Michael Castle

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I would like again to thank the gentlewoman from California. It is her initiative that brings us here to the floor today to recognize this excellent program, and I encourage everyone to support it. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 576.

Mr. CASTLE. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 576, celebrating the success of the Advancement Via Individual Determination program, also known as AVID. AVID began in one classroom in 1980, and has now trained more than 98,000 educators and nearly 260,000 student alumni. Fortunately, AVID is beginning to spread to the East Coast, and has already reached five schools in my home State of Delaware. The accomplishments of AVID extend beyond the growth and expansion of the program. AVID seeks to help underachieving students by providing them with the support they need to take challenging classes and go on to college. School officials select average students making Cs and Ds, but have the potential to do better, and then place them in honors and college-prep classes with academic and motivational support. Over the past 25 years, more than 95 percent of the almost 260,000 students who have participated in the program have gone to college. AVID takes strong evidence of what we know to be true about closing the achievement gap and provides it for those students who not only need the assistance, but also want it. In addition to providing assistance and guidance to help students achieve, the program drives success by promoting rigorous standards, coupled with professional development not only for teachers, but also for school and district administrators. These are key components to any successful education program. Over the course of the past several years, there has been a growing debate surrounding our high schools. There is much to do, but I am thrilled by the response from all levels of government, as well as the private sector. Some of what we have heard about the struggles in our high schools is exactly what AVID embraces, the notion that there is a silent majority, average students who do okay in ordinary classes. The fear of failure often steers them away from more challenging course work or from seeking a postsecondary degree. I commend AVID for recognizing this need 25 years ago, and I commend those school districts that have incorporated the program into their schools. I would also like to thank the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis) for bringing this program to my attention, and I congratulate our Delaware schools and students who participate. Here is to another 25 years. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 4761, the Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act, which would end a twenty-five year oil and natural gas drilling prohibition for most of the country's offshore waters. The increased strain that high-energy prices are having on the pockets of many Americans, and the national security concerns over the United States' dependence on foreign oil are real problems that deserve thoughtful, multi-pronged policy solutions. While the severity of current energy trends cannot be ignored, we cannot rush to drill before first crafting a comprehensive energy policy with solutions for meeting both our immediate and future energy needs. We must work to increase vehicle fuel efficiency, spur investment in efficiency and renewable energy research and technology, and improve conservation methods. I respect the attempt to increase the states' ability to participate in the planning of oil and gas development off their shores, however H.R. 4671 goes too far and undermines the strong federal protections for our coastal waters. H.R. 4671 purports to allow states to maintain control of activities in their coastal waters, but instead ties states' hands in many ways with unprecedented provisions. It subordinates every other use of coastal waters to oil drilling, blocking any effort to use waters in a way that could ever limit drilling, undermines states' authority under the Coastal Zone Management Act, changes state marine boundary maps, and it eliminates many environmental reviews and public participation requirements for issuing oil leases and for exploration and drilling activities. Clearly, this is of concern to our State and other nearby States too (see attached Governor's letter). I am also concerned that this legislation lifts the offshore drilling ban, while we continue to ignore many conservation and alternative fuel proposals, which would have a more immediate and beneficial effect on meeting our energy needs. H.R. 4761 does not simply deal with increased drilling, but instead has other far-reaching implications for coastal states and federal revenues. This legislation would create an open-ended fund for drilling states, with no reporting requirements, at a time when we have a huge federal deficit. The estimated cost of this transfer from federal revenues to states is estimated to be several hundred billion dollars over 60 years, according to President Bush's Statement of Administration Policy. While a thoughtful approach to offshore drilling is worthy of consideration, this legislation is not good policy for Delaware or the United States.