Richard Burr

Mr. BURR

Mr. BURR. Mr. Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. BURR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding to me. This process has been enhanced by the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) and her expertise and her passion on this particular issue. There is no doubt that this initiative is one that is needed for first responders, regardless of the community that they come from, because without identifying specifically where the threat may be, we have to make sure that we prepare 100 percent of our first responders and health care workers. Mr. Speaker, the unanimous consent request before us today for the Smallpox Emergency Personnel Protection Act of 2003, a bill critical to our public health security and to our national security against the potential devastating threat of a terrorist release of the deadly smallpox virus, this bill is based on H.R. 1463, which I introduced in the Committee on Energy and Commerce, but it contains refinements, refinements that have been agreed to on a bipartisan basis with the ranking member, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps), the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), and the gentleman from Louisiana (Chairman Tauzin). It has also been the subject of bipartisan negotiations with Senator Gregg, Senator Kennedy; and yes, the administration. I applaud the leadership of all parties in this matter. I have stated before, we need to get this done as soon as possible to improve homeland security, to make sure that we are covered in case something happens. In January of this year, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson called on health professionals and emergency responders across the Nation to volunteer to receive the smallpox vaccination in order to join the smallpox emergency response team. The goal is to ensure that our country is better prepared to deal with any outbreak of this deadly disease caused by terrorists or rogue regimes, such as Iraq, by having in place thousands and potentially millions of first responders who could help treat others with smallpox or vaccinate the public without the fear of infection. This legislation, which has been requested by the administration, as the gentlewoman pointed out, is a top personal priority of the President and does a number of important things. Let me point those out, if I may. First, it provides coverage for reasonable and necessary medical expenses incurred by individuals who are vaccinated and suffer adverse effects, to the extent that such expenses are not picked up by the individual's primary health insurer. Second, the bill provides a lost-employment-income benefit if an individual misses more than 5 days of work due to an adverse effect from the vaccine. Under this benefit, an individual can receive up to 75 percent of his monthly salary and up to $50,000 a year in supplemental wages. For partial disabilities, the amount of Federal benefits would be capped at the maximum amount of the death benefit amount payable under the Public Safety Officers Benefits Program, or PSOB, an existing Federal program that currently provides $262,000 in a lump sum to public safety officers who are killed or totally disabled in the line of work. Third, the act provides a PSOB-equivalent death benefit for health care workers and first responders in the unlikely and regrettable cases where there may be a fatal adverse reaction to the smallpox inoculation. Because of the rare, but potentially severe, adverse side effects uniquely associated with this particular vaccine, a compensation program such as this one is essential if we are to properly incentivize these volunteers, these public safety heroes, to roll up their sleeves and to take the shot at potential risk to themselves and to their spouses and dependents whom their death or injury could leave behind. While some might say our compensation program is too generous and others might say that it is not enough in some cases, I think we have struck a good balance, given the uniqueness and the urgency of the national security situation we face today with respect to the potential threat of smallpox. Finally, this legislation provides sensible, noncontroversial technical amendments to last year's homeland security bill to better provide liability protection to hospitals, doctors, nurses, and public health officials at the State and local levels whom we are asking to participate in this important national initiative. Again, without this protection, the program is unlikely to be successful. That hurts all of us. This bill has been intensely negotiated, and it is a bipartisan consensus product that is needed for our national security now. Mr. Speaker, let me say, seldom do we produce a perfect product, but we try our best. Because I believe we have tried our best in this case, I would urge unanimous consent for passage of this measure to be accepted.

Mr. BURR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 1770) to provide benefits and other compensation for certain individuals with injuries resulting from administration of smallpox countermeasures, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. BURR

Mr. BURR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 1770, the bill just passed.

Mr. BURR

Mr. BURR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming changes in the engrossment of H.R. 1770, the bill just passed.

