are performed on healthy mothers and healthy babies. The American Medical Association itself has stated that they could not find any identified circumstances in which the procedure was the only safe and effective abortion method. A ``yes'' vote is a vote to protect the lives of women and children. It is really that simple. I ask my colleagues to join me today and to send a strong message of protecting the lives of mothers and infants. Because the greatness of this Nation that we live in is not measured by the Dow Jones Industrial average, it is not measured by the gross national product. The greatness of this country is measured by the character of its people, the integrity of its leaders, and how we as a Nation treat those who are most innocent and who are most vulnerable. I would say that the unborn fits squarely into the middle of that category.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of increasing the minimum wage and in support of H.R. 3846. This legislation is the result of hard work by both Democrats and Republicans. I commend my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for working together to bring forth this compromise. Despite the harsh words about this issue from some in both parties, this legislation is a good example of Congress at its best, Democrats and Republicans working together and working to do what is best for America's working families. This is what the American people expect, and quite frankly, it is what they deserve. This legislation will go a long way toward helping many working families make ends meet. Far too many families in this Nation depend on one or more family members making minimum wage in order to pay their bills and all of their expenses. This legislation will give these hard-working Americans a leg up, and I urge its adoption.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, Americans are slapped with extra taxes on everything from earning a work bonus, to buying a house, and are even taxed upon death. There is a tax designed for every stage of life, but perhaps the most immoral tax of all is the marriage tax. Over 28 million Americans pay an average of $1,400 extra in taxes each year simply because they are married. The marriage penalty punishes millions of married couples, almost 425,000 of them in my home State of Alabama, who file their income taxes jointly by pushing them into higher tax brackets. When the marriage tax first appeared in the tax code in 1969, most families had only one bread winner, and the tax provision was actually designed to give a tax cut, or a so-called ``marriage bonus'' to one- income families. But the government ignored the eventual tax burden on families. Instead of dismantling this tax, the government continued to collect extra taxes from those who chose marriage, making it harder to raise their families. This current tax code makes it more expensive for couples to marry, immorally discouraging the most sacred of institutions--marriage. Congress is making strides to right the wrong of government's financially abusive punishment of marriage, the foundation on which strong families are built. To address this concern, I am proud to cosponsor the Marriage Tax Elimination Act, offered by the gentleman from Illinois, to eliminate the marriage penalty. Congressman Weller's proposal would significantly reduce the average $1,400 in additional taxes per year that married couples pay than if they remained single. Additionally, while I agree with those who believe we should recognize the economic empowerment that can be achieved by returning money from Washington bureaucrats to working families, I also believe we should also recognize the moral empowerment of proposals which can strengthen an institution essential to our cultural and National well-being, the Family. I urge my colleagues to join me in co-sponsoring the Marriage Tax Elimination Act.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is fitting that we pay tribute to a great American, who has made outstanding contributions to our nation, and its culture. He is an artist; he is a musician; he is a father; he is a husband; he is a great man who has lived his life based on principle, and has been a strong and beautiful voice from a mountain top, not only in Alabama, but all across this nation, and all over the world. Randy Yeuell Owen was born in Fort Payne, Alabama, on December 13, 1949. He and his two sisters were raised in a close-knit family near Lookout Mountain in DeKalb County, Alabama. As a child, Randy, along with his two young sisters, grew up in the rural South working in the fields and picking cotton. Times were hard and there was no money left for entertainment after the bills were paid, so the family spent much of their time singing and playing gospel music. This family entertainment led to the formation of his first band, ``The Singing Owens.'' By the time that Randy entered the fifth grade, he along with his cousin, Teddy Gentry, decided to pursue a career in country music. During the early struggling years of the band, Randy took odd jobs laying brick and hanging sheetrock, while also attending college. In 1973, Randy received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Jacksonville State University. That same year, Randy, along with his cousins Teddy Gentry and Jeff Cook, decided to devote themselves entirely to their dream. In the next seven years, Randy, Teddy, and Jeff along with various drummers, performed as a group in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It was during these years that he met and courted his wife, Kelly-- someone who has stood strongy by Randy through his entire career. Kelly's father, who was stationed near Myrtle Beach, was soon transferred abroad, and Randy and Kelly's relationship continued through correspondence. In 1980, with drummer Mark Herndon on board, the band's debut album, ``My Home's In Alabama,'' was released by RCA and every song from it became a #1 hit. In 1981, ``Alabama'' was named Top Vocal Group of the Year by the Country Music Association. As the years followed, so did the awards--200 major music awards were bestowed upon the group over the next 15 years. The most well-known of Randy's charity events, June Jam, is by no means the only charitable cause with which Randy has been involved. He serves as the Celebrity Spokesman for the Alabama Sheriff's Boys and Girls Ranches. He has received the Tamer Award, which is the highest award given for service to St. Jude Hospital on a national level. Currently, he serves as the Spokesperson for the St. Jude's Country