Ginny Brown-Waite

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE. Mr. Chairman, I am very fond of the gentleman from Connecticut, and I know his heart is in the right place. He has been very supportive of many of the things that are proposed in this Chamber, and on many, many issues we agree; however, this is an issue that we do not agree on. Study, study, study. Let's just study it again. That is what Congress has done for so many issues for so many years. Another colleague of ours, Jo Ann Emerson, came to Congress a little over 10 years ago taking her husband's place in Congress. He had passed away. The reason I mention this is her husband chaired a study group on this very subject in 1995 or 1996. How much longer do people have to believe that Congress is going to do nothing other than create another bound study that is going to sit on somebody's bookshelf someplace and not accomplish one darn thing? This isn't just about Florida. It is about every State that faces natural catastrophes. It is about finally having a solution. The gentleman from Connecticut was elected to serve in the House. Quite honestly, there are many times when, on this very floor, we all say, I don't care what the Senate is going to do. Well, it just so happens that a bill recently was introduced, very similar to this bill, by Senator Nelson and a neighbor of the gentleman from Connecticut, Mrs. Clinton, Senator Clinton, so there is a companion bill over in the other House. While that companion bill is not bipartisan, it is some movement. It is acknowledgement to the people out there who are paying outrageous insurance rates that Congress is finally stepping up and doing something and not just creating another study killing who knows how many trees. I know the gentleman from Connecticut is an environmentalist. I would think he would want to save a few trees. Mr. Chairman, I disagree with the gentleman's amendment, and I encourage my colleagues to vote against it.

Ms. BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. BROWN-WAITE of Florida. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I am very much opposed to the motion to recommit. States have comprehensive plans controlling development. What States don't want is the Federal Government telling them what to do. There are excellent new building requirements, new building codes that are in place to ensure that anything that has been built since 1990 is built to much stronger standards. On the insurance costs: let's face it, ladies and gentlemen, if this bill doesn't pass and a catastrophe happens, the first thing that will be the bill du jour is to bail out California if there is an earthquake, Florida if there is a hurricane, or any other State where tornadoes hit down. If you voted for TRIA because it was the right thing to do to stabilize the reinsurance market for terrorism insurance, then you should vote for the bill and against the motion to recommit. This is an attempt to stabilize the insurance market; it is not an attempt to take over the insurance market.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 3685, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and the rule that we have before us today. Primarily, I'm opposed to the measure's unclear wording that could easily lead to wide-ranging and serious consequences. This bill would prohibit discrimination, which is a good thing, on extremely hard-to-define measures such as an individual's perceived characteristics. I think it's the perception and the ``perceived'' language in here that is very troubling to me as a former small business owner with up to 15 employees. It would be impossible for employers to operate a business while having to worry about being accused of mistreating someone based on the employee's ``perceived characteristics.'' This ill-conceived, vague language is nothing more than a golden ticket for America's trial lawyers. This loose wording is also an invitation for accusations by disgruntled employees who want to take advantage of a poorly constructed law. Like all of my colleagues, I believe congressional policies should strive to promote a tolerant society. I believe many Members, including myself, would vote for it without the ``perception'' language in it. The gentleman from Massachusetts spoke before very eloquently, as he always does, and he said, our laws should not say that gay people are bad people. That's not what this bill says, nor has any bill that has come before us ever said that. When people that I come in contact with begin to disparage individuals who may be gay, I point out to them that, you know, you don't know whether your Aunt Jen, our son Bill, your grandson Paul or your granddaughter may be gay, so it's inappropriate. You know, it's inappropriate to make disparaging comments about anyone who is gay because people really don't know the people around them, whether they are or whether they're not, and it's really none of their business. However, when that quest for intolerance in this bill leads us to costly and irresponsible ends, I think we must rethink the legislation. At a time when America faces so many challenges, the last thing Congress needs to be doing is finding a way to hand trial lawyers an avalanche of litigation to cash in on. I urge my colleagues to oppose this poorly drafted legislation. Let's go back to the drafting board with this.