John Boozman

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Chairman, I yield a minute to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Drake).

Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Chairman, I yield to the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Ms. Fallin) for 1\1/2\ minutes.

Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett).

Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Chairman, we don't have any additional speakers. I would urge support of H.R. 2537. I appreciate the hard work of the staffs on both sides in bringing this before Congress today. I appreciate the leadership of the individuals involved and would just urge that we adopt the bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. BOOZMAN. I agree with Mr. Flake and Mr. Pence about the situation of needing to earmark responsibly. And certainly earmarking to protect vulnerable Members, in fact, anything of that certainly is not for the good of the country and the good of Congress or whatever. I guess what I question is that in this particular amendment, in this particular bill, I think it is inappropriate. This program is a formula-based grants program that has not been earmarked in the past and there's no plans to earmark it in the future. We are not talking about beach restoration. We are not talking about beach reclamation. We are talking about a bill that allows States, allows beaches, to monitor pathogens so that when a family from Arkansas goes to Florida or goes to South Carolina, wherever they go, and they pull up, that they can, with safety, get out and swim in the waters without it being a cesspool. I wish that more people would sneak an earmark in the night to protect their beach. Again, that is not going to happen with this bill. It is not the purpose of the bill. So I would ask that we vote against this, and yet again I feel very strongly that what Mr. Pence is saying, what Mr. Flake is trying to do with his amendment is appropriate, but not in this particular vehicle. I don't think that it pertains at all.

