Michael Burgess

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I would just add to the gentleman from the State of Ohio that the State of Texas added 15,000 jobs last month. Mr. Speaker, when she sat down, society stood up and took notice. Rosa Parks, the name is synonymous with civil rights. Often referred to as the Mother of Civil Rights, Ms. Parks, with one small act of defiance, refusing to give up her bus seat, galvanized a generation of activists, including the young Reverend Martin Luther King, who then organized a 381-day boycott of the Montgomery bus system. Finally in November of 1956, the Supreme Court ruled that segregation on public transportation was unconstitutional. Mr. Speaker, Rosa Parks was then a 42-year-old seamstress, an active member of the National Organization for the Advancement of Colored People, and had worked as its adviser to its youth council. But it was on a city bus on December 1, 1955, when her seat was demanded and when history was made. When questioned why she did not vacate her seat that day, her answer was simple. She said, ``I felt I had a right to be treated as any other passenger. We had endured that kind of treatment for too long.'' Mr. Speaker, Rosa Parks received many awards throughout her lifetime, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996; and then in 1999, the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to Ms. Parks. But Ms. Parks wanted people to remember what was most important, to understand the government, to understand their rights, and the Constitution.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ms. Mariela Aguillon for receiving the PacifiCare Latino Health Scholarship. Since 2003, PacifiCare has awarded $356,000.00 to 155 deserving students in the Latino Health Scholars program. This program was created to educate students about career opportunities for Hispanics and Latinos in the healthcare field. In order to qualify for this $2,000.00 scholarship, applicants are required to demonstrate a grade point average of 3.0 or better and be fluent in Spanish and English. In addition, applicants must be enrolled in an approved health care program at a university, community college or accredited technical college. According to the Office of Minority Health, there is a nationwide shortage of bilingual and bicultural professionals in the health care field. Specifically, the shortage of Spanish speaking personnel in nursing and other allied health professions, coupled with the growth of the Latino population in the United States, requires training and recruitment of an ever-greater number of qualified professionals. Mr. Russell Bennett, Vice President of PacifiCare's Latino Health Solutions, notes that the Latino Health Scholars program has ``made a positive difference in the lives of these deserving youths who are beginning their journey toward realizing their academic and professional aspirations.'' I extend my sincere congratulations to Ms. Mariela Aguillon on receiving this scholarship funded by the PacifiCare Foundation. As a doctor of over 21 years, I commend Ms. Aguillon's dedication and desire to help others by pursuing a career in the health care profession.

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. William Schultz, from Circle C Construction, donated $1,000 in clothing and videos during Hurricane Katrina. Circle C Construction is located in Fort Worth. They provide services such as installation, building and contracting, and utility contracting. I stand here today to sincerely thank William Schultz 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 just wanted to take a minute this evening to talk about something that has been in the news a lot lately, and something that this Congress is going to be dealing with more and more as the next several months go by, and that is a discussion about the avian flu, or the so-called bird flu. I wanted to use these remarks tonight to talk about what is the bird flu; perhaps some history that may be important; what is a pandemic, and what makes a pandemic a pandemic; and then, finally, what can be done to prepare ourselves and our country if indeed this pandemic is on the horizon. It is important to remember, Mr. Speaker, that the influenza virus has been with us for a long time. It is constantly changing and undergoes a continuous process of evolution and changes. Generally, these are small changes referred to as genetic drift. It is why we have to get a flu shot every year. But occasionally, occasionally, the virus undergoes a major evolutionary change and undergoes a genetic shift, rather than just the drift that we see from year to year. For the past several years, a flu type known as H3N2 has been the type against which we commonly receive our yearly flu shot. Because of genetic drift, a new vaccination is necessary every year. With the absence of a regular yearly update in the flu vaccination, we would all have some immunity that would carry over from year to year. But approximately every 30 years there is a major change in the flu virus worldwide. This type of major change took place in 1957, and 170,000 people in this country died from the Asiatic flu, and in 1968, when 35,000 died from the Hong Kong flu. Mr. Speaker, the term ``pandemic'' applies when there is no underlying immunity within the community to the particular type of flu virus. A pandemic occurs with periodic evolution of the influenza virus. Assumptions about prior pandemics become part of our planning for the avian flu, a