Cares Radiothon, raising millions for the Research Hospital. While Randy has traveled all over the world, and performed all across the United States, as well as abroad, he has never forgotten his community, and his home State, Alabama. Randy resides with his wife Kelly, and three children who have supported their Dad all the way-- Alison, Heath and Randa, near Fort Payne, Alabama, which I am proud to represent in the Fourth Congressional District. With all the honors that have been bestowed over the years, one of the most significant awards came to Randy in 1999, when he was awarded the Alabama Father of the Year by the Alabama Cattlewomen. He says his long range goals are ``to help my family achieve a gentle way of living and to be known as friendly to the fans and have a good reputation from fellow musicians.'' The profound impact that Randy Owen has had on our State, our Nation, and American culture cannot be measured. On behalf of my colleagues, I express our gratitude to Randy Owen, and wish him many, many more years.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to lend my support to H. Res. 350, which I have co-sponsored, which expresses the sense of the House that Congress should exercise its oversight responsibilities and conduct hearings into the possible trafficking of baby parts for profit. Throughout the abortion debate, many Americans have come to realize that abortion is a morally repugnant act which has no place in a civilized society. In spite of the brutality of partial-birth abortion and other abortion methods which more Americans have become aware of in recent years, Congress has been unable to override a Presidential veto which would outlaw this practice. Many Americans are beginning to reevaluate their views on this issue. Recently uncovered evidence shows that infants ``delivered'' by partial-birth abortion and even those born alive have been killed for their body parts. Private companies have circumvented laws banning this practice by acting as ``middlemen'' in this gruesome trade by selling baby body parts from abortion clinics to research facilities. My colleagues, certainly we can begin to take some action to address this terrible practice. I strongly urge you to join me in voting for H. Res. 350, to express the sense of the House that Congress should conduct hearings into the possible trafficking of baby parts for profit. Let's show this Nation that the unborn should be protected by conducting hearings and getting more information on this issue.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to lend my support to H.R. 3075, the Medicare Balanced Budget Refinement Act. This bill represents an important first step in strengthening the long-term future of the Medicare program. The hospitals in my district are in serious financial trouble. These hospitals, as well as all of the others in Alabama are struggling to make up shortfalls in the millions of dollars, but they refuse to compromise the quality of care they provide. The provisions of this legislation help rural hospitals, and I am supporting the bill, but it is only a first step. Balancing the budget is important, but we need to periodically examine the effects of previous legislation. Now, the evidence is pouring in from all over the country: we need immediate relief in the form of this bill and we must take an even deeper look early next year. Thank you Congressman Thomas for recognizing the enormity of the consequences. Let's pass this legislation today and come back in January prepared to find a permanent solution to this health care crisis.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 199, which expresses the sense of Congress that prayers and invocations at public school events are constitutional on the First Amendment and that the Supreme Court should uphold the constitutionality of such activities. Mr. Speaker, it is most ironic that while an increasing number of violent crimes have occurred in our Nation's schools in recent months and even recent years, some Federal courts have ruled to restrict the very expression of faith which can play such a significant role in providing desperately needed moral guidance to our youth. Under the proper guidance of coaches and administrators, team and individual sports can make a significant, positive impact on the character of students and student athletes in their most formative years. A strong religious message, coupled with good sportsmanship, instilled by adult role models, can make a positive, long-term influence on our Nation's young people. I join my colleagues who are opposed to these Federal court decisions that would ban organized prayer from sporting events. Student athletes have a clear constitutional right to exercise their religious beliefs, particularly during school and extracurricular activities. I do not believe that students in our country should have to check their religion and their beliefs at the school door. Our Founding Fathers believed that prayer and even studying the Bible were activities that should be encouraged among our youth rather than suppressed, even in our schools. Our Constitution grants freedom of, not freedom from, religion. Because of these rulings in the past, I am proud to join the gentleman from Texas in support of this resolution to affirm the importance of prayer at sporting events at a pivotal time in the life of our Nation's young people. There can be no compromise in the defense of our commitment to the very principles that have made this Nation, the United States of America, the greatest nation on the face of the Earth.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I and over 200 of my colleagues are cosponsors of House Resolution 298. The Seattle discussions on international trade will begin on November 30. Unfortunately, some nations wish to circumvent the agreed upon list of topics and reopen the very contentious issue of World Trade Organization rules against dumping and against subsidies. In the U.S. we already make our workers compete against foreign workers whose governments do not enforce the same standards on wages, on environmental protection, safety laws, and legal protections. Furthermore, we have flung open the doors of the American market. Let us not kid ourselves. Foreign governments will respect the U.S. worker only to the extent that the U.S. Government forces them to. In these trade talks there is nothing left to give away except competitive, productive American jobs and that is unacceptable. Some in this body would define free trade by actions that amount to unilateral economic disarmament. Yet I would point out that every Member of Congress whose State benefits from a manufacturing plant built by a foreign company and employing U.S. workers owes a debt to President Ronald Reagan who knew how to get tough on trade when necessary. If a foreign trade negotiator in Seattle proposes weakening U.S. laws, our administration officials need to say we will discuss nothing until they put that proposal back in their folder. The passage of this resolution will be a valuable tool for the administration to protect American workers at these talks. I urge the House leadership to put H. Res. 298 on the schedule as soon as possible.