Howard Coble

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, this amendment will immediately help textile and apparel companies because it will cover all uniforms purchased by the Transportation Security Administration employees. The program can easily be expanded by the Obama administration to cover FEMA, U.S. Customs, Border Protection, and U.S. Immigration Service, nearly 100,000 uniformed employees in all. And as an aside, my friend from North Carolina has already mentioned it, but the apparel and textile sector has been plagued as a result of the dismal economic climate that we face now. They've lost over 60,000 jobs during the last 12 months. North Carolina alone has lost 8,000 textile and apparel jobs. Forty-four textile plants in America were closed during the past year, 14 in North Carolina. And not unlike my friend, Mr. Kissell, I, too, come from a textile family. My mama was a textile worker; sewed pockets in overalls at the old Blue Bell plant in Greensboro. So I know the significance of a textile check subsidizing the family income. I urge support of this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to support it as well.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Madam Speaker and colleagues, I regret to inform the House of the passing of a former Member of this body, Horace Kornegay. Horace was elected as a Democrat to the 87th Congress and the three succeeding Congresses. He did not seek reelection in 1968 and became the vice president and counsel, then president, and subsequently chairman of the Tobacco Institute. He returned to Greensboro, North Carolina, in January of 1987 and resumed the practice of law and remained there until his passing today. Madam Speaker, I would ask the Chair to allow a moment of silence in memory of Horace Kornegay.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. I thank my friend from Louisiana for yielding. Last week, I voted ``no'' on this bill for two reasons. Number one, I don't like to hurriedly vote on significant legislation. I'd rather do it thoroughly and deliberately. The second reason, my telephone calls and e-mails were overwhelming in opposition against the bill. On Monday I voted ``no.'' The telephone calls and e-mails continued to be overwhelming, but guess what: Then in favor of the bill. Now I'm not exclusively dictated by telephone calls and e-mails, but neither do I dismiss them, Madam Speaker. And I weighed this very carefully. And by having waited, I think we did improve the bill. The increase of the FDIC threshold to $250,000, a good move; the AMT patch that will affect favorably 21 million middle class families, a good move; SEC, I am told, Madam Speaker, is addressing or has addressed the mark-to-market issue, a good approach. Compelling arguments can be proffered on both sides of this issue, but I believe, Madam Speaker, that inaction is not an option. I don't believe the sky is falling. I was told that earlier and I refuted it. And I think when I disagree with the sky falling charge, that's not irregular for me to refute it. Now, this vote for me, I am voting ``aye'' today, and it may be politically damaging. And the sky may fall tomorrow, but it will fall upon my head; it won't fall upon anyone else's, and no one else will be adversely affected. I believe that the limited access to credit--and in many instances no access to credit--can certainly contribute to a crisis. And we can put on blinders and go one way or the other, but I think this is a bill that must be addressed today, it must be addressed in a positive way, both sides of the aisle. My friends to the left, my friends on this side have done a good job, I think, in crafting it, and I am pleased to announce that I am voting ``aye'' when the vote is called later. I thank the gentleman for having yielded to me.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we wish to recognize and commend the Thomasville Fire Department as it prepares for its 100th anniversary, which is to be celebrated on October 4, 2008. This celebration will honor every firefighter, current and retired, who has served at the department. Among those being honored include the oldest retiree, Ronald Rayman Meyers, who worked from August 5,1967, to December 31, 2005, and the youngest firefighter, Bradley Crafford, who joined in May of 2008. The October 4 celebration will be a commencement to Fire Prevention Week from October 5-11, 2008. Established after a damaging fire in 1890 that wiped out nearly every business on East Main Street, the first department was officially organized in 1908, naming C.C. Hooks as the first Fire Chief. The first permanent station was established in 1922 on East Guilford Street. Today there are a total of four stations (Pilot, Hasty, Thomasville, and Fairgrove), two engine companies, two ladder companies, and one squad unit, and a workforce of 61 employees who remain committed to protecting and educating the people throughout the community. It is quite an achievement to render 100 years of service in any endeavor, and for the Thomasville Fire Department to do it while protecting and serving its community is all the more impressive. Again, on behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District, we are proud to recognize this great accomplishment.