W. Akin

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, in just about a week or so, we're going to be sitting down at tables celebrating Thanksgiving and eating turkey and getting a little sleepy maybe afterwards. But as we think about Thanksgiving and we think about the holiday of Thanksgiving Day, it may be interesting and it may add a little richness to that holiday if we remember how it came about and what we have to be thankful for. There were originally a group of people that came to this country on the Mayflower, and a number of them onboard had the dream of building a new kind of country, something that Europe had never seen before. They believed that they would take principles that they found in the Bible and that they would apply them in a new way and create a new structure of what a country could look like. So they came to America. And after landing, within the first 4 months, half of them had died. And you would think they would pretty much give up on a dream at that point. The Mayflower had stayed to give them some protection and shelter, so it was in the early springtime that this group of the people that were left--about 55 of the Pilgrims--had to make a decision. You could think of it as actually voting, only voting with their feet. They were approached by the captain of the Mayflower, and the captain of the Mayflower said, Things aren't going so well. I've lost half my crew, and half of you are dead, and we are going to be heading back to England. And I recommend that you get on the Mayflower because you don't have adequate supplies, and you don't have really a knowledge of how you're going to be able to deal with the wilderness that you are living in. So it was that the Mayflower's captain gave the commands, the old seaweed-covered anchor cable was hauled onboard, the yardarms were trimmed to the wind, and first large and then small, the Mayflower disappears over the horizon. The wind is blowing through the trees, and 55 courageous men, women, and children stood on the beach. Why did they stay? They stayed because they believed in the dream that they had in their hearts, of making a new nation. And by staying, they gave us some things that we should be thankful for, not just the Thanksgiving turkey. First of all, they came with the idea that civil government and church government were separate types of governments, and the civil government shouldn't run the church or the other way around. So they were what was called in those days ``separatists'' because they wanted to separate from the King of England who was running the Church. So the first thing they gave us was the concept of separating civil and church governments. But the second thing that happened was, when they arrived in Massachusetts, they were blown off course by the storms; and so they had no government. So a group of free people, under God, wrote a document called the Mayflower Compact. It starts: ``In the name of God,'' and it goes on to say to frame just and equal laws. So what happened was a group of free people, under God, created a civil government, and that of course was the foundation of our Declaration of Independence. And all of American civil government we can trace back to these courageous 55 people who stayed on the beach. So as you're having your turkey, think about how they gave us the idea of separating civil and church governments, and also how it was that they gave us the idea that our Creator gives us life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Have a great Thanksgiving. God bless you.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Oliver Siebert of Chesterfield, Missouri. The French government recently awarded Mr. Siebert the Legion of Honor for his part in the liberation of Strasbourg, France. The medal and the accompanying title of Knight of the Legion of Honor is the highest military award given by the French government. Mr. Siebert, just twenty years old, was an acting second lieutenant leading the 324th infantry battalion and the 220th field artillery in November 1944. American forces, operating jointly with elements of the French Second Armored Division under the command of Captain Jean Penet, fought across the Vosges Mountains in the French Alps throughout October and November 1944. On 23 November 1944 elements of the French Army entered Strasbourg and liberated the city. Mr. Siebert's service did not end with the liberation of Strasbourg. While conducting operations in support of the assault of Hangviller on 27 November 1944, Mr. Siebert and a small group of American soldiers were captured by German SS soldiers disguised as U.S. troops. Three days later, after overpowering two SS officers and commandeering their car, he was able to escape and return to his duties as an artillery forward observer. On Christmas Day 1944 a German shell landed not far from his forward observation post and caused severe damage to his right leg. German strafing of the ambulance that evacuated him that night caused further damage that would require extensive surgery and lengthy convalescence to repair. After treatment at several American military hospitals, Mr. Siebert was honorably discharged on 18 August 1945. Mr. Siebert returned to St. Louis, earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Washington University and in 1948 married Virginia Turner, his wife now for more than 63 years. I am truly honored to have the opportunity to share this heroic story. This son of a truck driver for Anheuser-Busch, despite initially being rejected for military service because he was ``clinically blind'', did not give up his quest to do his part to defeat Nazi Germany. And now, almost seventy years later, I join the French government in honoring his sacrifice and service to the French people and these United States. Mr. Siebert, thank you. And may God Bless you and your family.