Michael Burgess

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to go out of order and address the House for 5 minutes.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, indeed, tomorrow this House will hear the debate on the budget resolution, and I think the country needs to hear the debate. I think the country needs to see that all of us in Congress, on both sides of aisle, are accountable. They need to see that we are results driven. We are results oriented, and they need to see some success from this body. Now, our commitment, my commitment is to the hard-working Americans who pay taxes in this country. I think we have an obligation to the taxpayers of this country to redesign government when necessary, to reform programs if they are not working well, and always ensure that those Federal programs, those Federal agencies are working at peak performance. Mr. Speaker, it would not be saying too much to say we need to rebuild some confidence in America. If we can cut some red tape then I think we should. Where local solutions will work, we need to empower local authorities to envision and utilize those solutions. The Secretary of Health and Human Services was addressing our committee yesterday and talked about preparation for pandemic flu and he was challenged and someone said, Mr. Secretary, you need to have a plan. Do not let the local people have to come up with a plan. And the Secretary does have a plan. But he said, local activities are going to be important as well. You do not need the Secretary of HHS telling every school district across the country when they can and cannot open their doors. I could not agree with him more. Mr. Speaker, we need to modernize some of our Federal programs, where we are using tin-can telephones when the rest of the world is using satellite communications, and it is not right. We need to reform government. We need to set priorities. And sometimes that means making some tough choices. Certainly, Mr. Speaker, we need to learn from the past, learn from the past, whether it be the Spanish flu outbreak of 1918, learn from the past of previous wars this country has fought; but along those same lines, we need to utilize that information from the past to plan for our future. Now, Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago, 2 weeks ago, my committee, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, spent 3 days, 3 days on a markup to produce a plan, a plan that reforms government and leads to greater value for dollars spent, particularly in the Medicaid program. We held hearings through the spring and the summer leading up to this legislation. We heard testimony from Members; leaders of the National Governors Association, a body of 35 bipartisan Governors in this country, who came to us with a set of principles and said we had a lot of ideas that we put out on the table, but here are seven things that everyone of us, 35 out of 35 agreed upon. And, Mr. Speaker, we crafted legislation that incorporated at least six of those seven principles. We left out some judicial reforms that I would have liked to have seen in the bill, but maybe that is for another day. But those other reforms were crafted in legislation and then we spent 3 days, 3 days on the Committee of Energy and Commerce talking about that. Mr. Speaker, at the end of the day, I think we have crafted a legislation that is going to save Medicaid for the poor, the truly infirm, the people that really need it in this country. The default position was to see more and more people turned off the Medicaid roles by the States as they could know longer afford to keep up with the expenditures in Medicaid. So we are going to provide more services. And maybe we are going to deliver a little greater value. And, Mr. Speaker, if that means that a few dollars are saved in the process, well, I am all for that. But consider the numbers involved here. Medicaid, with no reform, is going to grow at a rate of 7.3 percent over the next 5 years. With the reforms we put in place, Medicaid is going to grow at a rate of 7 percent over the next 5 years. We are talking about a miniscule amount of savings by adding some value to the program as it exists today. As a consequence, more patients will be served by this program. Now, Mr. Speaker, I know, because I sat in that markup for 3 days, I know right now it is popular to vilify the productive segment of American society. I have heard it done from every angle. There is angst, genuine angst over reinvesting in the productive segment of American society. We hear it all the time, why $55 billion was given to people who really do not need it. But, Mr. Speaker, those are the taxpayers. Those are the people who create the jobs. I know, because I was one three short years ago. That 38 percent tax rate I paid on my business allowed me to employ 50 people in my town of Lewisville, Texas. It allowed me to purchase equipment for my practice. But what do we hear out of the other side? They want that $55 billion back, but that $55 billion that we reinvested produced $262 billion for the American Treasury this year in additional tax revenue. So they would have to double the tax and double it again to even approach the amount of money. Well, this is the default position on the other side. This fall is not the time for Democrats to roll out positive agenda, said a House Democrat aide. That is a shame. We need their ideas. We need their enthusiasm. We need their energy. I look forward to this debate tomorrow. I think at the end of the day we are going to have a good product for the American people.