Howard Coble

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize for 2 minutes the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays), who is the chairman of the National Security Subcommittee of the Government Reform Committee, and who has been to Iraq 12 times.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to initially present an update as to where we have been and where we are in Iraq. Many months ago an Iraqi citizen said to me, you all must remove Saddam. We can't do it, he said, because we know what he is capable of doing to us in retaliation. I said to him if we do remove him, will you embrace us or will you kick us? He said, I don't know. I responded, that is my concern. I don't know either. I believe his anti-Saddam remarks at that time represented a majority view in Iraq, but my concern proved prophetic. Our exercise in Iraq, Mr. Speaker, and colleagues, has not been without mistakes. Our entry strategy was superb. Our post-entry strategy was tentative at best, inept at worst. A better response to the looting that ensued in the early days should have been in place. The disestablishment of the Army, without an alternative plan, in my opinion, was premature. Some would blame the United States for the delayed political development, but after all, our forefathers were deliberate in forming our country's operational apparatus, so I think the political complaint is probably unfounded. Was Saddam an evil, brutal murderer, a flagrant violator of human rights? You bet. Was he involved in international terrorism? You bet. Was he directly or indirectly involved in the 9/11 attack? I don't know. I can neither confirm nor reject that theory. My point, Mr. Speaker, is that intelligence was flawed. Mistakes were made. But the cause for freedom is a noble one, and progress has, indeed, been realized. I am concerned, Mr. Speaker, and colleagues, about the lack of objectivity in reporting the war on terrorism. Some liberal talk show host reports imply that no good has been accomplished. Conversely, some conservative talk show hosts portray Baghdad as moonlight and roses. Clearly these two slanted versions are inaccurate and unfair. Let me say a word about the PATRIOT Act, Mr. Speaker, and this will be discussed in more detail subsequently. But the PATRIOT Act was reported in the full House by the Judiciary Committee, and it addressed the nexus of the sale of illicit narcotics and terrorist financing. These two shadowy worlds of narcotics trafficking and terrorism is an element of terrorism that I think is lost on many Americans. They are joined at the hip, and I am particularly pleased that the PATRIOT Act did respond to that end. Seventeen months ago, Mr. Speaker, I publicly indicated that troop withdrawal was conspicuously absent when the war on terrorism was discussed. Oh, we spoke of appropriating more funds, we spoke of dispatching additional troops, but virtually no one ever even remotely included troop withdrawal in their discussions. Now, I am not suggesting troop withdrawal tomorrow, but I want our armed servicemen and -women home sooner rather than later. Some may declare, oh, we cannot cut and run. Cut and run? We have had a presence in Iraq in excess of 3 years. 2,500 armed services Americans have given the ultimate sacrifice to the cause of freedom, Mr. Speaker. Thousands of permanent and disabling injuries have been inflicted upon members of our armed services in addition to the spending of billions of dollars. I do not know what constitutes cutting and running, but I do know that when we have logged a wartime duration of 3 years, when 2,500 Americans have given their lives for freedom, and Lord only knows how many Americans have been injured, this does not constitute cutting and running. The time has come, it seems to me, Mr. Speaker, to pass the baton to the Iraqi Government. Now, this decision will ultimately be made militarily, and properly so, by the commanders on the ground; but I do not want this matter of withdrawal to be lost in the shuffle. If freedom and peace prevail in Iraq, Mr. Speaker, history will be generous in its praise to President Bush and the Congress. Mr. Speaker I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I am manager of the bill for the Judiciary Committee for our side.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) who chairs the judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller) who sits as a member of the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, how much time remains on each side?

Mr. COBLE. And the other side?

