Robert Aderholt

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, in September 1789, Congress proposed and sent to the States for ratification the 10 constitutional amendments known as the Bill of Rights. This morning I join my colleagues in celebrating Religious Freedom Week, designated as such by Congress and by Presidential proclamation in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan. The first amendment guards Americans from persecution by protecting our right to expression, protecting our words, both secular and religious, whether spoken, written or sung. Freedom comes at a price, however. The gospel, the words of Jesus Christ, cost him his life. Those who signed the Declaration of Independence knew it could be their death sentence. The freedoms we enjoy today as Americans are a precious gift of the generations who have gone before us. Religious Freedom Week is a great opportunity to express thanks for that gift and to celebrate the profound foresight that was given our Founding Fathers in protecting the free exercise of religion.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, some education reforms weaken the control of parents over their children's education while others strengthen them. For those interested in increasing the control of the Federal Government over the education of children, A-plus accounts will be something you will want to attack. A-plus accounts put more power in the hands of parents to ensure what is best for their kids. And what is best for their kids always includes a school where kids can feel safe, where teachers are dedicated to giving students the best education possible, and, most of all, where children are surrounded by an environment that inspires hope and confidence that a bright future belongs to them. This is not the case for millions of children across America today. A-plus accounts are education savings accounts that will give hope and a better education for many of those children who are trapped in schools that rob them of a bright future. If letting more children share in the American dream is more than a slogan, then A-plus accounts should be supported by Republicans and by Democrats alike.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, in 1994, the 103d Congress voted to turn the General Services Administration into a competitor with private employers for billions of procurement dollars generated by State and local governments. That something of this magnitude can be enacted into Federal law without so much as a hearing is a prime example of how disconnected Washington can become from the American people. Let me briefly discuss what I understand to be the conceptual case for this program. In a nutshell, proponents seem to contend that non- Federal public entities will get more bang for their procurement buck by purchasing items off the Federal supply schedules, making State and local taxpayers the ultimate beneficiaries of the cooperative purchasing program. Now I certainly support saving taxpyers' money, but where is the evidence in this instance? On the contrary, I am not convinced the cooperative purchasing program will provide anticipated savings to State and local governments and their taxpayers on a sustained basis. Despite the moratorium, the cooperative purchasing program has already had a disruptive effect in the marketplace, and the potential for further disruption is far, far greater. In what I am sure is reflective of the experiences of my colleagues, I have heard from small business persons in my district who fear for their futures if the cooperative purchasing program goes into effect. The more I hear, the more I am convinced section 1555 of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act should be repealed. The sooner we get rid of this program, the better. If we fail to do so, it is highly unlikely that appropriate remedial action will be taken prior to implementation of the program, and countless small business persons and their employees--our constituents will see their worst fears about the future materialize. This issue quite simply pits big government against small business, and it's pretty clear that small business won't make out very well in that competition. That's what my constituents are telling me. These small companies which compete each and every day with very little if any margins for error, are fearful not of competition, but rather of unfair competition. All they ask for, I would say to the members of this committee, is a level playing field. They have a right to that, and by repealing the cooperative purchasing program we can meet their rightful expectation.