Sanford Bishop

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, all Americans know that gun control continues to be a serious subject of debate, right here in the District of Columbia, in the State of Georgia, which I represent, and across this Nation. It's an issue of personal safety and of constitutional rights embedded in the fabric of our Nation. I agree with those who want to restrict criminal access to guns. However, this must be done without compromising the constitutional rights of our law-abiding citizens. I strongly support the right of law-abiding adults to purchase and own firearms for the protection of their homes and families, collecting, target shooting, and hunting. That's why I have and will continue to oppose any proposal that threatens this basic second amendment right. I realize the concerns of some Americans who, in the wake of school shootings and other heinous illegal acts, call for stricter gun control measures. I understand those concerns. That's why I fully support measures that call for tougher sentences for the illegal use of firearms, to get offenders off the streets and out of our communities. I support stiff sentences of juveniles who use firearms illegally, and I support increasing the maximum penalty for adults who illegally provide those juveniles with firearms. That's how we must keep our schools and communities safe. Mr. Speaker, tougher gun laws should not infringe on the rights of law-abiding citizens, and Congress has both the authority and the responsibility to ensure that they do not. So, the question before us today is not whether Congress can repeal the District of Columbia's handgun and self-defense bans, it is whether Congress should do so. The U.S. Constitution, the constitutions of 44 States, Federal law, the laws of all 50 States, the vast majority Georgians and of Americans recognize the right for law-abiding citizens to use firearms for protection, and for other legal purposes. Only the District of Columbia prohibits a person from having a firearm assembled and loaded at home for the purpose of self-defense. I believe that that's wrong. Pass this bill and allow DC residents to protect themselves from crime.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was unavoidably detained from September 20-24, 2004, due to the death of my mother, Mrs. Minnie S. Bishop. Although I received an excused absence during this period, I missed rollcall votes 457-472. Had I been here I'd have voted as follows: Roll Nos. 457--``aye''; 458--``aye''; 459--``no''; 460--``aye''; 461--``aye''; 462--``aye''; 463--``aye''; 464--``aye''; 465--``aye''; 466--``no''; 467--``yea''; 468--``yea''; 469--``yea''; 470--``no''; 471--``no''; and 472--``aye.''

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 4571, the misnamed ``Frivolous Lawsuit Reduction Act,'' and in support of the Turner substitute. Mr. Speaker, the 11,000 frivolous lawsuits filed yearly are a burden on our court system, which interfere with the administration of justice, and cost U.S. taxpayers millions of dollars each year. I fully support commonsense reform. H.R. 4571 was drafted by and for large corporations and special interests with unlimited legal resources. It denies justice to injured Americans by limiting them from getting their day in court. That's wrong, Mr. Speaker. It does nothing to help consumers, Mr. Speaker, and targets innocent victims instead of holding responsible those who recklessly or negligently harm others. The bill also unfairly benefits foreign corporations because it only permits a lawsuit to be filed where the corporation's principal place of business is located, making it more difficult to pursue a personal injury or product liability action against a foreign corporation in the United States. That's also wrong, Mr. Speaker, and it's not the kind of reform that America needs. The Turner substitute is measured and tough on abuse of the system, while also protecting the rights of injured victims to receive the compensation they deserve. In fact, the substitute's ``three-strikes- and-you're-out'' provisions forbid frivolous filing attorneys from bringing another suit for 10 years. For a first violation the substitute would hold the attorney in contempt. For the second violation the substitute imposes a mandatory fine. And for a third and final violation, a ``third strike,'' you're out. That's tough, Mr. Speaker, and a commonsense approach to frivolous litigation that everyone should support. The substitute also contains a civil rights carve-out, so that citizens who want to bring new civil rights cases can do so. It contains expedited disposition provisions to weed out junk lawsuits, enhances sanctions for document destruction, and protects injured parties and consumers. Finally, it eliminates the provision in the underlying bill that provides a windfall to foreign or ``Benedict Arnold'' corporations to the disadvantage of their U.S. competitors. The Turner substitute is tough, Mr. Speaker, it's fair, and it provides real reform while preserving access to the courts for millions of Americans. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, let me first take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation for the leadership shown by my chairman, Mr. Knollenberg, and my ranking member, Mr. Edwards, on the housing privatization issue. I would also like to commend the leadership shown by Chairman Young, and Ranking Member Obey on this important issue as well. As a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, I know of no other issue which is more important to our military and their families than housing. There is no other issue which has more of an impact on the quality of life of the men and women serving in the military than housing. This year we heard witness after witness testify before our subcommittee--each describing the lack of adequate housing as ``the'' major quality of life issue facing the military. Mr. Chairman, I am proud to have two major military facilities--Ft. Benning and the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Georgia, in my district. However, just as important, I represent thousands of other military personnel who work at Moody Air Force Base and Warner Robbins Air Force Base, both of which are now adjacent to my district. Unfortunately, according to the Department of the Army's installation status report for fiscal year 2004, approximately 71 percent of the Army's residential quarters located in the United States require some level of improvement or replacement, in order to meet the department's own adequacy standards. If you read literally, this means that seven (7) out of every ten (10) housing units located at our Army installations here in the United States do not meet the current standards for adequacy. I am particularly concerned about the housing situation at Ft. Benning. According to the most recent data available, it is my understanding that approximately ninety percent (90%) of the family housing at Fort Benning is classified as substandard. Fortunately, Ft. Benning is scheduled to be one of the first bases to participate in the upcoming round of privatization. Ft. Benning