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, throughout America, small businesses and entrepreneurs work each day to help our nation prosper. One of these companies, R.J. Nathe & Sons of Dade City, Florida is celebrating their fiftieth anniversary this year. As one of the outstanding corporate citizens in Pasco County, the Nathe family deserves recognition for fifty years of giving back to the community. In October of 1957, cousins R.J. Nathe and Walter Gude decided to go into the land clearing business, naming the company Nathe and Gude Landclering. Using an initial family loan to start the company, the cousins went out and put a down payment on two used bulldozers and two old pickup trucks. Reaching out to the growing citrus crop industry in Central Florida, they had plenty of proposed work until a bad freeze stopped their growing business in its tracks. Once the cousins got back on their feet, they soon realized that while land clearing would make them money, the real business potential came from logging the timber that came off of the land they cleared. Over the years the business diversified even further to include extensive cattle and citrus operations. When they incorporated the firm in 1980, the cousins decided to shorten the name to Nathe & Gude, Inc. in 1993 the Nathe family split with Gude, allowing Gude to take the cattle operation and the Nathe family keeping the original logging and land clearing part. The following year J.R. brought his five sons into the business and changed the name to R.J. Nathe & Sons, Inc. A very important part of the growing business is J.R.'s wife, Patsy, who keeps everyone coordinated and productive. Over the years R.J. Nathe & Sons, Inc. has been recognized for its involvement in business and community actives. They have received numerous awards including Florida Logger of the Year in 1996, continuing on to win the Southeastern title and runner up for National Logger of the Year in 1997. Along with timber harvesting and land clearing, Nathe & Sons now offers demolition and custom sawmilling. The business has strived to build strong customer relationships based on fairness, honesty and quality service. With a company motto of, ``Treating everyone's land as if our own,'' it is clear that Nathe & Sons has a commitment to customers that is necessary to maintain an outstanding reputation in the Dade City community. I congratulate Patsy and J.R. and the entire family on their first fifty years of service in Pasco County and look forward to working with them over the next fifty years.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Many of the State programs actually had that language in there so that we wouldn't crowd out those who already had insurance and encourage them to get into the program. Many of the States had subsidies, premium subsidies so that people could stay in a family program so you didn't have to have one doctor for perhaps your 12-year-old and another doctor for the mom and dad so that there could be a family, a true family doctor there because they all were covered by the same insurance company. The problem was over time many of the States stopped promoting that. So it was just easier to enroll the children in the State children's health program, and in Florida we call it KidCare. That is an excellent point you bring up.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I was sitting in my office calling back some constituents. It was 7:30, and first of all, they were surprised to hear from any Member of Congress calling them back at 7:30, but I am sure everyone here in this chamber does exactly that. And I saw you coming here to inform the American public about the truth. It is long overdue. Many of us in this Chamber had ads run against us. It was during that 2-week period after the President vetoed the bill. Now, we could have been working on a compromise, but no, there had to be time out there for the operatives to run nasty ads against people who voted to not override the President. The President was right. This bill, the spending in the bill is out of control. It is out of control, and the American public started to catch on. Because when they started to attack me, you know, I have been called the mother of this bill. I wasn't in Congress at the time. But it was because I was willing to take that very difficult vote to allow for third-party reimbursement to come from the tobacco companies for health care costs that the money came from. So, Dr. Price, your chart there on where the money is coming from is very, very interesting because, as you say, in 2013, if I am reading the chart correctly, that is where the funding drops off. Twenty-two million smokers would be needed to fund this program, which is far, far different from that originally envisioned and that which both sides of the aisle, the Democrats and the Republicans, worked on in 1997 to come up with the SCHIP bill. So what exactly do we have in the bill that many of us voted against, many of us who fought long and hard for State children's health programs? What is in it? Well, it continues to allow adults to receive health care under various State SCHIP programs. It is interesting that it also will allow more illegals to participate in health care through the SCHIP program. That is not what our constituents