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, for many of our country's poorest children, education is their one ticket out of poverty. In fact, even children in truly horrible schools manage to make it out of their destitution by relentless determination and plain old hard work. But, Mr. Speaker, children should not have to pass through metal detectors on their way through the schoolhouse door. If kids are more worried about becoming victims of violence than about getting an ``A'' on the next exam, how can we expect them to perform their best? Mr. Speaker, in the face of school violence and disorderly classrooms, to whom can the kids turn? Why, their parents, of course. But what if their parents lack the resources to pull them out of horrible schools? Mr. Speaker, while the special interests join together in saying too bad or offer up worthless promises, conservatives offer these kids hope in the form of school choice and education savings accounts. Mr. Speaker, hope is a commodity in short supply in many of our Nation's poorest communities. School choice and education savings accounts give kids and their parents a reason to hope.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to the Klug amendment. As has already been stated, there are no funds for Appalachian highways in the Transportation appropriations bill that passed the House earlier this week. This bill today, the Energy and Water appropriations bill, which has been so well crafted by the chairman, Joseph McDade and the ranking member Vic Fazio, includes $160 million for the Appalachian Regional Commission [ARC]. This bill represents a cut below the President's request and is less than half the amount appropriated 15 years ago. If non-Defense discretionary programs had been reduced like this, we would have a balanced budget this year. It is important to note that since the ARC was created over 30 years ago, the economic condition in the Appalachian Region has significantly improved. Poverty rates have been cut in half, infant mortality has been reduced by two-thirds, and good paying jobs have been created through infrastructure improvements. But our job is not done. Businesses are closing and others refusing to locate in northern Alabama due to the lack of a four-lane highway to connect the cities of Atlanta, Birmingham, and Memphis. For job creation and safety issues this is an unacceptable omission from our National Highway System. Economic growth is hampered because it is so difficult to transport goods and services between Birmingham and Memphis and throughout the northerwestern part of Alabama. The current inadequate two-lane route is extremely dangerous with a traffic incident or fatality occurring every month for the last 50 months. The ARC provides needed funds for highways located in the Appalachian Region like Corridor X, which is the proposed four-lane route from Memphis to Birmingham. These funds do not take resources away from the transportation trust funds, and are matched by each State. I understand the concern of the gentleman from Wisconsin and support eliminating Federal programs that are inefficient and wasteful. However, a closer look at the facts will demonstrate that funding for the ARC is crucial for the infrastructure and economic development of many rural areas including my congressional district. I urge my colleagues to defeat the Klug amendment and support H.R. 2203.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Miss Amanda Buckner of Gadsden, AL. Miss Buckner won statewide first place honors in the Veterans of Foreign Wars' Voice of Democracy Contest and third place honors in the national contest. I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record her prize winning script. I am very proud of Miss Buckner's accomplishments, and of the way she represented Alabama in our Nation's capital. Democracy Above and Beyond Welcome fans, to the 49th Olympics. You are about to see the relay event. On America's team we have five exceptional runners. The first is George Washington. Next we have Abraham Lincoln. On the third leg is Franklin D. Roosevelt. Ronald Reagan takes the fourth leg. The last leg is a bit different. America has a surprise runner. I will announce his name later. Ladies and Gentlemen, this team should carry democracy above and beyond. The runners take their marks. One . . . Two . . . Three . . . Go! Washington holds his baton of democracy tight and begins the run. Not only is he running, he is shaping this race for freedom. Washington is setting the pace for democracy with grace, authority, and peace. Earlier in an interview, Washington said he hopes this team prospers, focuses on their goals and sticks together. He wants to show everyone what a wonderful experience freedom can be. And boy has he! Although the older, stronger countries are trying to push him out of the way, he fights on. Washington has carried democracy above and beyond, but now he must pass it along. Honest Abe takes control. At this point democracy has fallen behind in the race. Slavery and economic unrest seem to be slowing them down. Yes, it looks as if they are at war with themselves. . . Wait, Lincoln refuses to let the injury of ignorance and racial discord tear this team apart. He is holding his own. He is showing the rest of the world that freedom will rise, and democracy will continue above and beyond. Lincoln is brave to continue after such an injury. It looks as if he still has the lead. Ladies and gentlemen, freedom may survive this tragedy after all. Franklin Delano Roosevelt has the baton now. The crowd has fallen into despair and lost all belief in team USA. But Roosevelt still holds on. Social Security, the Works Project Administration, and many other