W. Akin

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 137 and 138, I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 137 and ``aye'' on rollcall No. 138.

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 134, 135, and 136, I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on all three.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 130, 131, 132 and 133, I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on all four.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 127, 128 and 129, I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on all three.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Madam Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 127 and 128, I would have voted ``yes.'' personal explanation

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 115, 116 and 117, I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``no'' on No. 115, ``no'' on No. 116, and ``aye'' on No. 117. personal explanation

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 113 and 114, I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on both.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 111 and 112, I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on both.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 78 and 79, I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on No. 78, and ``aye'' on No. 79.

Mr. AKIN. Madam Chair, on rollcall Nos. 75, 76 and 77, I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``no'' on all three.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 74, I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 73, I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3248, a bill I introduced to honor the life of Drew W. Weaver by designating the post office in Saint Charles, Missouri, as the ``Lance Corporal Drew W. Weaver Post Office Building.'' A resident of Saint Charles, Missouri, Lance Corporal Drew W. Weaver was part of the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. On February 21, 2007, Lance Corporal Weaver died while conducting combat operations in the al Anbar province of Iraq. As Captain Mark C. Brown noted, Drew was ``known for his enthusiasm and his ability to motivate the people around him.'' Drew's contribution to his country was honored by his community when hundreds of people showed up to his memorial service and procession. A graduate of Saint Charles West High School, friends and family of Drew remember him as an energetic young man who was eager to serve his country. Ryan Hanson, his best friend and a fellow serviceman, said, ``Drew loved what he was doing and was proud of what he was doing in the Marine Corps.'' As the father of three marines, one of whom has served in Iraq, it is a privilege to stand here today to honor one of our fallen marines. Drew's commitment and dedication to his country is a shining example of how our military men and women are the finest the Nation has to offer. His and his family's sacrifice should serve as a reminder to all of us that the freedom we enjoy as Americans is not free but the result of tremendous bravery and selfless service of men and women willing to put themselves in harm's way for freedom's cause. As Reverend James Benz noted during Drew's funeral, ``I think we can learn from them that the freedom we enjoy in this country is precious, that it is special, and that it must be preserved sometimes at great personal cost.'' Our Nation will be forever indebted to Lance Corporal Drew Weaver. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in honoring Lance Corporal Drew Weaver. Vote ``yes'' on H.R. 3248.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3247, a bill I introduced on the life of Matthew P. Pathenos by designating the post office in Chesterfield, Missouri, as the Lance Corporal Matthew P. Pathenos Post Office Building. A resident of Baldwin, Missouri, Lance Corporal Matthew Pathenos was part of the 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division of the Marine Forces Reserve. On February 7, 2007, Lance Corporal Pathenos was killed during combat operations in the al Anbar province of Iraq. Matthew was often described by family and friends as a friendly young man who always had a joke to tell and a smile on his face. Matthew decided to go join the military in order to follow his older brother into his country's service with the hope of helping those who could not help themselves. Matthew's then-girlfriend, Erin, calls Lance Corporal Pathenos her hero and wishes she might one day possess a fraction of his bravery and discipline. As the father of three marines, one of whom has served in Iraq, it is a privilege to stand here today to honor one of our fallen marines. Matthew's commitment and dedication to his country is a shining example of how our military men and women are the finest our Nation has to offer. His and his family's sacrifice should serve as a reminder to all that the freedom we enjoy in America is not free but the result of the tremendous bravery and selfless service of men and women willing to put themselves in harm's way for freedom's cause. Our Nation will be forever indebted to Lance Corporal Matthew Pathenos. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in honoring Lance Corporal Matthew Pathenos. Vote ``yes'' on H.R. 3247.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 22, I was detained briefly for the vote. If I'd been in Chamber I would have voted ``aye.'' Stated against:

