Marion Berry

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise here today to pay tribute to one of Arkansas's finest educational institutions, Arkansas State University. The University will commemorate its 100th anniversary this month. This achievement is a significant milestone for this school and all who helped shape its history. On April 1st, 2009, the Jonesboro Community will gather at Arkansas State University to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the passage of Act 100, which established the first four agricultural schools in Arkansas. Over the past several decades, ASU has been the beneficiary of a foundation of excellence, built by the hard work and dedication from faculty, alumni, administrators and the community. Many individuals have invested in ensuring the success of the school, and thanks to their efforts we are also here today to thank them for their service. To build a great school, time and patience are needed to attract and sustain a great faculty, develop a strong academic program, and foster an alumni network. The process is long and arduous, but Arkansas State University is resilient and continues to produce distinguished alumni and groundbreaking achievements year after year. Arkansas State University with its first-rate, innovative style of education provides an unparalleled learning experience for their students. The growing strength of the school is demonstrated by the success of its students after they graduate and its world renowned reputation. Most importantly, the ideas and achievements from ASU's alumni will continue to transform and benefit our nation for generations. I stand here today to ask my colleagues in the United States Congress to join me in congratulating Arkansas State University on this significant milestone. Arkansas State University has been powering the minds of its students for 100 years. The University has come a long way, has much to celebrate, and more successes to anticipate in the years to come.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise here today to pay tribute to a dear friend, Dr. John Grobmyer Tedford. His successes are many, but it is his outstanding service to the field of medicine that demands recognition. I am proud to honor Dr. Tedford for his lifetime of service to his patients, his community and our country. Dr. Tedford was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1941 to William L. Tedford and Dorothy Grobmyer Tedford. Aside from his time in college and serving our country in Vietnam, he spent his entire life in Little Rock. He attended Hall High School but graduated from Forrest City High School after Governor Orval Faubus closed Little Rock's high schools in 1958-59 during the school integration struggle. He later went to college to study pre-med at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. At the age of 20, he went to the University of Arkansas School of Medicine and received his medical degree in 1966. After meeting through some mutual friends, Tedford married Judy Stoltz on October 28, 1993. Dr. Tedford was a simple man who avoided fancy material possessions. Instead, he preferred to go to his favorite place, which was a cedar house his family built for him and spend time with nature. He especially enjoyed bass fishing and turkey and duck hunting. In addition, he enjoyed playing doubles tennis with his wife. Although Tedford enjoyed sports and hunting, his patients were always his first priority. For example, in 1968 he joined the Navy and asked to be sent to Vietnam with the Marines to serve as a doctor, taking care of sick and injured troops. While in Vietnam, Tedford and his battalion were struck by a bomb. Despite his severe injuries, he refused to be evacuated and continued to treat the injured soldiers until he lost consciousness from internal bleeding. For his valiant efforts he was awarded the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. Dr. Tedford embodies the old fashioned values of service, leadership and commitment to his community that has made our State and our Nation great. He has dedicated his life to serving people and we are grateful for the impact he left on the lives of all he touched. He will be greatly missed.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Madam Speaker, the current conflict in Gaza has drawn international attention. Congress must stand in solidarity with Israel and recognize the operations in Gaza as acts of self defense. For 8 years, Hamas has conducted rocket and mortar attacks into Israeli communities with increasing intensity and range. Hamas fired without concern for civilian casualties and it is time to put an end to Hamas's attacks. Israel has had no choice but to take military action in order to protect and defend its people. A permanent cease-fire must be reached but we must work to create a peace that is ``durable and sustainable'' and that starts with an end to Hamas's attacks on Israel. We in the United States must continue to stand in support our friend and ally Israel.