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to pay tribute to the Homes for Life Foundation, a non-profit organization that strives to provide safe and comfortable group housing for people with developmental disabilities in Delaware. Through this organization's efforts, many disabled individuals now have greater opportunities to lead productive lives in safe and attractive homes. The builder, Ryan Homes, does an amazing job of incorporating the needs of these individuals into communities throughout Delaware. Every house built by the Homes for Life Foundation includes a common room, in addition to private bedrooms and a counselor's suite. This design provides the residents with the ability to enjoy both privacy and the opportunity to socialize. Hundreds of people with developmental disabilities are currently waiting for these unique homes to become available and the work done by the Homes for Life Foundation increases the number of disabled individuals who are able to find these residential housing opportunities. The work of the Homes for Life Foundation has been greatly furthered by the efforts of Ryan Homes. To date, Ryan Homes has built thirteen group homes, with two more under construction, for people with developmental disabilities in Delaware using the funds raised by the Homes for Life Foundation. The work done by these organizations is an excellent example of President Bush's New Freedom Initiative. Providing group residential housing to citizens with developmental disabilities is a proven method for successfully promoting access to community life and a greater sense of belonging. I congratulate and thank the Homes for Life Foundation and Ryan Homes for all they have contributed to the State of Delaware. Many disabled Delawareans are grateful for them and I am pleased to be able to vocalize their appreciation.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for what he has done and for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to add this as my own personal perspective. I was a State legislator and lieutenant governor and I was a governor. So I had this both used in a situation in which I was worried about it, in a situation in which I used it, and then I came to Congress and I actually introduced legislation on this early on and later was a cosponsor of that legislation which became law and was later overruled by the Supreme Court. I have heard a lot of arguments today, and I have listened to this both in the rule debate and here pretty intently. And there were discussions like, oh, we are taking away revenue at the same time we are trying to do this, how can this be fiscally responsible? This is not all that big a deal. The bottom line is it is another measure which will help us move in the direction of transparency, which will help us move in the direction of perhaps balancing the budget. This itself will never balance the budget. It is too small an item as far as that is concerned. It is similar to a rainy day fund. It is similar to earmark reform or a sunset provision or a variety of other budgetary process matters that I think that we should take up in an effort as Republicans and Democrats to do this. This particular President, if people are concerned about that, will only be President 2\1/2\ more years. At some point we will have a different makeup of the Congress, a different makeup of the Presidency, and hopefully this will be around for 100 years. But it is a very significant budgetary tool. The reason it is significant, Mr. Speaker, is because it makes people get together and talk about this, and people are very reluctant to proceed with something that may put in the light of day that which they may not want to see in the light of day. So you see a lot of restrictions. It brings the executive branch and the legislative branch together in terms of planning where we are going to go as far as budgets are concerned. Unfortunately, that is not happening enough today. I think we are all concerned about budget deficits, we are all concerned about a lot of the problems which exist out there, and I think we need to work together to get this done. So in my mind, adopting this is relatively simple. It is something we should be doing; it is something I would hope 100 percent of this Congress would support. I urge everyone to support it.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to pay tribute to State Representative Gerald A. Buckworth, who after 26 years of service in the State House has chosen not to seek another term in office. Throughout his political, professional, and private life, he has tirelessly worked to better the Delaware community In addition to raising four children, and six grandchildren, with his wife Vicki, he served as a teacher, principal, and coach in the Caesar Rodney School District for more than 30 years. His extensive involvement in the Delaware public school system made him one of the General Assembly's foremost authorities on public education. His dedication to helping Delaware youth has eased the transition to adulthood for many young Delawareans. He is a key supporter of the State Police Cadets, a program in which college students learn skills in preparation for careers in law enforcement. Without a doubt, one of his top priorities has always been encouraging children to realize their goals. As his thirteen consecutive terms in office demonstrate, he has been a prominent and well-respected member of the Delaware General Assembly. In addition to serving 5 years as the Majority Whip, he also served on multiple committees including: appropriations, corrections, joint finance, labor, public safety, and tourism. Additionally, he chaired the Family Law Commission, a General Assembly organization that examines family court proceedings in an effort to make recommendations for improvement. I congratulate and thank State Rep. Gerald Buckworth for his valuable contributions and many years of admirable service to the State of Delaware. I am sure that as he begins to spend more time with his family and enjoy retirement, that he will remain an active and influential member of the community. Thank you, for all you have done and continue to do for the people of our State.