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in full support for H.R. 3803, the District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. This legislation affects the District of Columbia, which, operating under authority delegated by Congress, repealed all limitations on abortion at any stage of pregnancy, effective April 29, 2004. H.R. 3803 would outlaw abortion in the District of Columbia on an unborn child 20 weeks or more after fertilization, except ``if, in reasonable medical judgment, the abortion is necessary to save the life of a pregnant woman whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness, or physical injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself,'' but not including psychological disorders or threats of self-injury. An unborn child can react to touch merely 8 weeks after fertilization, and after 20 weeks, the child can feel pain. At this 20- week mark, a child will recoil from painful stimuli and show significant increases in stress hormones, and fetal anesthesia is routinely administered to children who undergo surgery while still in the womb. There is significant medical evidence supporting the child's ability to experience pain at 20 weeks, if not earlier, and the unlimited abortion currently allowed in the District of Columbia is simply inhumane. I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of H.R. 3803, which is a morally necessary and common-sense piece of legislation, and I support it fully. Additionally, I firmly believe that our nation must protect human life at all stages, and unborn children are no exception. During my time in Congress, I have stood against abortion and supported numerous pieces of pro-life legislation. I am also a member of the Congressional Pro- Life Caucus, and I will continue to fight to protect the lives of the unborn in any way I can.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 535, and 536, I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 519, ``no'' on rollcall No. 520, ``no'' on rollcall No. 521, ``no'' on rollcall No. 522, ``no'' on rollcall No. 523, ``no'' on rollcall No. 524, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 525, ``no'' on rollcall No. 526, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 527, ``no'' on rollcall No. 528, ``no'' on rollcall No. 529, ``no'' on rollcall No. 530, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 531, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 532, ``no'' on rollcall No. 533, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 534, ``no'' on rollcall No. 535 and ``aye'' on rollcall No. 536.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 502 and 503 I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 502 and ``aye'' on rollcall No. 503.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 487, 488, 489, 490, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497 and 498 I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 487, ``no'' on rollcall No. 488, ``no'' on rollcall No. 489, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 490, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 491, ``no' on rollcall No. 492, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 493, ``no'' on rollcall No. 494, ``no'' on rollcall No. 495, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 496, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 497 and ``aye'' on rollcall No. 498.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 472, 473, 474, 475, 476, 477, 478, 479, 480, 481, 482, 483, 484, 485 and 486 I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 472, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 473, ``no'' on rollcall No. 474, ``no'' on rollcall No. 475, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 476, ``no'' on rollcall No. 477, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 478, ``no'' on rollcall No. 479, ``no'' on rollcall No. 480, ``no'' on rollcall No. 481, ``no'' on rollcall No. 482, ``no'' on rollcall No. 483, ``no'' on rollcall No. 484, ``no'' on rollcall No. 485, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 486.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 471, I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 469 and 470 I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 469, and ``aye'' on rollcall No. 470.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 468, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 456, 457 and 458 I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 456, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 457 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 458.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 455 I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 452, 453 and 454 I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 452, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 453 and ``aye'' on rollcall No. 454.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 443 and 444, I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 443, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 444. Personal Explanation