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for organizing this hour, for being here. I know the gentleman has been a little bit under the weather, and I was concerned about his voice holding up for the whole time, but I am so glad he was talking about this issue. Mr. Speaker, just the other day I pulled out the joint resolution from the 107th Congress. I would point out that the 107th Congress was the term before either the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King) or myself was in Congress. This was the joint resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq. It is really quite an interesting document. It is instructive to read through this document. To be sure, there is mention of weapons of mass destruction, but there is also a good deal of discussion of Iraq being in breach of its international obligations, failure to follow United Nations resolutions, oppression of their own people, using weapons of mass destruction against his own people and, perhaps very interestingly, the violation of Public Law 105-338 which was passed in a previous President's administration in 1998 where it was a sense of Congress that it should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove from power the current Iraqi regime and promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime. That was passed in 1998, and we had to wait until 2003 to have a President who had the courage to actually execute that. I am glad we have a President who had that wisdom, because I would not like to think of the world in 25 or 30 years time had we not taken the effort that has been undertaken in Iraq. The gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King) is quite right. We were in Iraq in August. It was my fourth trip there. Boy, big steps. Every time I go to that country, it is incredible the amount of work that has been accomplished, hard work in sometimes tough, tough climatic conditions, the weather is hot in the summer, cold in the winter, dusty all year- round, and then of course the constant threat of danger from terrorists and insurgents who live in that country. But the actual quote that the gentleman was talking about from the judges, I think they were referencing the beginnings of the trial of Chemical Ali, the man who was responsible for the killing of the Kurds in Halabja, and he was accused of killing 180,000 Kurds. Chemical Ali's defense of that was, it was not one bit over 100,000, and I do not know why you continue to lie about it. So perhaps he will get his day in court soon. I hope that is true. Mr. Speaker, I had been on the Floor earlier tonight talking about the debate that we are going to have on the budget, and I know the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King) has referenced some of those points. I do get so frustrated, and the group that was here the hour before us, continuing to vilify the productive sector of our society, the productive segment of our society that provides the tax revenue for us to be able to do all of those free market capitalism things that the gentleman from Iowa referred to, all of those things that we want to do that are good things for people who are less fortunate than ourselves. All of those things are made possible because of the productive segment of society. This angst over the $55 billion that was returned to the most productive segment in society in May of 2003, legislation that I voted for and I believe the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King) voted for, this $55 billion they desperately want to have back. But what has that $55 billion that we passed in May of 2003, what has that given us? It has given us 262 billion additional dollars in tax revenue for fiscal year 2005, the fiscal year that just ended on September 30. So, Mr. Speaker, to get back the benefit of that $55 billion that we reinvested in the American economy, we would have to raise taxes, not that $55 billion, but you would have to double that and double that again to get the same number of dollars back to the Federal Treasury that the tax relief provided in May of 2003. I think one of the most telling things I have seen in the past several days as we prepare for the debate was a quote from Roll Call from just yesterday. This fall is not the time for Democrats to roll out a positive agenda, said a House Democrat aid. That is some of the most unfortunate language that I have heard since coming to this House a year-and-a-half ago. If the other side is so bereft of ideas, if they are intimidated or frozen by their leadership, if they are afraid to show up for the debate, then that is truly one of the saddest comments on this body and this country. Because we need their ideas. We need their enthusiasm, we need their participation. I think, Mr. Speaker, hopefully, over the days and weeks to come, we will see more of that. We will see more of a willingness to have and to engage in debate, and not just the talking points that are in the top drawer of your desk. We can have talking points read to us by a commentator on CNN. We do not need people to come down here and read their talking points, we need them to come down here where really it should be the free exchange of ideas. This should be the marketplace of great ideas in this country where they are talked about and debated. So I would welcome the opportunity if the other side would some day wish to do that. Mr. Speaker, I know the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King) has some other very important data that he wants to share with us, and I yield back to the gentleman.