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think that perhaps before we give the report on the status of seapower, I would make the comment that if this sequestration goes through, which people are talking about, it gravely influences the ability of our country to protect itself, and it hollows out our force. As it is, if that were to go through, we would have the smallest Navy or a Navy smaller than we had in the year 1916. However, this particular authorization bill has some good aspects. One of the things it does is support the construction of 10 new ships in the budget request. The bill also is going to require a competitive acquisition strategy for the main engine of the next-generation bomber. That's a place we've gotten in trouble before. It allows the retirement of six B-1 aircraft but still maintains the requirement for 36 aircraft for the next 2 years. It provides the recommended force from the Air Force of the strategic airlift of 301 aircraft comprised of C-17s and C-5s. It also requires the GAO to conduct an annual review on the new tanker program which the military has just entered into. I would be remiss if I didn't call our attention to a historic pattern that has occurred all through America's past. That is, in times of peace, we keep cutting defense and cutting defense, and then some war comes up and we don't have what we need, and we sacrifice a lot of lives and money. We also give ourselves fewer political possibilities because we are not prepared. We are rapidly approaching that same mistake once again in our history with the danger of the sequestration. We've already taken almost a 10 percent cut in defense, $450 billion. As a Navy guy, what that means is 45 aircraft carriers. That's how much we've cut. We only have 11 in the Navy. You're not supposed to lose them or sink them. This would be the equivalent of cutting 45 aircraft carriers. That's before sequestration. We must be careful.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3246, a bill I introduced to honor the life of Peter J. Navarro by designating the post office in Ballwin, Missouri, as the Specialist Peter J. Navarro Post Office Building. A resident of Wildwood, Missouri, Specialist Peter J. Navarro was part of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team and the 1st Armored Division. On December 13, 2005, Specialist Navarro was one of four soldiers killed when a roadside bomb detonated near their Humvee during combat operations in Taji, Iraq. A graduate of Lafayette High School, Peter declined his acceptance at Truman State University so that he could join the Army right after his graduation. When Peter returned home for his younger brother's funeral, he was faced with the undeniable risks of serving his country. However, he returned to Iraq, telling friends and family that without him ``they would be a man short. They need me there.'' Peter was a dedicated soldier, willing to give the ultimate sacrifice to protect his country and the men and women who reside there. As Peter's father, Retired Chief Petty Officer Jose Navarro, said, ``He cared for the soldiers he worked with. He would do anything for his friends. And he told me he believed in what the mission was.'' As the father of three marines, I have watched my boys deploy to both Iraq and Afghanistan. As such, it's a privilege to stand here today to honor one of our fallen soldiers. Peter's commitment and dedication to his country is a shining example of how our military men and women are the finest our Nation has to offer. He and his family's sacrifice should serve as a reminder to all of us that the freedom we enjoy as Americans is not free, but it's the result of the tremendous bravery and selfless service of men and women willing to put themselves in harm's way for freedom's cause. Our Nation will be forever indebted to Specialist Peter Navarro. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in honoring Peter. Vote ``yes'' on H.R. 3246.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember Mr. William Gibbs a veteran of World War II who passed into glory on 19 October 2011. The youngest son of John and Maimi Gibbs, William Dale Gibbs was born on 21 June 1926 in Salem, Missouri, in the heart of the Ozarks. Like many in those years, Mr. Gibbs' parent found work hard to come by and eventually moved the family to St. Louis to find employment. At the age 18, with World War II still raging, Mr. Gibbs enlisted in the United States Army and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, 325th Glider Regiment. The 82nd was the Army's first Airborne Division. Mr. Gibbs and his unit played a lead role in blunting the German advance during the Battle of the Bulge. He and his unit saw heavy fighting, suffering heavy casualties, throughout World War II. Mr. Gibbs saw and experienced many things during his service in Europe, but none seemed to impact him as much as the following . . . ``. . . Upon completion of their objectives, the division moved again towards the Rhine River and Cologne. From there, the order of duty was to push forward into the Rhineland, and then moved again towards Berlin, winding up in a town called Ludwigslust. Here they captured a concentration camp (Camp Wobbelin) which held several thousand prisoners, many were already dead and the remaining were in very poor condition. The survivors were so elated, they were out of control. Their weak mental conditions coupled with the language barrier made it very difficult to administer to their needs. Out of respect for the prisoners, General [James ``Jumpin' Jim''] Gavin ordered a proper burial of the dead prisoners in the center of town. A formal memorial and burial service was conducted by the 325th division Chaplin, Major [George B.] Wood. The German townspeople were forced to dig the graves and attend the service. There were approximately 10,000 Germans in attendance. After the encounter at Concentration Camp Wobbelin, the unit moved ahead towards the Elbe River. They had great pleasure in liberating some POW camps along the way. The soldiers were reunited with some of the 82nd Airborne Division who had been POWs captured in Italy over a year before.'' According to his son, David, Mr. Gibbs retold this story many times over his life. It was during his earliest memory of this story that David first saw his father cry. Like so many of his generation, at the end of the war, Mr. Gibbs returned home, married and went to work. After completing his education and finding employment with International Shoe Company, he married Shirley Mae Warfel and together they raised a family of three boys and a girl--though they experienced the loss of their first born to leukemia at age five. The passing of William Dale Gibbs reminds me that all too soon we will lose the World War II generation to history. While we may be losing them, we should not lose their stories and the lessons they teach; one of which is there are, in fact, things for which we should fight, and if necessary, die to preserve and protect. On behalf of a grateful nation, thank you Mr. Gibbs for your service and sacrifice in Europe; and for returning home and raising sons and a daughter who were so very proud to call you ``Dad''.