Vern Buchanan

Mr. BUCHANAN

Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 1105, the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009: Requesting Member: Congressman Vern Buchanan Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account: Health Resources and Services (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Sarasota County Address of Requesting Entity: 1660 Ringling Blvd. Sarasota, FL 34236 Description of Request: I secured $190,000 for a Health Facility in Englewood, Florida. Sarasota County is seeking to construct a new health facility in the community of Englewood. The facility will be located in the southern most portion of Sarasota County and will serve the residents of both Sarasota and Charlotte counties. The facility will improve access to health care and a variety of human and social services programs for residents. Requesting Member: Congressman Vern Buchanan Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account: Corp of Engineers--Investigations Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Sarasota Address of Requesting Entity: 1565 First Street, Sarasota, FL 34236 Description of Request: I secured $150,000 for Lido Key beach re- nourishment. The middle portion of Lido Key Beach is the most seriously eroded segment. This section of beach is generally very narrow due to the ongoing erosion problem, which has been accelerated by several storms from 1982 to the present. As a result, the damage to Lido Key Beach and adjacent structures from even moderate storms has increased and greater losses can be expected from future storms. The beach loses an average of almost 11 feet of width each year. In a Reconnaissance study report approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in May of 1997, the Corps found that the Lido Key Beach Nourishment project ``is technically sound, economically justified, and socially and environmentally acceptable.'' The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has recommended the nourishment of 1.56 miles of shoreline. Ratios in excess of 1 to 1 are required for the Corps to find that a proposed shoreline protection project meets its national economic benefit test. The project was fully authorized by Section 364 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999, P.L. 106-53. Requesting Member: Congressman Vern Buchanan Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account: Corps of Engineers--Construction Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Manatee County Address of Requesting Entity: 1112 Manatee Ave W. Bradenton, FL 34205 Description of Request: I secured $3,828,000 for Wares Creek Flood and Coastal Storm Damage Project. The Wares Creek Project involves dredging approximately three miles of the waterway for flood control purposes. It seeks to extinguish ``muck and sediment'' from the mouth of the creek. The project was initially authorized in the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 and is endorsed by the Manatee County Commissioners. It received $4.7 million in funds last year from the Omnibus Appropriation bill. Requesting Member: Congressman Vern Buchanan Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account: Corps of Engineers--Operations & Maintenance Legal Name of Requesting Entity: West Coast Inland Navigational District Address of Requesting Entity: 200 East Miami Avenue, Venice, FL 34285 Description of Request: I secured $2,076,000 for the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) under the Army Corps of Engineers, Operation and Maintenance account for maintenance dredging of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW), (a.k.a Intracoastal Waterway, Caloosahatchee River to Anclote River), Florida. The areas in need of maintenance dredging include Longboat Pass (Manatee County), Venice Inlet (Sarasota County), mouth of Caloosahatchee River (Miserable Mile in Lee County), and the Boca Grande Bayou area (Miller's Marina in Lee County) of the GICW. With the Committee's help, Congress appropriated $1.4 million (FY'04 & FY'05 combined) for the required design, engineering, permitting, and initial dredging for these projects. In 1945, in the Rivers and Harbors Act, Congress authorized the GICW to be maintained at a width of 100-feet, and a depth of nine-feet between the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River, near Ft. Myers, and the Anclote River, north of Tampa. The GICW channel runs through six counties (Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee) and links natural deep-water sections of bays through a series of man-made channels, thereby providing for the safe passage of commercial goods, and access to commercial fishing grounds. Dredging of the GICW commenced in 1960 and was completed in 1967, at which time the WCIND began maintenance activities.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, this bill that we are going to consider or vote on in the next day or so should be about jobs, small business, and working families. However, small business, which I am on that committee, make up 99 percent of businesses in Florida and they create 70 percent of the jobs, but only 1 percent of this will actually go in terms of helping small business. The Congressional Budget Office says it will do more harm than good long term; 300 leading economists say this bill will not help the economy. It explodes the debt. We are at $10 trillion now; this year we will be at $1.2 trillion plus the stimulus with interest, over $1 trillion. This is about our children and grandchildren. We are going to put them further behind. We will not leave it better for them, and that is why I cannot support this bill.