Michael Castle

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. On that particular subject, there may be times when we do need to put more money into discretionary spending. We may be in one of those times now in terms of the war in Iraq. There may be other emergency things that we have to deal with. For that reason, I believe that flexibility should be in the Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is somewhat different but somewhat similar to the amendment we just had before us, which I would also support, but the challenge of passing a budget resolution, as we have seen particularly in recent years, and subsequent appropriation bills in a timely manner has proven to be an extraordinarily difficult series of tasks. In my opinion, this is, in large part, due to the fact that there are 20 budget functions, 17 for broad areas of national need and 3 to ensure full coverage of the budget. This structure, therefore, forces us to engage in duplicitous debates over spending priorities. The gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) and I believe that by eliminating the requirement of the budget functions, that we will provide the Committee on the Budget increased flexibility in moving the process forward each year. Specifically under this amendment, the Committee on the Budget will be given the opportunity to eliminate or restructure the budget functions. By granting the Committee on the Budget this ability, we will be giving them the ability to structure a budget in the most fair and efficient manner. Let me give my colleagues an example of how this may happen. Under this amendment, the committee would have the freedom to see a macro budget consisting of four aggregate numbers as opposed to the current 20 budget functions. These aggregate numbers include total revenues, total budget authority and outlays, the surplus or deficit and the resultant debt. A macro budget may also include the amount by which revenues would be lowered. Under a macro budget the resulting resolution would also contain reconciliation instruction to expedite action, primarily by the Senate, as well as separate titles to reconciliation instructions, enforcement procedures and possible reserve accounts, thus preserving the importance of the budget resolution and helping guide Congress. The ability to use a macro budget empowers the committee to operate as they were originally intended, to provide the blueprint for the year's budget and to allow the appropriators to work out the details. Our focus should be on the larger macroeconomic impact of budget policies rather than a summation of proposed spending, and I happen to believe that the current functional categories have really become dysfunctional mechanisms for setting our priorities as a Nation. While I do not claim to have the perfect solution to fit our budget process into our fiscal timetable, I do, however, believe that minimizing duplication of issue deliberations could significantly accelerate the budget and appropriations process. As we all know, one of the main holdups of the budget process is having the same debates on the same issues twice. I believe the details of spending within the set guidelines should fall to the appropriators. When the Committee on the Budget was formed in the 1970s, the intent was to look at the large blueprint. By eliminating the requirement of budget functions we allow the Committee on the Budget to set the broad parameters. The Hastings-Castle amendment provides the Budget Committees with the discretion to include whatever functional categories, if any, that they deem appropriate. I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment as it will prevent us from constraining the economy by being beholden to the antiquated procedures that we have had over the past three decades. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. It does encompass total revenues, total budget authority and outlays, the surplus or deficit and the resultant debt. To me that is what the Committee on the Budget should be doing, not necessarily setting the priorities in the 20 different areas which is done now, although that could still happen. That is why I think that we should adopt this amendment.