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 889, 890 and 891, I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on all three.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the St. Louis Ballet located in St. Louis, Missouri. For over ten years, Gen Horiuchi has served as the artistic director of the St. Louis Ballet. His international reputation with major choreographers throughout the world has enabled the St. Louis Ballet to bring original productions to the St. Louis region. The St. Louis Ballet has played a vital role in community development by facilitating culture and arts in the St. Louis area. The ballet has been involved in community outreach to foster children in offering free private lessons and to Senior Assisted Living facilities in making the art of ballet and ballet performances more accessible. Ballet truly is an artistic skill that embodies the American spirit as much as it emboldens young people to push limits and succeed in whatever they chose to do. The St. Louis Ballet School does just that as it produces many fine dancers that demonstrate high degrees of teamwork, care for others, respect, and discipline. Mr. Horiuchi's ballet is constantly transitioning and evolving, allowing for greater expression and freedom to explore and to advance. It is traits like these that Americans are hungry for in this current time in our history. I congratulate the St. Louis Ballet's exemplary example of the leadership St. Louis and in Missouri as a whole. I am pleased to honor them in their continued endeavor to bring art and culture to the St. Louis region.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 816 and 817, I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on both.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Madam Chair, on rollcall Nos. 695 and 696, I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on both.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 697 and 698, I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 697 and ``aye'' on rollcall No. 698. Authorizing the Clerk to Correct Engrossment

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Senator Kay Hagan: Thank you and good morning. If I wasn't here, and I was actually back in my home state of North Carolina on a Wednesday morning, I would attend a prayer breakfast with a small group of women at my church. And I have asked them today to pray for you and to lift all of you up in prayer and to pray for peace. I do want to read from the Old Testament, Isaiah chapter 40 verses 28 through 31. ``Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint and strengthens the powerless. Even youth will faint and be weary and the young will fall exhausted but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint.'' Congressman Miller: Sometimes as busy people we say that we are buried in our work. Our next presenter knows the literal meaning of the term. Along with 32 other miners, he endured 69 days half a mile under ground in a Chilean mine. The world marveled at the technological achievement of their rescue. Congresswoman Kirkpatrick: Our guest today brings us the story of how God protected and encouraged them until their rescue. Please welcome the man who led those miners in worship and prayer throughout those dark and fearful days, Jose Enriquez. Translating for Jose will be the chaplain of the President of Chile, Reverend Alfred Cooper. [Applause] [Mr. Jose Enriquez] Mr. Cooper translating for Mr. Enriquez: First of all, greeting to President Obama and all present, government authorities and church authorities. My name is Jose Enriquez. I thank God for being in this place. I have come to give a testimony of what God did in that mine of San Jose. On the 5th of August, we were surprised by a rock fall and an explosion, and we had to organize ourselves down there to face this crisis. We had many difficulties, but we were able to overcome them. Organizing ourselves into a democratic community, we voted 50 plus one for every major decision and we went along with it. We realized, however, that we only had one alternative and that was God, himself. We were different creeds and different churches, so I got them all in a circle and began to teach the miners how to pray with participative prayer. We made sure that each one, in his own way, could pray and participate. And as we prayed, we began to know the presence and blessing of God among us down in the mine. We were strengthened and our spirits were revived. We had some serious problems. We had very little food--for three days only, we had no water and we had to sort out the jobs like repairing the electrics and the piping. So we decided that, unless we prayed and God did a miracle, there would be no way out. And that became our daily hope and comfort as we began to pray--that He would do miracles among us and solve our problems. The first 17 days were the worst, with no communication with the outside world. But we kept preaching the word of God. And God was with us and among us and he began to deal with us and teach and speak to us. He began to reconcile the inevitable tensions that occur in such a situation. And so in this democratic, not secular democratic but praying democratic, community God began to reconcile us together. And so we would get the one with the other and force them to shake their hands and to become reconciled and we maintained the peace and the community spirit down there that way. And then we had the great miracle where the second drill, the first one had passed us