Mr. BOOZMAN. I yield back.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of House Resolution 909, and I join my colleagues in recognizes the valuable contribution and significant sacrifice that Haitians made as they joined the fight for American independence over two centuries ago. In the fall of 1779, over 500 courageous men volunteered to cross the treacherous waters from Haiti to the U.S., to join our soldiers in the Siege of Savannah. This was no easy feat; yet these men were committed to fighting for America's liberty and independence. Representing the largest contingent of soldiers of African descent to fight in the American Revolution, these Haitian troops bravely joined in our efforts, forging the friendship between the U.S. and Haiti that has only strengthened in the centuries that followed. Sadly, such courage had a high price. More than 300 Haitians lost their lives in this battle. Last year, a monument to this glorious sacrifice was erected in Savannah, Georgia. The collaborative efforts of local officials in Georgia and the Haitian American Historical Society of Miami guided this project to completion. Today, the Savannah monument stands as a tribute to those individual foreign volunteers who joined in the American Revolution and commemorates the historic bond between the U.S. and Haiti. H. Res. 909 further commemorates Haiti's own struggle for independence and renunciation of slavery. What began as a slave revolt in 1791 ended with Haiti's own independence in 1804. And Haiti was the first nation in the Western Hemisphere to form a government led by the people of African descent and, remarkably, it was also the first nation in the Western Hemisphere to renounce slavery. For this reason, I am proud to stand with my congressional colleagues in calling for the passage of this important resolution. Yet we must also recognize that there is more to be done. Despite Haiti's early and historic commitment to democracy, the country continues to languish under the oppression of extreme poverty, disease, and violence. As a significant partner in the region, the U.S. must remain not only cognizant of Haiti's progress but also engaged in its development. We cannot be fully successful as a hemisphere without Haiti fulfilling its potential as a strong and vibrant nation. I want to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek) for introducing H. Res. 909 and am proud to join in the commemoration of such courageous individuals. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOOZMAN. Again, I appreciate the hard work of the gentleman from Florida in bringing this forward. I would urge my fellow Congressmen to vote ``yes'' on this very timely resolution, and having no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman from Florida's hard work and thoughtfulness in bringing this bill before the House, and I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Lee Myung- Bak on his election as President of the Republic of Korea and to express appreciation for the many contributions of the Republic of Korea and Korean Americans towards strengthening and enlarging the U.S.-Korea alliance partnership. On January 13, 1903 the first Korean immigrants arrived in the United States. On that day each year, now known as Korean American Day, we recognize and honor the economic, social, cultural and political contributions Korean-Americans have made to the United States over the last century. Korean-Americans have thrived in this country because of a shared belief in the importance of family life, individual responsibility, hard work and education. Over the past 50 years we have seen the Republic of Korea emerge from colonial rule and the ravages of war to stand alongside the United States as a beacon of democracy, peace and security; prospering under a free market economy whilst upholding the rule of law. Over these 50 years the Republic of Korea has been a loyal and indispensable ally to the United States as we have worked at close quarters to combat those who would threaten these shared values. In recent times we have seen this commitment through South Korean peacekeeping troops in Lebanon and Afghanistan, and the 650 South Korean military personnel serving alongside our soldiers in Iraq today, now the third largest partner in the coalition with $460 million pledged to the reconstruction effort. At the end of December last year, South Korea's National Assembly voted to extend the time of its commitment to provide troops for the War in Iraq. While some of our friends scale down their operations in Iraq, our South Korean friends have remained steadfast in the War on Terror, for which we are truly grateful. In his farewell address to the Congress in 1951, one of Arkansas' greatest sons, General Douglas MacArthur, said this of the Republic of Korea: ``Of the nations of the world, Korea alone, up to now, is the sole one which has risked its all against communism. The magnificence of the courage and fortitude of the Korean people defies description.'' Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate the new President-Elect of the Republic of Korea, Lee Myung-Bak, and wish him well as he takes on the responsibility of working with the United States to tackle the challenges of the East Asian region, particularly the ongoing efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. I ask that my colleagues join me today in recognizing and honoring the U.S.-Korea Alliance and the contribution of our South Korean friends to the global war on terror as we work towards ensuring the safety of our citizens. We look forward to fostering our historic relationship under the new leadership of President Lee Myung-Bak.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I proudly rise with my Arkansas colleagues this morning to recognize a man who meant a great deal in my life and a great deal to those who are fans of college football and the University of Arkansas. I rise to honor the legacy and career of Frank Broyles, the athletic director of the university and former head football coach who will end his 50-year run with the Razorbacks on December 31. Frank Broyles is an icon in Arkansas and a legend in the world of collegiate athletics. His new mission, among other things, will be to educate Americans on caring for loved ones suffering with Alzheimer's. The names of those associated with Coach Broyles are impressive: Jerry Jones, Jimmy Johnson, Barry Switzer, Johnny Majors, Joe Gibbs, Raymond Berry, and the list goes on and on, all played or coached for Broyles over his career. He even teamed with the legendary broadcaster Keith Jackson for several years to bring the college games to our homes every weekend. I will be forever proud to be a Razorback and to have had the opportunity to be one under Coach Broyles. I congratulate him on his career, and sincerely thank him for his service to the great State of Arkansas. And as we say in Arkansas, Wooo, Pig Sooey.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise solemnly this afternoon to memorialize one of my constituents who's been described as one who makes this country great. I rise to remember Army Specialist Matthew Kyle Reece of Jasper, who passed away in Iraq in December of 2007. Kyle Reece was born in Harrison and went to school in Jasper and Alpena. He fished, played ball and prayed while growing up in Newton County. His name can be seen in the Alpena gym, marking two championship teams, and his name will long be remembered for the duty he performed on behalf of his country, his friends and his family. Kyle was a grenadier in the 82nd Airborne who deeply cared for the men in his charge. He accepted his duty proudly, telling his 3-year-old daughter before he left that he had to go to Iraq so she and everyone else in the U.S. could remain free. There's no way we can adequately thank Kyle, or his family, for his service. However, I will take to heart the words of his wife, Chauntelle, who urges that we not wait until a soldier dies before we honor him. Rather, we should shake their hands and thank them for all that they do for America.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask unanimous consent to withdraw my name as a cosponsor of H.R. 1201.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 797 is a very, very good bill, and I appreciate Ms. Baldwin working so hard. I think we could actually use the adjective tirelessly on this one, in order to bring it forward. It really has two provisions that I'm especially pleased to support. First, I'm pleased that this bill will help veterans with visual disabilities. To put this in perspective, VA compensates about 13,000 veterans for blindness in one eye. DOD statistics show that about 1,169 servicemembers have experienced eye injuries in Iraq, and VA states about 111 of those are now receiving compensation. And let us not forget that with the number of traumatic brain injury casualties, and those that have gone undiagnosed, many of them will experience visual impairment as a result of those injuries. Thanks to Ms. Baldwin's work in bringing this forward, the change in this law will make sure that all of these individuals will be treated fairly. I am also greatly pleased that we have been able to fund reinstatement of the GI Bill work-study provisions that expired last June. These additional work-study jobs will benefit both the veteran student and veterans at large by increasing the resources available to assist VA employees in accomplishing their mission. Mr. Speaker, this is a very good bill and I urge my colleagues to support it. I also want to thank Mr. Filner and his staff for, again, bringing this forward, along with Mr. Buyer, the ranking member; and the staff over here. Again, this is a very good bill, and I urge support of its passage with my colleagues.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3998, in particular title X of the bill, the Butterfield Overland Trail Study Act. This title directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the Butterfield Overland Trail, which stretches from Missouri to California. Before the railroad and even the famed Pony Express, the Butterfield Trail was the only connection between the eastern United States and the rapidly expanding west coast. Commissioned by Congress in 1857, John Butterfield established a trail that could be traveled by stagecoach from the Mississippi River to San Francisco in a remarkable 25 days. While the original purpose of the trail has long been surpassed by modern technology, the trail survives with the potential to be a great link to our Nation's past, attracting tourists with its educational and historic appeal, as well as a tool to educate our children about our country's storied history. I have worked with the National Resources Committee to ensure that extreme caution is given to protecting private property rights, and clear language is contained in the bill so that any future action will not compromise private land. Mr. Speaker, as our country continues to rapidly grow and develop in the spirit of the old American West, it is so important that we remember what brought us to this point. It is our duty to our children and grandchildren that we take the time to mark the paths our ancestors took across our country. I respectfully ask my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 3998. And I want to thank the committee so much, and the committee staff. It has really been a pleasure to work with you guys to help us as we worked forward in ironing out the kinks. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer my congratulations to one of my constituents who's dedicated his adult life toward protecting the men and women of Arkansas. I rise to congratulate Les Braunns of Springdale on his promotion to the rank of major in the Arkansas State Police. A 28-year veteran trooper, Major Braunns was most recently the commanding officer of Troop L, where he earned the respect and friendship of the men he commanded. According to the men of Troop L, Major Braunns always led his men by example, and led his men from the front, never asking a trooper to perform a task he was unwilling to perform himself. His men pointed to the most recent example of his leadership from an incident in July when the Hell's Angels descended on my district for their annual get-together. Then Captain Braunns marched into a group of 300 and told them, ``You can police yourselves, or we can do it for you.'' The State police kept their word and so did the Hell's Angels. I congratulate Major Braunns on his promotion, and I thank him and appreciate all that he's done for the State of Arkansas.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 3315 provides that the great hall of the Capitol Visitor Center be known as Emancipation Hall. The bill was introduced by Representative Zach Wamp of Tennessee on August 2, 2007. At nearly 580,000 square feet, the Capitol Visitor Center is the largest project undertaken by the Office of the Architect of the Capitol in the Capitol's 212-year-old history. It is one of the most important projects since the extensions to the Capitol and the Dome were built more than 140 years ago. As an extension of the Capitol, the Capitol Visitor Center will welcome visitors to the seat of the American Government. Within the Capitol Visitor Center, the great hall is a large 20,000- square-foot room where visitors will gather as they enter the Capitol. This promising gathering space will serve as the gateway for the public's experience of the Capitol and American democracy. The Capitol Visitor Center will provide visitors to the Capitol the opportunity to learn about and more fully understand the Constitution, the Congress, and the history of the Capitol, including the contribution of slaves who helped build the Capitol and the country. It will help deepen the understanding of all who visit about our Nation's long struggle with slavery and its ultimate abolition. It is fitting and appropriate to recognize the seminal moment of the Emancipation Proclamation in American history. We should recognize the sacrifice and contribution of the many slaves who helped build the Capitol. Mr. Speaker, with that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOOZMAN. I just want to close by thanking Mr. Wamp, the gentleman from Tennessee, and Mr. Jackson for his help in moving this forward. This certainly is a very fitting honor. And I ask all of my colleagues for a resounding ``yes'' vote to this so that we might move forward. I also want to thank the chairman of the subcommittee for her hard work in pushing this forward and getting it on the floor. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert).