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I disagree with the distinguished gentleman from South Carolina on the basis of what I have seen here in the years that I have been here. I have a great deal of faith in the Committee on the Budget. I have a great deal of faith in the gentleman as the ranking member and the chairman, but I have seen this process literally almost collapse in recent years. My judgment is that the transparency that the gentleman requests is not there and that the reality is that the Committee on the Budget's responsibility is to do something which we have not been doing which is to make sure that we are managing within the dollars that we have and setting parameters around those particular dollars but should not carry over to the functions of how the individual amounts of money are going to be spent. In addition, we do not necessarily match up the appropriations with the various designations in the budget resolution which we have. It is my sense we need to break that impasse in some way or another so that we have some sense of the dollars we are spending in the House and the Senate and be working together in order to advance as far as the future is concerned. I reiterate what I have already stated, and, that is, that I think we need to start moving in that direction. But I would also point out to the gentleman, and I think this is important, that this amendment does not disallow doing as much as the Committee on the Budget wishes to do. They could still do what they have done before. It just will be a simplification methodology which could be used in case you cannot come to agreement on that or for whatever reason we are not able to get the budget resolution passed and it has to be simplified. That is what it is all about, trying to give more power to the Committee on the Budget to make sure we do have a budget in place that we have all voted on, shaken hands on and that we all are going to live under. I am trying to give flexibility to it, not a limited solution to the problem of not being able to get a budget done. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Kirk substitute and encourage my colleagues to support this compromise approach. I know this is ancient history, but in the 1970s, my home State of Delaware struggled greatly. I know it is a small State, but we were not balancing budgets, we were borrowing money and had the highest tax rate in the United States of America, a 19.8 percent personal income tax rate. In an effort to rectify the situation, the business community got together with then Governor Pete DuPont and decided they had to make procedural changes. These changes included rainy day funds, other set-asides, estimates of revenues, and procedures. These have been in place, and enforced, since then, resulting in a balanced budget every year. In my opinion, the fact that Delaware has a strongly enforced process has led us to have one of the healthiest economic reports of any State in the country. I am particularly pleased that this substitute includes some of the specific provisions that made such a difference in the State of Delaware. But as we all know, the existence of process is not enough. It must be enforced. I believe we can all agree on that. At the Federal Government level, we see a great deal of unenforced process when it comes to budgets and appropriations. This leads one to often wonder why we bother doing it. We can do something about this. Enforced process could make a vast difference, not necessarily in balancing the budget but in the reliability of our process. Oversight is also imperative in the enforcement of the process, something I would argue that is not done well in the Congress of the United States. Finally, any measure of reforming the budget process should improve the transparency of our practice. Our procedure should empower Americans to hold us accountable for our choices. Eliminating structural impediments and obvious loopholes in the process would be a great step in this direction and could improve our ability to pass a budget resolution and individual appropriations bills. Months ago, the gentleman from Illinois and I got together in an attempt to develop a package that represented a host of balanced approaches to restrain spending and control deficits, including process, oversight, enforcement and transparency. I would like to only highlight a couple of the provisions in the substitute. We recognized that it was important to create a bipartisan congressional commission to identify wasteful spending and the Kirk substitute includes such a demand on our oversight responsibilities. As we work to get our financial House in order, we must be willing to identify where we are wasting money. While we do have a number of mechanisms at the Federal level to study the effectiveness and efficiency of programs, I do believe we should be paying more attention to wasteful spending each budget cycle. Today's substitute also addresses PAYGO. I support full PAYGO and believe that both revenues and spending should be included. I have long been arguing that to truly balance our budget everything really should be on the table. I recognize, however, that compromise is a necessity in Congress; without it we can debate ourselves silly, but in the end it is compromise that moves this country forward. For that reason, I support today's substitute despite the fact that it is not full PAYGO. In an effort to ensure we are abiding by PAYGO rules, today's substitute includes automatic sequesters. This is difficult to swallow, and most of us would never want a sequester triggered. It is, however, necessary to establish boundaries. Unfortunately, many guidelines we have used to control spending and reduce deficits have been and continue to be circumvented. The automatic sequester will require us to live within the guidelines we have set for ourselves, ultimately helping to balance our country's budget. The Kirk substitute takes a very balanced approach to meeting in the middle. I am in full support of this substitute and encourage its passage.