by, glanced off a rock and broke in at exactly the right level, at exactly the right angle to enable our rescue. And then of course you know the rest of the story--52 days of surviving down there but now in touch with the outside world. At last we were able to eat. We got our beef steaks that we wanted, and we got all our medication. And then, this was the greatest blessing of all that came down that small pipe, small Bibles, because those fitted. They came down, and I then had a Bible to speak from, and I could preach more powerfully and profoundly from the very word of God. There was one Bible for each man with his name on it. There is so much to tell you, dear folk. And finally that day came when we were rescued. And even before we went up, I encouraged them to get on their knees and pray one final time. Some wanted to dive into the capsule and get out immediately. But we said, no, hold it, wait one moment: we're going to pray first. We had that final time of prayer together. I said to them, brethren, we pray to our God in a desperate situation, and he answered our prayers. So now we wish to pray and thank God and bless God for all the help from all over the world. We blessed the capsule and thanked God for the work that so many had put into it--the many authorities, politicians, our very President who committed himself sparing no expense or effort to make sure we were found. And then came that great day when we began to come up one by one--which it seems all of you saw, and the whole world was watching. We felt the best way to express what we were feeling was to wear this t-shirt that we sent to be made, it said: ``Thank you God. Thank you Lord Jesus. Thank you for having saved us.'' And then we came out to hug our wives and loved ones. Glory to God! Congresswoman Kirkpatrick: We know of course that the President does not run the government alone but draws the greatest talent from the 50 states to serve the people. Tom Vilsack previously served as the Governor of the State of Iowa and serves our nation as our Secretary of Agriculture. Congressman Miller: To pray for the leaders of the world, Secretary Tom Vilsack. Secretary Tom Vilsack: Let us bow our heads and pray to the God who comforts us and watches over us. For our world leaders, our prayer is for them to remember and to live the beatitudes. Blessed are the leaders who are poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the leaders who are meek, for they and their people shall posses the earth. Blessed are the leaders who mourn, for they and their people shall be comforted. Blessed are the leaders who hunger and thirst for justice, for they and their people shall be satisfied. Blessed are the leaders who are merciful, for they and their people shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the leaders who are clean of heart, for they and their people shall see God. And blessed are the leaders who are peacemakers, for they and their people shall be called Children of God. Blessed are the leaders who suffer persecution for justice sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Let us pray that our world leaders do justice, love kindness and walk the path according to God's plan. Amen. Congresswoman Kirkpatrick: There may be no more potent or effective force on good earth than the power of story. There are those precious few gifted artists who can shape the ideas in histories of the human struggle into the form that touches and transforms us all. We have one such artist among us this morning. Randall Wallace has touched audiences around the world with his cinematic masterpieces such as ``We Were Soldiers,'' ``Secretariat,'' my favorite, ``Pearl Harbor'' and especially, ``Braveheart,'' a tribute to his Scottish ancestor, William Wallace. We look forward to receiving the power of the words he has chosen to share with us this morning. Please welcome Randall Wallace. Mr. Randall Wallace: Mr. President, Mrs. Obama, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, international guests, all of you here today, it is a great honor for me to be with you. An introduction like this sort of covers me with Hollywood glory, and whenever I am introduced that way I feel compelled to tell a story that relates exactly how glamorous I am. My first big break in Hollywood was when I was promoted to producer and sent to take over a television show that was in trouble. The ratings were low, the actors were unhappy, and unhappiest of all was a gorgeous young woman who had been Miss Universe. So, before I went out to meet them, I bought what I considered the essential piece of equipment for a producer: a strap to hold my sunglasses so they could dangle around my neck. My plan was to walk up, say, ``Hi, I'm Randall Wallace,'' snap off my sunglasses, make my point, and then close with a dramatic flourish by putting them on again. I figured the actors would love it. So I walked up to Miss Universe, said ``Hi, I'm Randall Wallace,'' snapped off my glasses and said, ``I know you're not happy. You haven't been given enough to do. But I'm in charge of this show now--the writing, directing, everything. So if you have any problems, you come to me.'' And I snapped my sunglasses back on. But while I was talking, I'd been fidgeting with my tie, and I did this. There is no fallback position from that position. A friend told me it may have been the first time in Hollywood history that an actress wondered whom she would have to seduce to get out of a job. Movies are arguably America's most influential export--but guys like me don't seem the obvious choice to speak at a prayer breakfast. When I was directing ``We Were Soldiers'' at Fort Benning, Georgia, I found time one weekend to drive over to visit former President Carter's Sunday lesson at his home church in Plains. I asked a friend who knew the Carters to save me a seat, and when I arrived, I found the seat was right next to Rosalyn Carter. Apparently, Mrs. Carter, gracious Southern lady that she is, had wanted to be sure I felt at home. I sat down and Mr. Carter asked the congregation to open