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. I think he makes some very excellent points on his discussion about separation of church and state, and I would like to expound on that just a bit. In several measures recently debated within this chamber, the topic of protecting traditional religious expressions was made. In each case opponents were quick to claim that such protections would violate the First Amendment's separation of church and state. Interestingly, the First Amendment's religion clause states: ``Congress shall make no law respecting and establishment of reference list or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.'' Despite what many claim, the phrase ``separation of church and state'' appears nowhere in the Constitution. In fact, one judge recently commented: ``So much has been written in recent years to a wall of separation between church and state that one would almost think at times that it would be found somewhere in our Constitution.'' And Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart also observed: ``The metaphor of the `wall of separation' is a phrase nowhere to be found in the Constitution.'' And current Chief Justice William Rehnquist also noted: ``The greatest injury of the `wall' notion is its mischievous diversion from the actual intentions of the drafters of the Bill of Rights. The 'wall of separation between church and state' is a metaphor based on bad history. It should be frankly and explicitly abandoned.'' The phrase ``separation of church and state'' was given in a private letter in 1802 from President Thomas Jefferson to the Baptists of Danbury, Connecticut, to reassure them that their free exercise of religion would never be infringed on by the Federal Government. Now that phrase means exactly the opposite of what Jefferson intended. In fact, the phrase ``separation of church and state'' has recently become a Federal hunting license against traditional religion in this country. For example, in Texas a judge struck down a song which was sung during a voluntary extracurricular institute activity because the Congress had promoted values such as honesty, truth, courage, and faith in the form of a prayer. In Virginia, a student told to write her autobiography in her English class was forced to change her own life story because in her autobiography she had talked about how important religion was in her life. In Minnesota, it was ruled that even when artwork is a historical classic, it may not be predominantly displayed in schools if it depicts something religious. In Pennsylvania, because a prosecuting attorney mentioned seven words from the Bible in the courtroom, a statement which lasted actually less than 5 seconds, a jury sentence was overturned for a man convicted of brutally clubbing a 71-year-old woman to death. In Ohio, courts ruled that it was unconstitutional for a board of education to use or refer to the word ``God'' in its official writings. In California, a judge told a public cemetery that it was unconstitutional to have a planter in the shape of a cross, for if someone were to view that cross, it could cause emotional distress and thus constitute an injury-in-fact. In Omaha, Nebraska, a student was prohibited from reading his Bible silently during free time or even to open his Bible at school. In Alaska, schools were prohibited from using the word ``Christmas'' at school, from exchanging Christmas cards or presents, or from displaying anything with the word ``Christmas'' on it because it contained the word ``Christ.'' In Missouri, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Illinois, courts told cities that when they compose their city seals, seals with numerous symbols that represent the diverse aspects of the community, such as industry, commerce, history and schools, that not even one of those symbols can acknowledge the presence of religion within the community, even if the name of the city is religious, or if the city was founded for a religious purpose. In South Dakota, a judge ruled that a kindergarten class may not even ask the question of whose birthday is celebrated at Christmas. In Texas, a high ranking official from the national drug czar's office who regularly conducts public school anti-drug rallies was prohibited from doing so because even though he was an anti-drug expert, he was also a minister and thus was disqualified from delivering his secular anti-drug message. In Oregon, it was ruled that it is unconstitutional for a war memorial to be erected in the shape of a cross. In Michigan, courts said that if a student prays over his lunch, it is unconstitutional for him to pray aloud. Although States imprint thousands of special-order custom license plates, which I am sure everyone has seen driving down the highway, for individual citizens each year, the State of Oregon refused to print the word ``PRAY,'' the State of Virginia refused to print ``GOD 4 US,'' and the State of Utah refused to print ``THANK GOD,'' claiming that such customized license plates which were of course made at the request of the individual purchasing them, violated the ``separation of church and state.'' There are scores of other examples. They are all based on a nonconstitutional phrase. And all of this occurs despite the first amendment's explicit guarantee for the free exercise of religion. This is ridiculous. It has gone too far, Mr. Speaker. It appears that every conceivable effort is being made to hide religion as if it were something sinister and pernicious, to banish it from the public view as if it were monstrous and diabolic, to punish those who publicly pursue it as if they were sinister threats to our society, to put them under house arrest and demand that they not practice their beliefs outside their home or places of worship. This body should not aid and should not abet the hostility against people of faith and against traditional expressions of faith, and no Member