is scheduled to construct 4,055 much-needed family housing units. An additional 872 units are planned in FY 05 for Ft. Gordon, in Georgia as well. Unfortunately, Mr. Chairman, if the point of order is sustained against the language in the bill extending the program and we do not raise the cap, the program could be in jeopardy of stalling after November of this year. That means that the units planned for Ft. Benning and Ft. Gordon in Georgia could be in jeopardy of not moving forward but not just in Georgia. Other bases, including Ft. Riley and Leavenworth in Kansas, West Point in New York, Ft. Rucker in Alabama, Ft. Knox in Kentucky, Ft. Jackson in South Carolina--all are just a few of the facilities which would be in jeopardy for the upcoming round of privatization. It is important that my colleagues have an appreciation of the practical effects of not acting to increase the cap. Thousands of our officers and enlisted personnel will continue to reside in inadequate family housing. Our national goal of privatizing military housing will not be accomplished. In addition, the existing inventory of housing facilities will continue to deteriorate, resulting in even billions of dollars of more costs for maintenance and operations. Finally, each of the services, particularly the Army, will be unable to meet its goal of eliminating all inadequate family housing by 2007. Not meeting this goal will further adversely affect the health, safety and quality of life of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and their families occupying these units. Privatization will provide new construction and revitalization of the existing inventory at a more rapid rate than current procedures and funding limits will permit. Privatization will also provide renovated or new quarters for our military and their families, which is comparable to housing of a similar size and quality as would be available in the local economy. It is critical that our fighting men and women, and their families, have the best quality of life we can offer them. Their sacrifices are too great. This investment is such a small cost given what they are giving to us--putting their lives on the line--day in and day out. A decent place to live is small cost in return for their service to America. We owe them so much more. Mr. Chairman, housing is at the core of providing a decent quality of life, and I urge the House to allow a lifting of the cap on housing privatization.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, today I rise on behalf of the hard-working farm families of Southwest Georgia who have more than earned the economic assistance that a tobacco buy-out would provide. By introducing this amendment, my colleagues seek to make a statement about the tobacco industry as a whole. In reality they are punishing American farmers who have already suffered the loss of more than fifty percent of their income. A tobacco buyout does not provide an incentive to grow tobacco nor does it get the U.S. Government out of the tobacco growing industry, rather it provides our farmers with an honest chance to survive. Those of us representing American tobacco growers are in the best position to understand the unique importance of tobacco reform. We have been working on a bipartisan basis for over two years to end the depression-era price support system that, despite severe cuts in quotas and the even greater economic losses of our farm families, has not been touched in nearly 18 years. This amendment obstructs our reform efforts and complicates the chances of any real solution. Our farmers deserve better. I urge my colleagues not to support this amendment.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, let me thank my colleague from Virginia, and let me thank everyone who has taken the time to commemorate this very, very historic law. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 certainly has changed the history of America. It certainly has affected my life and the lives of many others who were similarly situated, having grown up in the segregated South in Mobile, Alabama; having attended segregated schools; having segregated public accommodations. I was just struck as I reflect every day on how different life is today in 2004 from the way that it was in 1964, the year that I graduated from high school. I am grateful that this Nation passed through the Congress the Civil Rights Act of 1964. I am grateful that I had an opportunity as a young attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund as an Earl Warren Fellow to help in the implementation and the interpretation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, particularly as it related to employment discrimination and the other aspects of it in terms of my early days as a civil rights attorney. It was very meaningful to me. Certainly the interpretations have meant worlds for the changes that have been implemented in this country and the model that this has set for other nations around the world, particularly in South Africa. I, therefore, would like to just register my heartfelt thanks to all those who had a hand in passing this law and for all those who have paid the price and worked so hard to see that it is implemented in the way that Congress intended.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for the Kildee motion to recommit H.R. 444. This motion does what is needed. The real problems that our country faces today are a lack of jobs and a lack of adequate unemployment benefits for unemployed workers who cannot find jobs. There are currently over 8 million workers who are unemployed. There are also an additional 4 million workers who are so discouraged about the job situation where they live that they are no longer looking for work, and there are another 4 million workers working part-time because they cannot find full-time work. What these workers need is income support until the economy fully recovers and produces enough jobs for them to support their families. These workers are not looking for a handout. They want to work, but where they live, there are no jobs. Extended unemployment benefits give them the hand up that they need. Average benefits are only about $200 a week. This amount is hardly enough to incentivize them to stay home indefinitely, yet that is what some would have us believe. Mr. Speaker, 85,000 workers a week are exhausting their unemployment benefits; long-term unemployment is at the highest level in decades. The Kildee motion simply provides a minimum level of human decency to these hard-working Americans. They paid into the unemployment system, and the unemployment trust fund has over $19 billion in it. Instead of pushing ineffective reemployment account voucher schemes, we should be providing unemployment support. Even Alan Greenspan, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, has supported such an extension. I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address an issue that is of concern to every member of this body and every citizen of our Nation. That issue is the safety of our children. Recently, the Washington Post featured an article describing the findings of a