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, the path to a free and democratic Iraq has been dangerous and protracted. Yet, after years of oppression, the Iraqis are closer than ever to having a nation ruled by their people instead of a tyrant. For the safety of our Nation, I believe we must continue to support the sovereign actions of this developing nation. Current news headlines are showcasing the trial of Saddam Hussein and what danger accompanies that activity. His trial is important, but a strong, independent Iraqi judicial system is of greater importance. As Members of Congress, we have an obligation to uphold and support this principle, especially in a land that has been so tormented. The Iraqi Special Tribunal has been impaneled to bring swift and impartial justice to both the victims and the nation of Iraq. I urge Members to support H.R. 534, recognizing the importance and credibility of an independent Iraqi judiciary.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to go out of order and claim the unclaimed time of the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, we heard the chairman of the Appropriations Committee come to the floor and speak about his bill that he has introduced to fund preparation for a possible pandemic flu outbreak, and I thought it might be useful to come down to the floor and just review some of the reasons that scientists are concerned about this outbreak of avian flu in the world and some of the reasons why we need to be concerned and some of the reasons why we need to be prepared and some of the good news to share as well. Madam Speaker, the influenza virus with which we are all familiar undergoes a continuous process of change. It is constantly changing its genetics. It drifts from one genetic makeup to another. For the past several years, the flu type known as H3N2 has been the type for which we commonly receive inoculations; and because of this genetic drift, a new inoculation is required each and every year. With the absence of a flu vaccination last year, I did not take a flu shot; but there is still some immunity that carries over from year to year; but about every 30 years, there is a major change in the genetics of the flu virus. These major changes took place during the last century in 1957 when 170,000 people in this country died from an outbreak of what was called Asian flu and in 1968 when 35,000 people in this country died from the Hong Kong flu. The term pandemic applies when there is a big, big animal reservoir of the virus and no underlying immunity, and those conditions exist today. The assumptions and the knowledge of prior pandemics certainly have become part of the pandemic plan that was revealed by the Department of Health and Human Services last week; but the important thing is the study of prior pandemics tells us that this virus, if it were to achieve pandemic status, could overwhelm almost all of the available resources that we would have at our disposal in this country, not to mention what would happen in the rest of the world. The virus that is under consideration for this pandemic, the so- called H5N1 virus, has some similarities with the Spanish flu from the 1918 pandemic. Both of these illnesses cause lower respiratory tract symptoms, high fever, muscle aches and pains, and extreme, extreme fatigue. That fatigue can persist for 6, 8, 10 weeks after recovery. If the patient recovers from the illness, that fatigue may persist for many, many weeks thereafter; and that, of course, could have implications for people returning to the workforce. The virus can cause a primary or a secondary pneumonia. The pulmonary tree is unable to clear itself of secretions and debris. The vast majority do recover, but the potential to kill is certainly related to the virulence of the microbe. Some of the trouble signs that are on the horizon, things that have gotten the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations concerned, some of the trouble signs include the wide geographic setting with involvement of not only birds but now other mammals. Bird-to-human transmission has occurred. It has not been easy for the virus to go from bird to human, but it has happened; and it appears in some instances, although it has not been an easy transmission, there has been transmission from human to human. If the virus undergoes that last step that allows it to have efficient human-to-human transition, that is what would signify the onset of a worldwide pandemic. It is also entirely possible, and I do need to stress this, that efficient human-to-human transition will never be developed and that the pandemic will never occur. So the chairman is quite right. We need to devote resources to this problem, but we must also recognize that the problem that we are concerned about today may not be the problem that we face. One of the very important aspects of the legislation that has been introduced by Chairman Lewis and legislation that will be taken up by my committee, the Energy and Commerce Committee, is how do we facilitate the ramp up, the surge capacity, the production of antiviral or the production of antiviral vaccines if an entirely different virus or somewhat different virus from this avian flu is actually the one that causes the outbreak. There are other antiviral medications available, medications such as Tamiflu and Relenza have activity against the H5N1 virus, and they are going to be one of our first lines of defense. Again, some good news is that a vaccine has been developed, and it was developed in a relatively short period of time. It was undergoing trials. It appears to be safe. One of the troubles, though, is