of this body should be party to confusing the clear, self- evident wording of the Constitution or misleading the American public by claiming the first amendment says something that it does not. The first amendment says only that ``Congress shall make no law respecting establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.'' It says nothing about separation of church and state. We should get back to upholding what the Constitution actually says, not upholding what some people wish that it said. It is time for reliance on the separation rhetoric to diminish and for reliance on actual constitutional wording to increase. Now, of course, none of us in this Chamber desire that we pick one particular denomination to be chosen for the United States. However, this Nation was founded on Judeo-Christian principles and that is just a part of our history. And at the same time all of us in this Chamber, every Member of this body, and I think every Member of this country, welcomes with open arms people of all faiths into these United States.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I simply wanted to rise this evening in support of the conference report. The subcommittee has worked very diligently under its chairman's leadership to put this bill together. Opponents of this bill claim that this is a question about home rule. The Constitution, in Article 1, Section 8, gives Congress the ultimate responsibility for decisions affecting the District. The subcommittee has upheld the Constitution and found ways to work positively with the D.C. government. The subcommittee approved intact the same budget that the D.C. Council and the Mayor approved. Also, this bill ratifies $59 million in tax relief that the D.C. Council and Mayor approved as well. Almost all of the so-called riders are incidental to what Congress passed and the President signed last year. These measures provide common sense policies that all Members should support. For example, why should we allow the District of Columbia to spend funds to legalize marijuana when such efforts contradict current law? But aside from these measures, this bill has many other positive aspects. There are funds to provide better education for children by strengthening public charter schools. There are funds to provide high school graduates with millions of dollars for new scholarship opportunities and more choices when deciding which college to choose. This is a bill that will continue, in my opinion, to improve our Nation's Capital. I urge support of the conference report.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. a native of my hometown of Haleyville, Alabama. On July 23, 1999, Judge Johnson passed away at the age of 80. After graduating from the University of Alabama in 1943 at the top of his class, Frank Johnson enlisted in the Army as a private. Soon, he received a commission as an infantry lieutenant. During World War II, he served during the Normandy invasion, and won a Bronze Star as a platoon leader in Gen. Patton's Third Army. Twice he was wounded in battle during the war. After he recovered, he was transferred to England and served out the war as a legal officer in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, eventually being promoted to Captain. Judge Johnson was first promoted to the bench in 1954, then the youngest serving federal judge in the nation. In 1955, he was elevated to U.S. Middle District Judge in Montgomery, Alabama, and in 1979 he was named to the U.S. Court of Appeals. His career on the bench was marked by many pivotal rulings. In 1956, in his first major ruling, Judge Johnson joined the majority on a three-judge panel in the case concerning the Rosa Parks case. This decision brought the end of segregated bus systems. With this ruling, Judge Johnson staked his place in the civil rights battle, fighting for equality for all Americans during his judicial career. Judge Johnson participated in rulings that desegregated all types of public places and services, from schools to museums, from airports to restaurants from libraries to parks. Even in the face of harsh criticism and resistance, Judge Johnson stood firm in his belief in equality and justice for all Americans. Desegregation was not his only accomplishment in the Civil Rights fight. After finding rampant discrimination against blacks registering to vote, Judge Johnson issued a ruling that became the formula Congress used to ensure voting rights nationwide in the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Also, Judge Johnson was part of a panel that ordered the Alabama State Legislature to draw its district lines by population, not by mere geography. This was the first ruling of its time, and helped ensure that citizens were not disenfranchised simply because they lived in a minority-dominated geographic area. It was his style to stand firm on what he believed was right, often in the face of intense criticism. Judge Johnson, one of America's most distinguished jurists, is an example of dedication for all Americans. All of America--but especially Alabama--feels the loss of Judge Frank Johnson, and we are thankful for his life of public service.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1664, a bill to provide loan guarantees to help U.S. steel companies and oil and gas companies. I would like to comment for just a minute on the steel portion of the bill. American workers are the most productive in the world. As my colleagues and I are pointing out here on the House floor and have been for about a year, American steelworkers and steel company managers have worked together to achieve remarkably efficient steel production here in the U.S. U.S. steel is the highest quality in the world, and producers adhere to the highest safety and environmental standards. The bottom line is we can compete with any steel producers in the world as long as we are not flooded with artificially low-priced steel. Due to the illegal dumping by foreign countries, scheduled maintenance and modernization improvements at U.S. steel companies have been impossible for much of the past 2 years. So these loan guarantees will allow our companies to remain competitive. As has already been pointed out here tonight, the terms of the plan are tough. The Federal Reserve Chairman, Alan Greenspan, chairs the board that oversees the plan. All loans must be paid back by December 1, 2005. The plan is fully paid for with offsets. I represent one of the mid-sized U.S. steel companies that has suffered because of this illegal steel dumping. Gulf States Steel, in Gadsden, Alabama, which is in the Fourth Congressional District, employs about 1,800 people. Without a program like this one, the future of these workers is not optimistic. This bill has been scrutinized, it has been amended, and it reflects the hard work of Members both here in the House and of the Senate, Republicans and Democrats. I ask for my colleagues to support H.R. 1664 and support our steel and oil and gas industries.