particularly virulent strain of flu that could overwhelm all of the available responses and resources that we could have at our disposal in this country. Every hospital bed filled. Think in terms of nearly 2 million deaths in this country from a pandemic. The virus under consideration, H5N1, actually has some similarities with the Spanish flu that caused the big pandemic in 1918. Both of these illnesses cause lower respiratory tract symptoms, high fever, myalgias, prostration and a postviral weakness that could last from 4 to 6 weeks. The virus primarily replicates in bronchial tissue. It may cause a primary or secondary pneumonia. The pulmonary tree is unable to clear itself of secretions and debris. The vast majority of people could recover, but there is significant potential to kill, and it is related to the virulence of the virus. Currently we talk about the 1918 Spanish flu. That was a pure avian or bird flu, which then adapted to humans with fulminant infections as a result. There is currently a widespread bird infection throughout Asia, Russia, several former Soviet republics and Southeast Asia, and recently we have seen it make an appearance in European Union countries. The virus has jumped species. What began purely as a presence in avian populations is now present in canines and felines. Person-to- person transmission has occurred. Because of the presence in birds, migratory flyways facilitate distribution of the illness, and, of course, modern worldwide travel imposes additional concerns, as we saw with the SARS epidemic 2 years ago. The steps to a pandemic include: Number one, the virus in a widespread host such as birds; number 2, a wide geographic setting with involvement of other mammals; number 3, bird-to-human transmission; number 4, inefficient human-to-human transmission; and, number 5, efficient human-to-human transmission. Steps 1 through 4 have already occurred since avian influenza first appeared in 1997. It is the last step, efficient human-to-human transmission, which to date has not occurred. This will require further genetic mutation of the virus, but if that event does occur, that is what will mark the commencement of a worldwide pandemic. It is entirely possible that the mutation will not occur. It is also entirely possible that efficient human-to-human transmission will never be developed and the pandemic will not occur. The situation is very unpredictable, but because of the extremely wide geographic distribution of the avian flu, unlike any ever seen previously before, it is prudent to prepare for the outbreak in humans.

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. Wayne Hassler, from Chick-fil-A donated 75 sandwiches for volunteers during hurricane Katrina. Chick-fil-A is one of the largest privately owned restaurant chains in the Nation. Yet, from the beginning, their first priority has never been just to serve chicken; they serve the Lord and the community. I stand here today to sincerely thank Wayne Hassler 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 recognize the 13th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day commemorative event in Flower Mound, TX, my home town. As a leader in non-violent resistance, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. strongly advanced human rights with hope to end racial prejudice in the United States. In 1986, Martin Luther King Day was established as a U.S. national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Today, this honored memorial is observed on the third Monday of January each year, around the time of King's birthday. On January 18, 1993, for the first time, Martin Luther King Day was officially observed in all 50 U.S. states. To honor the efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Baha'is of Flower Mound, joined with the Town of Flower Mound, the Tau Rho Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha and other supporters, are sponsoring events commemorating and celebrating Dr. King's inspirational work. This celebration is intended to influence and educate young minds about the significance of freedom, liberty, and the acceptance of all individuals regardless of race, gender, national origin, religion, or social stratum. This year's events include Art and Essay contests among local middle and high school students. Twenty-eight prizes of $75 to $150 each will be awarded to winners. In addition, world-class runner, Gilbert Tuhabonye of Austin, will give the keynote address. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor today that I recognize this 13th annual event commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Flower Mound. Education and inspiration are a few of the most important gifts we can give our children, and I believe this event honors a man who showed such vision and wisdom.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport for receiving a ``Star ofEnergy Efficiency'' Award from the Alliance to Save Energy. DFW won the award for its aggressive pursuit and corporate commitment to the efficient and environmentally friendly use of energy. Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport currently serves more than 59 million passengers and offers 2,300 flights a day to 152 domestic and international destinations. DFW has faced daunting challenges since 2001, including a catastrophic business downturn in the airlines precipitated by terrorist attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC, and the Environmental Protection Agency's introduction of stringent national ambient clean air ozone standards that require DFW to reduce its emissions by 70 percent. Throughout this period, and long before, DFW officials have campaigned aggressively to reduce operating expenses for all its tenants through reduced energy use while adhering to new EPA guidelines. From building commissioning and energy retrofits, to more efficient building design and adherence to strict energy codes, DFW has reduced its energy use at the central plant by over one fourth, and is energy use per square foot by almost 40 percent. This has resulted in a total avoided energy use of 25 million MMBtus. In addition, nitrous oxide emissions are expected to be reduced by 86 percent, far exceeding the EPA mandate. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I stand here today to congratulate Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport, my home airport, for setting an unprecedented example as a world leader in energy and environmental stewardship within the airline transportation industry.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service and commitment of Mr. Ernest Duncan of Pilot Point, Texas. Mr. Duncan's zealous and passionate spirit towards community service warrants recognition. As a 90 year old gentleman, Mr. Duncan dedicates much of his time to those in need, whether near or far away. Since the tragic event of Hurricane Rita, Mr. Duncan has voluntarily made two trips to Beaumont, Texas to help the victims. He and others from the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief helped the effort by serving food, cooking and picking up trash for twelve hours everyday. During their first four-day tour in Beaumont, Mr. Duncan and his colleagues slept on cots and functioned without electricity or water. In addition to his recent involvement in the Hurricane Rita relief effort, Mr. Duncan is a committed volunteer for the Texas Baptist Men's bricking crew, which travels across the country building churches. This effort helps minimize costs for churches and allows them to use their money towards other expenses and community projects. Mr. Speaker, It is with great honor that I stand here today to recognize Mr. Ernest Duncan, who has dedicated his time to community service, and who has reached out to assist those outside the North Texas area. Mr. Duncan's admirable commitment to helping others is an inspiration to all generations.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ms. Miranda Elkins of Gainesville, Texas on receiving the Carnegie Medal for extraordinary heroism. The Carnegie Medals are selected and administered by a twenty-one member commission to recognize individuals who perform acts of heroism in civilian life in the United States and Canada. The Commission's definition of a hero is a civilian who voluntarily risks his or her life to an extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the life of another person. Since the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission's inception in 1904 by Andrew Carnegie, the Commission has recognized 8,943 heroes in the United States and Canada. On August 20, 2004, Miranda Elkins courageously assisted in saving Hedilberto Martinez, Jr. from drowning and helped attempt to save Robert Diaz on South Padre Island, Texas. Martinez was swimming in the Gulf of Mexico when he was carried away from shore by a strong current. Unable to return against the current to shore, he called for help. On the beach, Diaz and Elkins were among those alerted to his plight. Diaz entered the water and swam to Martinez, then grasped him. Elkins also swam out to him. After Martinez grasped Elkins and submerged her, Elkins surfaced and talked to him, to calm him. On her direction, he then held to her as she swam toward shore. While they reached shore safely, Diaz encountered difficulty in the water and tragically drowned. Elkins and three others swam out to him and unsuccessfully attempted to revive him. However, Martinez was heroically rescued without injuries. I extend my sincere congratulations to Ms. Miranda Elkins for receiving this commendable award. As Andrew Carnegie wrote in the opening lines of the Commission's 1904 founding Deed of Trust, ``We live in a heroic age'' and I am honored today to recognize Ms. Elkins' inspirational heroism.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. I could not help but see as the leadership hour progressed you were doing an excellent job of covering all of the things that I think are so important to tell our constituents and our seniors about this plan. Of course, it is an optional plan. There is no requirement that anyone take this plan. But still I think it is worthwhile for families to sit down, perhaps the day after Thanksgiving, while everyone is at home and thinking about things, to sit down and look at these plans and decide if it might not be a good idea for the Medicare beneficiary in your family. I would stress that the first date that the benefits will be available will not be until January 1, but the first day that a senior can sign up for a plan is November 15. So that Friday after Thanksgiving or the Saturday after Thanksgiving after you have had enough leftover turkey and pumpkin pie and football, maybe it would be a good idea to sit down and decide if this is not worth a little closer scrutiny. I took the liberty of going to the Medicare.gov Web site. If anybody has not been there recently, I would encourage them to do so. If you are unable to use a computer, ask your