revolutionary new programs bring this crowd out of the depression. Many are saying Roosevelt is the best runner yet. We got a chance to speak with Roosevelt before he started the race, and he told this reporter that America would not succumb to this trial. Showing his astute leadership he told me, ``There is nothing to fear but fear itself.'' And his dedication will not allow any of his fears to get in the way of his winning this race. FDR fights through all the turmoil and comes ahead. The crowd is on its feet now. Roosevelt passes the baton to Ronald Reagan. This is a man who stole America's heart with his lopsided grin and his optimism. The crowd has hope for the future now that Reagan has the stick. The American dream is alive and well. Reagan took democracy above and beyond anything we had envisioned. He revitalized the economy and ended the cold war. After Reagan finished his end of the race, he told me the same thing he said in his inaugural address, ``We are too great a nation to limit ourselves to small dreams.'' Now, the last runner of the race for freedom. Are you wondering who it is?! Well, I'll tell you. The runner of the last leg is . . . you! That's right, it's all of you. America is ahead and thriving, but it all depends on how you run this race. Can you fight past the homeless, past the hatred, past the children who cry for a warm meal? It is up to you to make the difference. If you don't . . . who will? Run. Run for those who ran before you. Run for those who ache for the chance. If you run this race well, we should enter the 21st century the powerful and thriving country we have always been. All of America's teams have done fine jobs. They have kept this country on the road to greatness. All democracy needs now is a strong runner to bring home the gold. Let's watch and see how you finish this race. Will you win the race for freedom? Will you carry democracy above and beyond? As you stand and hear the anthem they are playing for you, you realize that there are those who will die and never know freedom. Run for them. Run for the country that swells you with pride. Run for peace. And run for freedom. Hold your head high as the flag is raised in your honor. Feel it to the marrow of your soul . . . Run.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to the Harman amendment to the national security authorization bill and in support of current law which prohibits abortions in military facilities abroad. The Harman amendment would turn U.S. military hospitals into abortion clinics. How can we justify using U.S. military hospitals, military personnel and hard earned tax dollars for the destruction of innocent human life? Despite the arguments that these abortions would be privately funded, there would be some costs to the taxpayer. In 1993, when President Clinton argued that the military's policy to allow abortions on these U.S. facilities made many outraged military physicians refuse to perform this procedure. They rightly believe that this is simply not a procedure that should be performed in U.S. military hospitals. As Pope John Paul once stated, a nation which kills its own children is a nation without a future. I stand today with those who oppose the Harman amendment and support life.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, the more Government taxes, the more it discourages people from doing productive work. The more Government taxes, the more it discourages business from increasing output and creating jobs. The more Government taxes, the more it discourages people from saving and investing. The more Government taxes, the harder it is for families to make ends meet, the harder it is for people to get ahead, the harder it is for individuals to realize their dreams. Mr. Speaker, these commonsense truisms apply, whether or not the Federal budget is in deficit or surplus. They apply, no matter what part of the business cycle the economy is in. They apply to those in industries and all sectors of the economy. Quite simply, taxes are a drag on the economy, and an obstacle to people who are pursuing their dreams. Let us make it easier for people to make ends meet, get ahead, and save for the future, create new jobs, and pursue their dreams. Let us pass the tax cut plan as part of the balanced budget agreement.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, the year was 1974 and that year Patty Hearst was kidnapped. In the same year Hank Aaron hit his 715th homerun. Those two stories were major headlines, but not many people knew that it was the last time the Government will have spent less than 20 percent of the Nation's economic resources. With the new balanced budget, Mr. Speaker, it is going to happen again. Mr. Speaker, the balanced budget will have $350 billion in gross tax cuts over 10 years for families, for education costs, and for economic growth. Last, Mr. Speaker, the balanced budget agreement will finally do what its name says. It will balance the budget. It will be balanced by 2002, and then keeps it in surplus. In summary, the agreement means smaller government, lower spending, lower taxes, and a balanced budget, all in one agreement. It cannot be emphasized enough that this happens in one agreement.