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, I rise to strongly support the Smith amendment. I cannot imagine the Congress of the United States not allowing health plans in this Nation, the United States of America, to include such exceptions. All this amendment does, and it has been said here today already but let me reiterate two simple things to the current conscience clause in the contraceptive mandate. Number one, it expands conscience protections to plans which object on moral, not just religious grounds. Religion is not only the reason one would object to abortion. This should be accounted for. And number two, expands conscience protection to not only those who prescribe medication, as is the current law, but also to those who provide for the abortifacient drug. All this means is that a nurse who does not prescribe but might be asked to administer an abortifacient drug has a right to refuse it. I would simply ask my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans alike, to vote to protect the conscience of all women.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I want to celebrate the life of Dr. George Vernon Irons, Sr., distinguished professor of history and political science at Samford University, 43 years, distinguished professor emeritus, 22 years, who passed away July 21, 1998. Dr. Irons was a record breaking champion athlete at the University of Alabama in the 1920's. Sportswriters described him as the ``Ironman of Alabama, Crimson Machine and South's Premiere Distance Runner'' for his remarkable athletic feats. His accomplishments have been heralded by legendary great, Paul Bear Bryant as ``truly outstanding athletic achievements,'' and Coach Wallace Wade (three time Rose Bowl winner) as the ``greatest distance runner of his day.'' In 1978 Dr. Irons was inducted into the prestigious Alabama Sports Hall of Fame on the first ballot--an honor achieved by only three men: Paul Bear Bryant, Ralph Shug Jordan and Dr. George Irons. As Captain of the Alabama distance team, he broke the record for the B'ham Road Race (1923) by twenty seconds in a cold, hard driving December rain. Captain Irons record has never been equaled or broken. Irons was the Southern (S.I.A.A. now S.E.C.) champion of the 2, 3, 3\1/ 2\, and 4 mile events. He is the only University of Alabama track man-- the only distance man--inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame-- rare honors he holds over 30 years after the Hall of Fame's creation. A Phi Beta Kappa honor graduate--Rhodes Scholar Nominee--he went on to earn his doctorate at Duke University, before joining Samford's faculty in 1933. Dr. Irons also distinguished himself in World War II, rising to the rank of colonel--with 33 years active and reserve duty--a Samford faculty record. Mr. Speaker, over 50 Alabama cities have passed proclamations or resolutions honoring this admired Alabamian--yet another record for this remarkable Alabamian. I ask unanimous consent that Dr. Irons eulogy, delivered by his former student, Dr. James Moebes, senior minister, Mountain Brook Baptist Church, be included in the Congressional Record for America to share the life of this record breaking champion athlete for the Alabama Crimson Tide, distinguished university educator and valiant colonel, who defended his nation for a third of the 20th century in war and peace. Eulogy for Dr. George Vernon Irons, Sr. Mountain, Brook Baptist Church Chapel, July 27, 1998--Delivered by Dr. James D. Moebes, Senior Minister, Full Military Honors I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord. He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever lives and believes in Me, will never ever die. The Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, The world and they that dwell therein, for He hath founded it upon the seas and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend unto the hill of the Lord or who shall stand in His holy place. He that hath clean hands and a pure heart, who hath not lifted up his soul into vanity or sworn deceitfully, he shall receive his blessings from the Lord and righteousness from the Son of God of his own salvation. For reckoning that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with that glory shall be revealed in us. Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, or standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat to the scornful. For his delight is in the law of the Lord and in that law doth he meditate, day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water. He shall bring forth his fruit in due season; his leaf shall not wither; whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Dr. George Vernon Irons was born on the 7th of August, 1902, in Demopolis, Alabama. His father, Dr. Andrew George Irons, was a Presbyterian minister. His father came from the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. He was a magna cum laude graduate, Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA. As instructor, Supt., Marengo Academy, he taught, and was interested in young people. He was always on the lookout for those that showed promise. He ran across a student, a young man named Henry Edmonds. He knew that he had some ability. He sought out Henry's father. Talked with him about his son going to college, getting an education, becoming a leader. But Edmonds' father thought his son would make a good southern plowboy. Well, Revered Irons arranged to get a scholarship for Henry Edmonds. And we owe him a debt of gratitude. Henry later, Dr. Edmonds established Independent Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Al--A wonderful congregation. Dr. Edmonds was a man of vision and leadership and he has acknowledged Rev. Irons as a source of his inspiration and motivation in his formative years. Dr. Irons was one who also inspired people. When he entered the University of Alabama, he had never run in an organized race before. He said he sort of started running by accident. Because when he was a freshman, the upper class students--if they found out you were a freshman--would paddle you. And he said when they stopped you, you had one of two choices: either you