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor and pleasure that I rise today to pay tribute to State Representative Roger P. Roy, who after 30 years of service has chosen not to seek another term in the State House of Representatives. This extraordinary man is undoubtedly a valuable asset to the State of Delaware and a friend to all. He has been described as not only a compassionate and accomplished citizen, but also an admirable leader. An enduring professional representing his beloved Limestone Hills-area district, he truly is a distinguished Delawarean. In addition to serving his district, he serves as the Chairman of the influential State Bond Bill Committee, where his leadership has been instrumental in the Committee's sound financial management, earning Delaware's bonds the highest rating. Representative Roy has also worked to protect Delawareans, authoring the State's version of Megan's Law and sponsoring legislation that requires registered sex offenders to have their status indicated with a designation on their driver's license. Currently serving as the Executive Director of the Transportation Management Association of Delaware, he has worked to bring innovative transportation solutions to the State. As his 15 consecutive terms in office acutely demonstrate, he is well recognized and respected by his constituents and colleagues. He actively participates in the community through sponsorship of youth athletic teams, American Legion Post #29, and by serving on the Board of Directors of the Central YMCA and the Mid-County Senior Center. I congratulate State Representative Roger P. Roy for his years of remarkable service and countless contributions to the State. I am sure that as he begins to spend more time with his wife, Paula, their two daughters, Michele and Tanya, and their grandchildren, he will remain an integral member of the community. I would like to thank him for the many contributions he has made to the State of Delaware.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Monday Club as it celebrates its 112th anniversary of serving the Delaware community. The Club was incorporated in 1893 for the promotion of the moral and intellectual welfare of its members. The Monday Club is a male leisure organization, and the oldest chartered African American organization in the State. Early members of the Club consisted of butlers, waiters, coachmen, cooks, and janitors who encompassed the economic, social and religious life in the community. Later, the Club expanded to include businessmen, politicians, men working in industry, as well as workers and laborers of all skills in every area of Delaware's economy. Through the years, the Monday Club has developed into more than just a social club. In fact, due to its members' strong community ties, the Monday Club has contributed to many local churches, individuals and charities. In doing so, the Monday Club provides support for numerous charitable organizations in Delaware and has established scholarship funds for students, such as the Dr. Woodrow Wilson/Senator Herman H. Holloway Scholarship Fund, which awards four $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors planning to attend college each year. I congratulate the Monday Club for reaching this extraordinary milestone. The dedication of its members to the community enhances the quality of life for many Delawareans and provides opportunities for children across the State. I would like to thank the Monday Club for their valuable impact on Delaware.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, let me just start by thanking the gentleman from Florida and the gentleman from Pennsylvania and their staffs for their exemplary work on what is not easy legislation. What I am about to discuss is something that has been brought more to light this spring than it had been brought heretofore, but I think it is documented enough that we should try to add it to this bill. It is a simple but, in my judgment, much-needed amendment to the legislation before us today. Currently the Department of Defense spends over $200 billion annually to acquire products and services from defense contractors, including everything from spare parts to major weapons systems. In an effort to encourage contractors to perform at the highest level possible, the Department often gives its contractors the opportunity to collectively earn billions of dollars through monetary incentives known as award fees. Unfortunately, while there is no doubt that U.S. weapons programs continue to be the best in the world, the Department's acquisition process has at times run into problems such as dramatic cost increases, late deliveries, and significant performance shortfalls, wasting billions of dollars in critical funding. In response to these setbacks, Congress recently asked the General Accountability Office, known as GAO, to study the Department's use of incentives and the role they play in the acquisition system. On April 5, the GAO reported that the Pentagon's current incentive practices often do not hold contractors accountable for achieving desired outcomes and routinely undermine efforts to motivate contractor performance. Specifically, the GAO noted that the Department regularly provides these bonuses to contractors, often giving them second, third and fourth chances, despite the fact that the contractor's work does not fulfill the Department's expectations. As part of its report, the GAO issued detailed recommendations for how the Department could improve its strategy for using incentives to motivate exceptional performance. The Pentagon has concurred with the majority of GAO's suggestions, and during consideration of the fiscal year 2007 defense authorization bill in May, I successfully included an amendment by voice vote that would implement these reforms. While the language included in the authorization bill is a crucial step forward, the effectiveness of these changes will ultimately be determined by how well GAO's recommendations are executed. The Pentagon recently identified significant cost overruns in 36 of its major weapons systems. With such costs rapidly increasing, my amendment ensures that none of the funds provided in this bill will be used to continue the wasteful incentive practices identified by GAO. As the Department moves forward in complying with GAO's findings, this amendment will provide an additional safeguard, to make certain that these funds are not wasted in violation of the new incentive guidelines. Mr. Chairman, cost increases and business management weaknesses damage our government's ability to provide our men and women in the military with the resources to keep us safe. While we obviously have a lot of work ahead of us to improve the efficiency of military spending, I believe this amendment is a simple way to work with the Department to make certain that incentives are being used to maximize its return on investment and provide soldiers with needed capabilities at the best value for the taxpayer.