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) who chairs the Subcommittee on the Constitution on the House Judiciary Committee.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn) who sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that a school in the Sixth District of North Carolina, in addition to continued promotion of academic excellence, has produced not one but two state championships recently. The first victory for Ledford High School was brought home by sophomore, Megan Williams, in the pole vault competition of the track and field championship. The second was achieved by Ledford's golf team. In only her second year as a pole vaulter, Megan Williams battled through a knee injury to claim the title. All nerves resulting from an imperfect freshman season seemingly disappeared, allowing the true champion athlete to break through. Although not new to state level competition, with two previous cheerleading titles to her credit, this event appeared to be especially meaningful because of her success in the face of little experience. The combination of her determination, gymnastic skills, and training from her dedicated coach, Shawn Loggins, drove Megan to continue pursuing and obviously achieving excellence. Looking forward to new poles and new heights, it's no wonder that Megan Williams was named athlete of the week by The (Lexington) Dispatch. The golfing Panthers of Ledford High School showed extreme poise under the pressure of defending a state title as they defeated Cardinal Gibbons by a remarkable 13 shots in their final performance of the year. Head Coach John Ralls was quoted by The High Point Enterprise as beaming, ``Today we had six scores in the 70s . . . we had six guys who were capable.'' These scores are themselves an amazing feat, but more impressive is that Ledford has won in back-to-back years in such a difficult conference. We are pleased to recognize all the members of the Ledford golf team who contributed to the victory. Players include: seniors Paxton Davis and Zack Smith, juniors Jake Dykhoff, Nick Goins (whose individual score placed him third in the state), and Logan Peck, and sophomores Jeff Boyan, Curtis Brotherton, Matt Lawson, Chris Moore, Jordan Stiles, and Ethan Worley. The fantastic individual efforts of the players would not have been enough to bring home a championship, but through the collaborated efforts of the entire squad and the excellent coaching staff including Head Coach John Ralls and Associate Head Coach Jim Brotherton, it was possible to work together and clench the title as a team. The coaches were no doubt proud of their players as they led the Ledford High School golf team to yet another state championship. On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we congratulate the Ledford Panthers golf team as well as Megan Williams and the rest of the track and field team. Congratulations to Principal Bill Butts, Athletic Director Don Palmer, the teachers, staff, students, parents, and fans of Ledford High School.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that the women of Ragsdale High School in the Sixth District of North Carolina have proven their amazing athletic ability with state championship titles in both tennis and track and field. The outstanding athletes who run, jump, relay, throw, and ultimately put their entire heart into the sport, better known as the track and field team, have been battling in a tremendously competitive district. The past two seasons they achieved second place and were fearful that this year would produce similar results. The old cliche, however, proved true: ``The third time's the charm!'' This year the Tigers' hard work paid off and Ragsdale finished first in the state. We are pleased to recognize all the members of the Ragsdale track and field team who contributed to this impressive victory. Members include: Rachael Acquaye, Courtney Brandenburg, Laura Brentnell, Chloe Christian, Courtney Cole, Kierra Crutchfield, Naadia Crutchfield, Julia Gomez, Asha Gray, Dionne Harp, Tyera Herbin, Shea Jackson, Tay Jackson, Portia Jordan, Emily Kimmel, Savannah Lloyd, Jessica McCray, Raven McKlver, Albiana Mustafa, Charlse Nelson, Lakeya O'Neal, Briana Overdiep, Cary Quillian, Mercia Perry, Nikkita Rowlings, Paisley Robinson, Mollie Rogers, Eunique Singleton, Rachel Smith, Caitlin Thornley, Cecilia Woke, Antioinette Walker, Katherine Webb, Amy Wenner, and LaNisha Woods. After 25 years of coaching, Head Coach Sam Bays capped a tremendous career by bringing in a state title. The players recognize him as the reason for much of their success, and he is obviously proud of them in turn. Neither the coach nor the track and field team could have jumped this hurdle without the help of Assistant Coaches Ronnie Smith, Tommy Norwood and Zachary Crutchfield. We are late in congratulating the Ragsdale women's tennis team for capturing the state tennis title last year. Congratulations to: Tianna Carter, Cameron Chatman, Chelsea Chatman, Sruthi Cherkur, Kiera Crutchfield, Naadia Crutchfield, Jeanette Edwards, Ashley Johnson, Grace Kennerly, Hanae Matsui, Sirena Pickett, Paris Sims, Jessica Wise and Catherine Wood. Congratulations also to Head Coach Zachary Crutchfield for leading this group of extremely talented women to victory. On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we congratulate the Ragsdale Tigers on the amazing achievements of both teams. Congratulations to Principal Dr. Kathryn Rogers, Athletic Director Mike Raybon, the teachers, staff, students, parents, and fans of Ragsdale High school for bringing academic as well as athletic excellence.