lied or you ran. He said: ``Now Don't ask me which one I chose--I did some of both.'' So he became a runner! When the train whistle would sound every day, he knew he had 10 minutes to get to class and he would dash across campus, from where he lived, near the University of Alabama's campus. Well, from such beginnings, the became known as ``The South's Greatest Distance Runner,'' and the ``Knight of the Cinderpath.'' During my years at Alabama, I became familiar with their yearbook--The Corolla. In the 1923 Corolla, George Irons was referred to this way. These are quotes. He was captain of the track team, captain of the cross country or distance team, and this is what fellow students said about him: ``One of the true greats of Alabama athletic history. An honor man in scholarship and a record breaking athlete. That's a real man! A scholarly Christian gentleman.'' Would'nt it be wonderful to write in those terms today? ``Scholarly Christian gentleman.'' They concluded: ``He has no equal in the southland.'' Now, an interesting thing happened while a student. Coach Wallace Wade, head football coach, sent word to the track team, that he wanted them to scrimmage his football team. Now, this was the undefeated Rose Bowl team on which Johnny Mack Brown was all-American. When I was six or seven, Johnny Mack Brown was one of my heroes. I did not know he had been all-American at the University of Alabama. I thought he had just ridden horses all his life, shot pistols. Well, Dr. Irons never backed off a good challenge, so he fired over to the practice field. And they ran an endsweep, and Johnny Mack Brown was carrying the ball with only one man between him and goal line--George Irons. Irons took him on--one on one. And he stuck him good and he brought him to the ground. Well, years later, in a routine examination, there was an x-ray, and his physician son--Dr. George, Jr.--said to him, ``Dad, do you realize you have an old fracture in your collarbone?'' Dr. Irons' thoughts raced back to that autumn afternoon, and he replied, ``Yes, yes, I knew it was a little stiff for a couple of weeks, but I put him on the ground!'' A Phi Beta Kappa graduate, Dr. Irons taught at the University of Alabama from 1923-1925. Then earned his Ph.D. degree from Duke University, where he taught history from 1931-1933, before joining the faculty at Howard College--now Samford University. And I see his dear friends of Samford here--so many--even standing outside our chapel--here to pay respect to this beloved and admired Alabamian. Because of Dr. Irons--Samford is one of the finest universities in America. Then World War II came along, and Dr. Irons served as colonel in the anti-aircraft battalion, defending New York on D-Day. The War Department asked him to write field manuals for anti-air-craft weapons and searchlights. Dr. Irons said he knew those manuals had to have fallen into the hands of the Japanese, and that's why they weren't able to shoot down a single allied plane. Well, during his 43 years as a history and political science professor at Samford--chairman of his department 25 of those years--Dr. Irons taught seventeen students who became university presidents--more than any other university educator. He was a founding member of the Alabama Historical Society in 1947. Last year they celebrated their 50th anniversary here at Mountain Brook in this chapel. And I enjoyed sharing some precious moments with Dr. Irons--our last. But I shall never forget, I met him in 1959. Thirty-nine years, I have known, admired and loved this man! I'll never forget how, when we started an examination, he would say, ``Now class, we want to have a little spread formation.'' So the class would spread out. Some of you, he would say, might want to go into ``punt formation.'' Then he would call his questions out audibly. Getting down to questions 13 and 14, he would say, ``Now there were three Napoleonic battles in this era.'' And you'd think, ``Oh, my, I only recall two.'' Then Dr. Irons would say: ``Questions 13 and 14--you just name two. Two battles is all I want--just two. Well, classmates sighed, ``Thank you Lord, Thank you.'' So we answered 13 and 14. Then Dr. Irons said: ``Everybody ready? O.K., question 15--list the other battle.'' And students would pound their desktops. Dr. Irons has a member of the Southern Historical Association, the Alabama Baptist Historical Association, the B'Ham-Jefferson Historical Association, and the John Forney Historical Association. He was past president of the Alabama Writers Conclave. Received a service plaque from the organization in 1977. He served as vice-president of the Alabama Academy of Science. Dr. Irons was awarded the George Washington Honor Medal from Freedom's Foundation at Valley Forge, PA, 1962. George Washington Honor Certificate in 1963. As director of Samford's Freedom Foundation project, the school received eighteen consecutive awards. An achievement unmatched by any other school or institution. Dr. Irons received the dedication of the Entre Nous--the university annual--on four occasions: 1941, 1960, 1969, and 1974, the student body's highest honor. No other has received that number. Dr. Catherine Allen recalls Dr. Irons' leadership as chairman of the board of deacons at Rhuama Baptist Church during her years there. Dr. Tom Camp recalls his loyal service at Southside Baptist--as a member, Sunday school teacher, deacon and lifetime deacon--a beloved member there. He was preceded in death by the love of his live--Velma-- distinguished educator in her own right. Many folks don't realize that Dr. Irons was a distinguished member of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Only Samford faculty man ever inducted. Only three have been elected to membership in the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame on the very first ballot in the history of that organization: Paul Bear Bryant, Ralph Shug Jordan and Dr. George V. Irons. They will miss him indeed at those gatherings. He became a distinguished professor of history and political science, emeritus, 22 years of total service to Samford--65 years--a record. He was a gentle spirit--a gentle man. For me, like many of you--he was a mentor. The primary reason I minored in history. His lectures were so captivating, instructive yet entertaining. I'll always be grateful for a copy of his hand-written testimony--he shared that personal testimony wherever he went. As you might guess for a noted sportsman, he entitled it: ``My Gameplan.'' It had three simple points. The first was: I have faith in God. He had under that particular