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of the bill, Mr. Wamp of Tennessee.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, today I offer my congratulations to the United States Marshals Service, as well as a hearty ``Welcome Home'' to Fort Smith, Arkansas. At ``high noon'' today, trucks from ABF Freight System arrived with precious cargo: the history of the United States Marshals Service. They arrived from Wyoming to their new hometown of Fort Smith, the future site of the United States Marshals Museum. Today's arrival is a symbolic event, but just a temporary stop. The Marshals collection, now inside Arkansas' borders, will be secured in a safe location while we build a proper home of the legendary history of the Marshals Service. From the arrival of the ``Hanging Judge'' Isaac Parker and through such men as Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves, an African-American deputy who arrested more than 3,000 men, the history of the Marshals Service and the history of Fort Smith, Arkansas, have been continually linked. Today, we take the next step in making that link permanent. The legacy of the United States Marshals Service is now in Arkansas. Congratulations to Fort Smith and congratulations to the United States Marshals. Welcome home.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The bill before us, H.R. 1567, the Stop Tuberculosis Act of 2007, has been put forward by its supporters to provide a very significant increase in our foreign aid spending on anti-TB programs abroad. If we rely on figures gathered with the assistance of the Congressional Research Service, the bill would raise our spending on such programs through the U.S. Agency for International Development by about six times in the next 2 years. According to a brief letter received late last week from the Congressional Budget Office, the bill would increase such spending somewhat less, by somewhere between two and three times in the next 2- year period. Although it is possible that the latter estimate by CBO may inadvertently have included in its baseline comparison current funding levels for some anti-TB programs outside of the scope of this bill, it is clear that this measure seeks a major increase in the AID programs it covers. Along those lines, the bill strongly encourages, if not directs, the President to ensure that the funds that would be provided under this bill will be transferred to the World Health Organization's ``Stop TB Partnership'' plan. Finally, the funding amounts in the bill have apparently been formulated using a calculation meant to reflect what the United States' fair share might be in funding that international plan. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the determination of the supporters of this measure to do more to combat TB overseas. On a personal note, my mother was afflicted with tuberculosis when she was in her mid to late teens and was on her back for a year, just didn't get out of bed. So we understand the importance of eradicating TB, not only worldwide but in the United States. She's done well, though. By coincidence, this is her 86th birthday, and so she recovered fully. I also want to thank Congressman Engel for his work on this. I know that he's worked very, very hard, and also Congresswoman Heather Wilson of New Mexico. With that, we don't have any more speakers, and if you all don't, I will yield back. Do you have some more speakers?