son or daughter or your grandchild to do it for you. I promise you they know how. But looking on the Medicare.gov Web site for my State, Texas, there are some interesting figures available there. And perhaps one of the most interesting there, it is too small to show on the television, but there are a variety of plans that are available in the State of Texas. Just going down the list here, we see one that has a monthly premium of $28, which is lower than the premium that was originally designated as $37, the premium that we originally designated on Medicare, and there is no deductible incurred with that expense. So that is a straight monthly expense. Mr. Speaker, I would argue that that is a heck of a deal. And again, there are several plans like this, and they are all available for you to see in your State at the Medicare.gov Web site. Furthermore, for people who want to look into using one of the Medicare HMOs or PPOs, one of the Medicare advantage plans that will be available, there are several in my State of Texas; there are several in the counties that I represent. There is a PPO plan with basically a zero drug premium, and there is an HMO plan with a zero drug premium and zero drug deductible, so these are significant savings for people who are on Medicare who do spend money on drugs. I would stress, and I have had constituents call me, and they looked at the plan and they say particularly when looking at the concept of a $37-a-month premium with a $250 deductible, they will say this is of no benefit to me. That may be true, in which case do not do it, but look at some of the plans that are available in your State, in your county and see if there is not one there. Have a family discussion. Involve your children or your grandchildren in the discussion, because doggone it, we take good health for granted. It is something, though, that can change year by year and that is, after all, why we buy insurance, not to save us money on our current expenditures, but to protect us from those very hefty expenditures that may be incurred in the future. I must tell the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) he has done a very thorough job about discussing Medicare. I agree with him completely about the need for cutting the deficit this year. I think that is critical that we do so, but this plan is not the place to make that cut. And for anyone who has heard a story or a rumor that the Medicare prescription drug part D roll out may be delayed because of problems with the deficit, that is simply not true. This program will roll out on time. And as we always like to say, it is on time and under budget. With that, I yield back to my good friend from Georgia.

Mr. BURGESS. Again, I think you have done an excellent job of laying out the case for the prescription drug benefit. We have a saying back in Texas when something is a really good deal, we say it does not cost, it pays. I kind of feel that way about the part B Medicare benefit. There are three ways that the Medicare part B benefit could, in fact, result in a costs savings for the Medicare program. One was by introducing competition. The second was by the more timely treatment of disease with appropriate medications. And the third way was by intervening far earlier in the disease process before it gets to the more costly end-state of the disease. Well, guess what, we will not know about the latter two for some time, but we do know about the competition aspect. And competition works. Competition has driven down the cost of premiums. Competition has driven down the cost of the deductible for many of the plans that are going to be available in my State, in my congressional district, and many other areas across the country. How soon will we know about whether or not the timely treatment of disease results in a lowered cost for treating the disease? I cannot tell you that. But the fact that the emphasis is going to be not only on the timely treatment of disease but on prevention, identifying those individuals who are at risk, using the disease management tools that are available in the Medicare program, how powerful is it that someone would have the knowledge that a patient's weight had gone up day over day so that they need to go to their doctor's office and get their congestive heart failure treated, get their medications adjusted on Friday morning rather than coming into the emergency room late on Sunday night and incurring 4 or 5 days in the intensive care unit at who knows the figure, 6, 7, 8, $9,000 a day. That is the kind of cost difference we are talking about from the timely treatment of disease. As far as intervening early in the processes so perhaps that person never gets to the stage of heart disease where they develop congestive heart failure, incalculable the amount of dollars that could be saved. Just by increasing exercise, modifying the diet to reduce that risk of type 2 diabetes. Disease management will be a powerful tool for holding down costs in the future. Again, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) has done a great job in outlining the benefits of this plan, and I certainly thank him for taking time out of his schedule to come and explain this to his constituents and the American people at large. I am happy to enter into a colloquy if there is any time left; but I honestly think, Mr. Speaker, that the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) has done a wonderful job, and I will yield to him for whatever his pleasure is at this point.