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise here today to pay tribute to a dear friend, Rosalyn Ann Lowe. I am proud to recognize Mrs. Lowe in the United States Congress for her invaluable contributions to our community, our State and our Nation. Mrs. Rosalyn Ann Lowe was born Nov. 8, 1946, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas to W.A. ``Red'' and Sallie Mary Wingfield. She was a retired teacher and an active member of the Gillett, Arkansas United Methodist Church. Her death took a pillar of the community from us. She lived her life as a true example of how we should serve others. From high school students in her home economics class to her precious preschoolers, she positively influenced the lives of many children with loving guidance and patience. As a home economics teacher she used the opportunity to teach and mentor her students to provide her real life lessons that would prepare them for the future. She had a special gift of making each child feel special and important, which is one of many reasons she was an exceptional teacher. Mrs. Lowe was the kind of citizen every community wishes they had more of. She served the city under a mayor and city council who had a vision for our small farming town during a transitional time in our community. Because she believed it was the right thing to do she was an active part of the leadership that brought positive changes to Gillett, Arkansas. As we recall Mrs. Lowe's exceptional career, we find her accomplishments as a teacher pale only in comparison to her strong devotion to her family, her church, her community and our nation. On behalf of Congress, I offer my friend, Rosalyn Ann Lowe my deepest appreciation and gratitude for her tireless dedication and service to the children of Arkansas. We are grateful for the time she spent with us. Most importantly, we are all better people because of the time she spent with us. She was a great friend who will be missed by many.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise here today to pay tribute to a dear friend, Mr. Lee Bass. His successes are many, but it is his unabashed willingness to serve Arkansas that demands recognition. I am proud to honor Lee Bass for his 34 years of federal service as Chief of the Operations Division of the Little Rock Army Corps of Engineers. Mr. Bass holds a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Arkansas and has completed postgraduate courses from the University of Arkansas, University of Denver and the University of Santa Clara. Bass is recognized as a leader throughout the Corps of Engineers and has received numerous performance awards in a variety of jobs and districts. He received two Hammer Awards from the Office of the Vice President of the United States and was once recognized as Civilian of the Year. His staff nominated him for Federal Manager of the Year in Arkansas, which he won. He was recognized and inducted into the Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineers. He is a past president and regional director of the State Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He was the chapter director of the Arkansas Society of Professional Engineers, and served in various offices of the Razorback Post of the Society of American Military Engineers. Lee Bass's career has numerous milestones but he will be remembered most for his dedication to excellence and his vision of serving the Army Corps and his employees to the best of his ability. His wide- ranging experience in civil works activities far exceeded the norm and has allowed the region to plan, build and operate many water management projects in the Arkansas. On behalf of the Congress, I extend deep appreciation to Lee Bass for his decades of leadership and his dedication to the area's infrastructure. We salute his efforts that have made Arkansas' waterways safe and efficient and we thank him for making our state and nation a better place to work, live and raise a family.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a fellow Blue Dog, a gracious friend, and a great American. Since 1991, this gentleman has served his home state of Alabama as an outstanding Member of Congress, and before that served our country as a member of the United States Army and Army Reserve. He has been a champion of child protection--reflecting his roots as founder of the National Children's Advocacy Centre--and a true promoter of our space program. He is a long-time supporter of national defense measures, and a tireless advocate of fiscal responsibility. Robert Edward Cramer, Jr.--our friend Bud--has plenty of folks both home in Huntsville and here in Washington, DC who admire and appreciate him, but I ask you to join me again today in congratulating him on a job well done and a journey well traveled.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Our prayer is offered this morning by Pastor Chuck Coffelt, my pastor from my home church, the United Methodist Church of Gillett, Arkansas. He pastors a community where they still know when you are born and they care when you die, where happiness and sorrow are shared by the community and where a helping hand is offered when needed. We are delighted to be joined this morning online by the Gillett School and their mascot, the Wolves, to show support for our special community.