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from Texas, and I doubt that I will use 5 minutes but I thank Mr. Smith. I rise, Mr. Speaker, in support of S. 3325. Every year our economy loses an excess of $200 billion to counterfeiting. This has directly impacted many American businesses and also cost our country countless jobs. Today, counterfeiting has grown into a global and illicit black market trade. S. 3325 will help our government address counterfeiting from two perspectives. First, from an organizational perspective, it creates an Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator in the Executive Office of the President to oversee interagency anticounterfeiting efforts. This person will be responsible for making intellectual property rights a priority for every arm of our government and ensuring that government works efficiently to unearth counterfeit goods and apprehend distributors. Second, from an enforcement perspective, it authorizes funding for State and local anticounterfeiting efforts and for the Justice Department to create and implement a long range anticounterfeiting enforcement plan and provides new resources for IP and computer-related criminal prosecutions and investigations by the Department of Justice and the FBI. The version of the PRO-IP bill that was written by the House Judiciary Committee and passed this body by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 410-11 in May contained a number of new initiatives and authorities that I would have preferred to see included in this bill. That said, the glass is by no means half empty. Its enactment will help our law enforcement agencies better detect, prosecute, and deter counterfeiters. I cannot convey the full implications that counterfeit goods have had on my congressional district, which is home to the furniture capital of the world. We pride ourselves on workmanship and quality, but even the furniture market is vulnerable to knockoffs and counterfeits. The enactment of S. 3325 is an important step in our government improving our response to this illicit trade. I thank the distinguished gentleman from Texas, the ranking member; the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Berman), who chairs the subcommittee; and our chairman, the distinguished gentleman from Michigan, for all the work that they have devoted to this matter and for their tireless leadership in leading the fight against counterfeiting in the Congress for many years. I urge all Members to support S. 3325, and I thank the Speaker and I thank the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2638, the Consolidated Security, Disaster, and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009. 1. Requesting Member: Congressman Howard Coble. Bill Number: H.R. 2638. Account: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDTE), Air Force. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: RF Micro Devices (RFMD). Address of Requesting Entity: 7628 Thorndike Road, Greensboro, NC 27409-9421. Description of Request: Original request for additional funding of $3 million for Air Force RDT&E account for Gallium Nitride, GaN, Microelectronics & Materials research and development. Gallium Nitride- based microelectronics is the next generation of semiconductor technology and is of critical importance to the development of many advanced defense systems. RFMD Aerospace and Defense Business Unit will be the recipient of the funding and use the funds to accelerate development and adoption of RFMD GaN technology. RFMD originally budgeted $18 million over 3 years to complete this research project; RFMD will invest far more of its own money in Gallium Nitride-related research than it is seeking from the Federal Government--investing more than $100 million on the research and development of Gallium Nitride technology, and is continuing to invest. 2. Requesting Member: Congressman Howard Coble. Bill Number: H.R. 2638. Account: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDTE), Navy. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: RF Micro Devices (RFMD). Address of Requesting Entity: 7628 Thorndike Road, Greensboro, NC 27409-9421. Description of Request: Original request for additional funding of $3 million for Navy RDT&E account for Gallium Nitride, GaN, Microelectronics & Materials research and development. Gallium Nitride- based microelectronics is the next generation of semiconductor technology and is of critical importance to the development of many advanced defense systems. RFMD Aerospace and Defense Business Unit will be the recipient of the funding and use the funds to accelerate development and adoption of RFMD GaN technology. RFMD originally budgeted $18 million over 3 years to complete this research project; RFMD will invest far more of its own money in Gallium Nitride-related research than it is seeking from the Federal Government--investing more than $100 million on the research and development of Gallium Nitride technology, and is continuing to invest. 