point made reference to a hymn-- ``Awake My Soul--Stretch Every Never.'' Listen to the runner's heart and soul in this hymn: ``Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve, and press with vigor on! A heavenly race demands thy zeal, and an immortal crown and in an immortal crown. A cloud of witnesses around, hold thee in full survey, forget the steps already trod, and onward urge thy way, and onward urge thy way, blest Saviour, introduced by Thee, have I my race begun, and, crowned with victory, at thy feet, I'll lay my honors down, I'll lay my honors down!'' He won 30 trophies as a record breaking champion athlete at the University of Alabama. None of those and all of them combined would not begin to have the meaning to him compared to the love of the Lord Christ. Have faith in God! Here was his second: Have faith in yourself. As a distance runner--you had better! And this is how Dr. Irons said it: ``When your helper is in you (not just with you) you cannot fail in all that really counts--regardless of this world's outlook and evaluation.'' Then, he concluded his personal testimony with this final point. III. Read the holy word. This is contact with your God. George Irons knew the Lord. I conclude with this part of the scripture. Do you not know, have you not heard, the Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the Earth. He will not grow tired or weary. And His understanding, no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord, will renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. Thank You God--for George Vernon Irons. His wonderful, wonderful family--those who have known him best and loved him best. Who he has known best and loved so dearly. Holy Father, he has run with patience the race of life and he has brought the banner home. He has fought a good fight, he has finished his course, he has kept the faith. Thank Thee for what he has meant to every one of us. Thank Thee for George, Jr., thank Thee for Bill, grandson, great grandson--all the family. For the happiness they have shared together. For the joy they have known in life because of this wonderful man. Thank Thee for the many lives in which he has made a difference. Thank Thee, that he has taken that which was so very rough and polished a few of the edges, knocked off some of the sharp places, taught us a few lessons, and helped us to be on our way. Thank Thee for his wonderful Christian spirit--for that mountain of modesty at the center of his being, for that quick mind, for that winsome personality, for that wonderful wit. For those things in life in which he stood so very tall. Thank Thee for this Christian southern gentleman. Having shared some of life with him, may we be found the stronger for the living of life in these days. May his light always shine before us, that we would see his good works, but then glorify his father who is in Heaven. Thank Thee that he lives there now with Thee. Bless him and hold him close now and forever. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, through Jesus our Saviour, we pray. Amen. For this Christian soldier who defended his nation for a third of the 20th century in war and peace we will close with the organ piece: onward Christian soldiers--as he requested. Please remember the words and how they related to the life of this admired and beloved Alabamian, as we stand together and depart.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to give my support to the Child Custody Protection Act and I commend Representative Ros- Lehtinen for working so diligently to protect children and the rights of their parents. Today we live in a nation bitterly divided over the debate of abortion. As horrifying as abortion is, this bill really deals with another issue, that of States rights. Two weeks ago, you joined me to pass the Ten Commandants Defense Act, another piece of legislation securing the rights of States to establish their own laws. Both of these pieces of legislation protect the Tenth Amendment of States rights. Representative Ros-Lehtinen's act argues that citizens and businesses of one state should respect the laws of another state. If the people of Alabama have voted for the rights of the parents to know if their children want an abortion, this is the law within the borders of Alabama. No one, not even a well-meaning friend, has the right to break this law by taking a child away from their home and into another state for what could be the most terrifying and traumatic experience of their life. Abortion clinics are enticing people to break the law by advertising in the phone books of neighboring states with parental notification laws. We are constantly hearing of the tobacco industry being sued for illegally targeting minors in advertising. Using the same logic, these abortion clinics may be setting themselves up for a few lawsuits. We convict and sentence adults for engaging in sexual relations with a minor, yet we don't even slap the hand of an adult who aids a minor in destroying their unborn child. Unfortunately, right now, without this law in place, a statutory rapist can conceal the evidence of his crime by taking his young victim across state lines to abort the child he fathered. As a parent and a defender of the Constitution, I am calling on you, my fellow lawmakers, to respect the autonomous powers of States to allow parents to parent.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, in this century, the United States has led the world in transforming industry, communication, and technology. We have found cures for once-fatal diseases and introduced freedom and democracy to the world. We sit on the threshold of a new century, and new millennium with a great mandate: laying the groundwork for a daring, new world. On the brink of the nineteenth century, our Founding Fathers faced a similar mandate. One whose impact would reach beyond anything they could have imagined, and one which we live each day. They gathered together to establish a form of government that no other nation had ever attempted with freedoms that no other nation had ever even dreamed of: freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion. The work of these men was truly inspired. The wisdom in the words of the Constitution serves as the very cornerstone of hope and liberty. But these men did not rashly pull the Constitution together without forethought. The delegates of the Continental Congress debated over the course of months to author a document which changed the course of history for all people. It was during this debate, that they came to a