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the resolution today offered by the gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon], an amendment to the Constitution that will give back to the American people the right to protect the one symbol that represents our great country more than any other, the American flag. America is truly the land of the free and the home of the brave, and many of our country's best and brightest fought hard and gave their lives to protect this Nation. Now we must fight to protect the symbol of all that this country stands for, the American flag, the sacred emblem of our country and our heritage of liberty that was purchased with blood and sorrow. Each time the flag is desecrated in America today, it is a slap in the face to the men and women who gave their lives to honor this country. By placing the flag in front of our homes and our businesses, we show honor to our veterans, and by desecrating it we show them disrespect. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join with me today in pledging allegiance to our flag.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the amendment offered by the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Smith], an amendment that would save literally countless children throughout the world, and in opposition to the alternative amendment which would only continue the status quo, dodging the real issue at hand. I would like to commend my colleague from New Jersey for taking action to try and prevent the use of hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars for promoting abortion and funding the international abortion industry. How can we justify using our hard-earned money for the purpose of helping foreign nations take the lives of innocent children? This is not what I would call foreign aid. I also commend my colleague for taking steps to save children from a death sentence. Just yesterday in Poland, Pope John Paul II stated that the right of life is not a question of ideology, not only a religious right, it is a human right. He also restated his belief that a nation which kills its own children is a nation without a future. The question we will vote on today is quite simply whether you oppose taxpayer funds being used to promote abortion in foreign countries or whether you support it, pure and simple.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the completion of Corridor X as an important transportation project, not only for the Fourth Congressional District, but also the southern region of the United States. Few people realize there is no four-lane highway that connects the cities of Birmingham, AL, the largest city in the State of Alabama, and Memphis, TN. For economic development and safety reasons, this is an unacceptable omission from our national highway system. The completion of Corridor X could connect these two major metropolitan areas by running through Birmingham and through the Fourth Congressional District. It must be remembered that 30 years ago Congress passed legislation to create a system of highways in the 13- State Appalachian region, including a route to connect Memphis and then through Birmingham. Unfortunately, today the people in my area still are waiting for this four-lane highway to be completed. Economic growth is hampered because it is so difficult to transport goods and services between Birmingham and Memphis and through the northwestern part of Alabama. The current inadequate two-line route is extremely dangerous, with traffic incidents or a fatality occurring almost every month in my district. Mr. Speaker, we need to reauthorize ISTEA and ensure that all States receive an equitable share of funds.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman.

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, given that both the House and the Senate have provided funds to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the community development block grant to help affected communities rebuild natural disasters, I ask the Chairman's commitment to work in conference on an issue regarding a community in my district that was recently struck by natural disaster. On April 22, the town of Rainsville, Alabama, in my district was severely damaged by a tornado. The town's fire department, police department and municipal buildings, as well as numerous homes and businesses were destroyed. Fortunately, there was no loss of life. However, the town of Rainsville only has a population of 3,800 and there are very limited local resources to help rebuild the municipal infrastructure. Although the State of Alabama has provided resources to rebuild the city, there is a small shortfall needed to reconstruct the city hall building. I am asking that the gentleman consider allocating funds to be administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to assist Rainsville in rebuilding the city hall. I would hope that the gentleman would consider this urgent request as H.R. 1469 moves to conference committee with the Senate.

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I wish to engage in a colloquy with the gentleman from California [Mr. Lewis].