since we have no underlying immunity to that virus, it takes a lot of that vaccination for us to develop immunity. Some of the things we are going to have to consider, and the chairman appropriately referred to these, the Federal Government will have to share some of the risks with companies that are manufacturing the vaccines. That means not only some of the liability risks but the risks of guaranteeing purchase of these products if they ramp up production and the pandemic does not materialize. Some guarantee of purchase will have to be there and to allow drug companies to communicate with each other to discuss among themselves what are some of the techniques for producing some of these medications. So perhaps some antitrust reform will have to be included in whatever our preparation and our response is to the flu. Madam Speaker, I wanted to bring these facts to the floor tonight because I know this is important legislation that this House will be considering in the next couple of weeks, and it is imperative that we all do have accurate and timely information.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for bringing this topic to the floor tonight and for including me in the discussion. In the Spanish flu outbreak in 1918, one of the observations was, instead of the very young, the very old and the infirm who were the victims of this illness. It was, in fact, young people age 28 to 45 who appeared to be the primary victims of this illness. Undoubtedly, part of that is related to the fact that we do not have any underlying immunity to this disease and people who are, as a general rule, exposed to a lot of other people, that is, people in school, people in the workplace, in other words, your 20- to 45-year- old age group, would have a greater chance to come down to exposure to this virus, which was very virulent, had a high ineffectivity rate, and simply a cough in the room was enough to expose someone to the virus; and, again, with no native immunity, it could overwhelm their system fairly quickly. There is no question it is still a deadly virus to the very young. It is still a deadly virus to the very old, but I think one of the striking epidemiological features of the 1918 flu was that people who were generally regarded as being in good health also seemed to fall victim to this illness. Also bear in mind, we were in the last months of the First World War so there were a lot of recruits who were stationed together in barracks and tents, and the virus seemed to be particularly virulent in its outbreaks in those types of situations. So some differences from 1918 to now and certainly our ability to know about an outbreak. Syndromic surveillance will be an important part of the pandemic plan that the Secretary has unveiled. The other important concept, since this disease is so widespread, about a quarter of the globe right now is affected with the bird flu. Because the geographic footprint is so large and because birds can fly from place to place and people travel from place to place so easily, an outbreak anywhere has to be regarded as an outbreak everywhere. So if the disease appears to travel easily from person to person in Vietnam, in Indonesia, that means that our full pandemic plan has to come into play in this country. The gentleman mentioned the experience with SARS, when we first came to Congress in 2003, a deadly, deadly illness that previously was only known in an animal host in China. The transmissibility of SARS was with a little more difficulty than with influenza; that is, you had to get a little closer to the infected person with SARS than with the flu, which meant that health care workers and close household contacts were the types of people who were most at risk. But bear in mind, we conquered SARS, we beat back SARS without developing a vaccine for the virus and without any specific treatment for the virus. This was accomplished through studies of epidemiology, knowing where the outbreaks were, what travel patterns were and then very careful quarantine of those individuals in whom the disease was suspected and very careful isolation techniques for health care providers when it was suspected they were dealing with a case of that disease. The few times we forgot those principles in dealing with SARS is when the outbreak was allowed to, in fact, reignite or reengage. Quite different from our current situation. No vaccine for the virus, although the virus was identified by the use of genomics. The virus was identified very quickly, but no vaccine was developed and no effective treatment. With the avian flu, there is a vaccine that is already now available; it has been developed, it is in testing. And, of course, there are antiviral medications that are effective in treating the H5N1 virus. So some differences there between those two. If I could make one last point, and I did not make it during my previous remarks, and I should have: Although the regular flu shot will provide no protection against the bird flu, we should all still get our regular flu shots and keep the appearance of regular flu to a minimum this year, this flu season, because the fewer people who are sick and the fewer people are who are debilitated by the regular flu virus, I think that will improve our overall odds in keeping the pandemic flu at bay. I yield back to the gentleman and thank him for his time.