national survey conducted by researchers from Duke University and the nonprofit Foundation for Child Development. The title of the article tells the story of their results; ``Baby Steps Made in the Well-Being of Children.'' The good news it shares is that children and teens are safer today than they have been in the past 30 years--less likely to commit or be victims of crime, to become young parents, and less likely to smoke, drink or use drugs. This is good news indeed, but as we all know, there is a difference between being safe and feeling safe. We can understand this distinction because we all experience some anxiety when the threat level moves from yellow to orange or when we become aware of terrorist acts. As adults, we work to manage our reactions to these incidents. Likewise, our children struggle daily with feelings of safety that impact their quality of life. The Girl Scouts of the United States of America is an esteemed organization, founded in the State of Georgia in 1912 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1950. Throughout its history, the Girl Scouts have worked to improve the lives of young women through traditional scouting and other educational programs. Now the Girl Scout Research Institute has produced a report titled ``Feeling Safe: What Girls Say'' based on original research. Through this publication, young women speak to us about what factors in their homes, schools and communities cause them to feel safe or unsafe and talk about their strategies for coping with such feelings. For example, the report reveals that while physical safety is a key concern for urban and suburban girls, girls who live in rural communities are concerned about emotional safety, specifically about being teased. This finding supports the incorporation of anti-bullying and conflict resolution programs into our public schools. Feeling Safe also emphasizes that families and supportive friends can help girls strategize about ways to increase their feelings of safety and by so doing, become more empowered. This finding supports what we have already learned about the important role volunteer mentors can play in a young person's life. I would like to commend the Girl Scouts of America for this research and the production of a user-friendly report that can be a guide for local, State and Federal policy makers. I recommend it to each of my colleagues and hereby pledge my continued support for this exemplary organization that has made all the difference in the lives of so many girls.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, as I speak today, more than 170,000 of our servicemen and -women are serving in harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are grateful for their service. We owe these brave men and women the best that we have to offer. At a minimum, we owe them what they were promised. I am talking about medical exams before and after we send them into combat. A 1997 law requires the DOD to perform comprehensive pre- and post- deployment medical examinations on all deployed troops, including National Guard and Reservists. DOD has unilaterally decided to define these exams not as was intended, as a hand's-on examination by a doctor, but as a self-administered survey to determine if a service member is fit for combat or if he or she suffered as a result of war. It is beyond irresponsible to base the health of our troops on their individual ability to self-diagnose. Therefore, today, I am introducing legislation to require the Department of Defense to comply with the 1997 law and guarantee each of our men and women will receive an actual clinical examination before and after they are deployed. Today, I request my colleagues to join me and support the Healthy Troops Act. We owe our troops that much.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to pay special tribute to one of our nation's many heroes, Army Pfc. Marquis Antoine Whitaker. Pfc. Whitaker lost his life April 27 while serving his country in Iraq. He was only twenty years old. A beloved son and brother, a proud American and a devoted Christian, Marquis loved football, music, his GMC Jimmy and his girlfriend, Tarai, who misses him very much. He graduated from Kendrick High School in 2002 and joined the Army only months later, to give back to his country and put his career on a responsible path. He began basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and eventually became a motor transport operator assigned to the Regimental Headquarters Troop, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Pfc. Whitaker was deployed to Iraq in July 2003. Although his family expected him home April 14, his tour was extended due to the increase in insurgent activity in Iraq. Two weeks later a truck crashed into the back of his Humvee, pushing it partially over the side of a bridge. Marquis Whitaker fell while attempting to climb to safety. Pfc. Whitaker joins 756 American troops who have given their lives to bring freedom to the people of Iraq. We mourn their loss and the promise of their futures, like that of Marquis, were cut all too short. Mr. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, I ask you to join me in honoring Pfc. Marquis Whitaker. I promise his mother Jacqueline, his father Anthony, his five sisters and two brothers that Marquis will forever remain a hero in the eyes of his country and that we will never forget the sacrifice he made in the name of freedom and democracy.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support, and most heartfelt gratitude to our troops and their families. It is often said that ``freedom is not free,'' Mr. Speaker. I couldn't agree more. The price of freedom--the freedom that we enjoy here in the United States and freedom that we have helped preserve or create--is great. The cost of freedom is measured in dollars, in time lost away from family and friends, and it is measured in human lives lost on distant battlefields thousands of miles away. Wherever you serve, in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and around the world, you rise to answer the call for freedom without reservation. So today I rise, in support of our troops who continue to help ensure peace and freedom around the world, and to the families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of freedom. We are grateful and humbled by your capabilities, your courage, and your commitment to the great cause of freedom. You are our heroes and our greatest hope for the future. Thank you for all that you do. God bless the United States of America.