3. Requesting Member: Congressman Howard Coble. Bill Number: H.R. 2638. Account: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDTE), Navy. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Inc. Address of Requesting Entity: 5440 Millstream Road, McLeansville, NC 27301. Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $1,600,000 to support the Autonomous Anti-Submarine Vertical Beam Array developed by General Dynamics Information Systems, Inc. These funds will be used to develop a vertical acoustic array small enough to launch from a nuclear guided missile submarine, SSGN, that will operate for 3 months as an antisubmarine warfare, ASW, detection system and transmit data over a secure radio frequency data link. Specifically, $514,000 is for design and development labor; $185,000 is for materials; $4,000 is for ODC and travel; $55,000 is for the subcontract; $726,000 is for manufacturing; and $116,000 is for program management. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the Navy's RDTE account. 4. Requesting Member: Congressman Howard Coble. Bill Number: H.R. 2638. Account: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDTE), Army. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: PPG Industries, Inc. Address of Requesting Entity: 43245 Rosanna Drive, Allison Park, PA 15101. Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $1,600,000 for Phase 2 of an Advanced Composite Armor for Force Protection project being conducted with the Army Research Lab (ARL). Approximately 70 percent of this funding is for advanced materials research, development and process optimization; 15 percent is for ballistic testing and 15 percent is for integration of these advanced materials into armor solutions. Work performed with ARL discovered novel, high performance polyurethane plastics which exhibit extraordinary weatherability and energy dissipation properties. Combined with new fiberglass technologies, these materials form the foundation of an advanced ballistic system. This composite solution can be further optimized to meet evolving threat levels and other application specific requirements. The research objectives will be to develop advanced composite ballistic panel solutions that incorporate these new technologies in three phases. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized mission of the Army Research Labs. This is the second of three years of funding that will be needed to complete the study. 5. Requesting Member: Congressman Howard Coble. Bill Number: H.R. 2638. Account: Research Development Test & Evaluation (RDTE), Air Force. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The Timken Company. Address of Requesting Entity: 1835 Dueber Avenue, Canton, OH 44706. Description of Request: Provide $1,600,000 for Timken's Hybrid Bearing project. Specifically, funds will be used to develop a high speed bearing for aerospace applications that will provide exceptional hot hardness, exceptional fatigue life, exceptional wear resistance, and exceptional fracture toughness. Defense applications would include the JSF main shaft bearing application, as well as other weapons platforms or devices requiring high speed bearings. Furthermore, this project will review various corrosion resistant steel, including CSS- 42L, for use in the bearing, as well as the introduction of new ball and retainer materials in the final bearing design (such as silicon nitride balls, and a light weight carbon-carbon composite material for the retainer material). The hybrid bearing technology, which includes a variety of material and coating technologies, is being incorporated into the Joint Strike Fighter engine, and other platforms. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the Air Force's RDTE account. 6. Requesting Member: Congressman Howard Coble. Bill Number: H.R. 2638. Account: Research Development Test & Evaluation (RDTE), Navy (Marine Corps). Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Energizer Battery Manufacturing, Inc. Address of Requesting Entity: 25225 Detroit Road, Westlake OH 44145. Description of Request: Provide $2,500,000 for the continued development (Phase II) of a high-rate capability, air electrode for a zinc air battery system. The objective is to increase the rate capability by an additional 65 percent so as to support the high power requirements for equipment used in military and commercial applications. The subject zinc-air battery will provide the same energy and power of the incumbent battery (lithium-sulfur dioxide) for about half the weight and in a 60 percent smaller package. Approximately $1,575,000, or 63 percent, is for labor; and $925,000, or 37 percent, is for materials and other allowable indirect costs. On average, a U.S. soldier consumes the equivalent of 1 AA battery per hour in combat, and an infantry platoon, for a 3-day mission, will require approximately 2,500 batteries, weighing a total of almost 400 lbs. Carrying this added weight induces fatigue and ultimately limits their effectiveness and ability to carry out their missions. Thus, with our heavily armed and battery-laden troops increasingly confronting light and irregular forces, issues of battery weight and equipment reliability are more important than ever. The total project cost is expected to be approximately $14,000,000. Energizer will provide the balance of this funding and will continue to devote tens of millions of private R&D dollars to support the continued development of this technology for high power military and commercial applications.