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, as we consider this week the issue of juvenile crime and the ramifications that it has on our schools, I would like to express my concern about this important issue. By the year 2010, there will be a 31-percent increase in the number of juveniles in our country. Unfortunately, the problem of juvenile crime is predicted to increase drastically as well unless we act now. Kids today commit crimes because they know they can get away with it. A juvenile that commits a cold blooded murder can be back on the street in most cases in less than 1 year. We must realize that juveniles can be just as dangerous as adults and begin to treat them accordingly. The system must be reformed. Kids in America today need the support of teachers and families and churches so that they can know the difference between right and wrong, and they need to know that a crime of any sort will not be tolerated regardless of age. Our children and our children's children deserve to have the same environment to learn that all of us had growing up.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, During rollcall vote No. 105, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' I ask unanimous consent that the Record reflect my support for House Resolution 93, and that I be permitted to submit a statement for the Record. I am proud to speak today in favor of House Resolution 93. This resolution states that Congress should not change the consumer price index. If any changes are found to be necessary, they should be made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Federal agency with the necessary technical expertise and resources. Many Federal programs including Social Security, Medicare, and Veterans' benefits are tied to the consumer price index in order to determine cost-of-living adjustments based on inflation. Congress simply lacks the technical knowledge required to properly deal with any change in the consumer price index. Only the Bureau of Labor Statistics can adequately evaluate and address the situation. This resolution today makes this crystal clear. The consumer price index should not be politicized, nor should the budget be balanced through budgetary gimmicks. It is imperative that our Nation's seniors be protected. Promises have been made to our seniors that cannot be broken. I am committed to making sure that our Government keeps the promises it has made to the generation that saw us through some of the darkest moments of the 20th century.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I am not here to reiterate what has already been said about the partial-birth abortion procedure. We all know it is a gruesome and horrific way to end a life. We have heard the testimony of Brenda Pratt Shafer, a pro-choice nurse who wrote that witnessing this procedure was the ``most horrible experience of my life,'' and Mr. Ron Fitzsimmons admitting that we had been lied to about the frequency of abortions on healthy fetuses. We have been told that this procedure is used rarely, in dire circumstances and only to protect the health and life of the mother. But it is just not true. If we were to begin executing criminals by stabbing scissors in the back of their skulls and then sucking out their brains until the body goes limp, we would have every human rights group in this country screaming. I ask my colleagues to remember that over 400 doctors, including C. Everett Koop, the former Surgeon General, has stated that it is never medically necessary to have a partial-birth abortion. In fact, in many cases the health of the mother is highly at risk and jeopardized by this procedure.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, this evening as some of my colleagues are doing, I would like to take a few minutes to share my thoughts about the American family. I believe there is nothing more important than strengthening families in America today. As Representatives in Congress, we should ever be mindful of the role we play in supporting America's families. It is because of this belief that I intend to do everything in my power, the power given to me by the people of the Fourth District of Alabama, to take a stand on the issues that are affecting our Nation's families. Two of the greatest gifts I believe that we can give our children are a balanced budget and lower taxes. We need to cut spending and reduce the tax burden to make sure that we have strong economic growth so that our children and our children's children can enjoy the same benefits that we have been given. It is time for the Federal Government to take responsibility for its decisions and their effect on the American people. Federal spending should be reined in and controlled. Reducing the growth of Federal spending is the way to get a balanced budget, not by taking more money from hardworking people who are already struggling to make ends meet. By balancing the budget, a middle-class family easily saves $1,500 per year. Who do you know would turn down having an extra $1,500 per year in their pocket? Another pressing concern for families is taxes. The American family is the most heavily taxed entity in the Nation. As has been pointed out several times here tonight, the average family in 1954 were paying just about 2 percent of its adjusted gross income in Federal income taxes. Today that figure has soared to 25 percent. And when you add State and local taxes, the average family of four pays almost 40 percent of its income in taxes. Forty percent. That is more than most families spend on housing, clothing, and food combined. The strain of meeting America's crushing tax burden has forced many homemakers into the work force, reducing the amount of time that parents spend with their children by approximately one-half. Part of the Republican agenda is to allow families the opportunity to spend more time together. By giving men and women the option to choose comptime instead of overtime, they are given the chance to spend more time with their families. Last, tonight as we focus on the issue of abortion on the House floor tomorrow, an issue that greatly affects the very existence of families, I would like to state my unwavering commitment to restoring respect for human life, born and unborn, in the 105th Congress. As we consider the partial birth abortion ban, I ask my colleagues to consider the words of Mother Theresa, who once stated that abortion is the greatest destroyer of peace today. It is a war against the child, a direct killing of the innocent child. Let us put an end to this brutal procedure that has taken the lives of so many babies each year and every day. In closing, recently I brought a resolution to the floor that would reaffirm the role of the Ten Commandments as a cornerstone of a fair and just society. I believe that this symbolic gesture is important in reaffirming the Judeo-Christian values on which this Nation was founded. As Representatives in Congress, we should always be mindful of the role that we play in setting the course of the American family. This is an awesome responsibility. But with God's help to see the right, we can make this great Nation a city on the hill.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, in conclusion I would like to say that this resolution does not State that the Ten Commandments must be displayed in government buildings. It does not force anyone to believe in God, nor does it force anyone to obey the Ten Commandments. It merely reaffirms the importance of a vital religious symbol in American societal life. As a nation we could do worse than to affirm these principles, that these principles have a place in our society and in our legal system. Families in Oklahoma would still be whole if the perpetrators of the bombing had followed the command ``thou shalt not kill.'' The streets of Los Angeles would have been peaceful last Friday if two men had followed the command ``thou shalt not steal.'' Ronald Reagan said it best when he stated that billions of laws have been enacted throughout history and none of them have improved on the Ten Commandments one bit. Although this measure is a sense of Congress and it is not legally binding, I strongly believe that this resolution is an important symbolic gesture. I urge my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 31.