wanted. The Senate received a loud-and-clear message when America finally did wake up to what they were doing on the issue of illegal aliens. They virtually inundated the switchboard of the Senate. People do not want more magnets to attract illegal aliens here. But most of the State health plans, part of the pool of money that the various States got after going after the third-party reimbursement, part of that money was also for education and trying to get people to stop smoking. So isn't it interesting that with this hand we fund programs that are trying to get people to stop smoking, and yet we have a bill here that says, oh, come on, we need some more smokers to pay for this program. One of the fallacies that people have finally in America begun to realize is that the program, the SCHIP program, was a great program. It should be renewed. It shouldn't be expanded. It should be renewed. And we need to reach out to those that the program hasn't already touched, those low-income children out there. It shouldn't have been, and it was never intended originally to be for adults. But, quite honestly, States gamed the system. And why did they do it? Because they could get 15 percent more funding from the Federal Government than they could with the traditional Medicaid program that adults go into. In Florida alone, we have right now 62,000 children who should be eligible for KidCare, which is the State program, but they have not signed up for it. So before we go expanding it to middle-income kids, let's capture those children in Florida, and every other State, Dr. Price, every other State that has children who still are not covered by the program, the very, very good program. Many of us actually are on the bill that would be a simple extension. And many of us are cosponsors of that which allows the program to continue for 18 months. I hope that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle realize what America really wants. They want this great program to continue for low-income children. Dr. Price, I appreciate your being here tonight as part of the Truth Squad to bring this information to the American public.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak on behalf of our Nation's veterans, more than 100,000 of whom live in my congressional district. Madam Speaker, 138 days ago, 4\1/2\ months ago, this House passed the Veterans-MilCon appropriations bill; and 55 days ago, the Senate passed their version. Since that time the party in control, the Democrats, have sat on their hands refusing to appoint conferees and take action to fund our Nation's heroes. Leader Boehner has actually appointed conferees to the conference, and virtually every Republican Member has implored the Speaker to move forward. Our troops are too important to play political games. Just this past week, I heard from a woman in my district whose son is being treated in the spinal cord injury unit down in Tampa. Let me share with you that she is not a Republican. She is a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat. Her comment to me was that she was ashamed that the increased appropriation that was in the very good bill that we passed here, she was ashamed that those funds have not yet been freed up. October 1 was the beginning of the Federal year. We have veterans in need of services. We have veterans in need of increased staffing at the various hospitals. Combining these bills clearly is an effort to have people vote on something that will come back and be certainly not what the American public wanted. You know, when your side won in November, Madam Speaker, I think Americans thought, oh, good, things will be done differently. They are not only not being done differently, they are being done worse than before. That is not what the American public wants. The American public wants to have our military funded. They want to have our veterans, whether it is from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, or those currently coming back from OIF and OEF, deserving to have good- quality care at the veterans hospitals. And to have that as a separate bill, not be held hostage.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I certainly want to thank the chairwoman for her cooperation on this. I think the key word, the operative word, here is obviously ``accountability.'' And I think this amendment will help to improve an already good bill. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Chair, section 2(i) of the Small Business Act states that only those lawfully in the United States shall receive funds under the Act. My amendment establishes a Small Business Liaison to ensure that section will be followed. That's what the amendment does. It mirrors language contained in my bill, H.R. 3496, which requires the liaison to work in tandem with the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement group. Listen up, America. We are the land of opportunity, and small business owners make up the backbone of our economy. However, Congress cannot continue to encourage and foster small businesses in our Nation, if we are not making those here legally an actual priority. This simple amendment will ensure that small business loans and grants are going to those who follow the immigration rules that we have in place. Therefore, I urge the Members of this body to support this