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2638, the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009: Requesting Member: Congressman Vern Buchanan. Bill Number: H.R. 2638. Account: Emergency Operation Centers (EOC). Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Sarasota County. Address of Requesting Entity: 1660 Ringling Boulevard, Sarasota, FL 34236. Description of Request: I secured $1,000,000 to help relocate and construct a new Sarasota County Emergency Operations Center. An engineering survey conducted in May 2007 determined that the Sarasota County Administration Building was not designed to withstand the forces of a major hurricane. This building houses the County Emergency Operations Center, 911 Consolidated Communications Center, and the Enterprise Information Technology Data Center. Sarasota County is in the midst of planning and designing a new 50,000 square foot public safety center that is structurally sound and geographically located to ensure that it can provide critical services and government continuity after the advent of a major storm event. Funding will be used to help relocate and construct a new Sarasota County Emergency Operations Center. Requesting Member: Congressman Vern Buchanan. Bill Number: H.R. 2638. Account: (RDT&E, Army, PE 0601004A). Legal Name of Requesting Entity: New College of Florida. Address of Requesting Entity: 5800 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, FL 34243. Description of Request: I secured $1,200,000 for the continuation of the Florida Collaborative Development of Advanced Material for Strategic Applications, which will introduce a research project with significant educational components and undergraduate student involvement that will study the physical mechanisms of laser assisted modification of two types of nanoparticles: three dimensional, almost spherical metal nanoparticles embedded in dielectric matrix and highly anisotropic one-dimensional structures confined into carbon nanotubes. The proposed study will utilize various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques to investigate in a coherent systematic manner the possibilities of modifying in a controlled and reproducible way, various structural and electronic properties of these two systems. In addition to the particle size analysis, the study will place special emphasis on the interpretation of the experimental data in terms of the particle shape, metal concentration, in the film after each consecutive step of the modification process. This study will be the first attempt to combine the data obtained from UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy and numerical Mie resonance analysis, with material characterization performed by Rutherford backscattering (RBS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and relate them to their optical non-linear properties studied by Z-scan measurements. The second part of the project will involve laser-assisted manipulation of filled double-walled carbon nanotubes and micro-Raman spectroscopy and TEM characterization of highly anisotropic 1D nanostructures confined into carbon nanotubes. The results of the proposed investigation will have two-fold significance. First, they will contribute new important information in the area of nanosized particles with the key goal of tailoring their properties. Second, the study will serve as an effective educational tool for teaching undergraduate students how to do ``real life'' research. The proposed area of research will give students a strong understanding of the fundamentals of physics and technology as an intellectual discipline and provide them the opportunity to work successfully in a diverse group. The research will be carried out primarily at New College of Florida in close collaboration with local scientists; the French National Research Center, Orsay, France; the Max Planck Institute for Microstructure Physics, Halle, Germany; the Central Laboratory of Solar Energy, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sophia, Bulgaria; and the University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, it is my privilege and honor today to recognize and welcome my family's pastor, also my wife, Sandy, and my two children. He's been our pastor for the last 8 years. William Hild, since 1997, has served and led as the pastor of First Baptist Church of Sarasota, Florida. Accompanying him here today is his wife, Beverly, of 28 years; William Hild III, who also attends Georgetown Law School; and his sister, Kathy. Since becoming pastor of First Baptist Church of Sarasota in 1997, Bill has helped to spread the church's ministry throughout our community, the State of Florida, the United States, and even across the world. Under Pastor Hild's leadership, the church has organized over 20 Holy Land trips to Israel, Jordan and Egypt. These trips provide our members with a greater understanding of the Bible and a deeper appreciation of the work of God. Here at home, Pastor Hild was a leader in the recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina. Under his leadership, First Baptist Church of Sarasota donated cash and pledges in excess of $140,000 to help the victims of Katrina. The church also conducted multiple trips to the gulf coast region, delivering food and personal hygiene kits to those affected by the hurricane. I want to thank my pastor, Pastor Bill Hild, for more importantly, his close friendship and guidance to me, and also providing today's prayer. Also, I would like to thank his wife, Beverly, and son, Will, for being with us today and his family and his many friends from back home watching here today on this very special day. Thank you, Pastor Hild.