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of S. 1920 and for the rule which preserves the institution of bankruptcy, and provides an important safety net for American families, individuals, and businesses. At first glance, the bill before us, S. 1920, provides for a 6 month extension of Chapter 12 bankruptcy protection for America's family farmers. I am again happy to support this greatly needed extension, but there's more to this bill than that. The rule that we are also considering today substitutes into S. 1920 the text of the much larger bankruptcy reform bill (H.R. 975) which we in the House passed on March 19, 2003 by a vote of 315-113. This was great news and progress in preserving the institution of bankruptcy protection. Unfortunately, the bill has not yet been taken up in the Senate--not surprisingly since previous House versions of bankruptcy protection have died on the vine in the Senate when extraneous provisions were included. So today we have an opportunity for a second bite at that apple. The provisions in S. 1920 (and H.R. 975 by incorporation) preserve bankruptcy by ensuring this protection to those who really need it as a result of unforeseeable medical bills, unemployment, and other legitimate needs. I am also extremely pleased that it also includes a permanent extension of Chapter 12 family farmer bankruptcy protection, and I'd like to also acknowledge the efforts of Representative Baldwin, whose amendment we are also considering, similarly makes permanent this important protection. Importantly, H.R. 975 ensures that more family farmers will be eligible for Chapter 12 by easing some of the income and debt limitations that currently restrict access to this type of bankruptcy relief. While reasonable minds may differ as to the best vehicle for family farmer bankruptcy protection, currently family farmers are without the bankruptcy protection they need. This is completely unacceptable. Broadly speaking, Mr. Chairman, the bankruptcy system in America is broken and needs to be fixed. Bankruptcy filings have soared in recent years, with thousands of filers who are capable of repaying their debts, simply walking away from their debts and obligations through the current bankruptcy filing system. We need a greater and more sustainable safety net for all Americans, and we need it now. The bill before us protects those who truly need it most, while also including protections for business so that they can get back on track and get back to work. This bill is a good deal for Americans, Mr. Chairman, saving American taxpayers billions of dollars each and every year. It is a powerful and greatly needed measure that protects consumers and creditors against those who would abuse the system, while ensuring a fresh start to those who legitimately need the safety net that is the bankruptcy system. Let me be perfectly clear--one way or another, we must pass family farmer bankruptcy protection now in order to lift up America's farmers by making this protection permanent. I believe that the bill before us holds this promise. But if this bill fails for any number of political obstacles between the House and the Senate, we must still honor our responsibility to ensure that our family farmers are protected. I know that I will, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 850.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, although the massive conference agreement over Medicare reform contains some of the provisions the country needs and that I support, the overall legislation is deeply flawed. Congress can do better. By voting against the agreement, I am calling on Congress to correct the flawed provisions that would deny many seniors any prescription drug benefit, increase health care costs for many lower income citizens, push many seniors into managed care, put employer-based prescription drug coverage at greater risk, and create an uncertain privatization process that could change the face of Medicare forever. By voting down this proposal, we could fix the critical flaws and still have time to enact a sound Medicare reform bill that the country desperately needs before the end of the 2003 session. I am cosponsoring a bill introduced Friday (11/21) that would shore up rural providers and maintain the integrity of Medicare for rural communities, while putting aside the more rancorous issues until later. I urge its consideration. Among the agreement's provisions that I strongly support are those that would provide realistic reimbursements to providers, including giving rural hospitals parity with urban hospitals. Many community hospitals have shut down, and many are struggling to survive. This puts the health of many of our rural citizens, and the vitality of many rural communities, at risk. Relief for at-risk hospitals is one of the positive things about the agreement, and it should be a part of any health care reform enacted by Congress. But I cannot overlook the agreement's overwhelming downside. Dr. Kenneth Thorpe, a noted health policy authority from Emory University, calculates that under this agreement 51,450 Georgians would lose employer retiree health benefits; 161,300 Georgians would pay more for prescriptions; 82,000 fewer Georgians would qualify for low-income benefits than under the Senate version; and 34,000 Georgians would pay more for Part B premiums for doctor and outpatient care. There are other sections of this lengthy bill, released the same day debate began, that few outside the conference committee have had an opportunity to examine. But much of what we know is disturbing. There are no measures in this bill to respond to the problem of skyrocketing of drug costs. Not only would the government be prevented from negotiating drug prices, the possibility of reimportation of less expensive medicine from Canada is effectively killed. The actual prescription drug benefit is skimpy, with an enormous coverage gap and an asset test designed to limit access for thousands of truly needy Americans. Moreover, millions of retirees will see the superior coverage they now receive from their former employers weakened or eliminated. That's nearly 3 million individuals nationally and more than 50,000 in the state of Georgia alone. One of the biggest concerns is the agreement's push to privatization. As drafted, it appears private insurers would tend to pull in the healthiest beneficiaries while those with medical problems would remain with Medicare, causing Medicare costs to sharply rise. This could create what some are calling a `death spiral' of escalating costs in traditional Medicare. More and more seniors would be pushed into the less-expensive HMOs and PPOs simply because they could not afford the higher cost of Medicare. From the enormous premium support ``demonstration projects'' to the weakened Federal fallback for areas without meaningful access to private prescription drug plans, this agreement reveals a poor understanding of the needs of rural providers and residents. All of these flaws make this agreement unattractive in the short term. But if we look just a bit further down the line, the picture becomes even bleaker. In 2006, when the prescription drug benefit would actually begin, the benefit would be essentially worthless to the average citizen. And, when 45 percent of spending on Medicare comes from general revenues, extreme measures to curtail Medicare spending would be triggered. It's extremely cynical to include such a dramatic cost-containment mechanism while excluding responsible measures to control Medicare spending. There is much that is wrong in this bill, and much less that is right. Rarely will we consider any legislation that will have a greater impact on the well being of the American people. Let's get it right!