Mr. BURR

Mr. BURR. Mr. Speaker, this legislation, ``The Smallpox Emergency Personnel Protection Act,'' is another positive step towards preparing our citizens for a bioterrorist attack. For more than 2 years, I have been working on legislation to strengthen and build our nation's public health system. The first bill was signed into law in 2000 and established grant programs to address core public health capacity needs. The second bill was last year's bioterrorism legislation. In part, that legislation built on the grant structure created in 2000 and sent a significant amount of money to our public health infrastructure. That money is currently funding basic needs such as computers and Internet access for public health departments and more specific needs such as decontamination chambers. Needs that are essential for providing public health care services and critical for bioterrorism preparedness. On January 24 of this year, Secretary Tommy Thompson asked hospital workers, police officers, firefighters, and other public officials, to volunteer to receive the smallpox vaccination. Understandably, the reception was lukewarm. Nurses and physicians were concerned about the side effects of the vaccine and wanted to be compensated for any medical care or lost employment they incurred as a result of their vaccination. Hospitals were worried about liability. And public health departments were worried about the cost. In response, we have H.R. 1413. This legislation addresses the concerns of all of those individuals. We will now compensate vaccinated individuals for lost wages and medical expenses. Additionally, if they suffer a permanent disability, or, in the very unfortunate and unlikely case, death, we will give them the same amount of money that police officers and firefighters receive if killed in the line of duty. The legislation clarifies that if a vaccinated individual infects other individuals--they too are eligible for those benefits. Finally, the legislation amends the Homeland Security Act to ensure that hospitals, pharmacists, public health departments and any other involved individuals will not be liable for properly vaccinating people who then suffer adverse reactions. One very important point about this legislation is that it continues to give the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, State and local health departments, and hospitals the flexibility they need to correctly vaccinate thousands of people. In light of the unfortunate situation in Maryland, concerns have been raised about vaccinating individuals with heart conditions. The CDC Director promptly responded by recommending that those individuals be screened out of the vaccination pool. We all want this program to be successful, and success depends on flexibility and Federal Government support when individuals suffer adverse reactions. Let me end by saying that I am extremely proud of North Carolina and its response to Secretary Thompson's request. Thus far 26 hospitals have vaccination plans, 875 individuals have been vaccinated, and many more have volunteered. I believe that this legislation will reassure all of the current and future vaccination recipients in North Carolina and around this country that the Federal Government wants this program to work and backs up our request through compensation benefits.

Mr. BURR

Mr. BURR. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure that I rise today in recognition of our guest chaplain, the Reverend Ed Sears of Winston- Salem, North Carolina. He is a blessing to our community, and it is an honor to have him in Washington and in this House today. Reverend Sears is the senior pastor at Grace Baptist Temple in Winston-Salem. He has been faithfully serving this congregation of over 1,000 members for the past 22 years. His faithfulness to the ministry and gift of leadership extends into his work as a teacher at the Piedmont Baptist College and Calvary Baptist College. His service on various leadership boards, such as the General Council of Baptist Mid- Missions and his chairmanship of the Board of Trustees of the Baptist World Missionary Outreach Ministries, is only a partial list of his extensive community service. Reverend Sears has been happily married for 36 years. He is joined today by his wife, Linda, and also by their daughter, Heather. I want to thank Reverend Sears for his commitment to his ministry and to our community and take this opportunity to welcome him to the United States Capitol. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to have Reverend Sears open the House of Representatives with prayer this morning.

Mr. BURR of North Carolina

Mr. BURR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of a ban on the partial-birth abortion procedure. I firmly believe in the sanctity of human life, and am pleased that my colleagues in the other body have taken this necessary step to protect an unborn child's right to life. I am pleased to be a supporter and cosponsor of the House version of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban, H.R. 760. I urge my colleagues to consider the lives of thousands of unborn children each year that are terminated by this callous procedure, children who would be spared by the swift passage of this measure. Beyond H.R. 760, I urge my colleagues to support legislation that further protects the rights of unborn children. I am encouraged that there is great momentum in banning partial-birth abortions, and I am hopeful that the House of Representatives will be able to quickly pass this bill. With passage of legislation outlawing this barbaric practice, we will be taking a significant step in protecting innocent children.

Mr. BURR of North Carolina

Mr. BURR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, the Constitution of the United States gives the other body the responsibility for confirming, in a fair and just manner, judicial nominees chosen by the President. Unfortunately in the current political climate, qualified nominees are being held captive, causing a vacancy crisis in the federal judiciary. Injecting ideology into the confirmation process is misguided at best and downright irresponsible at worst. The American people expect better out of their elected officials. There is a drastic shortage of judges in the federal court system, Mr. Speaker. With every passing day that these nominations are allowed to stagnate in the other body, the crisis worsens. These vacancies are denying swift and balanced justice for the American people. This problem must be addressed in a non-partisan way by placing well- qualified and experienced judges on the bench in an expedient manner. The President has thus far fulfilled his duty by nominating well- qualified men and women to the federal bench. It is long past time for my colleagues in the other body to act.