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that public high schools in the Sixth District of North Carolina are not the only ones housing state championships these days. Now O'Neal School in Moore Country, North Carolina is able to sit in the same seat of glory having won the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association 2A conference competition in women's soccer. The Falcons endured fierce competition in the pursuit of their ultimate goal battling through two overtimes (one in the quarterfinals and the other in the semifinals). The fact that the road which they traveled to victory was so rocky made the end result all the more sweet. The women beat out their rival, Calvary Baptist Day School, 1-0 in the final game of the championship. Freshman Syd McIlwain made everyone proud with the excessive determination required for a defender to score the only goal of the game. The goal occurred on a corner kick in which sweeper Caroline Cordell kicked it perfectly for McIlwain to head it in. After the game McIlwain said, ``I was just thinking that I had to get some part of my body on it,'' according to the Moore County Independent. It's a good thing that she did because that split-second decision was crucial to victory. We are pleased to recognize all members of the O'Neal School soccer team who contributed to this nearly perfect championship season. Members of the team include: Alex Allen, Carey Averbook, Kristin Black, Caroline Cordell, Margaret Cross, Cate Dahl, Kathryn Davis, Jessica Gregory, Sarah Griffin, Kelsey Hukee, Meagan Johnson, Kate King, Lauren Krahnert, Kathryn Maples, Syd McIlwain, Anna Post, Nicole Poteat, Kate St. John, Allaire Welk, and Stephanie White. The women's outstanding record was achieved largely due to their ability to work together on and off the field. Responsibility for this close bond rests in the hands of Head Coach Kyle Kegl and Assistant Coach Jason Byrd whose hard work throughout the season was imitated by the players cumulating in ultimate victory among private schools at the state level. On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we congratulate the O'Neal Falcons for completing the first ever state championship and doing so with only one loss the entire year. Congratulations to Headmaster John Neiswender, Athletic Director Steve Dahl, the teachers, staff, students, parents, and fans for bringing home a state championship to our community.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, in the biggest electoral debate since the Bush-Gore presidential election in Florida in 2000, people are still talking about the selection of this year's American Idol from the television program with the same name. With no disrespect intended toward this year's winner, Taylor Hicks, most people think this year's American Idol should have been Chris Daughtry of McLeansville, NC. I will admit, Mr. Speaker, that I am extremely biased in this debate because Chris Daughtry is a resident of the Sixth District of North Carolina. And it would have been the second time that a town in the Sixth District produced the winning Idol, since previous winner, Fantasia, hailed from High Point, NC. That being said, most online polls, fan blogs, numerous web sites, and general talk about town all hailed Chris Daughtry as the next American Idol. Most people know that my musical tastes run more towards traditional bluegrass music, so I am not a good judge of what is hot in the rock and pop music scenes. But I do know politics, and from everything I could learn, Chris Daughtry appeared to be the fan favorite. While I will not call for Congress to investigate this Idol election process, those of us who reside in the Sixth District of North Carolina will always be convinced that our guy really won--sort of like fans of Al Gore in 2000. Oh well, we are proud to say that we are the home of the real American Idol, Chris Daughtry of McLeansville, NC.