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, when the Nation observes Veterans' Day, our collective purpose is to thank the men and women who have faithfully worn the uniform of the country's armed services for the service and sacrifice that has kept us strong and free. But I think we should thank veterans for something else, as well. In addition to their service in the military, we should also express the Nation's gratitude for the unshakeable foundation of patriotic citizenship that veterans have always provided in civilian life--and that the country cannot do without, especially during times of peril such as these. Veterans never stop fighting for a free and secure country. They have fought for a strong defense and strong foreign policy. They have fought for integrity and responsibility in government. They have fought to protect the U.S. flag and all it represents, including the respect we owe to those who have paid the price for freedom. They have fought for the benefits veterans have earned and deserve, including disability benefits for those who have suffered permanent injuries in military service. They have fought for the American ideal of freedom and justice for all. Those of us who serve in Congress should thank veterans not only by making speeches, but also by rolling up our sleeves and addressing the critical unmet needs of our veterans' population. We need to act on long-pending ``concurrent receipt'' legislation so that we no longer deny disability payments to military retirees. Last year, Congress provided some new benefits to disabled retirees in lieu of concurrent receipt. But many disabled veterans still do not believe equity has been achieved. There is nothing that justifies a denial of these benefits to any eligible veteran, and Congress should correct this wrong right now. We need to improve the veterans' health care system so that we no longer have a backlog of more than 100,000 veterans who are waiting six months or more to receive the care they need. Some veterans are waiting up to a year or more. This means many are getting sicker while they wait, and I fear some are not making it. This is intolerable. We need the most cost-effective system possible, and I have no quarrel with the concept of the Veterans' Administration's Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services program. But we need to make sure that any reorganization does not end up downsizing or eliminating facilities that veterans need, thereby reducing access even more. We need a VA budget that meets the needs--not one that falls below the new fiscal year's authorization by $1.8 billion and barely keeps pace with inflation. I believe we need to cut taxes to stimulate the economy and provide relief to middle and lower income working Americans, but we do not need to provide an average tax cut of $88,326 to Americans earnings more than $1 million a year when we could trim that amount by just a few thousand dollars and save enough revenue to take care of some of our critical needs. We need to fulfill the country's promise to our fellow Americans who have devoted a substantial part of their lives in defense of the country, many putting their lives on the line. We live in difficult and dangerous times. But we should be confident about the country'a ability to meet the grave challenges we face. As long as we have people in our country who stand ready to make whatever effort and sacrifice is necessary, we should be confident that our Nation has what it takes to defeat the forces that would do us harm and that we will succeed in advancing the cause of freedom for our generation and for generations to come. As our veterans demonstrate every day, patriotism is alive and well. And that should give us all hope for the future. As we celebrate Veterans' Day, 2003, let us say to all of the Nation's 25.1 million veterans: ``We thank you, we support you, we need you, and may God bless you for keeping the country free and strong.''

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, September 27, the Second Congressional District of Georgia and the entire U.S. House suffered an irreparable loss with the passing of Franklin Aubrey ``Frank'' Spooner, Jr., who served as a case worker in our Albany, Georgia office for the past six years. Many people have served in this institution longer but no one could have possibly served with greater courage, commitment, or concern and compassion for the people we strive to help. Although he suffered from a life-threatening health condition when he joined our staff, and was eventually given a terminal diagnosis, Frank worked as often and as hard as he could to the end. Even when death was near, he focused more on the needs of others than on his own, remaining the same soft spoken, good humored, down-to-earth, hard-working, bright and decent guy we had always known. Frank was born in Macon, Georgia and raised in Fort Gaines, Georgia. He attended Mercer University in Macon. He was a newspaper reporter; managed retail businesses; operated his own small business when he turned his baseball card hobby into a profession; and served as a social worker and finally a Congressional case worker. He often said he was doing exactly what he wanted to do. For him, there was no higher calling than helping others, and he did it extraordinarily well. At an early age, he was diagnosed with a congenital kidney problem that eventually led to a transplant at the age of 23. When the transplant failed some years later, he was sustained with regular kidney dialysis. Several years ago, he was found to have cancer. Eventually, his condition proved to be untreatable. He died at the age of 49 at the Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Della Spooner Bell of Albany; a brother, Robert A. McKay (Juline) of Bushnell, Florida; an uncle, R.S. Spooner of Donalsonville, Georgia, and a number of nieces, nephews and cousins. Our prayers go out to his family. The Frank Spooner I have known would likely be embarrassed by all of the praise that has come his way in recent days from the many people who loved him, worked with him, and were helped by him. He would say he was not doing anything special--just doing his job as best he could. Frank did his best--and left the world a better place because of it.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize National Family Week and the importance of strong families to the future of our communities and our country. The purpose of National Family Week, November 23-29, 2003, is to recognize that Connections Count when it comes to strengthening families and communities. Strong families are at the center of strong communities. Everyone has a role to play in making families successful, including neighborhood organizations, businesses, nonprofits, policymakers, and of course families themselves. Families thrive when they are connected to the opportunities, networks, support, and services that enable them to succeed. This includes everyday access to high-quality transportation, technology, education, and child care; opportunities to build a solid financial foundation; and positive social relationships within and among families, as well as quality support from community networks and institutions. National Family Week is a great time to honor the connections that support and strengthen families year-round. These connections can be as simple as the grandmother or the neighbor who watches the kids while parents work; the network of friends or the placement center that connects parents to a new job; the place of worship or neighborhood organization