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Ruslan Werntz of Coppell, Texas on his commitment, contribution and success in this year's Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge. In 1999, Discovery created the Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge to increase and encourage middle school students' participation in science and math. The DCYSC identifies and honors America's top middle school student who demonstrates the best skills in leadership, teamwork and scientific problem solving. In addition, the ability to be an effective science communicator--a goal that reflects Discovery's philosophy that scientific knowledge is most valuable when it is communicated and shared--is a key component of the judging. More than 9,500 children have entered the DCYSC since its inception. Winners have received more than $500,000 in scholarship awards, Federal Government recognition and participated in science-related trips that have taken them to the far corners of the globe. This year, nearly 75,000 students entered science fairs nationwide. Of those students, only 400 were chosen as semifinalists in the 2005 Discovery Young Scientist Challenge competition. The final 40 came from 19 States and Puerto Rico. One of those finalists was Ruslan Werntz, a 16-year-old ninth-grader at Coppell High School. Ruslan's project was titled ``The Truth and Lies of Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems.'' During a doctor's visit with his father, a diabetic, the doctor ran a glucometer test with a result of 130. This result concerned Ruslan because a few minutes earlier, his father's home test had read 160. The doctor said that home-use glucometers are not as accurate as the more expensive kind used by physicians. Ruslan wanted to confirm this disparity. For his efforts, Ruslan was awarded the TLC Science of Production Award. I extend my sincere congratulations to Mr. Ruslan Werntz for his efforts and for receiving this commendable award given by the Discovery Channel Youth Scientist Challenge. His commitment to science and to helping others serves as an inspiration to all.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, this morning the President at the National Institute of Health outlined his plan for dealing with pandemic flu should this illness jump from birds to people. The President outlined a plan that essentially covered three areas: to be able to detect the outbreak of avian flu anywhere in the world; stockpiling vaccines and medicines; and the response from both the local, State, and Federal level. To be able to detect the outbreak of avian flu anywhere in the world is going to require a partnership of several countries that will share information and samples, but it is important to remember a threat anywhere is a threat everywhere. Stockpiling vaccines and increasing the rapidity with which this country can make vaccines ensure that there is reliability and regulatory protection for those countries that are making vaccines. And, finally, response. Response needs to be at the local, Federal, and State levels. Local officials need to be ready to go, but there also needs to be strategic national stockpiling of supplies and equipment. Mr. Speaker, the fact remains that the best way to deal with panic is through preparedness. The best way to deal with inflammatory rhetoric is with information. I think the President took some bold steps this morning to outline these plans, and I look forward to the release of the preparedness plan tomorrow.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Leslie Auers of Highland Village, Texas for 15 years of dedication to the healthcare of women in the 26th District of Texas. Dr. Auers received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Houston and her medical degree from Texas Tech School of Medicine, where she was in the top 10 percent of her class. She completed her internship and residency at Methodist Medical Center, Dallas in 1987 and 1990, respectively. Dr. Auers served as Chairperson for the Department of Ob/Gyn at Medical Center of Lewisville from 1995 to 1997. Today, she continues to serve the 26th District of Texas with the Obstetrics and Gynecology Associates of Lewisville. Dr. Auers is a member of the Denton County Medical Society, and she is also board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. As the founder of Obstetrics and Gynecology Associates of Lewisville, former Chief of Staff for Lewisville Medical Center, and former Chief of Obstetrics at Lewisville Medical Center, I commend Dr. Auers on her commitment to helping the citizens of Denton County. Mr. Speaker we are truly fortunate in my community to have the type of dedicated medical professional that Dr. Leslie Auers personifies, and I wish her every success during the continuance of her career in medicine.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute those individuals and organizations that opened their hearts and dedicated both financial and emotional support to the evacuees of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. All of the states along the Gulf Coast have endured terrible hardships during this hurricane season, and I know that the generosity of North Texans played a vital role in bringing some peace into their lives. Today, I want to specifically thank one man for his creditable contribution. Ray Fletcher, of Gainesville Texas, has done an outstanding job as the Cooke County Emergency Manager, especially during and after Hurricane Katrina. As the Cooke County Emergency Manager, Mr. Fletcher has successfully managed the relief efforts conducted in his community, including a shelter that housed many displaced Louisianans. I stand here today to sincerely thank Ray Fletcher for his hard work. It is people like him that I am proud to call a fellow Texan. Through his contribution, he not only stands as a devoted and giving American citizen, but he serves as an inspiration to others.