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Ryan/Castle/ Stenholm amendment. I have supported this executive power in many forms, but I see this amendment as a version that all of us can stand behind. Under this power, the President, regardless of party, may submit to Congress, provisions from a spending bill that he deems wasteful. The difference between our approach, and the Line-Item Veto which was overturned by the Supreme Court in 1998, is that Congress remains the deciding factor. The power of the purse remains in the hands of Congress. This ``expedited'' rescission is intended to ensure a vote on those rescission requests sent from the President. Under expedited rescission, Congressional approval would still be necessary to cancel the funding by an up-or-down vote on an individual spending provision. I believe that Congressional power is actually increased under this amendment--because Members are able to exercise more discretion over wasteful spending. Additionally, I believe that under this provision, Members will hesitate to abuse the practice of earmarking funds when they are held accountable to the full House. The Line Item Veto Act of 1996 amended the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, to give the President ``enhanced rescission authority'' to cancel certain items. The President was only to exercise the cancellation authority if he determined that such cancellation would reduce the federal budget deficit and would not impair essential government functions or harm the national interest; and then notified the Congress. The act provided 30 days for the expedited congressional consideration of disapproval bills to reverse the cancellations from the President. When the Supreme Court overturned the Line item Veto in 1998, the subsequent policy discussions produced alternative versions that would address issues of Constitutionality. This enhanced rescission would give lawmakers the ability to clean up waste in spending bills while protecting the priorities of the bill. We believe that this amendment has the opportunity to eliminate wasteful and abusive spending, while maintaining Congressional power of the purse and I encourage my colleagues to support Ryan/Castle/ Stenholm.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from California for yielding to me. I also want to thank him for all of his help and cooperation on this legislation; as well as the distinguished gentleman in Ohio (Mr. Boehner) for his work; and obviously my ranking member, with whom I worked closely on this; and particularly the staff, Kate Houston, and Sarah on my staff, as well as all the other staff people. Obviously I rise in support of the legislation as well. The bill before us today does represent several months of hard work, cooperation, and dedication to strengthening nutritional services for vulnerable children. I am pleased to have the bill before us and to have an agreement that spans both sides of the aisle in addition to both sides of the Capitol. The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 makes a number of positive reforms focusing on reaching three main goals: ensuring eligible children have access to services, promoting comprehensive solutions to the health and nutrition of children, and strengthening program integrity to ensure Federal resources are being effectively leveraged to serve children who qualify. The bill reauthorizes the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs, Child and Adult Care Food Program, After-School Snack Program, Summer Food Service Program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. I believe that in this bill we have gone a long way in strengthening these programs on behalf of disadvantaged children and their families. While the bill includes a variety of important reforms, there are a few I would like to mention specifically. With little money to work with, we were able to increase access to child nutrition programs for eligible children. For example, the bill extends participation for eligible children whose parents are in the Armed Forces and living in privatized military housing so these children may continue receiving free or reduced-priced meals. This provision alone would benefit 250 children in my home State of Delaware and up to 100,000 children nationwide. The Federal Government invests roughly $16 billion annually in child nutrition programs. Ensuring the effective use of these resources by enhancing program integrity has been a top priority during the reauthorization process. We have moved to ensure that children who deserve these services are receiving them and not being excluded by those who are not eligible. To this end, we have taken steps to reduce administrative error, improve accuracy, and enhance accountability for program administration. Finally, I would like to highlight an issue of particular concern to me, the growing problem of childhood obesity. During visits to schools over the past several years, I have noticed a growing number of obese children. We all recognize the fact that obesity has reached epidemic proportions in our Nation. Defeating this crisis will require the work of many, including schools, parents, government, the health community, and industry. The bill before us today also includes important steps to promote comprehensive solutions to child health and nutrition, including provisions to promote nutritional education and physical activity at the State and local level. The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 is a result of cooperative bipartisan and bicameral efforts to strengthen nutritional services provided to needy children and families through the various child nutrition programs. I would like to thank my colleagues for their cooperation in bringing this bill forward, and I urge its passage.