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

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution, and I commend the brave American and coalition soldiers who have risked their lives to fight terror and promote freedom around the world, including the 14 courageous Delawareans who have lost their lives while honorably serving their State and this Nation. Despite weeks of significant progress, we are now facing a critical stage in the war on terrorism. I believe an immediate withdrawal or the establishment of a hard deadline to withdraw will be comparable to an abandonment of the new Iraqi Government and would encourage the terrorists and violent factions to bide their time, inviting mayhem and guaranteeing chaos. Such a decision may also embolden our enemies to, once again, attack our homeland and interests abroad, thus further endangering American citizens. The future of the Middle East and the security of free nations around the world depend upon the development of a strong and stable democracy in Iraq. Therefore, in order to reach an acceptable level of stability in Iraq, it is extremely important that we, as an international community, intensify our efforts to reduce the influence of militias, restore electricity, rebuild schools, and assemble a modern and sustainable economy for the benefit of all Iraq's citizens. A greater emphasis on the development of the Iraqi security forces, with a focus on the selection and education of effective military officers, is absolutely imperative so that we may begin supplanting our forces in the region with Iraqi troops at the earliest date possible. Mr. Speaker, it is essential that we honor our brave soldiers by continuing to work with our international partners to promote democracy and protect freedom around the world. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution and I commend the brave American and coalition soldiers and all other personnel who have risked their lives to fight terror and promote freedom both at home and abroad. These courageous men and women have made tremendous sacrifices to ensure our security, and they deserve our utmost respect and appreciation. There have been three successful elections held in Iraq since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime, and in recent weeks significant progress, both politically and militarily, has been made in the region. As a former member of the House Intelligence Committee, I firmly believe that the elimination of al-Zarqawi will prove to be a key psychological and organizational blow to al Qaeda's terrorist network. Still, the facts are undeniable--progress in Iraq and Afghanistan has come at a tremendous cost. My small State of Delaware alone has lost fourteen brave soldiers, each of whom honorably served their State and Nation. My heart goes out to these noble Delawareans and their families. And while elections and military victories are crucial, many challenges still lie ahead. We are now facing a critical stage in the war on terrorism, and it is essential that the international community come together to support Iraq's efforts to build a strong, unified government capable of steering the country toward a path of peace and democracy. Although, several of my colleagues have suggested that the U.S. should set a hard deadline for withdrawal from the region, I believe such a course would be unwise. An immediate withdrawal, or the establishment of a hard deadline to withdraw, would be comparable to an abandonment of the new Iraqi government and would encourage the terrorists and violent factions to bide their time, inviting mayhem and guaranteeing chaos. Such a decision may also embolden our enemies to once again attack our homeland and interests abroad, thus further endangering American citizens. The future of the Middle East, and the security of free nations around the world, depends upon the development of a strong and stable democracy in Iraq. Therefore, in order to reach an acceptable level of stability in Iraq, it is extremely important that we intensify our efforts to reduce the influence of militias, restore electricity, rebuild schools, and assemble a modem and sustainable economy for the benefit of all Iraq's citizens. A greater emphasis on the development of the Iraqi security forces--with a focus on the selection and education of effective military officers, is absolutely imperative. Over the last few years, we have trained and equipped thousands of Iraqi soldiers and police officers and it is now crucial that we do more to improve this process, so that we may begin supplanting our forces in the region with Iraqi troops at the earliest date possible. Mr. Speaker, the thousands of Americans who have served in the war on terrorism exemplify the very courage and honor on which our Nation was formed. It is essential that we recognize their service by continuing to work with our international partners to promote democracy and protect freedom around the world.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment to restore funding for Amtrak. I appreciate Mr. LaTourette's work on this effort and I thank the chairman for his willingness to work with Members on this extremely important issue. While I strongly agree that reforming our rail system is essential, and I am supportive of efforts to ensure the Inspector General plays a key role in the rail system's oversight, the level of funding included in this bill is simply unrealistic. Unlike aviation and highways, there is no dedicated fund for investing in passenger rail development. Although these other modes rely on user fees for a great deal of their funding, they still receive a large amount from the general fund. In addition, these other modes all operate on predominantly federally owned or federally assisted infrastructure, and rely largely on Government-supported security, research, and traffic controllers. Rather than constantly looking for ways to shortchange passenger rail, we should be working on a comprehensive strategy to make Amtrak the best high-speed rail system in the world. When you consider the fact that 20 percent of all Americans live in the North-East and approximately 1,700 commuter trains travel the Northeast Corridor everyday, we need to seriously consider the amount of congestion and overcrowding that would occur if these trains stopped running. Passenger rail can be extremely