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute those individuals and organizations that opened their hearts and dedicated both financial and emotional support to the evacuees of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. All of the states along the Gulf Coast have endured terrible hardships during this hurricane season, and I know that the generosity of North Texans played a vital role in bringing some peace into their lives. Today, I want to specifically thank one woman for her creditable contribution. Kim Brown has done an outstanding job as the Shelter Operations Director for the Gainesville Red Cross shelter for the Katrina Hurricane survivors. As the Shelter Operations Director, Ms. Brown coordinates acquisition and distribution of food, clothing, laundry services, transportation, donations, computers, medical care, prescriptions, activities and volunteers for everyone at the shelter. I stand here today to sincerely thank Kim Brown for her hard work. It is people like Kim that I am proud to call a fellow Texan. Through her contribution, she not only stands as a devoted and giving American citizen, but she serves as an inspiration to others.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute those individuals and organizations that opened their hearts and dedicated both financial and emotional support to the evacuees of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. All of the States along the gulf coast have endured terrible hardships during this hurricane season, and I know that the generosity of North Texans played a vital role in bringing some peace into their lives. Today, I want to specifically thank the DFW Airport and their donation during Hurricane Katrina. Jeffrey Fegan, the CEO of DFW, and Ken Capps, the Vice President of Public Affairs, sent six DFW firefighters to relieve others at the New Orleans Airport. These firefighters were Adrian Garcia, Darren Himes, Jacob Evens, Terry Cole, Dan White and Sullivan McNulty. I stand here today to sincerely thank the DFW Airport for their hard work and help during the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. It is people like them that I am proud to call fellow Texans. Through their contribution, they not only stand as devoted and giving American citizens, but they serve as an inspiration to others.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute those individuals and organizations that opened their hearts and dedicated both financial and emotional support to the evacuees of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. All of the States along the gulf coast have endured terrible hardships during this hurricane season, and I know that the generosity of North Texans played a vital role in bringing some peace into their lives. Today, I want to specifically thank one man, his store and his donation. Marc Oberlin, from Save-A-Lot donated $5,572 worth of various food and supplies for volunteers during hurricane Katrina. Save-A-Lot is one of the Nation's leading extreme value, limited assortment grocery chains, operating value-oriented stores in all types of neighborhoods--urban, rural and suburban. Today the company's annual system-wide retail sales exceed $4 billion and are expected to grow as the company expands its store network. I stand here today to sincerely thank Marc Oberlin for his donation. It is people like him that I am proud to call a fellow Texan. Through his contribution, he not only stands as a devoted and giving American citizen, but he serves as an inspiration to others.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Jordan Hunt for receiving the Gold Medal of Achievement in Royal Rangers. Royal Rangers is an achievement program of the Assemblies of God which utilizes an outdoor theme to teach positive character, responsibility, leadership, citizenship and service to God, men and country. The Gold Medal of Achievement is the highest achievement that can be earned in the Royal Ranger Program. Mr. Hunt is a freshman at Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas. His achievement represents many years of diligent work completing merits, camping and nature skills, leadership training camps, memorization, essays and service projects. A special service honoring Mr. Hunt's accomplishment is planned for November 27, 2005 at Grace Community Assembly of God in Flower Mound, Texas. I extend my sincere congratulations to Mr. Jordan Hunt on receiving the Gold Medal of Achievement. His hard work and dedication to excellence warrants the highest achievement given by the Royal Rangers Program.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Lucas Flemming for receiving the Gold Medal of Achievement in Royal Rangers. Royal Rangers is an achievement program of the Assemblies of God which utilizes an outdoor theme to teach positive character, responsibility, leadership, citizenship and service to God, men and country. The Gold Medal of Achievement is the highest achievement that can be earned in the Royal Ranger Program. Mr. Flemming is a senior at Flower Mound High School in Flower Mound, Texas. His achievement represents many years of diligent work completing merits, camping and nature skills, leadership training camps, memorization, essays and service projects. A special service honoring Mr. Hunt's accomplishment is planned for November 27, 2005 at Grace Community Assembly of God in Flower Mound, Texas. I extend my sincere congratulations to Mr. Lucas Flemming on receiving the Gold Medal of Achievement. His hard work and dedication to excellence warrants the highest achievement given by the Royal Rangers Program.