Mr. BURR

Mr. BURR. Mr. Speaker, for the past 64 years the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program has empowered Americans who are blind or severely disabled by providing them with a diverse set of employment opportunities. Today, 38,000 disabled Americans are realizing their potential by working in their local communities under this program. These Americans are proud to provide the Federal Government and the U.S. Military with a wide array of SKILCRAFT brand and other program products and services. The Program prides itself on delivering high-quality products and services at competitive prices in the most convenient way possible. The Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program includes, among other things, the following product categories: office supply, military-specific, safety, maintenance, repair, medical-surgical, janitorial-sanitation, and customization. The services that are provided to federal and military customers include, but are not limited to, call center and switchboard operation, military base and federal office building supply centers, CD-ROM duplication-replication, data entry, document imaging and grounds care. I rise today in support of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program and the opportunities it provides for an underemployed population of hard- working Americans. Sales of these products and services are enabling more disabled Americans to have the opportunity to become full members of society, including paying into the tax base rather than taking from it. Today in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 127 blind Americans are employed under the Program, and are producing quality items and services for federal customers. The Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program is administered by the Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (appointed by the President), with much assistance from National Industries for the Blind, NIB, and NISH, which serves people with a wide range of disabilities. More than 650 local nonprofit agencies associated with NIB and NISH employ people who are blind or disabled to produce the products and offer the services authorized for sale to the federal government under the Program. The Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program is a great illustration of a successful partnership, a partnership that has the ability to grow with the changing procurement environment within the federal government.

Mr. BURR

Mr. BURR. Mr. Speaker, in the past year Americans have become acutely aware of the horrible crime of juvenile abduction. We have also become aware that time is a crucial factor when attempting to recover an abducted child. The Amber Alert system, which uses the media to inform the public when a child has been taken, has been an effective tool aiding in their rescue. The State of North Carolina is in a very tight budget year, and could not fully fund the North Carolina Child Alert Notification, or NC CAN. When the budget was passed, NC CAN funding came up $150,000 short. The program could not expand from the current 15 counties to all 100 counties in North Carolina without the additional funds. When good people see a problem, Mr. Speaker, they step in to help. That is exactly what the Tabor family of Kernersville did for their fellow Tar Heels. Physicians Pharmaceuticals, their family business, offered to fill the gap in NC CAN's budget by donating the $150,000 that the program needed. Physicians Pharmaceuticals makes Revival soy protein products, and it was a natural outgrowth of the company's Christian philosophy that led them to help the children of North Carolina. I commend Physicians Pharmaceuticals for making this donation. It is very possible that children's lives may be saved due to the company's sacrifice. In a time of great discord in the world, this selfless act is an example of what good works are done in God's name by the faithful. Now all North Carolinians can feel better about the safety of their children because of Physicians Pharmaceuticals.

Mr. BURR

Mr. BURR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today a proud North Carolinian, to pay tribute to Harlan E. Boyles, long-time State Treasurer of North Carolina and beacon of fiscal integrity. Born May 6, 1929, in Lincoln County, North Carolina to a farming family, Boyles learned from the Great Depression the importance of financial responsibility and the value of a dollar. Along with economic hardships, he also fought and finally overcame polio that plagued him from the age of fifteen. His perseverance was unshakable. He went on to graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1951 with a degree in accounting. Wasting no time he made his way to the Department of Revenue and, as a junior level auditor, began his lifelong career in public service. Harlan served North Carolina for sixteen years as the Deputy State Treasurer under his mentor, Edwin Gill. Gill assigned Boyles the challenge of upgrading the State's bond rating, a daunting task with the economy stuck in a post-Depression state. He succeeded: in 1960 his work propelled North Carolina to a triple-A credit rating. Mr. Boyles succeeded Gill as Treasurer in 1977 and served honorably until his retirement in 2001. In the forty years that he served as Deputy and State Treasurer, he maintained the Triple-A credit rating, resulting in millions of dollars in savings for North Carolinians, one of the Treasurer's proudest accomplishments. He was a respected man, sought for his soft-spoken knowledge and economic genius. His approval was considered vital to pass bond-related issues that came before the Legislature. He began warning in the 1980's that North Carolina had a fiscal disaster looming on the horizon. He used the past as guide and his uncommon intuition to foreshadow the economic future of the State. Boyles argued that the government was growing faster than the State could afford, maintaining that North Carolina needed ``better government, not bigger government.'' Boyles was an expert at making an organization perform at its peak, in part because he was constantly seeking new ideas. The level of efficiency that he maintained at the Department of Revenue was ahead of its time with the cutting-edge technology that he instituted. Computers were used everywhere possible to increase productivity. He did the job with one of the smallest staffs in North Carolina government. Arguably one of the most effective State Treasurers in American history, Harlan made profound strides in his efforts to prepare the State for the twenty-first century. During his tenure, the value of State employee pension funds rose from $7 billion to $67 billion and the total North Carolina workforce increased from 158,000 to 218,000. Without his leadership as Treasurer the security of our State employee retirement fund would not be the guarantee that it is today for so many Tar Heels. The measures that he took to ensure the economic security of the State have yet to be surpassed. Harlan's passing is not only a loss to North Carolina, but is indeed a loss to America. His legacy of service stands to direct the next generation as they embark on their journey into the new century. North Carolinians mourn his loss, and we keep in our prayers his loving wife Frankie and his children, Lynn, Phyllis and Edward. The history of North Carolina is marked by the work of great men and their ideas; Harlan Boyles is such a man and his legacy will live on to guide the future of sound economics and responsible leadership.