Mr. BURGESS. Well, Mr. Speaker, the gentleman has caught me without having done my homework as well as he has, so I do not have those figures at hand. But when my colleague was going through that it reminded me of the times we were on this floor over the last 18 months talking about the Medicare prescription drug discount card. And of course in the hour before us there were some individuals who were fairly negative about anything that might be offered from the Republican side of the aisle and they spoke very harshly against that prescription drug discount card for the past 18 months. And that was so pernicious, so pernicious to people who may have benefited from that prescription drug discount card; the $600 a year subsidy and the discount rates that were available on that card. What a shame. What a shame that their constituents did not get to participate in that because their representatives came back and told them, no, this is a bad plan. It is a Republican plan and it is not good for you. Well, this is a compassionate plan. This is a bipartisan plan, because there were Democrats who supported the bill, I am grateful to say, the night that we took that vote in November of 2003. So I urge people, regardless of their party affiliation, to look at the benefits that are available to you in your State, in your area. Look at it with your loved ones. Look at it with your children or grandchildren because there may be some significant savings, some significant benefit to you. There is also a benefit to the program at large. If you treat your disease more effectively, if you prevent disease effectively overall, that disease process is going to cost less, and that is good for the country as a whole. I have to tell the gentleman from Georgia that I just cannot let this hour go by without asking one additional time for some type of sane liability reform in this country. We have had good liability reform in Texas, so why does it matter to me with the rest of the country? Why do I even care, since Texas is taken care of? The reason I care is because the cost of defensive medicine in this country in the Medicare program alone probably approaches $30 billion a year. That is almost the cost of this prescription drug program. If we could reform our liability system, this program costs us nothing. It is the right thing to do and we should do that this year. And I yield back to the gentleman.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church for celebrating its 130th Anniversary. This is a great accomplishment, and I am proud to have such a historical establishment in the 26th Congressional District of Texas. Founded in 1875, St. James A.M.E. is one of the oldest African- American churches in Denton today. As the only African Methodist Episcopal church in Denton, members say that the church has survived 130 years because of its people--the friendships, marriages and families have been the glue that keeps the small congregation together. St. James A.M.E. has dedicated itself to community service and involvement. Members help others by offering tutoring for students, help with credit establishment, and donations for those in need. Since the tragic event of Hurricane Katrina, the 83 member congregation of St. James A.M.E. reached out to support one relocated Louisiana family living in the parsonage. The church's value of submission is seen in this commitment to serving others in the community over the years. As one of the city's oldest churches, St. James A.M.E. occupies an important place in the Denton community today as a symbol of endurance, stability and service. Congratulations to the congregation at St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church on their anniversary. One hundred and thirty years of worship is a milestone to be celebrated.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the City of Coppell, Texas for its 50th anniversary. This is a great accomplishment, and I am proud to represent this city and the surrounding areas in the 26th Congressional District of Texas. The area, known today as Coppell, lies on the Elm Fork of the Trinity River in Dallas County. The site was first settled in the mid-1800s, and was originally named Gibbs Station, after Texas lieutenant governor Barnett Gibbs. However, in 1890 the community was renamed Coppell, in honor of the engineer credited with bringing the railroad to the community, George A. Coppell. Since the city's official incorporation in 1955, Coppell has maintained a strong community in North Texas. Programs such as ``Keep Coppell Beautiful'' and the annual ``Family Fish'' promote the spirit of community and family. Coppell also continues to strive for excellence in public education. This year, to honor these efforts, the city will host an anniversary celebration at the Andy Brown Community Park East. Coppell is a beautiful city and one which I have visited many times during my time in Congress. I wanted to extend my sincerest congratulations to the citizens of Coppell and to Mayor Doug Stover. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor today that I congratulate the City of Coppell on their 50 year anniversary.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, again, a significant milestone was reached this past weekend in the recovery of the sovereign nation of Iraq. On my most recent trip to that country this past August, it was clear that the constitution was the key that gets them through the door to the next part of their ability to govern themselves. There are things in this country that we take for granted, things like bank to check, things like transfer of title of real estate, things that are not possible in a country that does not have a constitution, things that are not possible in a country that does not know the rule of law. Mr. Speaker, in excess of 60 percent of the people of Iraq braved the terrorists, braved the threats of violence to go out and vote. We stand with the people of Iraq today, but mostly we stand with our troops who made this all possible, and I salute their efforts.