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman from Ohio pretty thoroughly covered this already. The compact we are called upon to approve today caps off years of effort. That effort has been undertaken by the Great Lakes States to address jointly the use of one of our Nation's greatest features, the abundant waters of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River Basin. This compact embodies important advances in the management of these extraordinary bodies of water. The States, users of these waters in the United States, and Canadian authorities that share interest in the basin, all support the compact. Earlier this year, we passed H.R. 6577 to approve this compact. In all essential respects, Senate Joint Resolution 45 is identical to H.R. 6577. I am therefore pleased to support our adoption of the Senate resolution so that this important legislation can be passed and signed into law as soon as possible. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 6853, the Nationwide Mortgage Fraud Task Force Act of 2008. I appreciate the willingness of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to address some concerns that we had with the bill. However, I understand that despite improvements to the bill, there was a rush to bring it to the floor. The Judiciary Committee held no hearings or markups on the bill. At a minimum, the committee could have sought the input of FBI Director Mueller when he appeared before our committee last Tuesday. Unfortunately, however, we were not aware of the majority desire to move this legislation at that time. The subprime mortgage crisis has taken a toll on millions of Americans across the country. Inflated housing prices, combined with fluctuating mortgage interest rates, have left many homeowners struggling to make their monthly mortgage payments or, worse, facing foreclosure on their homes. Many factors have contributed to this crisis, including predatory lending by corrupt lenders, mortgage fraud and even foreclosure fraud. Estimated losses for mortgage fraud are between 4 and 6 billion dollars, with $813 million in losses in fiscal year 2007 alone. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the western region of the United States led the Nation with 37 percent of mortgage fraud- related reports filed during fiscal year 2007. States with the most significant mortgage fraud problems in 2008 include Florida, Nevada, Michigan, California, Utah, Georgia, Virginia, Illinois, New York and Minnesota. Other States significantly affected by mortgage fraud included Arizona, Maryland, Utah, Nevada, Missouri, Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia, New Jersey and Connecticut. Clearly this is a nationwide problem. The FBI has been actively investigating mortgage fraud since 1999. In his testimony before our Judiciary Committee last week, FBI Director Robert Mueller informed us that 42 FBI mortgage fraud task forces are currently handling 1,400 mortgage fraud investigations across the country. This includes 24 investigations into large-scale corporate fraud. The FBI's Operation Malicious Mortgage is an immense multiagency operation focused primarily on three types of mortgage fraud, lending fraud, foreclosure rescue schemes and mortgage-related bankruptcy schemes. As of June, this operation has nabbed more than 400 defendants, 173 convictions, and 81 sentencings in crimes accounting for more than $1 billion in estimated losses. Just last month, in my home State of North Carolina, four defendants were indicted in Federal court for using various fraud schemes, including inflated property values and false representations to lenders to secure financing for the purchase of property and mobile homes. H.R. 6853 lends additional support to the FBI for its mortgage fraud investigations and provides additional tools to State and local law enforcement. The bill designates the chief of the FBI's Financial Crimes Section as the nationwide mortgage fraud coordinator and directs her to oversee all mortgage fraud investigations, provide additional training to State and local law enforcement, and collect and report annual mortgage fraud data to the Congress. Again, I thank my colleagues for amending the bill to address our objections and concerns, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Broun).