amendment. And I certainly want to thank the gentlelady from my former home State of New York for working with us on this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to offer my resolution on the House floor today, House Concurrent Resolution 230, supporting the observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The effects of breast cancer have touched almost every American, whether through losing a loved one, as I did, or going through the pain of chemotherapy and a long recovery, as millions of individuals have done. I introduced this resolution to support the breast cancer education and outreach efforts that have taken place this October. We all know that every 3 minutes, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer and that this is the leading cause of death among women between the ages of 15 and 54. However, if this disease is detected early, the breast cancer survival rate is 98 percent. Congress must continue to promote breast cancer awareness and support efforts to defeat this disease. My resolution expresses support for the observation of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is this month of October. The resolution provides a special opportunity to offer education on the importance of monthly breast self-examinations and annual mammograms. My resolution also salutes the 2.4 million breast cancer survivors in the United States and the efforts of victims, volunteers and professionals who combat breast cancer every day. Finally, this measure applauds the national and community organizations for their work in promoting awareness about breast cancer. A woman's risk for developing breast cancer increases if family members have a history of breast cancer, particularly at an early age. However, 85 percent of women who develop breast cancer have no known family history of the disease. It cannot be stressed enough that early detection is the best chance for survival of a person who has a breast cancer diagnosis. Women must take care of their health and be aware of their risk factors, perform self-examinations and get annual checkups. While breast cancer predominately affects women, we are regularly reminded that a significant number of men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. My colleague, Ms. Baldwin, mentioned Jo Ann Davis. Jo Ann Davis certainly was a very, very brave lady who fought breast cancer. Actually, she fought it twice. She won the first time, and it came back. We all remember her in this Chamber and we remember her desire to make sure that a cure is found. If Jo Ann Davis were here today, she would not only vote in favor of this, but she also would be speaking on behalf of it. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Representative Baldwin and the 129 Members who co-signed this very important piece of legislation with me. I certainly urge all Members to support H. Con. Res. 230 to ensure that the House continues to bring awareness to this important issue. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 1010, I am not recorded because my card did not register. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, each year the President of the United States presents the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics to outstanding teachers in the disciplines of math and science from the 50 States and 4 territories. This year, Patricia Tate from Lake County, FL, is one of the three math finalists for the award from the State of Florida. Established in 1983, the Presidential Award for Excellence is sponsored by the National Science Foundation. The award recognizes outstanding kindergarten to 12th grade math and science teachers in each State who are models for their colleagues and leaders in the improvement of science and mathematics education. For the past 42 years Patricia Tate has taught math at the high school level. A current teacher at South Lake High School, she teaches AP Calculus, trigonometry, integrated Math III and Algebra II. In addition to her classroom experiences, Patricia goes out of her way to volunteer as a mentor for other Lake County math teachers. She has also been an online guide for Connected University and has taught at Lake- Sumter Community College. An avid fan of math from an early age, Patricia really took it on as a passion while her older brother was in college. When he returned home during vacations, he would work with Patricia on math, challenging her to solve more and more complex problems. It was through these exercises that she saw the educational and teaching possibilities that math could create. Patricia has seen a marked change in the way students are taught throughout her forty-plus years in the classroom. Instead of using the blackboard as the primary tool of instruction, as she did for many years, today Patricia uses multimedia presentations and PowerPoint presentations to reach the current tech-savvy student body. While the classroom experience has gotten more challenging over time, she still enjoys getting letters of appreciation from former students who valued her math teaching and want to thank her for making a difference in their lives. While Patricia will not find out if she is a winner until next March, I can tell you that her record of accomplishment teaching math to high school students is unmatched in my congressional district. Patricia Tate serves as a role model for other teachers throughout Florida. I wish her the best of luck in the competition and hope that she continues her exemplary work on behalf of Lake County students.