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution [Mr. Canady] for his support of this resolution, as well as the numerous friends and colleagues who have approached me in support of Judge Moore in Gadsden, AL. Mr. Speaker, the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. This resolution does not endorse any one religion but, rather, states that a religious symbol which has deep-rooted significance for our Nation and its history should not be excluded from the public square. When Alexis de Tocqueville came to the United States in 1831 to study how our democracy was working, he was struck by how religious America was. He was impressed that a system of government that allowed such freedom was able to maintain order. 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. The Founders devised a Constitution that depended on religion serving as a civilizing force in societal life. John Adams, our second President, and one of the intellectual forces behind the formation of our Nation, said that ``our Constitution was designed for a moral and religious people only. It is wholly inadequate to any other.'' But strangely today, there are those who seem determined to drive all trace of religion from the public sphere. They ignore the religious traditions on which this great Nation was founded and work to drive religion and religious people out of public life. Many of my colleagues are aware Judge Roy Moore, a circuit court judge in Gadsden, AL, which is located in my district, has been ordered to take down a two-plaque replica of the Ten Commandments displayed in his courtroom. This case is currently pending before the Alabama Supreme Court. Many of my colleagues have noted before that this House Chamber contains the face of Moses and the words ``in God we trust'' above the Speaker's chair. Each day we open with prayer in this great body, as was done a few minutes ago, and yet a small courtroom in Gadsden, AL, cannot hang a simple display of the Ten Commandments on the wall without running the risk of a lawsuit. Yet this resolution today is not just about Judge Moore and it is not just about the display of the Ten Commandments in Gadsden, AL. It is about our national heritage and the role that religion has historically played in our national life. Our Nation was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. The migration westward across the Atlantic, which began in the early 17th century, was due primarily to religious conviction. One of the most notable examples of this was Roger Williams. Roger Williams was the one who first used the phrase ``wall of separation'' in reference to religious liberty. He argued that the reason there needed to be a separation between the church and State was to protect the church, not the State. It is no small irony that the father of our religious liberty is about to be removed from the Capitol rotunda. The phrase ``wall of separation'' was also used by Thomas Jefferson in his letter to the Danbury Baptist Association. In this letter Thomas Jefferson argued that the goal of this ``wall of separation'' was to protect religious liberty, not to protect the workings of government from the influences of religion. 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 because it suggests an establishment of religion is not consistent with our Nation's heritage, let alone common sense itself. This Nation was founded on religious traditions that are an integral part of the fabric of American cultural, political, and societal life. How can we promote integrity in our leaders and improve the moral fiber of our people without a basis in some absolute standard?

Mr. ADERHOLT

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

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 581, a bill that would literally save the lives of countless children throughout the world. I commend my colleague from New Jersey [Mr. Smith] for introducing this important bill which would prevent international family planning funds from being used for abortion. I want to make this point very clear. Abortion is not family planning. I have heard many of my colleagues say that this debate is not about abortion, but rather about saving lives. How ironic. We have heard many say that this funding for family planning is essential. Congressman Smith's bill allows even more funding for family planning, so long as the funds are not used to promote abortion. The question we will vote on in a few minutes is quite simply whether you oppose taxpayers' funds being used to promote abortion in foreign countries or whether you oppose it, pure and simple. I am proud to stand today with those who oppose it and to support life. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Smith bill.