Mr. BURR of North Carolina

Mr. BURR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Goss) for not only his leadership as chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence but also for the gentleman's leadership in the debate on this issue on this floor. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution, but I want to take a moment to thank my colleagues who seek a peaceful solution to this crisis. I, too, would prefer peace to war. As Thomas Jefferson wrote to Andrew Jackson in 1806, ``Always a friend to peace, and believing it to promote the happiness and prosperity of mankind, I am ever unwilling that it should be disturbed, as long as the rights and interests of the Nation can be preserved.'' Jefferson went on to say in this letter, when our rights and interests are threatened, ``we must meet our duty and convince the world that we are just friends and brave enemies.'' Mr. Speaker, the rights and the interests of our Nation are threatened today. Voting to send our military into battle, even potential battle, is among the hardest things we will do as Members of Congress. It is not a duty to take lightly. However, I have come to the realization that there are times when such votes are necessary. This is one of those times. The threat to our Nation from Saddam Hussein's weapons programs and his growing ties to the networks of international terror cannot be underestimated and should not be ignored. Willful blindness to this threat will not make it go away. In a little more than a decade, we have sent our Armed Forces to war on behalf of the Kuwaitis, the Saudis, the Somalis, the Bosnians, and the Kosovars. Some in our military made the ultimate sacrifice. It may soon prove necessary to send our troops to war on behalf and in defense of the American people. I cannot in good conscience ignore the dangers posed by Iraq to my constituents, including the servicemen and women who call North Carolina home. Inaction on our part may very well be more costly to our Nation than action. The threat is real. As a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, I have heard testimony from countless officials on the status of our Nation's preparation for chemical and biological attacks. I know firsthand the need to eliminate this threat while we continue with our preparation. As a member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I have reviewed the evidence of Iraqi's weapons programs and its increasing ties to international terror. I have participated in countless hearings on the terror threat and the state of the war against terrorism. I have seen, heard and read things that keep me awake at night. Iraq brings the dangers of chemical and biological weapons, their use, and international terrorism together in one clear, defined threat. Addressing this threat is mandated by our duty to protect our Nation's rights and interests. The reason for my support of this resolution, Mr. Speaker, is simple. No matter how well we protect our borders, increase our military spending and strengthen our intelligence community, we cannot secure our homeland without eliminating the threat Saddam Hussein's weapons present to America and to the world. We must find them. We must destroy them. We must be prepared to take action when the international community will not, and we must fulfill our duty. I will conclude with President Jefferson's letter to John Adams in September 1821. ``The flames kindled on the 4th of July, 1776, have spread over too much of the globe to be extinguished by the feeble engine of despotism; on the contrary, they will consume these engines and all who work them.'' One wonders what President Jefferson would say about the weapons available to our enemies on this day at this time. Today, the bright flames of July 4th find themselves in struggle with the dark fires of September 11. Those fires, lit by the enemies of freedom, cannot be allowed to prevail. Will we allow them to advance, possibly in the ashes of a nuclear holocaust, or will we extinguish them before they gain a foothold? Those dark fires may not have been lit in Baghdad, but they are certainly fanned from that city. It is time to extinguish those fires. The evidence is clear, the cause is just, and timing is of the essence. We must give our President the tools he needs to protect our Nation, our interests, and our citizens. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. BURR of North Carolina

Mr. BURR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this legislation, H.R. 3580.