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding. I never rise that I don't encourage anyone that can hear me to keep in their hearts and minds and in their prayers our men and women in uniform and their families, and especially those on the battlefield today. Having said that, it is interesting to hear our colleagues on the other side of the aisle talk about fiscal responsibility. It is interesting to hear them suddenly have an attack of concern about our children and grandchildren and the debt that is going to be passed on to them which includes pretty close to $8 trillion that their party has built up and their Presidents have built up. It is clear and has been for many years that the Republican Party intends to destroy Medicare any way it can. ``Let it wither on the vine'' were the very words that they used. The interesting thing about this is we know how to fix these things. Health care is not so complicated we can't fix it. It is a matter of getting the collective, bipartisan political willpower to do the right thing. This particular problem can be fixed with a very simple thing, just do away with the overpayment to the private health care plans, $4.6 billion we overpay the private plans. Why would we want to be so generous to the insurance companies? I certainly don't like the idea of my children and grandchildren having to pay off a debt that we incurred because we overpaid the insurance companies. What is so special, I wonder, about the insurance companies that we can't resist to take care of them over and over again? I urge my colleagues to vote against this provision.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great Arkansan and a fine citizen of Marshall, Arkansas. I am proud to recognize Dr. Charles Daniel in the United States Congress for his four decades of service to Arkansas. He has made numerous invaluable contributions to his community, his State and our Nation. Dr. Charles Daniel was born in Marshall, Arkansas on July 1, 1940 and currently resides there today. After graduating from Marshall High School in 1958 as valedictorian, he received his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 1967. He married his wife Sharon Guthrie in 1964 and they have two children. In addition to his decades of service to the community as a leading medical professional, Dr. Daniel has dedicated 40 years of service to both the Rotary Club and the Searcy County Economic Development Commission. He was a leading advocate for the construction of the Searcy County Civic Center and was recognized by the Searcy County Economic Development Commission as Citizen of the Year in 2007. Dr. Daniel is one of the few remaining genuine, southern gentlemen. He is a humble man who goes out of his way to help others simply because it is the right thing to do, never for personal gain. Dr. Daniel's office was always open to people in need of medical attention. Often he would keep his doors open well into the evening and would visit with patients at their homes on weekends to ensure they received the care they needed. Not only does he epitomize what a family doctor should be, he is the living example of how we should treat our neighbor. Dr. Daniel embodies the old fashioned values of service, leadership and commitment to his community that has made our State and our Nation great. He has dedicated his life to serving the people of Searcy County as a leader in both his profession and his community. On behalf of the United States Congress, I extend congratulations and best wishes to my good friend Dr. Charles Daniel for a lifetime of outstanding personal and professional achievements.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I too want to recognize Chairman Peterson and Speaker Pelosi for the hard work and the dedication that they have exhibited as they have pursued this farm bill and the great job that they have done and continue to do to get us a farm bill. As I listened to these discussions, and I have heard them year after year, we go through this when we do the appropriations, we always have those that consider that they are more knowledgeable than the people that are actually in the business and have to make these businesses work and make them profitable. They know more about how to make this happen than the people that really do make it happen. One thing that we know, the only reason for a farm bill and a farm bill is to guarantee adequate production and processing capacity so that our people have a reasonably priced food and fiber supply. In a global marketplace, and we are certainly in a global marketplace in agriculture today, every country that has food security has a stronger farm bill than we do. They have a better safety net than we do in this country. We absolutely know, just like the chairman said, these prices come up and they go down. Right now the price that you can see on the Chicago Board of Trade is in some cases 25 percent higher than a farmer can actually receive. And even then the prices that are available to them aren't too bad. But as the gentleman from Texas recognized, production costs, when some of these numbers were put in this bill or in the other bills that we have had, diesel fuel was 30 cents a gallon. It is $4 a gallon today, or over $4. You can say that about all of the production costs that a farmer has to face. The cost of machinery has gone up a great deal in the last couple of years. All of these things are necessary to have efficient production of food and fiber in this country. The same thing can be said about a farm bill. Without a farm bill as a safety net, this system cannot continue to function. And I offer as evidence that it has functioned successfully for a long time, that the American people feed themselves for a lot less of their disposable income than people in any other country in the world. Now you can't pick up a newspaper today or hear a broadcast news story for very long that doesn't talk about the high price of food. If you really want to see some catastrophic prices, just keep doing what these guys have tried to do over and over, year after year and continue to chip away at this safety net. Like the chairman said, I believe, or maybe it was the gentleman from Texas, they want the government to decide how big your farm can be. They don't even