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to honor the achievements of Girls Inc. on the celebration of its 50th Anniversary. Girls Inc. is a nonprofit youth organization dedicated to providing important educational programs to young women, particularly those in high-risk, underserved areas. Throughout the years, Girls Inc. has been a key influence in the lives of millions of Americans and it has helped many wonderful young Delawareans achieve their hopes and dreams. The programs of Girls Inc. work to improve math and science education, drug abuse prevention, media literacy, economic literacy, adolescent health, violence prevention, and sports participation. In addition, Girls Inc. promotes health and safety initiatives through programs such as ``Will Power/Won't Power,'' which addresses teen pregnancy and ``Action for Safety,'' which teaches teens to become advocates for issues affecting young women. It also hosts outreach programs that are designed for young women who live in public housing. During the past 50 years, Girls Inc. has done much to address critical issues facing young women across the nation. In Delaware, the important work of Girls Inc. should not go unnoticed. Mr. Speaker, I commend and congratulate Girls Inc. for their dedication to improving and enhancing the lives of women. Its contribution in Delaware should serve as an example to us all.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize the achievements of Nancy Bastidas upon her selection as the Girls Inc. ``Strong, Smart and Bold Award Winner'' in Delaware. Girls Inc. is a nonprofit youth organization dedicated to inspiring our nation's young women to reach their goals. On this, its 50th Anniversary, I take great pride in honoring Girls Inc. and the wonderful young Delawareans who have achieved success through the guidance of this special program. Ms. Bastidas is the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Delaware Hispanic, LLC. Throughout the years, she has worked to better the lives of young women by focusing on our Hispanic community. She is the founder of Delaware's first Hispanic Internet Magazine and the Delaware Latino Political Action Committee, and she is the publisher of the Delaware Hispanic Yellow Pages and the Delaware Hispanic Guide to Government. In addition, Ms. Bastidas is the owner of a small business and is working to obtaining her college degree, all while serving as wonderful inspiration to young women. Mr. Speaker, I commend and congratulate Ms. Bastidas and Girls Inc. for their dedication to improving and enhancing the lives of women. Ms. Bastidas' involvement with Girls Inc. and her selflessness serves as an example to us all. She is an inspiring and exemplary Delawarean.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize the achievements of Jocelyn Saunders upon her selection as a Girls Inc. ``Strong, Smart and Bold Award Winner'' in Delaware. Girls Inc. is a nonprofit youth organization dedicated to inspiring our nation's young women to reach for the stars. On this, its 50th Anniversary, I take great pride in honoring Girls Inc. and the wonderful young Delawareans who have achieved success through the guidance of this special program. Ms. Saunders, a former All-American Swimmer, is an IronMan Triathlon and Women's World Championship in Marathon Swimming winner and is the youngest person to swim 32 miles across Lake Ontario. As a girls swim coach, Ms. Saunders uses her expertise in the sport to encourage young women to accomplish their goals. In addition, she has overcome critical injuries suffered in a car accident to serve as an outstanding volunteer and contributor of more than a quarter-million dollars to non-profit organizations. Mr. Speaker, I commend and congratulate Ms. Saunders and Girls Inc. for their dedication to improving and enhancing the lives of women. Ms. Saunders' involvement with Girls Inc. and her selflessness serves as an example to us all. She is an inspiring and exemplary Delawarean.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize the achievements of Angenae Marie Zaahir-Bey upon her selection as the Girls Inc. ``Girl of the Year Award Winner'' in Delaware. Girls Inc. is a nonprofit youth organization dedicated to inspiring our Nation's young women to reach their goals. On this, its 50th anniversary, I take great pride in honoring Girls Inc. and the wonderful young Delawareans who have achieved success through the guidance of this special program. As this award demonstrates, Ms. Zaahir-Bey is a determined young woman who serves as a role model to all of her peers. She is an outstanding member of Girls Inc. and is always willing to help others-- going above and beyond what is expected. Ms. Zaahir-Bey recently graduated from P.S. Dupont Elementary School and received a 3.9 grade point average for the year. In addition, she received the ``Young Brandywine Artist Award,'' high honors, and ``Reader of the Month'' in the Delaware Tech National M.S. Society Readathon. Mr. Speaker, I commend and congratulate Ms. Zaahir-Bey and Girls Inc. for their dedication to improving and enhancing the lives of women. Ms. Zaahir-Bey's involvement with Girls Inc. and selflessness serves as an example to us all. She is an exemplary young Delawarean.