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank the Sarasota National Veterans Cemetery Advisory Committee, which played a valuable role in the recent groundbreaking and dedication ceremony for the Sarasota VA National Cemetery. I also recognize cemetery director Sandra Beckly and VA Under Secretary William F. Tuerk for their involvement in the planning and celebration of this tremendous event. Furthermore, I want to express my deep appreciation to the estimated 3,000 people who gathered to celebrate this important milestone. The Sarasota VA National Cemetery is an honor to the sacrifices of the many soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice and died on behalf of a grateful nation and to the accomplishments of all veterans whose service has allowed us to enjoy our American way of life. The people of Florida's 13th District have been closely monitoring the progress we have made to establish a new national cemetery in Sarasota County. The timely completion of this project is a primary concern for area veterans and is one of my highest priorities. We have 97,000 veterans in my congressional district and nearly 400,000 veterans within the 75-mile radius that will be served by the new cemetery. Currently, the closest available VA cemetery is Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida, which is about 110 miles from the City of Sarasota. I look forward to the day when area veterans and qualified family members can be memorialized with the honor and respect they deserve close to home at the Sarasota VA Cemetery in Sarasota.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Sarasota South Elks Lodge # 2495, which will be recognized at the Florida Elks' State Convention this month for their efforts to improve the quality of life of Sarasota area veterans. The Elks is one of the leading charitable and service orders in the United States. Since 1917, they have pledged to never forget our nation's veterans. For the past three years, the men and women of the Sarasota South Elks Lodge have put these words to action by giving generously of their energy and resources to improve the lives of ill, aging, and homeless veterans. In the last three years, the Sarasota South Elks Lodge has donated $41,590 in money, clothing and personal items, given 1,390 in voluntary man hours and driven over 4,100 miles in an effort to make a difference in the lives of our veterans. They have provided food, clothing, and employment opportunities to homeless veterans, made monthly visits with veterans hospitalized at Bay Pines, and provided transportation and companionship to more than 10 veterans who are shut-ins without family in the area. They have adopted the families of two soldiers on active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. They have been directly involved with 21 military funerals and five flag-raising ceremonies. Finally, they have sponsored annual barbeques during which they have fed and entertained hundreds of veterans. On behalf of the people of Florida's 13th District, I thank the members of the Sarasota South Elks for their compassionate service to our veterans. I am honored to represent this caring and hardworking organization.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1237, the Cytology Proficiency Improvement Act of 2007. I am a cosponsor of this important legislation, which enhances women's health by establishing a continuing medical education requirement for pathologists and laboratory professionals who examine Pap tests to screen for cervical cancer. I recently toured Sarasota Pathology and heard directly from my constituents about the importance of this bill and its potential to help save lives. This legislation amends the Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments of 1988, CLIA, which mandated a cytology proficiency test to be administered by the Federal Government. However, the program lay inactive until 2005, which, because of scientific advancements makes the test obsolete and out of date. Unlike the current CLIA testing model, H.R. 1237, with its annual continuing medical education requirement, will provide the means to increase the skills necessary to identify potential cervical cancer, and will keep pace with new science. H.R. 1237 is modeled after the Mammography Quality Standards Act, MQSA, which was passed in 1992. That bill ensured women would have access to quality mammography procedures. This bill requires similar educational testing for pathologists. The American Medical Association, the College of OBGYNs, the College of American Pathologists, the American Society for Clinical Pathology, the College of Nurse Midwifes, and the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation endorse the bill. Finally, I want to mention that the Congressional Budget Office has determined that it will not cost the Federal Government any additional expenditure. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join with me in support of a bill that will greatly improve the quality of women's health care in America.