Mr. COBLE. I have no more speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5352, the Elder Abuse Victims Act of 2008. I wish to thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for having worked with the Judiciary Committee Republicans to address our concern with this bill. I am pleased that we now have legislation before us that enjoys bipartisan support. Elder abuse is a serious problem facing our older Americans. Adults over the age of 50 account for 12 percent of our Nation's murder victims and 7 percent of other serious and violent crime victims, and our eldest seniors, those over 80 years of age, are abused and neglected at two to three times the proportion of all other senior citizens. With the population of people aged 85 or older expected to double by 8.9 million by the year 2030, the problem is inevitably sure to grow. H.R. 5352, the Elder Abuse Victims Act, seeks to curb these acts of abuse against the elderly. The bill authorizes grants to State and local law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts to aid in the investigation and prosecution of elder abuse. The bill directs the Justice Department to complete a study of State laws and practices relating to elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. The bill also directs the Department to develop a long-term plan addressing the prevention and detection of elder abuse, intervention and treatment of victims, and training and evaluation of elder abuse programs. The National Institute of Justice within the Department has been studying elder justice issues for several years and issued a preliminary report on the subject in 2006. It is fitting that the National Institute of Justice continue its work and undertake the study directed by this legislation. During the Judiciary Committee markup of H.R. 5352, we expanded the scope of these grants to include identity theft, mail fraud, and telemarketing fraud as additional types of victimization for elder abuse grants. The bill now also authorizes the Department of Justice to award grants for electronic monitoring of older Americans. These funds will support monitoring programs offered by local law enforcement agencies and first responders to locate missing elderly. These changes, among others, have improved H.R. 5352 and will assist States with protecting our senior citizens and prosecuting elder abuse. I urge my colleagues to support the bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COBLE. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time to myself as I may consume. I support this resolution. H. Res. 1438, Mr. Speaker, commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Azorean Refugee Act of 1958, and celebrates the contributions that Portuguese-Americans have made to the United States. In the late 1950s a series of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes devastated the Portuguese Azorean islands. In an important humanitarian gesture, the United States absorbed thousands of Azorean refugees following the enactment of the Azorean Refugee Act of 1958. Since that time, hundreds of thousands of Azoreans and other Portuguese have migrated to the United States. They have made important contributions to many aspects of American society and the American economy. They are most well-known for their contributions to America's fishing and dairy industries. President Jaime Gama of the Portuguese Parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, is currently heading a delegation visiting Washington. This is a perfect opportunity for us to pass H. Res. 1438 to commemorate the Azorean Refugee Act, and to acknowledge the continuing friendship between the American and the Portuguese people. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COBLE. I have no more speakers, and I yield back, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank the distinguished gentleman from Texas who serves very ably as our ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in support of H. Con. Res 415. This resolution celebrates the 75th anniversary of the end of Prohibition. Furthermore, it recognizes our effective regulation of alcohol by State and local governments and the dedication of our State lawmakers, regulators, law enforcement officers, the public health community, and industry members for creating a workable, legal and successful system of alcohol regulation, distribution and sale. Prohibition, Mr. Speaker, began in 1919, when the 18th amendment was ratified. This led to a dramatic increase in illegal activity, including unsafe black market alcohol production, a growth in organized crime, and increasing noncompliance with alcohol laws. As a result, only 14 years later, on December 5, 1933, the 21st amendment was ratified, which repealed Prohibition and granted to the States control of alcohol. The 21st amendment wisely established a State-based regulatory system for alcohol. This has permitted each State to adopt laws that reflect the views of its citizens. The result has been one of most comprehensive and community-sensitive alcohol regulatory programs in the world. Furthermore, it has created a safe and reliable marketplace for alcohol. Our consumers are free now from the threat of the harmful chemicals that were unknowingly consumed during the Prohibition Era. For 75 years, local regulation has worked well. And while alcohol laws are continually tweaked and improved, adjusted and amended, our beer, liquor and wine