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the late Dr. William S. Knowles. Dr. Knowles of Chesterfield, MO passed away on June 13 at the age of 95, but not before contributing something of significant value to the world. In the 1960's Dr. Knowles began working as a chemist at Monsanto Co. in St. Louis. After years of research he and his colleagues were able to formulate a process that produces L-Dopa, a molecule that effectively limits the tremors associated with Parkinson's disease. For his successful efforts, in 2001 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry for having helped open a completely new field of research. Though he is no longer with us today, Dr. Knowles' legacy lives on. With his discovery, the nearly 500,000 Americans who are afflicted with Parkinson's disease are now able to better treat their symptoms. They and their loved ones are able to live richer, fuller lives than was previously thought possible. Dr. William Knowles and his research represent the thoughtful innovation that Missouri has to offer the world. His ingenuity and dedication to his field, and the people he has helped, will long be remembered and recognized as an honorable service. It is without question that Dr. Knowles helped make this world a better place. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognition of his contributions.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 376, 377 and 378 I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 376 ``aye'' on rollcall No. 377 and ``aye'' on rollcall No. 378. Personal Explanation

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Chair, on rollcall Nos. 371, 372, 373, 374 and 375 I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 371, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 372, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 373, ``no'' on rollcall No. 374, and ``aye'' on rollcall No. 375.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 362, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 363, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 364, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 365, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 366, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 367, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 368, ``no'' on rollcall No. 369, and ``aye'' on rollcall No. 370.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 360 and 361, I was delayed and unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 360 and ``aye'' on rollcall No. 361.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 359, 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 to recognize the World Affairs Council of St. Louis, and to honor the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center as the 2012 recipient of the Council's International Humanitarian of the Year Award. The World Affairs Council of St. Louis is dedicated to educating, inspiring, and engaging citizens and businesses in international affairs and the critical global issues of our times. It is the oldest such organization in St. Louis. Each year, the World Affairs Council of St. Louis welcomes more than 300 visitors to the greater metropolitan area, including leading ambassadors and other foreign dignitaries, as well as students from around the world. The Council's mission is to promote understanding, engagement, relationships, and leadership in world affairs, and it connects the citizens of the St. Louis region with the world. The Council's International Humanitarian of the Year Award, its highest honor, recognizes the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center this year for its mission to improve the human condition through crop research which centers on feeding the hungry, improving human health and preserving the environment. This award specifically recognizes the Center's Institute for International Crop Improvement, which aims to bring improved crops to small farmers in places such as Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso. These crops yield more per acre, are richer in essential nutrients, and resistant to disease, insects and drought, and they can bring tremendous benefit to small farmers. The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center serves as a seed of hope in the St. Louis region--applying research to better address malnutrition, preserve our environment, and explore novel, sustainable energy solutions. The World Affairs Council honors Danforth Center's leadership as an essential part of fostering this valuable, humanitarian-based research which can impact the lives of farmers and citizens in nations throughout the world. On June 7, 2012, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center will receive the International Humanitarian of the Year Award. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognition of this honor.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Doctor William Uhland. Dr. William Uhland grew up in the town of Arbuckle, California, which at the time had a population of 800. When he was fifteen, his father died, and he went to work to support his mother and younger brother. After graduating high school, he went on to earn a bachelors degree from Chico State University, a masters degree from San Jose State University, and a Ph.D. from Rutgers University. Dr. Uhland is a nuclear chemist who is involved in the production and research of radiopharmaceuticals. For the past decade he has been with Covidien-Mallinckrodt, at their plant in Maryland Heights, Missouri. This plant has six cyclotrons, capable of accelerating protons up to 30 MeV kinetic energy. Several times a year he travels to the Covidien- Mallinckrodt plant in Petten, Holland, where they have two cyclotrons and a nuclear reactor. At these facilities he is busy ensuring that the badly needed supply of radiopharmaceuticals is available to the hospitals and nuclear pharmacies. He is involved with the production of such essential drugs as thallium-201 for cardiac imaging, indium-111 for tumor detection, gallium-67 for tumor and infection detection, iodine-123 for thyroid imaging, iodine-131 for thyroid therapy, and molybdenum-99 to be used for technetium-99m generators (aka ``Moly Kows''). In addition to this, he is currently involved in the production of a new radiopharmaceutical, which is proprietary at this time. Dr. Uhland's contributions also include eight text-books on chemistry and physics (REA Press, Piscataway, New Jersey), and eight patents. He and his wife, Dr. Elaine T. Jurkowski, are also active in their community. They are active in their parish, Incarnate Word, where they are lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and deliver Holy Communion to the ill and elderly. They are also members of the Wellness Ministry, Bereavement Ministry, and Disability Ministry. Dr. Uhland provides free tutoring in mathematics and science to students in high school and college. Some of these youngsters are first generation college attendees from single parent families. Dr. Uhland is a shining example of the innovation, scholarship and leadership that we have in Missouri. I thank Dr. Uhland for his service to his community, the St. Louis region and the nation. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognition of his contributions.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4310, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013. As chairman of the Seapower Subcommittee, there are many aspects of this bill that are commendable. First of all, from a Navy point of view, we are maintaining the cadence of building two fast-attack boats every year. That has significant implications relative to our industrial base. Likewise, we are going to be building two destroyers a year, so we have made some changes to the President's budget there. We're also requiring that the Navy keeps at least 12 ballistic missile submarines that are an important leg of our triad. I would also call attention to a couple of amendments that I have offered. The first is that we have worked with information that we've gotten from overseas on the evacuation procedures that are being done and the speed with which our sons and daughters are being picked up on the battlefield. There is nothing wrong with the great people who are working the medevacs. We are concerned with DOD policy, however--that that policy may be resulting in unnecessary delays. Secondly, this bill contains an amendment that I offered to protect First Amendment rights of people in the service and chaplains, in particular. Unfortunately, it seems that this is against what the White House, many Democrats, and The New York Times all seem to want. The heart of the amendment is to say that if you are a chaplain, you are not going to be forced to perform ceremonies that you think are wrong. It protects what we call ``free speech,'' the First Amendment, and also the right of religious freedom. It does the same thing for our servicemembers. And it seems ironic that there is opposition to affording First Amendment rights to our sons and daughters who are fighting for our First Amendment rights. So this seems like it should be very noncontroversial, allowing people to follow the dictates of their own conscience. But it seems to be meeting stiff resistance, nonetheless. Lastly, I wanted to make sure that in this bill, we make absolutely clear that there's nothing in this bill which gets in the way of our habeas corpus rights in America and that no American citizen can be unlawfully detained, and that the right of habeas corpus, as a constitutional right, is in no way abridged by this bill.

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 181, I was unavoidably detained and would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. AKIN

Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Sergeant First Class Frederic Nicholas Moses. A combat decorated veteran who deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan to serve his country, to protect those who could not protect themselves. SFC Moses was born on 06 May 1985 in St. Charles, Missouri. He graduated from Duchesne High School in St. Charles, Missouri in 2003 and enlisted in the United States Army on 01 June 2004 as an 18X. He attended Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2006, he was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky as a Special Forces Communications Sergeant. He deployed with the Battalion Signal Detachment to Taji, Iraq from October 2007 to May 2008 in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM V. He went on to join Special Forces Operational Detachment--Alpha 5326, and deployed with them to Baqubah, Iraq from January through July 2009 in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM VI, and conducted a Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) exercise to Jordan from January through March 2010. SFC Moses then deployed to Baqubah, Iraq from August 2010 through March 2011 in support of Operation NEW DAWN. Following a short training cycle, he returned to Jordan for a second JCET exercise from October through November 2011. Most recently, SFC Moses deployed to Baghlan-e-Jadid, Afghanistan from January through February 2012 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM XVIII. SFC Moses' military education included Airborne School, Special Forces Assessment and Selection, Survival, Escape, Resistance and Evasion Course, Special Forces Qualification Course, Ranger School, Jumpmaster School, Basic Military Mountaineering Course, and the Advanced Special Operations Techniques Course. SFC Moses' awards and decorations included the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and Army Achievement Medal. His decorations included the Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Parachutist Badge. Today, we pay our respects and honor the life of Frederic Nicolas ``Nic'' Moses. His dedication to his job and fellow soldiers was unquestionable and unwavering. A hero to many, the community of St. Charles, and all who have served with him, will miss him. To his family, we offer our prayers and gratitude for providing the world a great young man who made a positive impact on not only his community, but communities around the world. I ask that my colleagues join me today in honoring the life of Nicholas Moses.