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I think we need to sometimes look back and see how we got to where we are. On March 13, 1996, I was in the Florida Senate. I pulled up an old newspaper article that talked about ``the million-dollar team of tobacco lobbyists figured they had their votes yesterday to override the Governor of Florida. Then Senator Ginny Brown-Waite of rural Hernando County stood to address the chamber. Her vote was crucial to the tobacco companies who wanted to scuttle Florida's tough anti- tobacco law. They thought they had her. But they didn't know that in the last 26 years she had lost her mother, father and sister, all smokers, to cancer.'' I stood up and said, and it's quoted in here: `` `I can't sit here any longer and play the tobacco game,' Brown- Waite said in a hushed emotional voice. `I was awake all last night laboring over this.' '' ``Minutes later, pro-tobacco forces withdrew their motion.'' Ladies and gentlemen, the reason I am bringing this up is this is where the money came from for the original SCHIP bill. It was because of overturning that vote and other States then followed to go after the tobacco companies for funds for third-party reimbursement. That's where the money came from for the SCHIP program. I was proud of that vote. I was very, very proud of that vote. I think the tobacco companies, for a long time, lied to the American public. So after that, that was in 1996, after that, in 1997 Congress created the SCHIP bill. Great use of the tobacco litigation third-party reimbursement money. Great, great use for it. In Florida we created our own program from it. But what we have here today is kind of what a farmer in my district once told me. He said, You can take horse manure and roll it in powdered sugar and it doesn't make it a doughnut. That, ladies and gentlemen, I think is kind of what we have here today. It's a magnet for illegal aliens. We have income disregards in here that will encourage States to disregard anything at all. There are no guidelines. They can disregard any form of income, child support, child care costs, anything that they want to get to that 300 percent of poverty level. This is not about supporting the President and the override. Lord only knows, this President knows he can not rely on my vote because I have stood in this Chamber and voted to override his veto of the stem cell bill. I disagreed with him on many, many issues. Madam Speaker is absolutely right. This is about the children. Like her, I'm a mother and a grandmother. Wasn't it interesting that she couldn't use the word illegal. It was undocumented. Whether she prefers to call them undocumented or illegal, this is a magnet which will draw even more people illegally, I don't have a problem using that word, illegally into our country. If children really are what my friends on the other side of the aisle care about, then why did they hold up this vote for 2 weeks? Now kids, on November 16, unless we can really, really compromise, they will be without health care. I think that is cruel. I think we need to get serious. I told Majority Leader Hoyer this morning that this bill is just so outrageous. I almost wish I could turn back the clock and change my vote. I never thought I would say that. I absolutely, Mr. Speaker, never thought I would say that. I was very proud of that vote. We need to make sure that we do cover kids and that we get serious about seriously negotiating a good bill, not a bill called a doughnut.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007. This very important bill will play a key role in protecting our homeland. As events abroad have taught us all too frequently, homegrown extremists and terrorists pose a serious and deadly threat to the general population. The recent attacks in Great Britain, as well as the foiled plot in Germany, prove that we must prevent the spread of violent radicalization within our own borders. They do it there; we certainly need to do more here. Here at home our intelligence and law enforcement officials have done an exceptional job of keeping America safe from such threats. Over the last 1\1/2\ years, we have seen plots against the Sears Tower in Chicago, Ft. Dix in New Jersey, and JFK Airport foiled by our Nation's vigilant network of law enforcement and intelligence personnel. The bill before us will serve to strengthen those homeland defense efforts by preventing ideologies that promote violence and terrorism from taking root in American soil. We know that al Qaeda seeks to spread their evil philosophy everywhere, even into the minds of our own U.S. citizens. To combat radical Muslim extremists' ceaseless efforts at expansion, this bipartisan bill will create a commission to study violent radicalization and work with all levels of government both here and abroad to examine strategies to deal with this phenomena. This bill has an estimated cost of approximately $20 million. This number pales in comparison to the cost in human suffering and economic devastation a homegrown terrorist attack might bring. As Americans, we must never give up fighting the forces of hate and violence espoused by al Qaeda, and I believe this bill is a valuable weapon in that struggle. I commend the chairwoman and Ranking Member Reichert for their tenacity in bringing this bill to the floor, and I support it.