providers have worked diligently together with regulators to ensure that public health and safety are first and foremost. Many beer distributors who strongly support this resolution and recently concluded their national meeting in San Francisco play a vital role in their respective communities by sponsoring a vast array of programs that promote responsible consumption. The programs range from providing free taxi rides home for restaurant patrons who do not have a designated driver, to sponsoring alcohol-free after prom events and producing educational materials to assist parents in talking to their children about underage drinking. Distributors also promote alcohol education initiatives that bring guest speakers into local schools and community centers. Some of these speakers who have made mistakes about alcohol, just as the distinguished gentleman from Texas mentioned earlier, became reckless and abandoned discretion and responsible drinking, but they have overcome those mistakes and have lived to retell their stories, and therefore, encourage others not to make the same mistakes. The beer industry, Mr. Speaker, I'm sure in probably every district represented on this floor, creates innumerable job opportunities. The beer industry, furthermore, has spent nearly $700 million in communities across the country to fight and oppose drunk driving, underage drinking, and promote responsible consumption of alcohol through public safety, prevention and education campaigns. Additionally, the National Beer Wholesalers Association was instrumental in working with Congress to pass the STOP Underage Drinking bill, which was signed by President Bush in December of 2006. Mr. Speaker, there are many alcohol vendors in my district in North Carolina who devote enormous amounts of time and money to improve the lives of people in our communities. They have openly supported community efforts for organizations such as United Cerebral Palsy, the Special Olympics, law enforcement, the Greensboro Children's Museum, the Greensboro Economic Development Partnership, the Rockwell Project for alcohol awareness at Greensboro area high schools, the Hospice of Greensboro, and others. Many of these vendors have also unanimously supported countless other efforts throughout the Sixth District of North Carolina. I'm sure many of you can duplicate that in your respective districts. The benefits vary from community to community. While there are sound reasons that alcohol should be regulated, it is clear to me that we should recognize and celebrate the 75th anniversary of the end of Prohibition. I encourage my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 415. Again, I thank the gentleman from Texas for having yielded to me.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Madam Speaker, September 17, 2008, begins the national celebration of Constitution Week. Since being signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, Americans have set aside time each year to celebrate the document upon which our nation was founded. Constitution Week also highlights the important work performed by the DAR--Daughters of the American Revolution. The DAR is a volunteer women's service organization dedicated to keeping America strong by promoting patriotism, preserving U.S. history, and supporting education programs. The Guilford Battle Chapter of the DAR, founded in Greensboro, NC, in 1901, has been hard at work since its inception in promoting Constitution Week. On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we congratulate the Guilford Battle Chapter for its more than a century of dedicated service, and we send best wishes to all of its members for a successful event this year. As a proud member of the Sons of the Revolution, a counterpart to the DAR, I am well aware of the many contributions made by the DAR-- particularly the Guilford Battle Chapter. As many of our schools have reduced or eliminated teaching basic civics lessons, the work of the DAR has taken on even more significance. For example, many people do not know that the U.S. Constitution is the oldest Constitution still in active use in the world today and remains the basic document of our Republic. The DAR is committed to preserving and defending the Constitution through its educational and public service programs. On September 17, take a moment to reflect on what the U.S. Constitution means to you. If you know anyone who is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, take another moment to thank her for her service. In particular, if you know anyone who is a member of the Guilford Battle Chapter of the DAR, tell her that Congressman Howard Coble is proud of her efforts.