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairman from Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, pardon my immodesty. I believe that this bill has been thoroughly and consistently examined, but I don't think there has been a committee other than the House Judiciary Committee, I don't think there has been a subcommittee, other than the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, that has worked any more diligently than have we. Now, the chairman used the words vulnerable and vulnerability in his opening statement. We are indeed, we were on 9/11, we are today. But as the chairman furthermore pointed out, much misleading and inaccurate information has been associated and directed to the PATRIOT Act. I used this example on the floor earlier, Mr. Speaker. A constituent of mine came to me all upset, concerned about the PATRIOT Act. We must get rid of the PATRIOT Act, he said to me. I said to him, give me an example how it has adversely affected you. He said, I can't do it. I said, give me an example of how it has adversely affected anyone you know. I can't do it, he replied. I further said, give me an example where any third party has been adversely affected. Again he came up short. This is the misleading information that has convinced many people across our land that it is no good. In this era of instant and universal communications, if a piece of legislation is as bad as my constituents thought it was, surely he would have some evidence as to some information to indicate to me why the bill is so onerous. Granted, the bill expanded the parameters of law enforcement, but not to the detriment of law-abiding citizens. After 9/11, I made the statement that my most pressing fear is that the next attack will come by water at ports and/or harbors, the very issue that plagues us today with the ports issue. We are indeed still vulnerable, but we are not as vulnerable as we were on 9/11, and part of that security must be directly related to the PATRIOT Act. We are not invincible, by any means; but we are more secure, we are more protected than we were then, because I think we now fully appreciate the enemy, the terrorism that hangs heavy over our heads; and I think the PATRIOT Act, Madam Speaker, will serve a good purpose to that end. I again thank the chairman for having yielded time to me, and I thank him for his leadership as we have pursued this effort in the past several months.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, when someone thinks sports and the Sixth District of North Carolina, most thoughts turn toward basketball, baseball and auto racing. I think it is safe to say that not many people would immediately leap to speed skating on ice. That's no longer the case, however, thanks to Joey Cheek of Greensboro. The Sixth District is now the speed skating capital of the world because Joey Cheek captured the gold medal in the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, by winning the 500 meter long-track speed skating event. Proving he is a true champion in every sense of the word, immediately after he won the gold medal, Joey Cheek announced he was donating the $25,000 he won from the U.S. Olympic Committee to refugee relief efforts in Africa. As reported in today's edition of the Greensboro News & Record, Joey said his thoughts are turning back to North Carolina. ``I am really excited about going home,'' the News & Record reported. ``Honestly, it doesn't even feel real. I'm so thrilled and so happy. But it doesn't seem to make sense. It's like it happened to someone else, and I'm just happy to sort of receive the good will for it. I'm just really excited and looking forward to the next couple of days to maybe realizing I'm an Olympic champion, will be forever, which is the coolest part of it.'' Cheek is scheduled to compete in the 1,000 and 1,500 meter events next. In fact, the 1,000 meter race is considered to be Joey's strongest event, so there may be more Olympic hardware coming his way. Four years ago, he won the bronze medal in the Salt Lake City Olympics in the 1,000 meter race, so this gold medal is not at all surprising to those who follow the sport. Joey Cheek has been a skater since he was eight years old and used to skate in roller rinks in Greensboro. At 15, he switched to the ice and it's been a straight line to the winner's podium in Turin. Joey's mother is in Turin to witness family history first-hand, while his father is following from his home office in Winston-Salem. Once all of the racing is completed, Joey hopes to return to Greensboro where he plans to obtain a law degree and practice law in North Carolina. Whatever he decides to do, as he has shown both on and off the ice in Italy, Joey Cheek will be a champion and the Sixth District of North Carolina is proud to call him one of our own.