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute those individuals and organizations that opened their hearts and dedicated both financial and emotional support to the evacuees of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. All of the States along the gulf coast have endured terrible hardships during this hurricane season, and I know that the generosity of North Texans played a vital role in bringing some peace into their lives. Today, I want to specifically thank one company and their donation. JPS Health Network registered 1011 Hurricane Katrina evacuees and admitted 230 to the hospital for radiology, lab work, or other services. Committed to improving the health of families and individuals in Tarrant County, JPS Health Network includes John Peter Smith Hospital, the JPS Institute for Health Career Development, a network of community-based health centers, home care and psychiatric services at Trinity Springs Pavilion. I stand here today to sincerely thank JPS for their help and donation. It is people like them that I am proud to call fellow Texans. Through their contribution, they not only stand as devoted and giving American citizens, but they serve as an inspiration to others.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute those individuals and organizations that opened their hearts and dedicated both financial and emotional support to the evacuees of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. All of the states along the Gulf Coast have endured terrible hardships during this hurricane season, and I know that the generosity of North Texans played a vital role in bringing some peace into their lives. Today, I want to specifically thank one company and their donation. Trinity Railway Express helped senior citizens and other residents of the Houston-Galveston area flee from Hurricane Rita. They donated their time and equipment when it was most needed. TRE is a service provided jointly by Dallas Area Rapid Transit and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority and it links downtown Fort Worth, downtown Dallas and DFW Airport. I stand here today to sincerely thank Trinity Railway Express for their help and donation. It is people like them that I am proud to call fellow Texans. Through their contribution, they not only stand as devoted and giving American citizens, but they serve as an inspiration to others.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute those individuals and organizations that opened their hearts and dedicated both financial and emotional support to evacuees of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. All of the States along the gulf coast have endured terrible hardships during this hurricane season, and I know that the generosity of North Texans played a vital role in bringing some peace into their lives. Today, I want to specifically thank one man, his company and his donation. Hiawthi Williams, the owner of Williams Chicken donated 200 pieces of chicken for volunteers during hurricane Katrina. Williams Chicken was first opened in 1987 and has rapidly grown since. Today, with over 50 stores in operation, the company continues to grow. Notwithstanding the market research, the chain admits the real secret to the company's success is staying true to their philosophy, ``To Serve, Grow and Give Back to the Community.'' I stand here today to sincerely thank Hiawthi Williams for his donation. It is people like him that I am proud to call a fellow Texan. Through his contribution, he not only stands as a devoted and giving American citizen, but he serves as an inspiration to others.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute those individuals and organizations that opened their hearts and dedicated both financial and emotional support to the evacuees of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. All of the States along the Gulf Coast have endured terrible hardships during this hurricane season, and I know that the generosity of North Texans played a vital role in bringing some peace into their lives. Today, I want to specifically thank one man, his office and his donation. Davis Moore, a dentist in Euless, donated 150 adult toothbrushes, 50 children toothbrushes, 150 tubes of toothpaste and floss for victims of Hurricane Katrina. I stand here today to sincerely thank Davis Moore for his donation. It is people like him that I am proud to call a fellow Texan. Through his contribution, he not only stands as a devoted and giving American citizen, but he serves as an inspiration to others.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute those individuals and organizations that opened their hearts and dedicated both financial and emotional support to the evacuees of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. All of the states along the Gulf Coast have endured terrible hardships during this hurricane season, and I know that the generosity of North Texans played a vital role in bringing some peace into their lives. Today, I want to specifically thank one woman, her company and her donation. Kristi Christianson, from Town Place Suites by Marriott donated a case of shampoo for victims during hurricane Katrina. Town Place Suites by Marriott is an extended stay hotel that takes pride in their friendly staff and neighborhood feel. Helping hurricane victims is certainly a good demonstration of the friendly staff. I stand here today to sincerely thank Kristi Christianson for her donation. It is people like her that I am proud to call a fellow Texan. Through her contribution, she not only stands as a devoted and giving American citizen, but she serves as an inspiration to others.