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my overwhelming support for H.R. 327. This bill addresses a glaring need for mental health support at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Medical personnel easily identify and treat physical injuries related to combat. However, more difficult to identify are those brave men and women that bear the mental scars of war. Posttraumatic stress disorder is a very real and potentially deadly condition if not properly treated. The reality is we as a Nation ask a great deal of the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces. They deal with extreme conditions, heavy body armor and separation from their families. In addition, these soldiers are constantly looking over their shoulders not knowing when or where the next attack or IED will come from. Many times, they witness firsthand the deaths of those they serve beside. Under these extreme conditions, it is no wonder that those who have served so bravely come home and find it very difficult to put these experiences behind them. PTSD is gaining more attention, and rightly so. As a member of the House Veterans Affairs' Committee, we are seeing more servicemembers returning home with these types of stress disorders. If not properly treated, those suffering from PTSD may turn to drugs or alcohol to cope. Some may even take their life. That is why the Joshua Omvig Suicide Prevention Act is such an important piece of legislation. It ensures when a veteran is having trouble with any mental illness they have a place to turn. It ensures that at each VA medical facility there is a designated suicide prevention counselor who will engage in community outreach to veterans and improve the coordination of mental health services. The bill also makes available mental health care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is also a toll-free hotline for veterans staffed by appropriate mental health personnel. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 327 provides a necessary service to our Nation's veterans, and I would urge all of my colleagues to support this measure.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues today to condemn in the harshest terms possible the vandalism that scarred the Vietnam Veterans Memorial a few weeks ago. My district in Florida is home to the second most veterans of any Member of this body, with more than 105,000 veterans and their dependents residing there. I also serve on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. So many brave soldiers, marines, Navy men, airmen who fought with bravery over in the Southeast to stop the spread of communism and to protect American interests live in my district. For those brave troops throughout our great Nation who perished in the line of fire, their names are forever marked on the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial here in Washington, DC. That anyone would deface the wall and desecrate the memory of these fine soldiers is beyond anyone's comprehension. As someone who grew up in the Vietnam era and someone whose brother and cousin and other family members served honorably and, thankfully, came home safely, I know firsthand the sacrifices these soldiers made, physically and emotionally, during their periods of service. While thousands of our troops perished in the jungles of Vietnam and had their names inscribed on the wall, tens of thousands more came home to their families and loved ones. These are the people who deserve to be the most outraged by the vandalism that took place, the families, friends and fellow soldiers of the deceased, who make pilgrimages to the wall to pay respects and honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our great Nation. I commend Judge Carter for bringing this resolution to the floor today. And I thank him for doing his part to honor the memory of those who fought and died in Vietnam. We all hope that the individuals who perpetrated this crime will be caught and prosecuted to the full extent of the law and that, clearly, something like this would never happen again.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the resolution offered by Representative Baca of California. I applaud him for bringing this resolution to the floor today and I am very proud to support his efforts. With a district with so many veterans, I can honestly stand here today and tell you that Veterans Day in my district is on par with the love of God, mom and apple pie. Almost every town and municipality in the eight counties that make up my congressional district goes out of their way to hold a public event celebrating the accomplishments of our Nation's veterans. Traveling around my district, I have met literally thousands of men and some women who recount their stories of military service with pride and with joy. They tell of the bravery of their comrades, of the sacrifices to protect the innocent and the weak and the memories of those killed in action. The resolution before us, House Resolution 237, is a good sense of the House that encourages the celebration of Veterans Day. Veterans Day is not just another day to go to the mall or look for Veterans Day sales but, rather, to honor those who have served our country. These brave soldiers fought for our freedoms and the liberties of our Nation around the world, including France, England, Poland, Vietnam, Korea, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. The actions of the American military throughout the history of our Nation have helped advance the cause of freedom around the globe and protect citizens from attack from foreign powers, and today from attacks from terrorists. Mr. Speaker, I encourage every American to adopt the spirit of this resolution in celebrating Veterans Day and show our veterans how much we appreciate their sacrifice and the time served. May God bless our soldiers and our veterans.