Mr. BURR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3580, the Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act. This bill represents a bipartisan agreement reached after months of negotiation. I commend the sponsors of this legislation, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo), as well as the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin), the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown), and the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) for their efforts in reaching an agreement on this very important legislation. Further, I would like to thank our highly skilled legislative counsel, Pete Goodloe, for his tireless work in drafting this bill. The medical device industry is one of the most innovative industries regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Whereas other regulated industries have products with life cycles measured in decades, the life cycles for medical devices are measured, in many cases, in months. In this industry, the rule is simply innovate or die. When an industry is innovative, we need to ensure that their devices receive an efficient review by the Food and Drug Administration. The best ways we can help is to provide the agency with more resources. This bill will do just that, by providing the FDA with more than $200 million over the next 5 years. With this new money, the agency will be able to hire more reviewers and update information on technology. The user fee approach used in this bill is similar to the initial version of the very successful Prescription Drug User Fee Act. Under this proposal, the industry will pay application fees to the FDA in exchange for the FDA's promise to meet performance goals. We have also built in protections for smaller businesses, exempting many from fees for their first pre-market application. Also included in the bill are needed regulatory reforms, the most important of which is the creation of a third-party inspection. Under third-party inspection, companies with good inspection records will be able to select an independent FDA-accredited third party to perform their FDA inspection. This will provide FDA with more inspectional information. Further, by adopting this approach, we empower companies to schedule their various international inspections along with their FDA inspections. By allowing third-party inspections, we are sending a signal to the rest of the world that they are an acceptable alternative, hopefully leading to a more mutual recognition. Importantly, this provision also requires FDA to maintain their current level of effort for FDA inspections. Finally, this bill includes medical device processing reforms which ensure that device end-users always know if the devices they use have been reprocessed. Let me be perfectly clear. There is absolutely no hard evidence that reprocessing devices are unsafe or ineffective. Nonetheless, because these devices can be different than original devices, we empower the FDA to collect better data. It is good policy, good public policy; and it deserves the support of this House, just as it has the support of the affected manufacturers and the hospitals. Again, I would urge my colleagues to offer a strong ``yea'' vote in favor of this bipartisan legislation. The spirit of this bill reflects the House at its finest. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURR of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the remarks from the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown). I think that, clearly, there will be a continuing debate in Washington around whether we fund agencies at an adequate level. The reality is that agencies have the determination to decide where they put their funding, and in many cases it is our responsibility to make sure that we bring them back focused on their core mission. In the case of the FDA, it is on food safety, it is on the approval of pharmaceutical applications, and it is on the approval of medical devices. I think we enhance that likelihood with the passage of this bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURR of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, let me add, before I yield back my time, the fabulous commitment that the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo) has made to this bill, as well as the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood) on our side. I think the gentlewoman from California stated it very well: It was the ability of those who worked, staff and Members of the Committee on Commerce, to stay focused on patients and, ultimately, the advantages to those patients that a successful end to this legislation might bring to the approval process on medical devices. That means that tonight this bill will pass the House of Representatives. For that, I am grateful to the gentlewoman from California.

Mr. BURR of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BURR of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BURR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3580) to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to make improvements in the regulation of medical devices, and for other purposes.

Mr. BURR of North Carolina

Mr. BURR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Commerce be allowed to file a supplemental report on H.R. 3580.

Mr. BURR of North Carolina

Mr. BURR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I move to lay the appeal on the table.

Mr. BURR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The gentleman has not presented to the House a question of privilege under rule IX of the rules of the House. As the House Practice Manual clearly states, and I quote, ``Rule IX is concerned not with the privileges of the Congress as a legislative branch but only with the privileges of the House itself.'' The mere enumeration of the legislative powers in article 1, section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, which the gentleman cites in his resolution, do not give rise to a question of privilege of the House itself. The precedents of the House are clear on this point. Mr. Speaker, I therefore insist on the point of order.

Mr. BURR of North Carolina

Mr. BURR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, unintentional home injuries have reached an unacceptable level, according to a new study by the Home Safety Council, and Americans need to be aware of the risks they face in their own homes. It may be surprising to some that these injuries are the leading cause of death for those between the ages of 1 and 44, and—other than illness—unintentional injuries are the number one cause of death in the United States. The study, recently completed by the University of North Carolina, also shows us how unintentional home injuries hurt America's working families and our economy. Lost workdays for injured parents cost both employees and employers, not to mention driving up health care costs and raising dilemmas in providing childcare. These injuries cost Americans nearly $380 billion each year, and account for an estimated 10 percent of all visits to hospital emergency rooms. We are forming a Congressional Home Safety Working Group in the next Congress that can directly address home safety issues on Capitol Hill and in Federal agencies. The working group will examine how the Federal Government can support home safety education and prevention activities. A year from now, we need to see a reduction in the number of unintentional home injuries. For some great suggestions on what Americans can do right now to protect themselves, visit www.homesafetycouncil.org. I want to congratulate David Oliver, Executive Director of the Home Safety Council, for commissioning this monumental study; Dr. Carol Runyan, Director of the Injury Prevention Research Center at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for conducting the study; and Dr. Sue Binder, Director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for supporting this study and bringing Federal attention to this critical issue. I would also like to encourage my fellow colleagues to raise the level of attention to home safety issues on Capitol Hill and in Federal agencies.