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, Thomasville High School, located in the Sixth District of North Carolina, is known as a football powerhouse in our state. The Bulldogs have captured two straight high school football championships and six overall. In fact, the school is renowned for its entire athletic program. Last year, the school won three state titles, two for men's and women's basketball and one for the football team. Now it can add another state championship trophy in its overflowing display case--the men's soccer team won the school's first-ever title in that sport. On November 19, 2005, the Bulldogs soccer team defeated Manteo 4-3 in sudden-death overtime at the SAS Soccer complex in Cary, North Carolina. ``It's just an unbelievable feeling,'' third-year head coach Robert Yates told The Thomasville Times. ``Just to make the playoffs, and then to get to the state championship game, and then to win it like that in sudden-death overtime, it's hard to describe.'' The player who was a team leader all year--Walter Cruz--came through again in the sudden- death overtime period to score the game-winning goal. Cruz, who earned the Most Valuable Player award for the game, told The Thomasville Times, ``I can't explain the things that I feel. We made history in Thomasville High School soccer.'' Joining Cruz in the history-making march to the title were teammates Rogaciano Augilar, Danny Alvarado, Adam Beasley, Eder Calva, Miguel Chavez, Adrian Hidalgo, Ji Soo Noh, Joel Ramirez, Roman Ramos, Jose Rios, Edberg Rodriguez, Yefrey Salazar, Victor Sanchez, Daniel Sandoval, Eloi Solis, Joel Torres, Zach Upton, Lazaro Vazquez, Marco Villa, and Rich Weaver. Congratulations to head coach Yates, his assistant coach Martin Stanich and community volunteer George Solis, athletic director Woody Huneycutt, principal Dirk Gurley, the faculty, staff, students, parents, and fans of Thomasville High School on the first-ever soccer championship in school history. Thomasville has proved that in addition to football and basketball, the Bulldogs are tops in soccer, too.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that the tradition of football excellence continues at a high school in the Sixth District of North Carolina that is known throughout our State as a football powerhouse. For the second year in a row, and for the sixth time in school history, Thomasville High School has captured a North Carolina high school football championship. In addition, while the rest of the country wonders if the NFL's Colts can match the 1972 Dolphins perfect, unbeaten season, I am also pleased to note that Thomasville completed its second, perfect 16-0 football season. In fact, perfect, unbeaten seasons have only been accomplished twice since they began playing high school football in North Carolina in 1927. The other school to do it: Thomasville High School in 1995. Thomasville captured its second straight State football championship on December 10, 2005, when the Bulldogs defeated Wallace-Rose Hill 21- 20 at Wake Forest University's Groves Stadium. The one-point victory was a case of deja vu for Thomasville because last year the Bulldogs defeated Wallace-Rose Hill 15-14. ``These one-point wins are tough on your nerves,'' Thomasville coach Benjie Brown told the High Point Enterprise. ``I don't feel any different. Those kids last year earned it just as much as these kids did. I'm happy for both groups.'' We are pleased to recognize all the members of the Thomasville football team who contributed to this perfect championship season. Members of the squad included Najee Brown, Jeremy McKiver, Cory Tobin, Willie Green, Showron Stukes, Bradley Watkins, E.J. Abrams-Ward, Justin Moore, Chris Woods, Khiry Billie, Richard McLendon, Darrius Little, Scott Hines, Quan Warley, Alex Rodriquez, Shawndarian Sanders, Rashad Whitaker, Quan Sanders, Chris Webber, E.J. McCormick, Jaquan Mouzone, Brad Wilkes, Bud Ray, Terrance Pearson, Dujuan Ingram, Lawerence Jackson, Brandon Johnson, Mertez Wilson, Demagio Lawson, Brandon Moss, Jamall Steele, Lorenzo Cannon, Kendarius Cox, Jerrell Wilson, Antonio Royal, Courtney Henry, Ari Foust, Xavier Wallace, Quentin Long, Preston Atwood, Robert Benjamin, Tommy Green, Cornelius Davis, Ji Soo Noh, Trey Ray, Quinton Lindsey, Evander Davis, Dustin Gloor, Willie Cannon, and Michael Byrd. The players would be the first to tell you that they wouldn't have been able to achieve all that they did without the strong support of the coaching and support staffs. Starting with head coach Benjie Brown, the Bulldogs were ably coached by Stan Baranowski, Allen Brown, Roger Bryant, Sam Captain, Phillip Johnson, Danny Medlin, Matt Pugh, Brandon Staton, and Nick Sweitzer. The community coaches who assisted included Vince Brown, Ed Courtney, Kemp Harvey, and Don Osborne. The middle school coach was Eric Rader. The other valuable members of the Bulldog championship squad included team doctors David Williams and Rob Williams, trainers Kenny Coker and Charles Crowell, statistician Barry Tucker, film crew members Travis Leanord, Wade Loflin, Casey Medlin, and Adam Oakley, gym maintenance staffer Bill Moore, and team managers Keyshawn Green, Ryan Hanner, Jason Hicks, Luke Williams, and Antwon Simon. On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we congratulate the Thomasville Bulldogs for completing its second consecutive State football championship and doing it without a loss all year. Congratulations to principal Dirk Gurley, athletic director Woody Huneycutt, the teachers, staff, students, parents, and fans of Thomasville High School for bringing football perfection to our district.