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Women's Club of Sarasota, which is celebrating it 95th anniversary this year. Since 1913, the members of the Women's Club of Sarasota have been a persuasive voice for political causes, provided educational opportunities for area children, and facilitated several community improvement projects. Founded by 63 women, the Club's motto of ``Not Self, but Service'' has been evident in its many accomplishments over the years. Their first clubhouse served as the public library for 30 years, providing the community with a place for social and cultural activities. Concerned about the well-being of area children, they helped pass the compulsory school attendance law, introduced medical-dental inspections and inoculations in public schools, organized a local PTA, and helped found the Helen Payne Nursery School. During World War I, the group supported the war effort by organizing a local chapter of the American Red Cross. They also increased access to health care by helping to establish Sarasota Memorial Hospital--a community owned hospital. They helped with the city census, and were strong proponents of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution giving women the right to vote. Today, the Sarasota Women's Club continues the same spirit of service with annual educational scholarships, special donations to several charitable organizations. On their anniversary, I congratulate them for their achievements and have every confidence they will continue to play an important role in the improvement of our community and the lives of others.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Feld Family, who, for forty years have preserved the legacy of the circus and provided Americans with quality family entertainment. On November 11, 1967, Irvin Feld fulfilled a life long dream by purchasing the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus, which for years made its winter home in Sarasota, Florida. Quickly, Irvin Feld made changes to modernize the show and ushered in the era of modern American entertainment. An astute promoter, Irvin Feld designed a new two-year tour system for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. He purchased the Circus Williams and created a second unit of Ringling Bros. equal in size, scope, and quality to the first. The second unit showcased the incredible talents of Gunther Gebel-Williams, who captivated American audiences for 30 years. Just like the great Barnum, Feld devised national advertising campaigns and creative public relations, to reinstate the Ringling circus as America's living treasure. It is not surprising that Irvin Feld was dubbed ``The Greatest Showman on Earth.'' To save the art of clowning from extinction, Irvin Feld founded the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College in 1968. Originally located in Venice, Florida, then relocated to Baraboo, Wisconsin and finally, Sarasota, Florida it was the world's first and only ``Clown College.'' In 1970, Feld's son, Kenneth, joined the organization and was made a co-producer in 1973. When Irvin Feld suddenly died on September 6,1984, Kenneth Feld immediately assumed control and has surpassed the level of entertainment excellence set by his father and other legendary showmen before him. Expanding the circus, he instituted a third unit that travels all across America. Today, Kenneth Feld is the largest provider of live action family entertainment in the world. The Feld legacy continues through the third generation with Kenneth Feld's daughters, Nicole and Alana, who work to maintain the high quality, family-focused productions that have been the hallmark of the ``Greatest Show on Earth.'' The Feld's support school curriculum programs and have developed Circus Fit, a national youth fitness program. To help preserve the Asian elephant, Kenneth Feld established the Center for Elephant Conservation (CEC) in central Florida in 1995. This state-of-the-art breeding and retirement facility is dedicated to the conservation, breeding, and study of the Asian elephant. In each generation, the Feld family has continued to capture children of all ages by preserving the great American circus and led the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, The Greatest Show on Earth, into the 21st century. I thank my colleagues for joining me in recognizing the contributions of the Feld Family to American culture and entertainment.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member for yielding me the time, and I rise in support of the resolution. I'd also like to thank my fellow freshman, Congressman Altmire, and I want to thank the chairman of our Small Business Committee, because she has been very bipartisan from day one. She's been very helpful to me, and I think, frankly, this is what the country is looking for. So I want to thank the freshman Congressman. I think this is a very powerful thing. Also, I just wanted to say that I know there's a Senate compromise, and a number of provisions in that are important to me. This resolution incorporates legislation I introduced in May and the House passed in June, creating an important program within the Small Business Administration. This will give our veterans not just a chance at success in a small business enterprise, but provide them with the help and assistance a grateful Nation can offer. My legislation is intended to help veterans through grants, information services and contacts with professionals in their field of endeavor. This Federal support will enhance the ability of veterans to become an entrepreneur in his or her own right. The measure puts an emphasis on providing veterans with the market research, financial options, and technological training important to becoming a successful small business owner. This legislation not only expands