standstill. On June 28, 1787, 212 years ago this week, the delegates hit a stalemate over many issues. Ben Franklin saw that the impasse could not be reconciled by any human means: ``The small progress we have made after four or five weeks' close attendance and continual reasonings with each other--our different sentiments on almost every question . . . producing as many noes as ayes--is, methinks, a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the human understanding . . . I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of heaven and its blessings on our deliberations . . .'' Franklin recognized that the future of the Constitution, and the nation, depended upon Divine intervention. In the faces of the Congressional Delegates he saw pride, determination and no hope of compromise. Franklin knew that the only way the Constitution could be agreed upon was to call the delegates to humility and prayer. He recognized the need of each individual to search their hearts and seek the will of God. Franklin called on the Members of the Congress to take three days of prayer and fasting. At the end of these three days, the delegates humbly returned, and were able to complete the framework of the Constitution which is the basis of the law of our nation. As Americans, we are all grateful that Ben Franklin recognized the need for God and prayer within the political agenda. Each of the delegates had a strong understanding of right and wrong. They knew the laws of the land needing to reflect a moral standard, a moral law. It is time we call our nation back to this morality. Two weeks ago I offered an amendment called the Ten Commandments Defense Act, and you, my distinguished colleagues, helped to pass this legislation. It was a public declaration that God is not dead, despite the violence and confusion that haunts the current age. Now I, along with the gentlelady from Idaho and others speaking on behalf of this resolution, call our country to set aside a time of reflection, a time to search our hearts and seek God's guidance. We must approach our families, our jobs, and our communities with the same humility and desire for reconciliation as our Founding Fathers sought in establishing the law of this land. Today, we stand, not only on the brink of a new century, but at the dawning of a new millennium. We have the great honor, and the weighty responsibility, of setting the groundwork of the next thousand years. Let us do this with courage. Let us do this with honor. Most importantly, let us humbly set a precedent for the new millennium, and recognize God as the source of wisdom, goodness and strength.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Barr).

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, the recent shootings in Littleton, Colorado, provide an unfortunate picture of the terror infested in our schools today, children killing children in the halls of our schools, children who do not understand the basic principles of humankind. Today, I offer the Ten Commandments Defense Act amendment. This amendment would protect America's religious freedom by allowing States, and I repeat that, allowing States to make the decision whether or not to display the Ten Commandments on or within publicly owned property. As Members of Congress, we have the privilege and the weighty responsibility to make laws for our country which honor the individual, laws that foster value and establish basic guidelines of right and wrong; do not steal, do not lie, do not kill. We are fortunate to live in a country in which the very First Amendment of our Constitution guarantees the freedom of religion. This does not mean freedom from religion. Rather, it means that we are free to live as we choose; we are free from the tyranny which stifles our expression of faith. The founders wisely realized that in a free society it is imperative that individuals practice forbearance, respect and temperance. These are the very values taught by all the world's major religions and the Ten Commandments and our Constitution underscore these values. While this amendment does not endorse any one religion, it states that a religious symbol which has deep rooted significance for our Nation and its history should not be excluded from the public square. As I look behind me in the House Chamber here tonight, I see other religious symbols. In the balcony there are reliefs of great lawgivers throughout history. Blackstone, Jefferson, Hammarabbi, and the list goes on. However, on the main door to this Chamber is the relief of Moses, the most prominent place in the Chamber. He looks directly at the Speaker. Above the dais, are the words, in God we trust and each day in this Chamber we open with prayer by our Chaplain. Religious expression is not absent from this public building, and it is not fair to say that public buildings in each of the States are precluded from recognizing this heritage. The Ten Commandments represent the very cornerstone of Western civilization and the basis of our legal system here in America. To exclude a display of the Ten Commandments and suggest that it is in some way an establishment of religion is not consistent with our Nation's heritage. This Nation was founded on religious traditions and they are integral parts of the fabric of American culture, political and societal life. This amendment today is not just about the display of the Ten Commandments. It is also about our Nation's children and the role that values play in our national life. Our Nation was founded on Judeo- Christian principles and by our Founding Fathers. I realize that many things need to happen to redirect this overwhelming surge toward a violent culture. I also understand that simply posting the Ten Commandments will not change the moral character of our Nation overnight. However, it is one step that States can take to promote morality and work toward an end of children killing children. The States we represent deserve the opportunity to decide for themselves whether they want to display the Ten Commandments. This is consistent with the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, which says those powers not given to the Federal Government are reserved for the States. I ask my colleagues to join me in giving the States the power to decide whether to display the Ten Commandments, which are the very backbone of the values and the nature of our society. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder).

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes). (Mr. HAYES asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)