effective in relieving congestion, cutting pollution, and lowering our demand for oil while creating jobs and increasing security. We have barely scratched the surface of passenger rail's potential, and a commitment from Congress to improving the viability of this system could lead to greatly expanded possibilities. In addition, it is my firm belief that improving passenger rail service in this country depends on strong and experienced leadership at Amtrak. Unfortunately, over the past year, the Amtrak Board has made several important decisions, despite the fact that close to half of its seats remain empty. Frankly, I believe the failure to appoint a fully functioning Amtrak Board is disgraceful, and it stands as an enormous disadvantage for this rail system. Members of Congress can stress the need for accountability and reform until we turn blue in the face--but in the end, what Amtrak really needs is leaders with vision, who attend and participate in board meetings and who are genuinely committed to improving passenger rail. Everything starts with the leadership provided by this board, and as we work to ensure adequate funding for passenger rail, it is crucial that Congress continue to advocate for a fully functioning Amtrak Board of Directors. The facts are clear; Amtrak needs Federal support to survive, just like highways, ports, and airlines. America is a world leader in all other modes of transportation. When it comes to rail, we are quickly falling behind. Mr. Chairman, many Americans, including thousands in my state, depend on Amtrak for both business and pleasure. Instead of shortchanging the organization, we should work together to improve passenger rail.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Delaware Community Foundation as it celebrates its 20th anniversary of unparalleled service to the State. The Foundation was created in 1986 to provide a lasting source of charitable funding by enabling donors and organizations to effectively support the causes that matter most to Delaware's citizens. In the publication of its first newsletter in 1990, the Foundation noted that through its first grant making program it awarded roughly $60,000 in grants to six agencies for use in addressing homelessness. Other inaugural accomplishments included the creation of 8 new charitable funds, and a total fund balance of just over $6 million. Today, the Foundation manages nearly 600 charitable funds, gives from a total asset balance of more than $200 million, and has awarded more than $54 million in grants in its short 20-year history. This exceptional growth stands as a testament to the important work done by the Delaware Community Foundation and how much it is truly needed. Through its strong community leadership, and both competitive and non-competitive grant programs, the Foundation is now able to adapt to the needs of the community as they emerge and evolve. In doing so, the Delaware Community Foundation has been able to support hundreds of charitable organizations in Delaware who deal with a wide range of causes; such as the arts, education, environmental concerns, health care, substance abuse and violence prevention, affordable housing, social services, and other philanthropic and religious organizations. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to thank the Delaware Community Foundation for its hard work on behalf of our citizens, and for providing effective and responsible philanthropy that has enhanced the quality of life of many Delawareans; the Foundation's mission is truly inspiring. Like the hundreds of other community foundations throughout the United States, the Delaware Community Foundation continues to offer an invaluable service to our great Country.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I rise also in support of the Holt-Castle-Lynch amendment to increase funding for crucial intercity passenger rail transit and freight security grants. By transit, we are talking about subways and local trains. Earlier this morning, as the gentleman from New Jersey just stated, the northeast corridor came to a halt, and close to 70,000 commuters were effectively stranded between Boston and Washington, D.C., including several trains trapped in tunnels in New York City and Baltimore. I was not on any of those trains, but that one stuck in Baltimore is the one that I could have been on very easily. While this frightening incident turned out to be the result of a power outage, it underscores the sheer panic and disruption that a terrorist attack on rail systems could cause in this and many other parts of the country. In the wake of attacks on subway trains in London and on passenger rail lines in Madrid, it is clear that terrorist organizations are intent on disrupting surface transportation systems and mass transit around the world. While the legislation before us provides essential funding for much needed aviation and port security programs, we still have not had success in developing a comparable strategy for securing our Nation's rail and transit systems. Over the last several years, funding for rail and transit security grants has been stagnant at $150 million, and annual rail security spending for the Transportation Security Administration has been minimal when compared to the $20 billion that our government has spend on aviation security since 2001. In fact, the 9/11 Commission characterized the Federal focus on aviation security following the 2001 terrorist attacks as ``fighting the last war'' and noted that opportunities to do harm are as great or greater in maritime or surface transportation. Clearly, Congress must change course and get a few steps ahead rather than constantly reacting to incidents and attacks once they have already occurred. Over 9.7 billion transit trips are taken annually on all modes of transit service. And the American Public Transportation Association recently estimated that $560 million is necessary to begin securing rail and transit systems this year alone. While our amendment is not a complete solution to this funding shortfall, it represents a responsible step forward to begin funding critical priorities. The Holt-Castle-Lynch amendment is fully offset. I realize it is offset from the same Office of the Under Secretary of Management that concerns Mr. Rogers and Mr. Sabo, but I am sure there are other oppositions because they were trying to protect the money for us in this particular amendment, and they will speak to that, hopefully, shortly to come later. It would boost funding to add more police officers, K-9 teams, security cameras, fences and chemical detection systems at train stations and on subways and commuter systems across the country. We are very lucky that an attack has not taken place in the United States. And we now have a great opportunity to be proactive and begin adequately funding rail and transit security in this country. This amendment sets forth the course for achieving this goal, and I ask my colleagues to support this critical provision to protect American travelers.