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, the frigid unforgiving winds that normally blow across the Blue Ridge Mountains during the months of winter are blowing less brutally and less severely today. For on this day, these winds sweep across the campus of Appalachian State University, home of the National I-AA champions of intercollegiate football. I attended Appalachian State, Mr. Speaker, and I know I speak for many in the Congress and many congressional staffers as well in conveying hearty congratulations and best wishes to Chancellor Peacock, Coach Moore, and the entire Appalachian community. Mr. Speaker, I join you in enthusiastically declaring, Go Mountaineers from Appalachian State.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, on 9/11, evil terrorists, murderers, if you will, inspired and motivated by fanaticism and hatred attacked our country and nearly 3,000 innocent Americans expired. It would be a simple matter to overreact to such an attack; but our response, for the most part, Mr. Speaker, has been thorough and deliberate. The Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security alone conducted nine hearings, coupled with two additional hearings before the full House Judiciary Committee. Other committees as well conducted hearings. So this seems to me refutes the charge that this act has been hurriedly rammed through the Congress. I spoke earlier on this floor, Mr. Speaker, of a constituent who urged me to lead an effort to repeal the PATRIOT Act. When I asked him to cite examples where civil liberties had been abused, he could offer none. Other opponents of the act have likewise been unable to document evidence of abuses. Some have said, well, these points are irrelevant. They are not irrelevant at all, Mr. Speaker, when you are talking to people who oppose the act, but yet are unable to offer evidence to support their opposition. I think it is relevant, indeed. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I am going to touch on a point that I think many Americans have inadvertently ignored, and that is the fact that there are in excess of 360 ports in the United States and this bill provides basic and much-needed protection thereto. It is clear that our ports and harbors are significant and appealing targets for terrorist attacks. We cannot afford to leave these areas unprotected or hamstring law enforcement efforts to provide basic security against terrorists. Mr. Speaker, I am not trying to be a Chicken Little and shouting that the sky is falling, but just because we have not been attacked subsequently since 9/11 does not indicate to me that these terrorists, I call them murderers, they are murderers, are asleep at the switch. They are continuing to plot, and we cannot turn a blind eye to them. Is this act perfect? No. Not many acts that find their way through this Congress are perfect. But it is a piece of legislation that should be enacted, and I urge support.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, this is not unlike a family reunion. The gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt) and I are former Coast Guardsmen. The gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons) represented the Academy in his district. Let me share this with my colleagues. It has nothing to do with the recent problems in New Orleans, but it has much to do with the Coast Guard. Some years ago, I was having an evening meal in the home of a Coast Guardsman, who is the son of a former keeper at one of the lifeboat stations along the Carolina Coast. And my Coast Guardsman friend's mom, and the dad of the family had since expired, but she was almost in tears when she was recalling the decommissioning or the shutting down of the lifesaving stations along the Carolina Coast. She said it will never be the same again. The Coast Guard will never be able to function. Well, old habits die hard, as the gentlemen knows, and, of course, the Coast Guard continues to function. What was going on was they were streamlining. They were decommissioning four or five stations, making one great support center or a group station, if you will. But the Coast Guard will indeed function well. And this has been a very fine evening. I thank the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons) for having joined the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt). The gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt) was the lead dog. It was his idea, and I appreciate very much his having done it.