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. I thank the gentleman from Texas. Madam Speaker, during my tenure in Congress, I have consistently opposed granting the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate tobacco. As I have stated on many occasions, I believe allowing the FDA to regulate tobacco in any capacity would inevitably lead to the FDA's regulating the family farm. Let's be candid, Madam Speaker; should the FDA spend its time regulating tobacco on the farm and in manufacturing facilities, despite warnings on cigarette labels which alert consumers to their danger, or should it focus on the core mission of ensuring the safety and soundness of our food, drugs and cosmetics? I also have concerns with the impact this legislation would have upon tobacco manufacturers and their employees. These companies employ many hardworking, diligent working North Carolinians, and I believe the FDA regulation of tobacco would negatively affect these manufacturing jobs. Finally, Madam Speaker, taxing tobacco companies to fund additional regulation and avoid PAYGO problems is ill-conceived and will create an incentive, in my opinion, for black market activity such as counterfeiting and smuggling. Madam Speaker, this legislation is misguided and, in my opinion, will not achieve the goals identified by proponents. Indeed, I believe it will further exacerbate an already stretched FDA, negatively impact manufacturers and farmers, and create a strain on Federal revenues to the Treasury. I adamantly oppose the measure and urge my colleagues to do the same. Madam Speaker, tobacco is a product that is lawfully grown, lawfully marketed, lawfully manufactured and lawfully consumed. We don't need the FDA inserting its oars into these waters.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 2565, the Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Act of 2008. The House passed similar legislation earlier this year to honor the men and women of law enforcement who are injured in the line of duty. America's law enforcement officers protect our communities from street gangs and drug dealers, investigate bank robberies and kidnappings, and apprehend violent criminals. From a simple traffic stop to a complex counterterrorism investigation, our Federal, State, and local police forces put their lives on the line every day. They don't seek fame or recognition, and when honored for their bravery and sacrifice, they will simply say, ``just doing our job.'' There are more than 100,000 Federal law enforcement officers and 900,000 State and local law enforcement officers employed across our nation. And each year approximately 150 of these Federal officers and 160,000 State and local officers are injured in the line of duty. S. 2565 establishes the Congressional Badge of Bravery to honor these brave men and women. The Congressional Badge of Bravery pays tribute to law enforcement officers who demonstrate bravery in performance of their duties, face personal risk to their own safety, and were injured in the line of duty. S. 2565 establishes a seven-member Badge of Bravery Board within the Department of Justice. The board is charged with designing the badge, recommending recipients, and coordinating the presentation of the award for Federal law enforcement officers. S. 2565 also establishes a State and Local Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Board within the Department to oversee the presentation of the badge to State troopers, county sheriffs, and local police officers. America's law enforcement officers risk their lives to protect our families and keep our communities safe. Honoring these acts of bravery is the least we can do to recognize the commitment and sacrifice of those injured in the line of duty. Mr. Speaker, I heard a Sunday morning service just yesterday, and the preacher asked his audience to imagine where we would be without mechanics and without electricians. He chose those two because, by his own admission, he was inept in those areas, as am I. If there are no mechanics or electricians, I'm out of luck, Mr. Scott, and I empathize with him on that. I think by the same token, think where we would be in this country and in this world without law enforcement and without firefighters. These are some oftentimes professions that we may take lightly and for granted, but indeed we should not because they are indeed significant to our well-being. I share with my friend from Virginia (Mr. Scott) in urging my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise in support of H.R. 6531, the Vessel Hull Design Protection Amendments Act of 2008, and urge its passage by the House. I'll try not be too detailed, Mr. Speaker, but the subject matter invites some detail. I understand this bill is better informed through a review of the underlying statute, the Vessel Hull Design Protection Act, which Congress passed as part of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in 1998. Chairman Howard Berman, the distinguished gentleman from California, and I were the primary sponsors of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of that year. Boat manufacturers invest significant resources in the design and development of safe, structurally sound, and often high-performance boat hull designs. Including research and development costs, a boat manufacturer may invest as much as $50,000 to produce a design from which one line of vessels can be manufactured. When a boat hull is designed and the design engineering and tooling process is complete, the engineers then develop a boat plug from which they construct a boat mold. The manufacturer constructs a particular line of boats from this mold. Unfortunately, those individuals intent on stealing an original boat design can simply use a finished boat hull in place of the manufacturer's plug to develop a mold. This practice is referred to in the trade as splashing a mold. The copied mold can then be used to create a line of vessels with a hull seemingly identical to that appropriated from the design manufacturer. Hull splashing is a problem for consumers as well as manufacturers in boat design firms. Consumers who purchase these knock-off boats are defrauded in the sense that they are not benefiting