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute those individuals and organizations that opened their hearts and dedicated both financial and emotional support to the evacuees of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. All of the states along the Gulf Coast have endured terrible hardships during this hurricane season, and I know that the generosity of North Texans played a vital role in bringing some peace into their lives. Today, I want to specifically thank one family, their company and their donation. Jerry and Shirley McCormick, from Texas Manhole Company donated a refrigerator and dinner for 100 volunteers during hurricane Katrina. I stand here today to sincerely thank Jerry and Shirley McCormick for their donation. It is people like them that I am proud to call fellow Texans. Through their contribution, they not only stand as a devoted and giving American citizens, but they serves as an inspiration to others.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute those individuals and organizations that opened their hearts and dedicated both financial and emotional support to the evacuees of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. All of the states along the Gulf Coast have endured terrible hardships during this hurricane season, and I know that the generosity of North Texans played a vital role in bringing some peace into their lives. Today, I want to specifically thank one man, his store and his donation. Michael Ramsey, the Vice President of Christian Community Action participated in the Albertsons Food Relief Donation during hurricane Katrina. Since 1973, Christian Community Action has provided spiritual and physical assistance to communities and families in need. CCA is a grass-roots nonprofit organization that provides food, clothing, housing and vital personal services to destitute families throughout North Texas. From the headquarters in Old Town Lewisville, CCA assists more than 15,000 people every year. I stand here today to sincerely thank Michael Ramsey for his donation. It is people like him that I am proud to call a fellow Texan. Through his contribution, he not only stands as a devoted and giving American citizen, but he serves as an inspiration to others.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Alex Pettit of Denton, Texas on receiving the 2005 Best of Texas Award for Demonstrated Leadership in Management of Information Technology. The Best of Texas Awards program was established to salute Information Technology professionals in Texas State and local government organizations for their dedication, hard work and contributions. An Evaluation Committee reviews submissions and selects recipients for each of the 9 categories. The Demonstrated Leadership in Management of Information Technology award is available only to Chief Information Officers or Agency Chief Information Officers who have staffed, planned and executed technology plans that have assisted their jurisdiction, department, or agency in meeting its mission. The winner of this category is judged on the basis of vision, leadership and support of IT throughout the department, agency and the entire jurisdiction. This year, the Demonstrated Leadership in Management of Information Technology Award was given to Mr. Pettit by the Center for Digital Government for providing outstanding leadership and technical direction to the City of Denton. Mr. Pettit's responsibilities include negotiation and management of all system procurements and implementations, security, tactical and strategic planning for technology solutions and services to support the City, and coordination of all phones and pagers used by City personnel. Through these responsibilities, Mr. Pettit has succeeded in implementing the goal of the City of Denton to be a leader among cities in the delivery of outstanding quality services and products through the utilization of innovation, citizen involvement, and efficient use of resources. The award was presented to Mr. Pettit on October 19, 2005 at the Center for Digital Government's award ceremony in Austin, Texas. I extend my sincere congratulations to Mr. Alex Pettit for receiving the 2005 Best of Texas Award. His contributions to the technology industry and his service to the Denton community should inspire us all.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute those individuals and organizations that opened their hearts and dedicated both financial and emotional support to the evacuees of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. All of the States along the gulf coast have endured terrible hardships during this hurricane season, and I know that the generosity of North Texans played a vital role in bringing some peace into their lives. Today, I want to specifically thank one man and his donation. Gary Loudermilk, the Executive Director of the Denton Baptist Association, helped provide Hurricane Katrina evacuees with a place to stay at Camp Copass. Camp Copass is a known as Texas' first ``Full-Service'' Baptist camp. They normally provide summer camp for kids of all ages, but during this time of need, they donated their time, space and money for Katrina evacuees. I stand here today to sincerely thank Gary Loudermilk for his donation. It is people like him that I am proud to call a fellow Texan. Through his contribution, he not only stands as a devoted and giving American citizen, but he serves as an inspiration to others.