Mr. COBLE. It is probably the most unsung rate in the military. The Coast Guard has long been known as the armed service that gets more done for less. I do not mean this as an indictment against our sister services, by any means, but the orphan syndrome as has been pointed out. And this is a good time to mention the Deepwater Project because the Coast Guard needs additional appropriated moneys to address the antiquated equipment, the cutters, the helicopters, the aircraft that are in dire need of replacement.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, this is a good time for me to say this. The enlisted rate rescue swimmer was not known when I was in the Coast Guard.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts, and I want to say a word or two about the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt). First of all, I want to thank him for having taken out this Special Order. And by the way, he was an enlisted man and a gentleman. I too was an enlisted man and, hopefully, a gentleman; but my colleague and I became good friends, Mr. Speaker, as a result of our both serving on the Committee on the Judiciary. I learned one day early in the session that he was a Coast Guard veteran, and there are not that many of us around, as you know, in the Congress, and so we became good friends. I guess ideologically he and I are probably light years apart, but that has in no way hampered our friendship. As my colleague knows, when Mother Nature rears her ugly head and devastation results therefrom, oftentimes accusatory fingers are forthcoming: Oh, it was not my fault; it was his fault or it was her fault. But that was not the case with the Coast Guard. I think in the wake of Katrina, the Coast Guard may well have been the only entity or agency that came out of that exercise free of fault and free of blame. The Coast Guard became America's hero. Now, as the gentleman from Massachusetts pointed out, this certainly may well have been one of our finest hours. The landing ship tanks that were manned by Coast Guardsmen in World War II has oftentimes been called America's finest hour, and of course the day-to-day search-and- rescue operations that occur as a matter of fact are no big deal. Coasties go out and rescue distressed victims. No big thing for them. It is all in a day's work. But as my colleague pointed out, when we saw those heroic rescues by the Coast Guard air arm during Katrina, it was unbelievable. It is a shame that it took a 9/11 or a Katrina for many Americans to become personal friends with the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard was the forgotten service. It was the fifth armed forcement, but rarely was much said about it. Oftentimes, and I am sure my colleague has been addressed in this manner, as have I, where Coast Guardsmen were referred to as members of the Hooligan Navy, the shallow-water sailors. Oftentimes, when I was on Active Duty, which seems more like the dark ages, it was not uncommon for us to become beneficiaries of Navy hand- me-downs, equipment the Navy was about to survey or to abandon, which we would warmly embrace.

Mr. COBLE. Like an orphan, sure. Excellent example. So I am very pleased, Mr. Speaker, that my colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt), took out this Special Order. Now, this has nothing to do with Katrina, and I see our friend from New London has joined us as well, but oftentimes back home, I would appear at Veterans Day or Memorial Day services and inevitably you would hear the hymns of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Marines, but conspicuously absent was the most beautiful marching hymn of all, Semper Paratus, the Coast Guard's marching hymn. I went to a music director once at a high school and I asked her why was ``Semper Paratus'' not played. She said, you get it for me, and I will play it next year. It was the first one played the next year. Now each time I have been since 9/11, even back home, ``Semper Paratus'' is always included in the musical renditions. Of course it always is up here, but even in the hinterland it is being done. Mr. Speaker, I say to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt), as a fellow coastie, and as a fellow member of the Committee on the Judiciary, I thank you again for having taken out this Special Order.