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Sean Hughes who has recently been recognized by the International Association of Emergency Managers as a Certified Emergency Manager. The designation is the highest honor of professional achievement available from the international association, which has more than 2,700 members. Mr. Hughes has worked for the City of North Richland Hills, in my home district since 1987. He has an Associate's Degree from Clackamas Community College, a Bachelors Degree from the University of North Texas and is currently doing graduate work towards a Master of Science in Emergency Management. Mr. Hughes is a Texas Certified Emergency Manager, Master Firefighter, Master Arson Investigator, Master Instructor and Advanced Peace Officer. He has completed the FEMA Professional Development Series and has received numerous awards including the Fire Department Medal of Valor. The emergency management certification program was developed by the International Association of Emergency Managers with funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and guidance from an advisory board. Candidates for the certification are reviewed by a Commission of 19 respected professionals in the field and must complete a written examination and management essay. The commission considers each candidate's experience, references, education, training and contributions to the profession. Since 1993, the association has recognized 954 professionals with the Certified Emergency Manager designation. Sean Hughes is the third emergency management professional in Tarrant County to receive the designation. I am proud to recognize Sean Hughes for his accomplishments and to have him represent the North Richland Hills Community and the 26th District of Texas.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the fallen men and women firefighters who selflessly dedicated their lives to our communities. Each October, a grateful Nation honors its fallen fire heroes during the National Fire Prevention Week. Fire Prevention Week is a great opportunity to educate all citizens about the dangers of fire and the steps they can take to protect themselves. Each year, more than 4,200 Americans lose their lives to fire. That's more deaths by fire each year than all other natural disasters combined. National Fire Prevention Week has been observed since 1922 the week of October 9th. This marks the date of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. In that tragic conflagration, more than 250 people were killed. 100,000 were left homeless, 17,400 structures were destroyed, and more than 2000 acres burned. I want to thank Denton's First United Methodist Church for hosting a special service in honor of those who gave their lives for those of us residing in Denton County. The service and the processional to the Denton County Firefighters Memorial Park that concluded the memorial service truly honors these heroic men and women. This year marks the 17th Annual Memorial Service in Denton County. I extend my condolences and appreciation to the families and the communities of these fallen firefighters. This memorial service acts as a tribute to the brave men and women of America's fire service.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Barry Evans Boesch, the 51-year-old executive editor of the Denton Record- Chronicle, and longtime reporter and editor of the Dallas Morning News. Barry was born December 5, 1953. He was a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas and the University of Texas in Austin. In 1976, Barry began his newspaper career at the Corpus Christi Caller- Times. Most of his nearly 30-year career was spent with the Dallas Morning News. In March, Barry was diagnosed with a brain tumor but he continued to work until the summer, when radiation and chemotherapy treatments began taking their toll. He passed away 2005 at Baylor University Medical Center with his wife by his side. Barry will be remembered for his three passions in life--his wife, Pattie; his daughter, Bailey; and the newspaper business. He will also be remembered for his sense of humor and his love of verbal combat. Today, I would like to recognize and celebrate Barry Boesch's life. I was honored to have known him over the years. His leadership and charisma will certainly be missed by our hometown paper. Please keep his wife and daughter in your thoughts and prayers.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Northwest High School, located in Justin, Texas, which has recently been selected as an Intel and Scholastic School of Distinction. The Intel and Scholastic School of Distinction award recognizes schools that demonstrate excellence in implementing innovative programs to promote positive educational results. A total of 60 finalist schools across the nation were selected from 10 distinguished categories. Northwest High School has been selected for the Excellence in Leadership category that commends the influential effort of their dynamic leaders. I extend my sincere congratulations to Northwest High School and to its principal, Jim Chadwell, for receiving this distinguished award given by the Intel Innovation in Education initiative and Scholastic Inc. Education is one of the most important gifts we can give our children, and Northwest High School has admirably contributed to the future of excellence in education.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding performance of the Cooke County 4-H dairy judging team. The team consists of Ben Wyrick, Josh Zimmerer, Cletus Fuhrmann and Amber Fuhrmann. 4-H is a community of more than seven million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. The four ``H''s represent the ``Head'' which stands for clearer thinking and decision-making; ``Heart'' which stands for greater loyalty, strong personal values, positive self concept, concern for others; ``Hands'' which stands for larger service, workforce preparedness, useful skills, science and technology literacy; and ``Health'' which stands for better living, healthy lifestyles. After winning the Texas State 4-H dairy judging contest, the team is headed to Wisconsin for the national contest. The challenge before the team is to distinguish between various breeds of dairy cows, with each contestant judging four classes of four cows. After placing the cows, contestants then present their reasoning before a judge. I am very proud to recognize these 4-H members today, and I wish them great luck. Their persistence and commitment should serve as an inspiration to us all.