that connects the family to others in the community, the community leader or policymaker who rethinks, revamps, or redirects policies, practices, and resources to better benefit families, and the parents who listen to their children and always have time for a big hug. For 33 years, the Alliance for Children and Families and its more than 350 nonprofit members have promoted National Family Week throughout the nation. Every day these child- and family- serving organizations make a difference for families of all shapes and sizes. This holiday season, for example, One Columbus, Inc. in Columbus, Georgia, is sponsoring a series of events to recognize families. Several of these events include a community breakfast, the awarding of family friendly business awards, a community family walk, and community-wide non-denominational church services. National Family Week is a great time for all of us to recommit to enhancing and extending all families' connections. As we gather with our families this Thanksgiving, let us remember the special connections that help our families thrive and encourage one another, our neighbors, our businesses, and our organizations to reach out to families in new ways and honor the special gifts each can bring to our communities and to one another.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, if there has been a more dynamic or visionary leader in public service anywhere in the United States in recent years than James H. ``Jimmy'' Rainwater, who served as Mayor of Valdosta, Georgia for 16 years until his death from a heart attack on Sunday, October 12, I don't know who it would be. In the words of the Valdosta Daily Times, he was ``Valdosta's voice, the city's representative, its administrator, ambassador, negotiator, cheerleader and leader.'' Mayor Rainwater seemed to be everywhere at once. If there was a groundbreaking or ribbon cutting, he was there as a booster. If there was a new business or grant to secure, he was always in the thick of it. If a disaster struck, he was there to help and comfort those who suffered. As his city experienced an extraordinary acceleration of growth and development, he was there, leading the way. Valdosta emerged under his leadership as an officially designated metropolitan community. He played a leading role in the successful effort to save Moody Air Force Base, the community's largest employer, when the base was threatened with closure. He promoted tourism, which generates $175 million annually for the Valdosta area thanks to such developments as the Wild Adventures Theme Park, the Valdosta-Lowndes County Conference Center, the new Valdosta Regional Airport, the new industrial park, and many new hotels and restaurants. His support helped Valdosta State College become Valdosta State University. He pushed hard to strengthen the city's infrastructure, and during his tenure the city built a water treatment plant, completed a citywide paving program, and organized a nationally accredited police department. Mayor Rainwater was born and raised in another growing city within the Second Congressional District, Tifton, which I also have the privilege of representing. Citizens in Tifton remember him as one of the most outstanding students to ever come out of Tifton High, where he quarterbacked the football team, served as homeroom president, and was named to the Who's Who list. He more than fulfilled that early promise. In addition to serving as Mayor of one of Georgia's great cities longer than any other person in history, he was a successful businessman and was prominent in statewide municipal affairs as an active member and next year's President-to-be of the Georgia Municipal Association. When I learned of Jimmy Rainwater's passing at the age of 62, my first thought was that I had lost a wonderful friend. So did everyone who lives in Valdosta and our area of Georgia. He will be missed.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I was deeply saddened when I learned of the passing on October 12, of Eddie James Gibson, 57, of Edison, Georgia, one of the most highly committed, courageous and inspiring citizens I have ever known. The son of sharecroppers, Mr. Gibson was horrifically injured at the age of 15 when the tractor he was operating overturned on the land farmed by his family. He spent years in hospitals, undergoing countless operations and receiving intense therapy. His life was saved, but he was left permanently paralyzed. After he was finally able to return home to Calhoun County, he quickly demonstrated that he had no intention of giving up and sinking into despair. Even though severely handicapped, he decided to do something about the poverty and injustices that he saw around him. He became involved in the civil rights movement, organizing efforts to increase voter participation and bring down the racial barriers that then existed. Even though wheelchair bound, he never hesitated to put himself on the movement's front lines. Later, he became president of the Calhoun County NAACP, a member of the Edison City Council, and a member of the Calhoun County School Board. He was active in voter registration, and was incredibly effective in motivating people to exercise their rights as citizens. Although a member of the Enon Missionary Baptist Church, he helped a number of churches in the area with their fund raising and enhancement programs. He was always involved in civic and charitable activities. Many people came to him with problems. Armed with a telephone, he was effective in getting many of them resolved. We worked with him on many cases, and found it to be a highly productive relationship. I visited with him often, and was always uplifted by his good humor and positive outlook that he invariably reflected in spite of any pain and discomfort he may have been feeling. With sharp intelligence and strength of character, he overcame all of the adversities of a hardscrabble upbringing, of the discrimination he encountered, of the lifelong injuries he sustained as a teenager-- rising to become one of the most prominent citizens in Calhoun County's history as he worked tirelessly to raise the quality of life for people throughout his community and area. If we're looking for true American heroes, I submit the name of Eddie James Gibson of Calhoun County. He meets all of the qualifications.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, family reunions are one of America's great traditions. This is especially true in my area of southwest Georgia, where some of the country's oldest and biggest family reunions are held. One of these is the Pryor family reunion, which has convened in the community of Leslie every year for the past century, attracting hundreds of people from Georgia and other States. This year's reunion was held on October 4. I would like to share an article about this year's 100th anniversary reunion in the Cordele Dispatch written by Ms. Betsy Butler, a descendant and a writer and editor for the newspaper. The year was 1903. Only 14 percent of the homes in the United States had a bathtub. Only 8 percent had a telephone. There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S. and only 144 miles of paved roads. The American flag had 45 stars. Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii and Alaska hadn't been admitted to the Union yet. Today, 100 years later, we live in a world of airplanes and computers that connect people on opposite ends of the earth. Boy, how things change. But one thing has stayed the same--the Pryor family gathering. Since 1903 the family has been coming to the small town of Leslie. What started as a gathering to mark the 50th wedding anniversary of Shepherd Green Pryor and Penelope Eudora Tyson Pryor on October 4, 1903, has continued to bring the family together for 100 years. Shepherd and Penelope had seven living children, 32 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Most of these attended the celebration, which would become the first annual family reunion. According to Frank Wilson, a descendent, the menu has stayed the same for 100 years--barbecue. Over the years, each generation has assumed the responsibility for being sure the reunion goes on. ``The family has stuck together and done what needs to be done,'' Wilson said. ``We have never struggled to have a host.'' There is a lot of history to the family. With two published books about the family, one being a narrative and the other, ``A Post of Honor,'' being a collection of letters written between Shepherd and Penelope during the Civil War. In June of 2001 over 140 descendants traveled to Virginia for the dedication of Civil War breastplates. Quotes from the letters . . . were used on the Confederate breast-works plaques. This year's reunion is no different from the 99 before it (as) hundreds of family members ascend on Leslie and spend the afternoon together over a barbeque lunch. In 100 years the world has evolved from a world of only one in 10 homes with a telephone to a world with an information highway. But one thing has stayed the same--the Pryor family gathering.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I'm proud to represent the Second Congressional District of Georgia, which is home to several major military installations and where military retirees and veterans make up a big percentage of the population. At last count, 11,248 active duty, Reserve and National Guard personnel from Georgia bases are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. A total of 149 Georgia-based soldiers have been wounded in Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and 49 have been killed in action--49 brave Americans. Like virtually everyone who lives in my area of southwest Georgia, I believe it would be an unconscionable dereliction of duty if we failed to provide for the essential needs of our troops we have sent into harms way. In spite of the strong objections many of us have about the bill's flaws, we cannot deny funding for such things as safe drinking water, which many soldiers lack; body armor and other equipment essential to the safety and success of our troops; and housing and other basic living needs. We've learned many of the troops serving in Iraq have never been issued the Kevlar flak jacket inserts, or body armor, and some have spent up to $650 out of their own pockets to purchase this updated protective gear. We're told our troops have gone without other critical equipment, such as portable jammers to block the radio signals used to detonate remote control bombs--the same bombs we continually hear about, day in and day out, in attacks that are wounding and killing our soldiers. Today, we have an opportunity to correct these troubling deficiencies. And we must not fail. At the same time, people in the Second District are also concerned about the extreme federal deficit, the shortcomings in our own infrastructure, and the burden this added spending imposes on taxpayers. I, too, am concerned when Congress could avoid a bigger deficit by deferring tax cuts just for the wealthiest 1 percent of our citizens, and when U.S. taxpayers are stuck with the entire cost of Iraqi reconstruction even though Iraq is capable of eventually paying for its infrastructure upgrades from its vast oil reserves, the second largest in the world. It's an affront to the people I represent to spend millions of dollars for roads, schools, hospitals and economic development initiatives in Iraq while these same needs are drastically under funded in the U.S.; to provide high-speed internet access to the people of Iraq while widespread areas of the U.S. including areas of the Second District, are denied the same access; to provide millions of dollars to train unemployed Iraqi workers while U.S. job training programs are cut. I'm not against helping Iraq rebuild. I support efforts to secure Iraq's borders, to train Iraq's security forces, to restore Iraq's water sanitation, electricity and other utility services, to restore Iraq's transportation and oil production capability, and to help provide the Iraqi people educational and employment opportunities. But I'm concerned when we unnecessarily pay for these needs with borrowed money, when we fund non-essential reconstruction projects as well as essential ones, which we shortchange the needs of our own communities, and when our international partners have not stepped up to the plate to contribute their fair share of the reconstruction costs. Mr. Chairman, I support our troops and the funding they must have, while I continue to look to the Administration to present a clear and fiscally responsible plan that makes it possible for our service men and women to carry out their mission as safely and effectively as possible and to bring stability and democracy to the suffering people of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1828, the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003. Mr. Speaker, the United States and our allies around the world have stood steadfast in holding accountable terrorist states, those who harbor or otherwise provide sanctuary for terrorist, or those who threaten the world with weapons of mass destruction. That's what the legislation before us today is all about. The Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 does not advocate the use of force against Syria. Instead, it gives the President and the Secretary of State expanded authority to impose U.S. diplomatic and economic sanctions against Syria unless serious action is taken by Syria to rid itself of the cancer of terror and the policies by which terror manifests itself throughout the region and the world. It's no secret that Syria hosts terrorist organizations including Hizballah, Hamas, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, all of which maintain offices, training camps, and other facilities within Syrian borders and within areas of Lebanon currently occupied by Syria. This is a threat that simply cannot continue to be ignored. This Act holds Syria accountable for its part in facilitating terrorism and in so doing, threatening the world. It requires Syria to withdraw from the nation of Lebanon, and to finally cease Syria's ongoing pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. It calls for sanctions against Syria including a prohibition on the export of defense and dual-use items. In addition, it also requires the President to impose two or more sanctions which may be waived in the interest of national security. These are: prohibiting the export of products of the U.S. other than food and medicine to Syria; prohibiting U.S. businesses from investing or operating in Syria; restricting the travel of Syrian diplomats to within a 25-mile radius of Washington, DC or the United Nations; reducing levels of U.S. diplomatic contracts with Syria; and blocking transactions in any property in which the Government of Syria has any interest. Mr. Speaker, let us act today and hold accountable terrorist states by eliminating policies which advance terrorism. Let us pass the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker I rise today in support of the gentleman from Alabama's (Mr. Davis) motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 