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding individual who lived in the early days of Brooksville, Rev. Arthur St. Clair. Rev. St. Clair will be posthumously awarded the 2007 Great Brooksvillian of the Year at a ceremony next week. The award is presented annually to a current or former resident who has made a significant impact on the city of Brooksville. Born in 1837, Arthur St. Clair was the former slave of Marina Sanderson May, a landowner and taxpayer in Brooksville. Upon gaining his freedom, Rev. St. Clair became a leader in the Reconstruction-era politics of Hernando County and a founder of the Bethlehem Progressive Baptist Church. He also went on to become a Baptist minister, presiding over services at the new church, originally located on South Lemon Street. He and his brother also helped to found the first African- American school in Hernando County. Eventually rising to serve as the voter registrar, deputy sheriff, county commissioner, a captain in the state militia, and a four-time Republican nominee for the Florida State House of Representatives, Rev. St. Clair was a prominent leader in Brooksville and Hernando County. In an era when black men throughout the South were looked down upon and relegated to second class citizenship, it is a testament to the character and personality of Arthur St. Clair that he remained a valued member of the Hernando County community for so many years. In his role as an African-American Baptist minister, Rev. St. Clair was not afraid to take on controversial issues, including that of mixed marriages; those marriages considered taboo in the mid to late 19th century. On a spring day in 1877, Rev. St. Clair presided over a wedding ceremony between a black man and a white woman. This did not sit well with several members of the community, and later that summer on a trip home from Fort Dade, a mob set upon Rev. St. Clair and shot him to death. In efforts to cover up the crime, the perpetrators then set fire to the courthouse, burning all the records and voter files for the entire county. This led to a severe deterioration of race relations in Hernando County, an episode that some have called a ``race war'' and left a lasting impression on Hernando County for nearly a quarter of a century. Madam Speaker, the city of Brooksville was lucky to have had a man like Arthur St. Clair take an active role in our community and have been such an advocate for civic involvement and religious freedoms. I am proud to recognize his accomplishments, and congratulate his descendants on Arthur St. Clair being named the 2007 Great Brooksvillian of the Year.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 3530, which will rename the post office on Highway 41 in Inverness, Florida, after Chief Warrant Officer Aaron Weaver. Aaron was a resident of my district from Floral City who gave his life for his country while serving in Iraq. After graduating from Citrus High School in 1989, Aaron Weaver joined the Army. Aaron's grandfather served in World War II and the Korean War, and his father was a very proud marine. Following in the family tradition, Aaron and his two brothers joined the military as well. As a member of the elite Army Rangers in 1993, Aaron Weaver received the Bronze Star with valor for extreme courage for saving another soldier's life in the battle of Mogadishu in Somalia. Weaver's actions that day and the battle in Mogadishu were portrayed in the book and film ``Black Hawk Down.'' Aaron Weaver also fought another battle. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer, but would not let that get in the way of his mission to serve his country. The cancer could have easily been his way out of Iraq, but instead, Aaron urged his officers to let him enter the combat zone. In Iraq, Aaron served as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division and arranged to have his medical checkups for cancer while he was there. Aaron was actually on his way to a checkup not long before his tour of duty in Iraq was to end when his helicopter crashed on January 8, 2004, in southern Fallujah. I hope that in the simple of act of renaming this post office that we will memorialize Aaron's incredible story. Aaron Weaver epitomized courage and patriotism. We must never forget his great sacrifice to our Nation. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a friend and a colleague, Jo Ann Davis from the great State of Virginia. When I was first elected in 2002, came to this body in 2003, Jo Ann was one of the first people to approach me and say, what can I do to help you, can I help you look for staff, what can I do. Jo Ann was always known for being a very willing, helpful person. She never offered advice, but if you asked her for advice, you better be prepared for frankness, and she would strongly suggest that you follow that advice. She'd say you asked for it. And she was always very frank and very candid when she gave advice but always very gentle, always a lady. I would have to say that Jo Ann Davis epitomized the Golden Rule. She followed the Golden Rule. She was a fighter and she was a woman who, although diminutive in size, demonstrated great, great strength, whether it was fighting cancer, that she beat back once, and then we all know it came back a second time to take her from us, but she was always a fighter and always with a smile on her face. It can safely be said that Jo Ann loved God, and her country, as well as her beloved family. We will miss Jo Ann Davis because of what she brought to this body, because of her spirit, because of her ever, ever-winning smile. Jo Ann Davis had the honor of being respected by people on both sides of the aisle. They respected her, and they knew that she worked very hard to represent her district in Virginia. We extend our sympathies to her husband, Chuck, her sons, Charlie and Chris, as well as her granddaughter, Charlotte.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an American soldier who gave his life in service to our Nation. Army PFC Brandon T. Thorsen of Trenton, Florida, was killed by a gunshot while serving on guard duty in Baghdad, Iraq. Private First Class Thorsen is survived by his mother Susan Hostutler of New York, father Donald Thorsen of Trenton, Florida, sisters Sharony Sheldon of Spring Hill, Florida, and Amber Gay of Trenton, Florida, brother Dereck Hardyman of Gainesville, Florida, and his fiancee, Chana Gilbert of Newberry, Florida. Growing up in Levy County, Brandon attended Chiefland High School, where he was remembered as an outgoing and charming young man with a great sense of humor. A defensive lineman and left tackle on the football team, Brandon played an important role in the team's success during the 2003 season. A lover of the outdoors, hunting and fishing, Brandon had plans to join the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as a game warden following his 4-year commitment to the Army. Graduating Chiefland High School in 2005, Brandon fulfilled his ambition to serve the United States military when he was assigned to the 1st Cavalry 2nd Battalion following his enlistment. Inspired by the events of September 11, Brandon completed basic training at Ft. Benning in Georgia, and then went to Ft. Bliss in Texas for his combat infantry training prior to his service in Baghdad that began in November 2006. Madam Speaker, it is soldiers like PFC Brandon Thorsen who have volunteered to protect the freedoms that all Americans hold dear. While brave men and women like Brandon have perished in the name of freedom and liberty, his family, friends and loved ones should know that this Congress will never forget his sacrifice and commitment.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dan and Luanne Hurst, the 2007 Angels in Adoption award winners from the 5th Congressional District of Florida. Dan and Luanne decided to adopt their first child, Matthew, while they were working as college professors. When Matthew's birth mother became pregnant again, she contacted the Hursts about their interest in adopting the second boy, so that the brothers could grow up in the same home. Recognizing the importance of keeping the boys together as a family, the Hursts soon welcomed a second son, Jesse, into their lives. As proud adoptive parents, the Hursts have also used their expertise in English education to help Matthew with the challenges of dyslexia. Today Luanne home schools both children while working part time teaching evening college classes. One of the most difficult challenges facing adoption agencies is to keep siblings together, yet people like Dan and Luanne show us that this is not an impossible task. Please join me in recognizing the Hursts and all families that welcome adopted children into their homes, giving them the love and support they need to thrive.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise this evening to highlight one of the most important pieces of legislation yet to pass this Congress: the Veterans Affairs-Military Construction appropriations bill. Each year from 1995 to 2006 the Republican-led Congress passed record increase after increase for our Nation's veterans. More importantly, the Republican-led Congress made it a priority to pass the VA appropriations bill so that our veterans could continue to receive the care that they deserve. That, Madam Speaker, cannot be said of this year's VA funding bill. Reports in today's Congressional Quarterly are that the majority is considering holding the vital VA bill hostage as a means of passing a giant omnibus bill to fund government operations. The health and welfare of our veterans is more important to my constituents than it is to score cheap political points here in Washington, D.C. Madam Speaker, I hope that you can find it in your heart to appoint conferees to the VA-Military Construction appropriations bill and send the President a bill that he can sign. Our veterans deserve nothing less.