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the deceptively titled American-Made Energy & Good Jobs Act, H.R. 5429. Is this the answer to high gas prices and our dependence on foreign oil? I think not. The Department of Energy says drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will do nothing to bring gas prices down. In fact, if we were to drill in this pristine wildlife sanctuary tomorrow, it would only lower gas prices by a penny per gallon and we would not even see the so-called savings for 20 years. And, it will scarcely make a ripple on our dependence on foreign oil, nor will it increase our national security. Even by the most optimistic estimates, oil from the Refuge will never meet more than two percent of the energy needs in America. Drilling in the Arctic Refuge should not be taken seriously as a band-aid for meeting our immediate or future energy needs. Instead, we need to continue to use modern technology to make cars go farther on a gallon of gas; encourage the production and purchase of hybrid cars; develop innovative energy sources; and invest in clean energy. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to oppose H.R. 5429.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor and pleasure that I rise today to pay tribute to State Representative Tina Fallon, who after 28 years of service, has chosen not to seek another term in the State House of Representatives. This extraordinary woman is certainly a valuable asset to the State of Delaware as well as being a friend to all. She has been described as not only a benevolent and accomplished citizen, but also an admirable leader. A fixture of her beloved Seaford-area district, she truly is a distinguished Delawarean. In addition to raising four sons with her late husband, James Fallon, she spent three decades as a Seaford School District biology teacher. While there, she shared her love of education with young people. Upon her retirement from teaching in 1978, she turned her attention to politics, offering Delaware another three decades of amicable and selfless service. Additionally, she served as a member of the influential Joint Finance Committee. After 14 consecutive terms in office, Representative Fallon is well recognized and respected by her constituents. She has received numerous honors during both her political and professional tenure. In 1998, then Gov. Thomas R. Carper declared her as the ``Travel and Tourism Person of the Year,'' honoring her dedication to promoting and developing the state's tourism industry. In that same year, the National Republican Association recognized her as a Legislator of the Year. Clearly, the service offered by Representative Fallon has been a vital attribute to innumerable causes. I congratulate State Representative Tina Fallon for her years of remarkable service and countless contributions to the State of Delaware. I am sure that in retirement, she will remain a dynamic and influential member of the community. I would like to thank her for the many sacrifices that she has made for the State of Delaware.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Mary Campbell Center, a facility serving disabled people in Delaware. The Mary Campbell Center as been home to thousands of people, some of who have lived there since the 1976 opening. Whether the residents of the Center have been there for a long or short time, they share in their daily lives of eating, learning, working, exercising, and playing with each other, the staff, and friends. The Center is located on ten acres in Wilmington, Delaware. Amos and Mary Talley Campbell originally owned the property and lived there with their daughter, Evelyn, who was born with Down's Syndrome. Upon Mrs. Campbell's death, Mr. Campbell donated the land so that a long-term- care facility for Evelyn, and other people with disabilities, could be built in his wife's honor. Helping these individuals achieve a higher quality of life remains the main purpose of the Center. Since its inception, the Center, home to 65 residents, has grown in many ways. What began as one building, now is a state-of-the-art facility with an indoor swimming pool, learning center, greenhose, and an adaptive playground. These facilities help residents accomplish their dreams and keep in touch with family and friends. I congratulate and thank those at the Mary Campbell Center for all they have contributed to the State of Delaware. Many disabled Delawareans and their families are grateful for them and I am pleased to be able to vocalize their appreciation. Thank you to those who have made the Mary Campbll Center what it is today and to those who will carry on this tradition into the future.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the majority leader for yielding to me, and I would just like to go through with him and for the edification of those who may not be that familiar with it, some of the negotiations that have been going on with respect to this. First of all, there are those of us who were concerned about the President's budget, Mr. Majority Leader, and we called that to your attention early on. It is a little bit unusual to be dealing with this at budget time because we are basically with one of the appropriations. And I agree with you that the gentleman from Ohio has done a wonderful job on this. I don't always vote for his budgets, but he has certainly done a wonderful job dealing with this over the years. But in this particular circumstance, what came down from the President was not satisfactory to some of us, and so I prepared an amendment to increase the Labor HHS Education allocation by $7.158 billion. We then entered into the negotiations. I don't remember any time precedence