want you to be able to decide that I will farm part of it, my son will farm part of it. They want to use every tool that there is to try to mix that up and make it less efficient. In the South, in rice and cotton country, 2,000 acres is no longer a viable economic unit. You cannot be prepared to put in a crop on 2,000 acres with a million dollars worth of machinery and another nearly million dollars worth of fuel and fertilizer and seed and chemicals. And there are those who don't think you ought to use fertilizer, and there are those who don't think you ought to use chemicals. But if you do those things, just be ready to produce whatever you are going to eat and your family is going to eat in your own backyard because we are not going to have the efficient production machine that we have in this country today that farm bills have made possible. And these people may have huge dollars invested, but they don't make huge profits. This is a very dangerous thing. We all know the damage that high fuel costs and high energy costs are bringing to our economy today. That is going to be an insignificant event when we lose the ability to be the most efficient producers of food and fiber that has ever existed in the history of the world. The American farmer doesn't have to take a second place to anybody in their ability to feed our people. They do it. It is the hardest work in the world. All they ask is a fair chance. All they ask is enough safety net so that they can get a loan from the bank and continue to do what they love to do and what they are really, really good at. We should be doing more to allow these wonderful entrepreneurs to do what they have to do to be successful and to produce food that is inexpensive enough for us to buy it. There is no shortage of food in the United States of America today. But what these proposals will do is create a shortage that you can't fix. It will create a situation that you cannot take care of in any kind of a short time frame. You just get one crop a year. So I would ask this Congress, and I would ask the gentlemen, I know they have good intentions, unfortunately they have got bad ideas. This is something that we should not gamble with. We have got a system that we know works. I think it is inadequate, but at least give us this so that our producers can have the ability to continue to be successful. I once again thank the chairman for all of his hard work.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise here today to recognize retired Brigadier General and former State Representative Bobby G. Wood. Wood's service to his country may have begun as a Korean war veteran, but his civic contributions continued for decades. His recent death was a great loss to his community, his State and this Nation. Bobby G. Wood was born March 19, 1931, in Lake City to Gaines E. and Hallie Bob Wood. He was a 1949 graduate of Lake City High School and graduated from Arkansas State University in 1953 with a degree in business administration. Upon graduation from ASU, Wood was awarded an Army ROTC commission as a 2nd lieutenant in the corps of artillery. During his 33-year tenure in the Army National Guard, he served on active duty in the Korean war, attained the rank of brigadier general, served as the commander of the 875th Engineer Battalion, and was the Arkansas Assistant State Adjutant General. In addition to his outstanding military career, Wood represented Craighead County for 20 years in the Arkansas State House of Representatives. Wood was a charter member of the Northeast Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, serving as president for 2 years. He was inducted into the ASU ROTC Hall of Heroes and was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus by the ASU Alumnus Association in 2007. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Jonesboro and served as a church deacon. Woods was business manager and part owner of Delta Gas & Oil and Delta Farms, Inc. of Lake City. On behalf of Congress, I extend my deepest sympathies to Mr. Wood's family and gratitude for the countless hours he spent serving others. He leaves behind a legacy of accomplishment, but it was his dedication to give back to the community that deserves recognition. Wood was a devout family man and a distinguished Arkansan, and I am honored to recognize him today in the United States Congress. His friendship will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise here today to pay tribute to a dear friend, Michael Evans Wilson, who was a longtime advocate for advancement of education and a veteran who honorably served our country. His passion for improving the lives of Arkansans will be missed, as well as his unwavering friendship. He delighted in asking penetrating questions, and his friendship was a treasure. Mike was a compassionate and caring family man who loved his wife and children more than anything else in the world. He had a never-ending and burning desire to help people, and he made a lasting impression on each and every individual who knew him. Mike was the son of the late Robert Edward Lee Wilson III and Patte Evans Wilson. He was the great-great-grandson of Robert Edward Lee Wilson, who founded Lee Wilson and Co. of Wilson in 1886. He attended high school at the Baylor School in Chattanooga, TN, and graduated from The Citadel at Charleston, SC, in 1965. He served in the United States Army in Korea, and he achieved the rank of captain in air defense artillery prior to his honorable discharge in 1967. Following his tour of duty in the Army. Mike returned to Wilson to work at Lee Wilson and Co. He served as chairman and chief executive officer of Lee Wilson and Co. from 1987 to the present. Mike loved the State of Arkansas. Throughout his life, he became well known and highly respected for his philanthropy, his willingness to devote countless hours to charitable endeavors and for his passion for the advancement of education, both on a statewide and national level. Because of his commitment to his community, he was elected mayor of the City of Wilson from 1986 to the present. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Michael Evans Wilson. He was an incredible person who made a difference in the lives of so many Arkansans. He will be remembered as a great friend and will be missed by all who knew him.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise here today to pay tribute to an outstanding citizen and dear friend. I am proud to recognize one of Arkansas greatest public servants Vada Sheid. Her recent death was a great loss for our community and our Nation. Vada Sheid was the first woman to be elected to both the Arkansas House of Representatives and the Arkansas State Senate. Her career in public service, which also included positions in numerous county offices, boards, commissions and committees, spanned across five decades. Mrs. Sheid was instrumental in securing significant road improvements for north central Arkansas as well as the creation of Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. Vada Webb was born on August 19, 1916, in Izard County. She grew up in Calico Rock and entered public service working at the Izard County welfare office when she was 19. Shortly after she married Carl Sheid in 1941 the couple moved to El Dorado and eventually settled in Mountain Home. In 1958, Mrs. Sheid ran for Baxter County treasurer and lost. In 1960, she ran again, won, and served as treasurer through 1965. In 1966, she was elected to the State house of representatives and served four terms. She was only one of four women who served during the 1967- 1968 term. In 1976, Mrs. Sheid was elected to the State senate and became the only woman to serve in both houses in Arkansas. In 1987, Governor Bill Clinton appointed her to the State Police Commission. In 1992, after a resignation of the local State representative, Mrs. Sheid ran for office again and won, serving in the house again until 1995. Her work to improve education and ASU Mountain Home earned her an honorary doctor of law degree from the college in 1998. Her dedication to serving the community is remembered by the Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce's Vada Sheid Lifetime Achievement Award, which is given to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the community. On behalf of Congress, I extend my deepest sympathies to Mrs. Sheid's family and gratitude for the countless hours she spent serving others. She leaves a legacy of accomplishment in Arkansas as well as inspiring memories for all who knew her.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise here today to offer our thoughts and prayers to the victims of the recent tornados that have devastated many parts of Arkansas and the surrounding region. On behalf of the Congress I especially extend our sympathies to the families who have lost a loved one in this terrible tragedy. As we move to rebuild our State, I commend all those who have reached out to their neighbors to provide assistance in this time of need. As families and businesses begin the cleanup process, I am committed to helping these individuals get the resources they need to rebuild their lives and communities. Arkansans are great people who exemplify Southern hospitality and I have great faith our communities will persevere and prevail through this difficult time.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Madam Speaker, ensuring health care, including physical therapy services, is available to those who need it most is vital to our Nation. I support the Sestak amendment to H.R. 4137, The College Opportunity and Affordability Act, which would add physical therapists to the ``national need'' section of this legislation so that they may qualify for student loan forgiveness. As a lead sponsor of the Physical Therapist Student Loan Repayment Eligibility Act, H.R. 1134, I understand the student loan debt challenges faced by physical therapists, who along with nursing, are currently the only health care profession listed in shortage on the Department of Labor's Schedule A classification. I am joined on H.R. 1134 by Representative Jo Ann Emerson and 113 bipartisan cosponsors who support adding physical therapists who agree to practice in rural and underserved areas to the list of providers eligible to participate in the National Health Service Corps Student Loan Repayment Program. The Sestak amendment, while it does not address access to care for every patient in rural and urban underserved areas, would help begin to address this need by granting student loan forgiveness to physical therapists who care for children, adolescents or veterans. Physical therapists treat patients of all ages who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. These services are essential to many children with disabilities in Arkansas and across our Nation. Physical therapists also work with patients to prevent the loss of mobility by developing fitness and wellness oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles which are essential in addressing our Nation's obesity crisis. I encourage my colleagues to support the Sestak amendment and also to join as a cosponsor on the bill to include physical therapists in the National Health Service Corps, H.R. 1134.