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Ray R. Poliakoff, a wonderful man and a friend to the community of Denton, Texas. Mr. Poliakoff passed away on Saturday, September 2, 2005 at Baylor Regional Medical in Plano. Ray was 86. Ray R. Poliakoff was born March 12, 1919 and spent his life serving our country, committing his life to continuing education and working vigorously. He was a member of the United States Army in a Reconnaissance Intelligence Unit in Europe during World War II and was twice wounded in battle. After the war, he graduated from Indiana University with bachelor of law and doctor of jurisprudence degrees. He also received a Master of Arts degree in humanities from the University of Evansville, Indiana. Throughout the years, Ray was very active in oil, gas and coal exploration and development. He held various executive positions in Northern Illinois Coal Corporation, Sentry Royalty Company, Sinclair Coal Company, Peabody Coal Company, AMAX Coal Company, Data Tech Corporation, and even independently produced oil for 12 years. During the period of 1949 to 1989, he also worked with various national and international concerns and individuals in coal, oil and gas, and other natural resource ventures and concessions in the U.S., Alaska, Canada, Europe, Australia, the Middle East and the Far East. Even though Ray retired in 1984 and in 1988 went on inactive status as an Indiana attorney in good standing, he remained a long-standing member of the American Bar Association and was, until recently, a member of the ABA Section on Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law; Science and Technology; and Individual Rights and Responsibilities. Today, I would like to recognize and celebrate Mr. Poliakoffs life. He was intelligent, thoughtful and a true American. Ray leaves behind his lovely wife, Dr. Ann Stuart, Chancellor of Texas Woman's University in Denton, his children and grandchildren. They are all in my thoughts and prayers. Ray will be deeply missed by his family and the community of North Texas.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Denton County organization Friends of the Family for celebrating its 25th anniversary. This is a great accomplishment, and I am proud to have an establishment such as this in the 26th Congressional District of Texas. Friends of the Family is an organization that works to provide crisis intervention, safe shelter, counseling, support services, and advocacy for all those impacted by domestic violence or sexual assault. The organization also facilitates community awareness and involvement through education, information, and violence prevention programs. From a starting budget of $10,000 in 1980 to this year's $1.5 million budget, the organization has grown a great deal in 25 years. With the program employing licensed professional counselors, social workers and psychologists, instead of relying solely on volunteers, they now serve about 7,000 people annually. Congratulations to Denton County's Friends of the Family on their anniversary. Twenty-five years of service is a milestone to be celebrated.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the Guardians of Freedom for their service our great Nation. Your Guardians of Freedom is a new program that enables unit commanders and Airmen to quickly communicate with people affected by and interested in the mobilization and deployment of military people. Beyond that, it is designed to tell the story of the American Airmen tirelessly fighting the global war on terrorism. With this program, commanders can contact and request the support of civilian employers, educators, families, members of Congress and local government leaders, and the local media when Guard members, Reservists and active duty troops get called up for Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom operations in this country and overseas. These Guardians of Freedom are being honored by Northrop Grumman with a special program, dinner and reception. It is with great honor that I stand here today to salute the Guardians of Freedom for their help in safeguarding our Nation's freedom. Through their contribution, they not only stand as devoted American citizens, but serve as an inspiration to others.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize North Richland Hills School for being named a No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School of 2005. Only 31 schools in Texas will receive this award certificate. The No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools program recognizes schools that make significant progress in closing the achievement gap or whose students achieve at very high levels. Schools must make adequate yearly progress in reading, language arts and mathematics. The No Child Left Behind Act is the bipartisan landmark education reform law designed to change the culture of America's schools by closing the achievement gap, offering more flexibility to States, giving parents more information and options and teaching students based on what works. Under the law's strong accountability provisions, States must describe how they will close the achievement gap and make sure all students, including those with disabilities, achieve academically. I extend my sincere congratulations to North Richland Hills School for receiving this award. This school's contribution and services should serve as inspiration to us all.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, in the aftermath of the two hurricanes, Katrina and Rita, the question comes up, how do we evaluate the Federal response and how do we learn from the events of the past 4 weeks? How do we protect our country going forward? There are some in this body who have called for a special commission to conduct that inquiry, a special commission as opposed to a congressional inquiry. But I believe that Congress not only has the duty, I believe Congress has the constitutional obligation to undertake that process. In fact, Mr. Speaker, this is one job that is too important for the other side to outsource. In order for this to work, that is a Congressional inquiry, it is going to require participation from both sides of the aisle. It is not healthy for the country for one side to stand on the sidelines and point fingers. And what about a special commission? Well, we saw that with the 9/11 Commission. Their former commission spokesman said that he could not evaluate the information on Able Data because the information provided did not mesh with the conclusions that they were drawing. I submit, Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate for Congress to do this investigation and I look forward to the result.