for that in the time that I have been here which has happened at the level of dealing with a specific allocation when we are dealing with the budget. Basically, we were concerned about health accounts. We wanted them increased by $1.1 billion, education accounts by 4.6; LIHEAP by 1.3 was the primary focus here. I tried to bring it to 2006 funding plus 2 percent for inflation. We had negotiations with you, sir; we had negotiations with the chairman of the Appropriations Committee and other House leaders as well. And let me just thank you very much for that. That has not always been the case, and we are very appreciative of it. Eventually, a decision was made by the leadership to transfer over $6 billion which was shifted from defense in foreign operations without raising the cap at all with respect to the 302(a) number and $4.1 billion of that went to Labor, HHS, Education, which is $843 million more than was received in 2006. Obviously, this is an important budget to many of us because we are concerned about what happens at home. This relates to health research, which is vital to all of us I think, to IDEA, to Centers for Disease Control, after-school care, vocational education and the National Institutes of Health, just to name a few. And so we increased it by that particular amount of money. In further negotiations with Mr. Lewis and with you, we also established some other areas of concern that would be addressed, that is, community development block grants, the Byrne and COPS grants all would be at the 2006 levels, and the President's competitive initiative would be funded at his requested level. So all this was arranged as a matter of negotiation. There was actually another billion dollars to homeland security and approximately $500 million to agriculture and $500 million to energy and water as part of this. This is probably not ideal. And I am sure there are those who would get up and say, well, gee, why didn't you get the whole loaf? Well, I frankly don't know of anyone who has ever gotten this kind of change made in the budget after the budget has been introduced in terms of building to that. And more importantly, we have an assurance from you, for whom I have a great deal of respect and trust, having worked with you and listening to your word on the Education Committee all these years, that this will be done, that we'll eventually get to the $7.158 billion, that we may get to it before we actually vote on the Labor, HHS, Education bill in the House or perhaps later when it might come out of conference. And that is very important as well. That has been repeated again and again and I think needs to be reiterated here today. Then that raises the question of if this is an assurance or a sense of Congress, versus real money, which is what it really is when you get right down to it. We have received commitments that that additional $3 billion will not come from mandatory programs that serve the people we are trying to help, like Medicaid and Medicare, food stamps, foster programs and others. We want to make sure that any offsets are carefully crafted and our group of about 20 people that has been involved with this has no intentions of supporting reductions which would adversely affect the neediest among us who we are trying to help by this. And I think it is very important that everybody understand that we have had that discussion as well in terms of where we are going as far as the future is concerned. So I would like to thank you for the negotiations. With that, I do support the budget; and, sure, I would like to have the whole loaf, so to speak, if we could. But I understand why we are not there now, and perhaps there will be other changes actually before we vote on this. I don't know.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer a simple, but much needed amendment to the legislation before us today. In an effort to encourage defense contractors to perform at the highest level possible, the Department of Defense often gives its contractors the opportunity to collectively earn billions of dollars through monetary incentives known as award and incentive fees. Unfortunately, the Department's acquisition process has at times run into problems such as dramatic cost increases, late deliveries, and significant performance shortfalls--wasting billions of dollars in critical funding. Last month, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that the Pentagon's current award and incentive fee practices do not hold contractors accountable for achieving desired outcomes and routinely undermine efforts to motivate contractor performance. In its study, GAO noted that the Department regularly gives defense contractors multiple opportunities to earn incentive fees for work that at times only meets minimum standards and has wasted billions of dollars as a result of this incredibly flawed process. The Pentagon has concurred with GAO's recommendations for improving this system, and while the Department's acknowledgment of the problem is an important step forward, the effectiveness of these changes will ultimately be determined by how well GAO's recommendations are implemented. My amendment would ensure Congress performs appropriate oversight and would require the Department to develop a strategy for linking incentives to specific outcomes. such as meeting cost, schedule, and capability goals. It would also makes certain that appropriate approving officials are overseeing these decisions. Cost increases and business management weaknesses damage our government's ability to provide our men and women in the military with the resources that keep us safe. While we obviously have a lot of work ahead of us to improve the efficiency of military spending, I believe this amendment is a simple way to make certain that award and incentive fees are being used to maximize our return on investment and provide American soldiers with vital capabilities at the best value for the taxpayer.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman from New York for his comments. I appreciate his consideration of these very important and timely concerns and obviously share his determination to pass effective rail security legislation. Since becoming chairman, the gentleman from New York has demonstrated strong support for surface transportation security; and I look forward to working with him on this matter.