the number but the scope of Veteran Outreach Centers. It ensures the opening of more doors in terms of that and the opportunity for women veterans. Assisting our women returning from combat has been an area long overlooked, and it's high time we did something about it. I know in my personal situation, I went in as an 18-year-old in the Air National Guard. At 23, I had a chance to get in business for myself, for a kid that grew up in a blue-collar family, and I've lived that American Dream, being self-employed for 30 years. I want to make sure that our veterans have that same opportunity today for all the sacrifices they are making. I'm excited today that the House will pass a resolution that will help individuals make an important transition from a veteran to a small business entrepreneur, and we are one step closer to having this important legislation signed into law. I urge my colleagues to suspend the rules and support the resolution.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Mr. BUCHANAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of renaming the Bradenton Main Post Office at 824 Manatee Avenue West as the ``Dan Miller Post Office Building'' in honor of former Congressman Dan Miller. I can think of no better way to honor the public service of this former Florida Congressman than to designate the Bradenton Main Post Office in his name. Dan Miller is a successful Bradenton businessman, educator, and community leader who represented Florida's 13th District in Congress from 1992 to 2003, when he retired from the House. He is a principled and effective leader who was consistently recognized as one of the top fiscal conservatives in Congress. Congressman Miller helped balance the Federal budget for the first time in 30 years by using Federal resources wisely--cutting waste, fraud, and abuse while supporting important programs like the National Institutes of Health, where Dan led the effort to double NIH funding. Dan managed the congressional oversight of the 2000 U.S. Census, the most successful census to date despite many efforts to politicize the process. Congressman Dan Miller is a statesman who commanded bipartisan respect and befriended lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. He is a man of integrity who kept his word to term-limit himself and serve only five terms in Congress. Congressman, successful businessman, respected educator--I am honored to call Dan Miller a friend and advisor. I am also proud to hold the seat he once held and pleased to pay tribute to him by sponsoring this legislation. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 4342 in honor of former Congressman Dan Miller.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member for yielding me the time, and I rise in support of H.R. 4253. I would also like to thank the Congressman from Pennsylvania, Congressman Altmire. He has worked on a bipartisan basis. I appreciate it. It has been a great partnership. And also Madam Chairman, and the ranking member, you guys have done an incredible job this first year. A lot of people said we couldn't work together, but it has been great leadership this year. I also want to thank you for the opportunity to include a lot of the provisions in this bill. H.R. 4253 incorporates legislation I introduced in May and was passed in the House in June creating an important program within the Small Business Administration that will give our veterans a chance to succeed in business enterprises but provides them with all the help and assistance a grateful Nation can offer. My legislation is intended to help veterans through grants, information services and contacts with professionals in fields of their endeavor. This Federal program will enhance the ability of a veteran to become a successful entrepreneur in his or her chosen field. I know from personal experience, being a veteran of 6 years and an entrepreneur for 30 years, I was able to realize the American Dream, and I think this bill does it. H.R. 4253 puts an emphasis on providing veterans with the market research, financial options and the technological training important to become a successful small business owner. This legislation not only expands the number and the scope of the Veteran Outreach Centers, it ensures the opening of more doors and an opportunity for our women veterans. Assisting our women returning from combat is something that has long been overlooked and overdue. It is high time that we did something about it. Today, the House will pass a bill that will help individuals make an important transition from being a veteran to a small business entrepreneur. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4253.

Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, I thank the Ranking Member for yielding me the time and rise in support of H.R. 4253. I would like to thank Congressman Altmire for bringing this bill to the floor today and for including in the bill a number of provisions important to me. H.R. 4253 incorporates legislation I introduced in May and the House passed in June creating an important program within the Small Business Administration that will give our veterans not just a chance at success in a business enterprise but provide them with all the help and assistance a grateful Nation can offer. My legislation is intended to help veterans through grants, information services, and contact with professionals in their fields of endeavor. This federal support will enhance the ability of a veteran to become an entrepreneur in his or her own right. H.R. 4253 puts an emphasis on providing veterans with the market research, financial options and technological training important to becoming a successful small business owner. This legislation not only expands the number and scope of Veteran Outreach Centers, it ensures the opening of more doors and opportunities for our women veterans. Assisting our women returning from combat has been an area long overlooked and it's high time we did something about it. Today, the House will pass a bill that will help individuals make an important transition from veteran to small business entrepreneur. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 4253.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Mr. BUCHANAN. Mr. Chairman, there is no larger issue in my home State of Florida than the high cost of homeowners insurance. Like many Floridians, my constituents are finding property insurance more expensive and, many times, impossible to get. Skyrocketing insurance is hurting the middle class and it is damaging our real estate market and our economy. Insurance in the State of Florida has gone up 385 percent in last 5 years, 77 percent a year. This bill is necessary to encourage insurance companies to write policies that will work for families and small businesses that they can afford. One of our businesses, and I don't want to leave them out either, in our community, their insurance went from $25,000 to $125,000. They called me and asked me what could they do. I said, ``Well, get some other prices.'' He called back and said there was nobody else that will even write it. One insurance company. They had to have it because they had a mortgage. I am pleased the House will pass a manager's amendment that includes language authorized by my colleague Ginny Brown-Waite. I want to thank her for her leadership on this effort for the last 3 years. She is going to establish a Federal catastrophic fund. This amendment mirrors legislation I introduced with her at the beginning of the year. I also want to thank my Florida colleagues Congressman Tim Mahoney and Congressman Ron Klein for introducing this legislation. Mr. Chairman, I am proud that we have been able to work on a bipartisan basis in Florida.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce for winning the American Chamber of Commerce Executive's, ACCE, 2007 Chamber of the Year Award, the nation's only award recognizing the expanding role chambers play in strengthening area businesses and their community. By winning this award, the Manatee chamber has demonstrated its organizational strength and success in community leadership by being the best in the nation in its category for financial and membership growth as well as making a significant impact on important community issues, including economic development, education, transportation, healthcare and cultural activities. The Manatee chamber was also named the 2007 Florida Chamber of the Year by the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals for the third time--making it the only chamber to have won this prestigious award more than twice. These awards are a tribute to the knowledge, leadership skills, and management effectiveness of chamber President Bob Bartz and to the quality of the work done by the organization's staff and the spirit and involvement of its volunteers, including the chamber's officers and Board of Directors. I congratulate the Manatee Chamber of Commerce and its members for these impressive awards. I recognize their many accomplishments, and I appreciate their successful efforts to help businesses succeed and enhance the lives of Manatee County residents.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Mr. BUCHANAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Mack- Castor-Buchanan amendment to provide critical funding for red tide research. Red tide threatens our environment, our health and our economy. But in recent years, the harmful effects of red tide have killed sea life, driven people from our beaches to our emergency rooms, and cost the economy millions of dollars in lost revenues. This is a problem not just in Florida but in other coastal States. Red tide is a naturally occurring phenomenon. Scientists differ on whether it is occurring more frequently and for longer periods of time. There is also disagreement on whether we should try to kill, contain, or minimize the impact of red tide. That's why additional research dollars are needed. And that's why I support the Mack-Castor-Buchanan amendment. My district is home to Mote Marine Laboratory, one of the Nation's premier private marine research laboratories. Mote conducts on-going red tide research and research related to new methods for early detection of red tide, the role of coastal pollution and studies of ways to mitigate and control blooms. This amendment would fund additional research at places like Mote Marine to better understand the issue, and these results of these studies can be used to develop better methods to predict and detect red tide, and if a consensus can be developed, control and mitigate red tide. I want to thank my colleagues Connie Mack and Kathy Castor for working with me on this important issue. Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, on Friday, June 15, I was en route to California to attend the Stanford University graduation ceremonies for my son, Matt. As such, I was absent for rollcall votes 492 through 498. If I had been present for these votes, I would have voted as indicated below: rollcall No. 492: ``aye''; rollcall No. 493: ``nay''; rollcall No. 494: ``aye''; rollcall No. 495: ``aye''; rollcall No. 496: ``aye''; rollcall No. 497: ``aye''; and rollcall No. 498: ``aye''.