Mr. BURR of North Carolina

Mr. BURR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of some fellow North Carolinians who, during the recent District Work Period, brought great honor to our State. Shortly after we returned to our respective Districts, North Carolina lost one of its most famous athletes, Enos ``Country'' Slaughter. Born in Roxboro, just south of the Virginia State line, Country went on to star for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team during their hey day's of the 1940's. Known as one of the ``Gashouse Gang,'' Country batted .300 for his career and had almost as many triples (148) as he had home runs (169). His most memorable moment came in the 1946 World Series, when he rounded the bases from first on a routine single to score the Series winning run. The ``Mad Dash''--;as it came to be known--;may have been his finest moment on the field, but often forgotten and much more appreciated by his fellow Americans was his service to our country in World War II during the height of his career. Country was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985 and returned annually for the induction ceremonies until his health prevented his attendance this year. Former teammate Marty Marion called Slaughter, ``. . . a good old country boy who just loved to play baseball.'' Country will be sorely missed. About the same time Enos was called home, a new generation of North Carolina baseball players were reaching the pinnacle of youth sports-- ;The Little League World Series. During the months of July and August, a talented group of 11 and 12 year olds from the Southwest Forsyth County Little League swept through the North Carolina Little League Tournament, defeating Greenville to become State Champions. Then, at the Southeast Regional Championship, the All-Stars ran their winning streak to 13 by tearing through the competition in Florida and defeating the Virginia State Champions to earn their tickets to Williamsport, Pennsylvania. They are only the third team in North Carolina to reach the World Series in the event's fifty-six year history. Upon reaching Williamsport, Southwest was thrust into the international spotlight, living side-by-side with Venezuelans, Saudi's, and Russians, as well as Californians and Texans. In the pool play competition, Southwest put up a valiant effort in each of its three games, the third of which was a loss to eventual world champions Louisville, Kentucky. Even though the won-loss record does not reflect it, the talent and effort put forth by these young men far exceeded the expectations of coaches and parents and in the category of sportsmanship, Southwest is an undisputed champion. These 13 ``Boys of Summer'' now share a bond that will be with them for the rest of their lives--;and stories of their on-field heroics from the Summer of 2002 will grow with each passing year into legends like those of Country Slaughter's ``Mad Dash.'' Of course the success of Southwest would not be possible without the unwavering support of parents, who sacrificed hours of family and work time to shuttle the players to and from practices and tournaments; of coaches, who also sacrificed time away from their families and jobs to teach these young men about baseball, and more importantly, the things the game teaches us about life and our responsibility to others, be they teammates, classmates, family members or society as a whole. Also, league organizers and sponsors, who for the past three decades have given the children of Southwest Forsyth county a place to spend their Springs and Summers in a competitive, safe and constructive atmosphere to learn our Nation's pastime. Each of these young men, have, at one time during this memorable ride, given the people of Forsyth County and North Carolina something to cheer about, so it would be only fitting to recognize all of them: Chad Gentry, Robbie Scott, Daniel Genung, Austin Dillon, Christopher Sanders, Alex Robertson, Scott Riggsbee, David Morgan, Michael DeLuca, Sammy Lucas, David McConnell II, Taylor Russell, and Peyton Covington. Manager: John Scott, Coach: Chuck DeLuca, Coach: Mark Wylam. Mr. Speaker, August saw the passing of the baseball torch in North Carolina: from one who made the sport what it is to those who will make it what it will be. I join all North Carolinians in mourning the passing of Enos Slaughter, but celebrating the accomplishments of the Southwest Forsyth County Little League. It thrilled us all to see the ideals of sportsmanship and team camaraderie Enos believed in being carried forward by North Carolina's new Boys of Summer. We caught a glimpse of the potential each of these boys possesses, both as athletes and ambassadors of our State. We thank them for a Summer full of memories and look forward to watching them grow and prosper as productive citizens of our community.