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the opportunity to enter into a colloquy with the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee. Chairman King, I support your efforts to enhance security at our Nation's seaports. The Port of Wilmington in my home State of Delaware is among our Nation's busiest terminals, and this legislation truly is a comprehensive approach for improving port security. I commend your determination in taking on this challenge. Unfortunately, Mr. Chairman, we still have not had success in developing a comparable strategy for securing our nation's rail systems. In the wake of attacks on rail lines in London and Madrid, it is clear that terrorist organizations are intent on disrupting surface transportation and mass transit systems around the world. Despite these continuing threats, we have not made adequate progress in developing a comprehensive national rail security plan. The Federal efforts to bolster rail security have been sporadic and unfocused, while funding for rail and transit security grants in the annual Homeland Security Appropriations bill have remained stagnant. Since the 2001 terrorist attacks, our government's transportation security efforts have consistently been described as ``fighting the last war.'' Clearly, Congress must change course and get a few steps ahead, rather than constantly reacting to incidents and attacks once they have already occurred. We are very lucky that an attack on rail systems has not taken place in this country, and we now have a great opportunity to be proactive and pass real rail security legislation before it is too late. I have introduced legislation to begin the process of addressing rail security in this country, and I know we share an interest in fixing this extremely inconsistent and flawed system. I would appreciate the chairman's thoughts on this.

Mr. CASTLE. I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I appreciate the opportunity to offer this amendment today. The way to prevent further abuses of power may not be readily apparent, but by adopting this commonsense amendment to require ethics training for lobbyists, we will be one step closer to achieving greater accountability and transparency. My amendment would require that all registered lobbyists complete a mandatory 8 hours of ethics training each Congress. Ethics training would entail instruction by the Committee on Standards on the code of conduct and disclosure requirements applicable to Members, officers and employees of the House, including the rules relating to acceptance of gifts, travel and meals and financial disclosure requirements. Any registered lobbyist failing to complete ethics training each Congress would be subject to penalties. If we have learned anything over these few years, we have learned that many people in many different capacities, from lobbyists to Members and even staff, abuse the laws and rules that govern this body. We are seeing high-level abuses of power, the exchange of favors and the neglect of basic ethical standards. There is absolutely no reason that we shouldn't educate registered lobbyists on the rules and laws that we have written and adopted to govern the House of Representatives. When a lobbyist registers, they are saddled with pamphlet after pamphlet of rules and regulations. What they can and cannot do is more often learned through word of mouth. Ethics training to clearly outline the rules would be welcome. With the adoption of this amendment, there will be no uncertainty about what the rules are and how to follow them. Requiring ethics training for registered lobbyists helps us begin to repair a system that has failed to regain the confidence of the American people. Mr. Chairman, I would just like to say, finally, before I yield to the chairman of the Rules Committee, that this just goes along with my whole thinking that if we can educate everybody as to precisely what these rules are, then maybe we can prevent some of the abuses. Some of them we are never going to prevent, but maybe we can prevent some of the abuses. And that is the reason for this amendment. I yield to the chairman of the Rules Committee.

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.