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Mr. BUCHANAN. I would like to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Tennessee, for yielding, and also the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Johnson). I would also like to commend Chairwoman Velazquez and Ranking Member Chabot for their proving that leadership and bipartisanship is alive and well in the United States Congress. The Madam Chair has worked very hard on this bill, and I appreciate her effort. Mr. Speaker, my bill, H.R. 2366, would create an important program within the Small Business Administration that gives our veterans not just a chance in a business enterprise but provides them with all the help and assistance a grateful Nation can offer. This legislation is intended to help veterans through grants, information services and contacts with professionals in their field of endeavor. This Federal program will enhance the ability of a veteran to become an entrepreneur in his or her own right. My bill puts an emphasis on providing veterans with market research, financial options and technological training important to become a successful small business owner. H.R. 2366 not only expands the number and the scope of Veteran Outreach Centers, it ensures the opening of more doors and opportunities for our women veterans. Assisting our veterans returning from combat has been an area long overlooked, and it is high time we did something about it. I am encouraged by the unanimous consent that this bill received in the committee and by the spirit of bipartisanship that is symbolic of its passage. Today, the House will pass a bill that will help individuals make an important transition from a veteran to a small business entrepreneur. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2366.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Mr. BUCHANAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the fiscal year 2008 military construction and veterans affairs appropriations bill which includes $27.8 million dollars to construct a veterans' cemetery in my District. The funding was part of the President's budget and will allow us to honor our commitment to provide nearly 400,000 veterans living within 75 miles of Sarasota, Florida with a final resting place that honors their military service. The VA has purchased 245 acres of land in Sarasota County and construction is planned for May 2008. The first burials are anticipated in October of 2008. With more than 1,800 veterans dying every day in this country, the timely completion of this project is a primary concern for area veterans and is one of my highest priorities. This funding will help ensure that our goals are met and the veterans who proudly served this Nation and eligible family members can be placed to rest close to home and with the honor and dignity they deserve.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an individual who has distinguished himself as a good coach, a dedicated teacher, and a family friend--coach Mike Dowling, who is retiring after 28 years as football coach at Cardinal Mooney High School in Sarasota. Coach Dowling has led the Cougars to five undefeated regular seasons, six district championships, and one regional championship. His overall record of 189 to 102 is certainly impressive. Over 150 of his players have gone on to play college ball and his winning teams have enhanced school spirit and the educational mission of the school. But a good coach does more than win games; he is also a positive influence on his players. Coach Dowling has helped hundreds of kids reach their full potential both on and off the field. In addition to teaching them how to catch, throw, tackle, and win, he helped teach them good sportsmanship and ethical conduct. His efforts on the field have helped his players build character and taught them how to show and earn respect, play fair, and be responsible--and our society as a whole is better for it. Although his history students will still benefit from his efforts in the classroom, his players and many fans will miss him on the sidelines next fall. I congratulate Mike on a winning career and I look forward to seeing him in the stands.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Manatee County Sheriff Charlie Wells who will retire on April 2nd after 41 years in law enforcement. Sheriff Wells is an honorable public servant whose selfless dedication, vision, and leadership has helped to protect the more than 300,000 residents of Manatee County and earned him the respect of the community as well as his colleagues in law enforcement. Charlie Wells was first elected sheriff in 1984 and took office in January of 1985. He was reelected five times, serving a total of 22 years, which makes him the longest serving sheriff in the history of Manatee County. Among his greatest achievements is the enactment of the Stop Turning Our Prisoners Act, which he helped pass to require inmates to serve at least 85 percent of their prison sentence. He is also credited with pioneering and implementing several other innovative programs designed to help keep kids in school and out of trouble. They include the establishment of: A Police Athletic League recreation complex which was expanded from a recreational program to one of Florida's first charter schools; The first boot camp program in Florida for juvenile offenders to promote discipline, education, physical fitness, and respect for self and others; A school resource