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize the achievements of Alicia Clark upon her selection as a Girls Inc. ``Strong, Smart and Bold Award Winner'' in Delaware. Girls Inc. is a nonprofit youth organization dedicated to inspiring our nation's young women to reach their goals. On this, its 50th Anniversary, I take great pride in honoring Girls Inc. and the wonderful young Delawareans who have achieved success through the guidance of this special program. Ms. Clark is the Vice-President and Interim President of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League, where she focuses on economic development and education for African Americans and other minorities. She has been involved in Girls Inc. for many years and was once the director of the Kiwanis Branch and the statewide director of programs and operations. Ms. Clark has done much to improve the lives of her fellow citizens and her hard work, enthusiasm, and commitment is much appreciated. Mr. Speaker, I commend and congratulate Ms. Clark and Girls Inc. for their dedication to improving and enhancing the lives of women. Ms. Clark's involvement with Girls Inc. and her many years of devoted service to our community is an example to us all. She is an inspiring and exemplary Delawarean.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to President Ronald Reagan. We all join together this week to mourn his passage, but more importantly to celebrate his life. President Reagan meant many things to many people in the United States and throughout the world. Put simply, the world is a better place because Ronald Reagan lived. From his days as an actor and motivational speaker to his time as Governor and President to his final days on his California ranch, Ronald Reagan was a true gentleman who impacted the lives of those around him. Ronald Reagan was sworn in as the 40th President of the United States the day American hostages were released from Iran--a poignant beginning to the challenges, which would lie ahead. As President, he survived an attack on his life and a battle with colon cancer; he fought communism; he guided the American people through rough economic times and uncertain international struggles; he made history in nominating the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court; and lead Americans through the tragedy of the Space Shuttle Challenger. But to limit our descriptions of President Reagan to the milestones in his Presidency would be incomplete. His most impressive qualities are the intangibles that are felt but hard to describe. So many Americans connected with President Reagan on a personal level. His ability to communicate with was unparalleled. ``Larger than life'' was never a phrase used to describe Ronald Reagan--not because he couldn't have been, but because he didn't want to be. He truly operated as a man of the people. My first term as Governor of Delaware overlapped with his second term as President of the United States. I had the honor and privilege of working with President Reagan on what I see as one of his greatest landmark accomplishments--welfare reform. The empathy he felt for the American people and the challenges they faced in trying to make ends meet were represented in this landmark legislation. He epitomized a leader who didn't give hand-outs--but a hand up. The optimism he felt for every American, our nation and the world was evident to all. His ``glass half full'' mentality guided us through times of peace and times of uncertainty; through the end of the Cold War and rough economic times. No matter what our nation faced, President Reagan's sense of patriotism, togetherness and hope for the future--was infectious. His love of country made us believe that America was blessed to do great things for so many people. Sadly, this was probably best communicated in what has come to be known as his Letter to the American people when he told the world he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, when he wrote: ``I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I will know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead.'' Everything he did, he did with grace. He will be remembered--even by those who may have disagreed with him--with respect for his willingness to work together and negotiate, with humor. He and Democratic Speaker Tip O'Neill used to joke that we are ``all friends after 6:00 p.m.'' meaning that at the end of the day, politics was put aside and friendships could grow. I like to think of President Reagan as a flexible conservative, one who was willing to listen to all sides of an argument, even if he didn't agree, for the chance that he might learn something new or understand a different angle. He didn't pretend to be an expert on all issues, and that is why so many politicians and the American people respected him. He wanted to turn the issue on all sides to see if there were any new approaches that could be taken. Yet at the same time, he was deeply rooted in his beliefs of smaller government, lower taxes and personal responsibility--which continue to guide the Republican Party today. President Reagan is considered the modern day father of the Republican Party and his long legacy and sunny optimistic spirit will live on in all Americans. And as we all gather today to celebrate the man who meant so much to our country, I would like to invoke the words he used in bidding good-bye to the passengers on the Space Shuttle Challenger--``We will never forget them, not the last time we saw them--this morning, as they prepared for their journey, and waved goodbye, and `slipped the surly bonds of earth' to `touch the face of God'.'' The Gipper, the Great Communicator, the Flexible Conservative and the Great Conciliator has gone home. But his legacy will never be forgotten.