their pew Bibles to a passage that was the subject of his lesson. Now I grew up in Baptist churches, and I was familiar with the passage he was about to read. So I took the chance to open the hymn book to check on the lyrics of a hymn I was thinking of using in our film. And as I was thumbing through the hymn book, Mrs. Carter touched my arm and handed me her Bible, opened to the right passage. And I realized in that moment that Mrs. Carter had logically assumed that since I was a Hollywood director I didn't know the difference between a hymn book and a Bible. And I have to admit, it did strike me that I had the perfect chance to steal Mrs. Carter's Bible. If anyone stopped me, I'd just say, ``She gave it to me.'' It was worn with use, marked with joy and tears. Imagine what it would bring on e-bay. To prepare myself, I've studied the speeches of those who have preceded me in this position in past years. The causes they've advocated from this podium are vital, and I have no way to compete with their accomplishments or their eloquence. So this morning I'd like to do something that as nearly as I can tell is unprecedented for a keynote address at the National Prayer Breakfast. I'd like to speak about . . . prayer. I'm not a philosopher. I'm not a preacher. I'm a storyteller. Like Jesus. As nearly as I can tell, that is my only similarity to Him. Actually there is one other: I too have cried out, ``My God, why have you forsaken me.'' I've lived a life of tremendous privilege. I grew up just down the road from here, in Lynchburg, Virginia. Virginians are a righteous and sober people, too proud to tell a lie. But I was born in Tennessee. My father was born in Lizard Lick, Tennessee. The men in my father's family are Alton, Elton, Dalton, Lymon, Gleaman, Herman, Thurman and Clyde. They called Clyde, Pete. Nobody knew why. When I was a child I suffered from attacks of asthma so severe that I couldn't breathe at all, and I had the real sense that if I panicked I would die. Grandmother would hold me in her lap all night long, and she would sing to me, and tell me stories from her childhood, and from the Bible. And she would look into my eyes, and she would smile. And I don't look at blue eyes to this day without seeing hers. And as I grew older, I found her looking at me in a different way--quietly, distantly, and so I asked her, ``Grandmother, why are you looking at me that way?'' And she answered, ``You remind me of Rufe.'' Rufe was her husband--my grandfather--who had died before I was born. Of course, I became hungry to learn about him, so I asked my father to tell me what he was like, and he told me this story. During the Great Depression my grandfather, who was a farmer, decided to open a country store to feed his family. There was no wood to be had and no money to buy any, but he found a wrecked riverboat on the shore of the Tennessee River, and he salvaged that wood to build his store. But he needed cash to buy the stock to sell, and there was one place in town that paid cash for labor, and that was the plant where they froze huge blocks of ice, and men would pick them up with tongs and sling them up onto wagons so they could sell them to farmers whose homes had no electricity. My grandfather was the only white man who did that job; all the rest were what they then called ``colored'' men. So his first day on the job, the supervisor, another white man, approached my grandfather and told him, ``Listen, I just want you to know, all I got on this crew besides you is a bunch of . . . Colored men, and I cuss at `em to make `em work. So if I forget myself and I call you an S.O.B., don't pay me no mind, I don't mean nothin' by it, that's just the way I am.'' And my grandfather looked at the supervisor and said, ``I understand completely. And I just want you to know that if you do forget yourself, and you call me an S.O.B., and I hit you in the face with a claw hammer, don't pay me no mind, I don't mean nothin' by it, that's just the way I am.'' And in that one story I understood exactly who my grandfather was, and exactly who I wanted to be. And I understood the power of a story. My father, and mother, worked extremely hard so that I could go to school. He was a salesman who loved his customers, and he rose in his company, with promotion after promotion . . . until one day the family-owned company he had worked for twenty years was sold to a professional investment group who knew nothing about the business itself but who believed it would prosper if they fired all the old guys and hired cheaper younger guys. My father was one of the old guys. He was 38. I've always wondered if my father lived his life hungry for the father he'd never had; his own father had died before he was born--the grandfather he'd told me about was my mother's father, not his. He had never been fired from anything. The strongest and best man I ever knew, and he had a complete breakdown. While he was in the hospital, my sister and I were farmed out to relatives. For awhile, we lived in a house that had no indoor plumbing. When I told my father about that he said, ``Well . . . rich people have a canopy over their beds--and we've got a can of pee under ours.'' And that's when I knew my daddy would be all right. The last sale he had made for his old company was for 90,000 dollars--in 1961. The first sale he made when he started his next job was for 90 cents. Working one hundred hours a week, he clawed his way back to success. God Bless America. And God bless my Daddy. He told me that I could go to college anywhere--something he and my mother had never gotten a chance to do. I chose the most expensive place possible--and he was so proud. But when I graduated, I didn't want to be a doctor or a lawyer, I wanted to be a writer. I wanted to tell the kind of stories that would let a young man know who his ancestors were, and who he might be. The kind of story that might keep a child alive through a long night.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 601 and 602, I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on both.