officer to promote positive relationships with youth; Child Protection Services to consolidate services and ensure the safety of children with family related problems; and Victims First, which is a charity organization that provides scholarships to children whose parents have been murdered or sent to prison as a result of murdering the other parent. Also, under this leadership, a new jail complex was built and the agency of 1,100 employees became nationally accredited in both corrections and law enforcement. The six-term Sheriff also served in various capacities with the Florida Sheriffs Association including president and chairman of the Legislative Committee. He began his law enforcement career with the Florida Highway Patrol where he worked for 15 years as a state trooper. He also worked for one year as an investigator with the State Attorney's office and served for two years as the Chief of Police for the City of Bradenton. He ends his career with the successful arrest of kidnapping suspect Vicente Beltran-Moreno who is charged with kidnapping a 13 year-old boy. Charlie Wells has prevented, investigated, and solved countless crimes. I thank him for his tireless efforts to protect the people of Manatee County and wish him the very best in retirement.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Mr. BUCHANAN. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. BUCHANAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, my amendment is a simple one. It requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress a report on the feasibility of a soldier patient tracking system to improve the medical holdover process. In the aftermath of the Walter Reed scandal, we heard criticism about the medical hold and holdover process, which requires injured soldiers to stay in certain facilities until evaluated and treated. We heard the story of U.S. Army Staff Sergeant John Shannon who testified before the House National Security and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee and he said, ``I had been given a couple of weeks' appointments and some other paperwork upon leaving ward 58, and I went to all of my appointments during that time. After these appointments, I sat in my room for another couple of weeks wondering when someone would contact me.'' The Buchanan amendment would require the Department of Defense to identify and report to Congress ways of making the medical holdover system more responsive and effective for military personnel like Staff Sergeant Shannon. I believe every servicemember should have complete, on-demand information with respect to his or her status as a medical holdover. No soldier should sit in their room for weeks wondering about their treatment and when their next appointment might be. The Department of Defense must closely examine ways to give servicemembers real-time information regarding the key milestones in their physical and medical evaluation process. By requiring a report to Congress, my amendment would make certain that we are knowledgeable in considering all available options when it comes to improving the medical holdover process for troops and their families. I urge my colleagues to support the Buchanan amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BUCHANAN. I thank the chairman and the ranking member and the House Committee on Armed Services and their staff. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Mr. BUCHANAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this resolution. I oppose the resolution not for what it says, but for what it does and what it will lead to. As someone who enlisted at the age of 18 and spent 6 years as a member of the Air National Guard, I can tell you firsthand that this resolution will undermine our troops' morale and diminish their ability to accomplish their mission. Passage of this resolution is also a first step towards cutting funding for our troops, and that is something that I absolutely cannot support. Mr. Speaker, the war in Iraq is an important part of the global war on terror. Failure in Iraq will go beyond being a disaster for American foreign policy. Failure would destabilize the country, destabilize the Middle East, and make America less safe. The American people are well aware of al Qaeda's plans to turn Iraq into a staging area to spread global terrorism. Failure in Iraq would also result in diminished influence and credibility for America at a time when global alliances are critical to address threats from Iran and North Korea. Mr. Speaker, this week I have been briefed by the U.S. intelligence officers, foreign ambassadors from the region, and I have reached out to many of my constituents, including Colonel John Saputo, who served in Iraq, and Colonel Lee Kitchen, who served in Vietnam. We all agree that although legitimate questions can be raised about whether this surge strategy will prove successful, the stakes are too high, the threats to America too great to walk away without giving our troops one last chance to restore order in Iraq. Passage of this resolution would deny our military leaders and our troops this one last opportunity. Like all Americans, I want to bring our troops home safely, successfully and soon, but now is not the time for an immediate withdrawal. Now is the time to support our troops, support the values they fight for, and do everything possible to give them the best chance to succeed in their mission. This resolution does nothing to help in those efforts. In fact, it does the opposite. It is for this reason that I must oppose this resolution.