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3658 Stroke Treatment and Ongoing Prevention Act. I urge the Secretary to also consider that atrial fibrillation is the leading cause of severe stroke, but if properly treated, the risk of stroke can be dramatically reduced. Atrial fibrillation causes only 15 percent of all stroke, however it leads to a much higher rate of debilitating outcomes for patients resulting in their need for long-term care and increasing the burden on our health care system. Atrial fibrillation is a condition where the atrium of the heart does not pump blood out properly into the ventricle causing the blood to pool in the atrial chamber. The pooling leads to the formation of clots, which can break off and travel into the arteries and to the brain where it may lodge causing a severe stroke. Atrial fibrillation currently affects over 2.3 million people in the United States. However, the number of those effected will increase significantly as the population ages and improvements in the treatment of other forms of heart disease are made, extending their life expectancy but increasing their chances of developing atrial fibrillation. The Committee urges the Secretary to recognize that strokes caused by atrial fibrillation are preventable through the use of anticoagulation medications. The use of anticoagulation medications have been shown to reduce the risk of stroke caused by atrial fibrillation by over 68 percent. The American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians and American Academy of Family Practitioners have all issued guidelines stressing the importance of stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation by the proper use of anticoagulation therapy. However, a significant number of patients who should be on anticoagulation therapy do not receive the proper medication. Given the severity of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation and the ability of the proper care to prevent strokes it is important that health care professionals are educated about the current guidelines for treatment and there is an increased public awareness of atrial fibrillation.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 63) expressing the sense of Congress that Lionel Hampton should be honored for his contributions to American music.

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Con. Res. 63.

Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support in H. Con. Res. 63, and H. Con. Res. 63 expresses the sense of Congress that Lionel Hampton should be honored for his contributions to American music. Starting in the 1930s on the vibraphone as a contemporary of Louis Armstrong and Benny Goodman, and staying active into the 1990s, Lionel Hampton built one of the towering careers in jazz music. A multi- instrumentalist, Hampton also enjoyed unmatched popularity as a bandleader, showman and social activist. As a musician his greatest impact was on the vibraphone, becoming the first great jazz improviser on the instrument. Over the years his big band featured some of the best known singers and musicians in jazz history, and it became one of the longest running and commercially successful institutions in jazz. He also recorded extensively in many all-star small group projects at both sideman and leader. Hampton became one of America's most-beloved musical figures. His astonishing longevity and extroverted personality made him a favorite of everyone from ordinary music fans to world leaders. Lionel Hampton shattered the racial barriers of his time when he was recruited to perform with the Benny Goodman band in the 1930s, creating for the first time an integrated public face of jazz music As a composer and arranger, Hampton wrote more than 200 works, including the jazz standards Flying Home, Evil Gal Blues and Midnight Sun. He also composed a major symphonic work, King David Suite. As a statesman, he was asked by President Eisenhower to serve as a goodwill ambassador for the United States, and his band made many tours in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Far East, generating a huge international following. President George Bush, Senior, appointed him to the board of the Kennedy Center, and President Clinton awarded him the National Medal of the Arts. As a businessman, he established two record labels, his own publishing company, and he founded the Lionel Hampton Development Corporation to build low-income housing in inner cities. In his continuing role as an educator, he began working with the University of Idaho in the early 1980s to establish his dream for the future of music education. In 1985, the university named its jazz festival for him, and in 1987 the university's music school was named the Lionel Hampton School of Music. Nearly 20 years later, the University of Idaho has developed an unprecedented relationship with Hampton by ensuring that his vision lives through the Lionel Hampton Center, a $60 million project that will provide a home for jazz, housing the university's jazz festival, its school of music and its international jazz collection, all designed to help teach and preserve the heritage of jazz. House Concurrent Resolution 63 expresses the sense of Congress that Lionel Hampton should be honored for his contributions to American music and for his work as an ambassador of goodwill and democracy. I urge my colleagues to support the resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time;

Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I encourage everyone to support the resolution. I have no further requests for time, and I also yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 62. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation which expresses the sense of Congress that Katherine Dunham should be recognized for her groundbreaking achievements in dance, theater, music, and education, as well as for her work as an activist striving for racial equality throughout the world. Katherine Dunham has been called the matriarch of black dance. Her unprecedented blend of cultural anthropology with the artistic genre of dance in the early 1930s produced groundbreaking forms of movement and in the United States established black dance as an art form in its own right. She was born on June 22, 1909 and began formal dance training in her late teens. She completed her Bachelor's Degree in social anthropology at the University of Chicago, was a pioneer in the use of folk and ethnic choreography, and was one of the founders of the Anthropological Dance Movement. Katherine Dunham utilized her dance career and public status to draw attention to issues of segregation and the civil rights movement. In 1945, Katherine Dunham founded the Dunham School of Dance and Theater in Manhattan, thereby providing a centralized location for students to immerse themselves in dance technique while also studying topics in the humanities, languages, ethics, philosophy and drama. In 1967, Katherine Dunham established a performing arts training center in East St. Louis, Missouri, which enrolled high risk youth into its program in fine, performing and cultural arts. In 1993, she went on a 47-day hunger strike to call attention to the welfare of Haitians, thereby shifting public opinion concerning the United States public relations with Haiti, and helping to precipitate the return of Haiti's first democratically elected President. During her career Katherine Dunham was a dancer, choreographer and a director on Broadway and was the first black choreographer at the Metropolitan Opera. She has received 10 honorary doctorates and numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Arts, the French Legion of Honor, the NAACP's Lifetime Achievement Award and the Kennedy Center Honors Award. She continues to be an activist, teacher and mentor to young people throughout the world. I urge my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 62, which expresses the sense of Congress that Katherine Dunham should be recognized for her work as a teacher, dancer, choreographer and actress, for her dedication to improving the opportunities in the arts that are available to the Nation's youth and for her lifelong commitment to humanitarian causes around the world. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I encourage each of our Members to support the resolution. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 62) expressing the sense of Congress that Katherine Dunham should be recognized for her groundbreaking achievements in dance, theater, music, and education, as well as for her work as an activist striving for racial equality throughout the world.

Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Con. Res. 62.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CASTLE

Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4278, the Improving Access to Assistive Technology for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2004, and thank the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon) for his work. The legislation before us today is key to helping thousands of individuals across the country gain access to assistive technology devises and services. The use of assistive technology can help a child attend school, an adult seek and maintain employment, and individuals of all ages with disabilities participate more fully in society. Every day, the lives of countless individuals with disabilities are made better through access to assistive technology. Assistive technology helps individuals meet the challenges they face every day, and through the use of assistive technology individuals with disabilities can overcome almost any obstacle they face. With initial passage of the Assistive Technology Act, and past reauthorizations, the job of the state AT projects was one of information and outreach, making people aware of technology options. This reauthorization focuses on how we can enhance these services. However, this legislation by encouraging AT projects across the country to build on other success stories across we can help more people with disabilities to learn, work, and be active participants in their community. One key way H.R. 4278 accomplishes this is through an increased focus on helping individuals actually acquire the assistive technologies that greatly improve their quality of life. I am particularly proud of the AT work done in Delaware. The Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative connects Delawareans with the technologies that provide many with the opportunity to learn, work, play, and participate in community life safely and independently. Delawareans with disabilities count on the Initiative for access to technology for product demonstration and trial use, for information and consultation about equipment and funding resources, and for the coordination of resources among agencies and organizations. The Initiative runs a used equipment exchange service, publishes an informative newsletter, and helps people connect with the appropriate technology, financial assistance, and skills training. The Initiative has no eligibility limitations, other than Delaware residency. It serves infants through older persons, and addresses the needs of people with any type of disabling condition. There is no other source in Delaware that could replace these services and supports. The staff, and their counterparts in other states, are intimately familiar with the barriers that people with disabilities still encounter relative to employment, education, and community living. Assistive technology and universal design are often keys to access, opportunity, and achievement in all of these arenas, and the Improving Access to Assistive Technology for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2004 will help to ensure that access leads to opportunity, and that opportunity results in enhanced employment, academic achievement, and community life. I urge my colleagues to support this reauthorization. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.