1308, the child tax credit, and I thank the gentleman for this very important motion because tax relief and tax fairness are the very core of what we in Congress should be doing to improve the lives of Americans in each and every community across this Nation. Mr. Speaker, let me take a moment to recognize the bipartisan work of the United States Senate which has already voted 94 to two to provide Americans with real and meaningful tax relief in the form of a child tax credit. The Senate knew that this was the right thing to do, and they made no bones about coming together for hard-working American families. In fact, the President of the United States, through his press secretary, said that we ought to pass this legislation, legislation that has been held hostage in this House by the Republican leadership for 111 days. This is wrong, Mr. Speaker, and it ought not to happen in America because tax relief for American families, a real child tax credit, is not a Democrat issue, not a Republican issue. It is a children issue. The relief it provides is targeted to parents who need it the most, those earning between 10,000 and $26,000 a year, about 6.5 million families and 12 million children. They await relief while the Republican leadership in the House stalls on this bill. The House version of the child tax credit also shortchanges our servicemen and women and particularly those who are putting their lives on the line in Iraq. The House Republican leadership insisted that the calculation of the allowable child tax credit be based on taxable income, that is, wages in excess of personal exemptions and deduction, rather than on total earned income. This accounting gimmick adversely affects our military personnel who are in combat because, while in combat, their pay is not treated as taxable income. For example, a stateside grade E-6 serviceman or woman earning $29,000 a year, supporting a spouse and two children, would enjoy the full $1,000 child tax credit for each of their two children. But if that servicemember is deployed in Iraq for as much as 8 months, he or she could lose the entire child tax credit. That is because two-thirds of his or her income would not be taxable and the remaining one-third would fall below the $10,500 threshold at which the refundable portion of the child tax credit begins to be calculated. In fact, some 260,000 children, one in five children of the military, in 200,000 active duty military families would be left out of this unfair House version while the Senate version avoids this problem entirely. Last month the census released new figures showing that the number of families and children living between below the poverty line rose by 1.3 million last year, 1.3 million more families than there were last year. Times are really tough. They need help, Mr. Speaker, and they need it now. I would like to say that help is on the way, but the truth be told, Mr. Speaker, help is going away. Our fiscal priorities are not in touch with real needs. A recent House Committee on the Budget staff analysis reveals that the true cost of the war in Iraq and the postwar reconstruction effort will be more than $178 billion and could exceed $400 billion during the period 2003 to 2013. That is pretty big money. Who pays that bill? Hard-working Americans and their families, including the servicemen and women who have been disproportionately disadvantaged by the unfair tax policy in America today. In May of this year, this House passed a tax cut, despite the mounting deficit and the cost of the war in Afghanistan and Iraq. I am a big supporter of tax relief, but the last round of tax cuts excluded the full benefit for most working Americans and was fiscally irresponsible. We have before us today an opportunity to level that playing field for most American families. I hope that we will. I urge my colleagues to stand with us for tax fairness and to vote for the gentleman from Alabama's (Mr. Davis) motion to instruct conferees on this very important bill.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 520 and 521, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of America's great civil rights and human rights leaders--Dr. Dorothy I. Height. At ninety years of age, Dr. Height has had a long and distinguished career in the struggles for equality, social justice, and human rights for all peoples, and is today recognized as one of the most important social and civil rights activists of our time. Born on March 24, 1912, Dorothy Height earned her bachelors and masters degrees from the New York University. She began her work as a civil rights advocate in the 1930s, then went on to serve as President of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), an organization of 250 local groups and 38 national groups focused on social and economic development, women's issues and children's issues. Under her leadership the NCNW implemented numerous innovative initiatives including: Operation Woman Power to expand business ownership by women and to provide funds for vocational training; leadership training for African-American women in the rural South; the nationwide annual Black Family Reunion to encourage, renew, and celebrate African American and all families; the Women's Center for Education and Career Advancement to empower minority women in nontraditional careers; and the Bethune Museum and Archives devoted to the history of African-American women. Quite notably, Dr. Height was the only female member of the ``Big Six'' civil rights leaders, which included Whitney Young, A. Phillip Randolph, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., James Farmer, and Roy Wilkins. Dr. Height was an important confidante and consultant to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt on human and civil rights issues. She encouraged President Eisenhower to desegregate America's schools, and urged President Johnson to appoint African American women to high- ranking government positions. During her life she has also worked tirelessly to educate Americans and those around the world about the realities of AIDS and established NCNW offices in West Africa and South Africa. Dr. Height is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions including: the NAACP's Spingarn Award, the highest honor bestowed by the NAACP for civil rights contributions; (C) the John F. Kennedy Memorial Award, from the National Council of Jewish Women; the Ministerial Interfaith Association Award, for her contributions to interfaith, interracial, and ecumenical movements for over 30 years; the Lovejoy Award, the highest recognition by the Grand Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World, for outstanding, contributions to human relations; the Ladies Home Journal Woman of the Year Award, in recognition for her work for human rights; the William L. Dawson Award, presented by the Congressional Black Caucus for decades of public service to people of color and women; the Citizens Medal Award for distinguished service, presented by President Reagan; the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Freedom Medal, awarded by the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute; and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded by President Clinton in 1994 for her lifelong leadership and dedication to civil and human rights issues. Dr. Dorothy I. Height--a great American hero. Today we thank and honor her, as our lives are all the better for her struggles and her lifelong commitment and leadership in creating opportunities for Americans, and for all peoples.