from the many attributes of hull design, other than shape, that are structurally relevant, including those related to quality and safety. It is also highly unlikely that a consumer will know if a boat had been copied from an existing design. More importantly for the purposes of promoting intellectual property rights, if manufacturers are not permitted to recoup at least some of their research and development costs, they may no longer invest in new, innovative boat designs that boaters eagerly await. In response to this problem and a Supreme Court case called Bonito Boats that prohibits State action on the matter, we wrote the Vessel Hull Design Protection Act a decade ago. The statute has functioned well during this time, but its continued viability is complicated by an eleventh circuit opinion, Maverick Boat Company v. American Marine Holding. Maverick involves a dispute under the vessel hull statute between two marine manufacturers. Unfortunately, the holding of the case has created a loophole that knock-off manufacturers may well exploit. Because the statute protects the design of a vessel hull, and a hull is defined as the frame or body of a vessel, including the deck, exclusive of masts, sails, yards, and rigging, the court presumably reasoned that a hull must be examined in its totality. In other words, when assessing the design attributes of a hull under the statute, one may not examine its components, meaning the frame or body and the deck, separately. This reasoning subverts Congress' intent when we passed the Vessel Hull Design Protection Act. At the time, proponents of reform were responding to the Supreme Court's ruling in Bonito Boats, which struck down State plug-mold statutes that effectively banned hull splashing as a method for copying hull designs. That is, the very practice, that is, hull splashing, that Congress sought to prescribe in 1998 would, in part, be legitimized by the eleventh circuit's decision in the Maverick case. In brief, H.R. 6531 cures this problem by amending the definition of vessel hulls. The new definition will prevent knock-off manufacturers from indulging in hull splashing or misappropriation of either an original design of a hull or a deck. The bill specifies that only the hull's exterior frame or body is protected and clarifies other terms under the statute. Importantly, H.R. 6531 contains a provision that was omitted from an earlier draft, S. 1640, that the other body passed last October. The new provision creates an exception to the vessel hull statute for the Armed Forces. This is necessary because the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, and perhaps the United States Marines, often have vessels built to specifications. It is not unthinkable that a vessel constructed for use by the Armed Forces might infringe a registered design. Nothing in the legislative history of the statute suggests that Congress intended to complicate national security in any way. This is especially true since a separate provision of the U.S. Code, section 2320 of title X, addresses the rights of the Armed Forces and private parties to use patented inventions, copyrighted works, and technical data related to defense projects. H.R. 6531, therefore, ensures this provision or a contract between the government and relevant third parties will determine the rights of the Armed Forces in a registered hull design. Mr. Speaker, this is a noncontroversial bill that has received process in the form of hearings in this Congress, as well as the 109th Congress. It is a technical fix that allows the Vessel Hull Design Protection Act to operate as Congress intended. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6531.

Mr. COBLE. I have no further requests for time, Mr. Speaker, so I yield back my time.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I had the good fortune to attend the graduation and exercises in 2008 at New London, Connecticut, home of the Coast Guard Academy, during which time Ensign Davis was recognized as the valedictorian of the graduating class. It was apparent to me that day, as I observed the proceedings, that she was held in very high esteem by her shipmates and her classmates. And I felt real good, Mr. Speaker, as I spent most of the day on the campus of the Coast Guard Academy, as I viewed the spirit and the esprit de corps that was so obviously apparent. And I'm sure the same spirit and esprit de corps occurs in Kings Point, Annapolis, West Point, Colorado Springs, not only in our academies, but our training centers for the enlisted personnel throughout our armed services. If one doubts that we are prepared, I just urge him or her to visit one of the academies or one of the training centers throughout the country. I am pleased to stand and honor Ensign Davis today, and to honor the U.S. Coast Guard, America's oldest continuous seagoing service.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Will the gentleman yield to me?

Mr. COBLE. Madam Speaker, I did not know this was coming. I thank my friend from North Carolina. And my colleagues, thank you for the very generous ovation. I appreciate that very much. Mr. Majority Leader, at Pinehurst, North Carolina, the golf capital in my district, some days ago a man came up to me and said, ``Are you planning on retiring?'' I told him I was not planning on voluntarily retiring, but I did say to him that I will not try to emulate Strom Thurmond's record. But I thank you again, gentlemen.