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, January 17, I was unable to vote on rollcall votes Nos. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 due to unavoidable circumstances. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall votes Nos. 13, 14, 15, and 16; and ``aye'' on rollcall votes Nos. 12, 17, and 18.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Madam Speaker, first, I would encourage everyone to remember our men and women in uniform and their families and reach out to them. The Arkansas delegation rises this morning to pay tribute to a man that has made magnificent contributions to the State of Arkansas, to college athletics, to this country. His leadership, working together with the people of Arkansas, has demonstrated the great value of the people working together for the common good. His contributions are unmatched. He has demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt the value of integrity and decency, always take the high road. He has made us all very proud to be Razorbacks, as has just been alluded to from my colleague in northwest Arkansas, but he has also demonstrated to the human race what it means to not only be a Razorback, but to be a man of great class and integrity and always take the high road.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise here today to pay tribute to a fine American, a hard-working family man and a good friend, Jim Williams. Jim was born in Jonesboro, AR, on January 9, 1928, and graduated from Valley View High School. Jim and his wife Joyce were married on December 27, 1953, in Bono, AR. After school he joined the United States Air Force and honorably served our country overseas for 2 years. After serving, he returned home to Arkansas to become a farmer and eventually took a job working for the tool and die shop. When he realized that working in a factory was not what he wanted to do, he moved to Detroit to learn automechanics from the Wolverine Trade Institute. Armed with specialty training and knowledge, he returned to Jonesboro to become a service manager at Aycock Pontiac and soon became one of the most highly regarded service managers in the country. Jim retired from Aycock when he was 62 after more than 20 years of loyal service to the business. Today he is enjoying his retirement years by spending time with his family and is an active member of the Walnut Street Baptist Church. Whatever endeavor Jim decided to do, from being a service manager to driving the tractor on the family farm, it was evident that he had an impeccable work ethic. In addition, he always treated everyone with respect and dignity, which is one of the many reasons he was a successful service manager at Aycock Pontiac and well regarded throughout his community. Jim has been married to his wife Joyce for 53 years. They have one daughter, two grandchildren and are expecting their first great- grandchild in the spring. Jim's commitment to our country and his decades of service to his community and his family are remarkable. In honor of his 80th birthday, I ask my fellow members of Congress to join me in congratulating Jim on this special occasion.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an honorable lifelong farmer, fine American and dear friend who made significant contributions to the agricultural community for our nation. Frank Sollars was born in 1921 in Concord Township, Ohio to Walter Eugene and Mabel Blanche Bowers Sollars and graduated from Washington High School in 1939. Although he was a farmer by profession, Frank was also a leader in agricultural cooperatives, the insurance business and agricultural financing. As an International Cooperative Alliance Central Committee member, Frank hosted delegations from Russia, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, China, Japan, and Taiwan on the farm. Frank served as president of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the Ohio Agricultural Marketing Association. He served as a board member of the American Farm Bureau Federation, the American Agricultural Marketing Association and served on the Board of Governors of the National Agricultural Hall of Fame. He was a board member on the first Soil Conservation Service Board in Fayette County for ten years and was chairman for five years. Frank held numerous leadership roles in the finance industry including Chairman of the Board of Nationwide Insurance, Chairman of the Board of the National Cooperative Business Association, a director of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Ohio Consumers council and a director of the Fifth Third Bank of Columbus. He served on the Federal Reserve Bank Advisory Committee and was instrumental in establishing the National Cooperative Bank in Washington, D.C. where he served as Board Chairman from 1980-1998 after being appointed by Presidents Carter, Reagan and Bush. Commonly referred to as the ``Founding Father of the National Cooperative Banks,'' Frank was awarded the Stanley W. Dreyer Spirit of Cooperation Award in 2006 for his commitment and dedication to banking. In recognition of Frank as an international cooperative mentor, The Frank B. Sollars Fund for International Cooperation was established in 1998. Locally, Frank was a member of the Fayette County Farm Bureau, Fayette County Agronomy Committee and Agronomy Club, and the Concord Township Farm Bureau Advisory Council. He served as board member of the American Red Cross of Greater Columbus representing Fayette County and was a trustee of the Southern State Community College Foundation. Frank served on the board as chairman of the Fayette County Bank and Sollars Brothers Corporation. Frank received numerous honors throughout his life including being inducted into the Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame, Fayette Agricultural Hall of Fame, National Cooperative Business Association Hall of Fame and the Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Hall of Fame. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the Ohio Farm Bureau and was named the Outstanding Young Farmer by the Ohio Jaycees in 1956. Although Frank has been recognized for numerous honors, he always believed his family was his greatest accomplishment. Frank gave many years of his life to improve and promote the agricultural industry he loved, because he truly believed it was his duty to serve his family and his country. He was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church. A devout public servant, Frank was a man of honor and compassion. On behalf of the Congress, I extend sympathies to his family and gratitude for all he did to improve agriculture for our nation. His service and friendship will be missed by all.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for my name to be removed as a cosponsor of H. Res. 106.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great Arkansan and a fine American, Judge Richard S. Arnold. I'm proud to recognize Judge Arnold in the United States Congress for his years of service as a legal scholar. His carefully reasoned and articulate opinions set new standards in the legal profession. Although Judge Arnold rose to one of the highest levels of his profession, he always maintained a sense of grace and humility that was admired by all. Judge Arnold received his bachelor's degree summa cum laude from Yale and later graduated magna cum laude and first in his class from Harvard Law School. In addition to serving as a clerk to Justice William Brennan at the U.S. Supreme Court, Arnold served as a legislative assistant to Senator Dale Bumpers of Arkansas and was eventually appointed Judge for the U.S District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas. He was appointed to the Eighth Circuit in 1980 and finally Chief Judge on January 8, 1992 where he served until his untimely death. According to his colleagues, Judge Arnold's intellect was unmatched and his compassion for others is a trait that is rarely found today. He was respected for his continual search for truth and justice that he applied to each of his opinions, which are often used today as models for judging. He worked tirelessly to improve the judiciary and supported efforts to help other judges across the nation improve their skills and in turn the legal profession. Judge Richard Arnold has been recognized by the dedication of the United States Courthouse in Little Rock, AK where his life and his work can continue to be remembered. He was a fine Arkansan and a fine American and will be greatly missed by all.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Chairman, first of all, I want to thank the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Financial Services for his magnificent leadership on this issue of modernizing and reforming FEMA's flood insurance program. I rise to offer this amendment along with my colleagues, Mrs. Emerson and Mr. Hulshof from Missouri, Mr. Costello and Mr. Hare of Illinois, and Mr. Ross of Arkansas. This amendment addresses concerns that we have heard from property owners, local governments, small businesses, Realtors, lenders, and others regarding FEMA's flood maps and the uncertainty they have caused in our local communities. The arbitrary and technically deficient blanket warning note that FEMA currently uses has caused confusion as to whether or not some areas are in a floodplain or not, whether flood insurance is needed or not. This has placed an unnecessary burden on property owners and threatens economic development in some of the most impoverished areas of the Nation. This amendment dramatically improves FEMA's current policy, requiring any note placed on flood maps to more fully and accurately inform the property owners about the protection value of their levees. This amendment will continue the objective of educating property owners and reminding them of the importance of honestly assessing their risk, reminding them that they may consider optional purchase of flood insurance, even if they are not in a special flood hazard area. I believe this is a reasonable amendment which maintains the important objectives of providing accurate information about the safety of the levees, encouraging honest assessments of flood risks, while eliminating the uncertainty that FEMA has created. I urge my colleagues to adopt this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to my colleague from south Arkansas (Mr. Ross).

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate very much the bipartisan way this amendment has been developed and I think it demonstrates that we can work together on both sides of the aisle to do commonsense things. It is unfortunate that we have been put in the position by a Federal agency because of severe mismanagement to where we have to become involved in such matters. But I thank everyone for their approach to this, and particularly thank the committee. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.