Mac Collins

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, had I been present for rollcall votes 538, 539, 540, 541, and 542, I would have voted the following: Rollcall No. 538: ``Yea.'' (Waiving the requirement of clause 6(a) or Rule XIII with respect to the same day consideration of certain resolution). Rollcall No. 539: ``Yea.'' (Recognizing the Boy Scouts of America). Rollcall No. 540: ``Yea.'' (Waiving points of order against the conference report to accompany the Omnibus Spending Bill). Rollcall No. 541: ``Yea.'' (Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act). Rollcall No. 542: ``Yea.'' (On Agreeing to the Conference Report-- Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 2005--Omnibus Appropriations Bill).

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, had I been present for rollcall vote No. 537, I would have voted the following: Rollcall vote No. 537: ``Yea''. (Reauthorize the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act).

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I introduced private legislation to posthumously promote Nancy Gilbert, formerly of Marietta, Georgia, to the position of Supervisory Investigator at the Atlanta District Office of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. While this legislation would not confer any additional pay or benefits to Mrs. Gilbert's family, it would rightly recognize her service at the EEOC and rightly recognize that she was worthy of a promotion for which she was passed over in July 2001. Nancy Gilbert began her career with the EEOC in 1979 in Memphis, Tennessee. Her career with the EEOC saw her ably perform in assignments in Washington, D.C., Miami, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia. During her career, she was awarded a Masters Degree in Race Relations and a Bachelors Degree in Sociology. Her last assignment was in the Atlanta District Office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (``ATDO''). While in this office, Mrs. Gilbert served in several units involving Enforcement, Intake and Mediation. Her last Government service level was as a GS 12, Step 10. By all accounts and by her record of consistent promotions, Mrs. Gilbert's service to the government was competent and admirable. In April 2001, the position of Supervisory Investigator, GS-13, in the ATDO became available. Mrs. Gilbert made the decision to apply for this position and her name was placed on the Merit Promotion Referral List. After an extremely brief and truncated interview process, Mrs. Gilbert was passed over for this position, which was awarded to another EEOC employee. Mrs. Gilbert, believing she had been discriminated against on the basis of her race, gender and age, requested a hearing, which she was granted (Agency Case No. 0-0100067-AT) before Administrative Judge Richard H. Fine on August 29 and 30, 2002. Judge Fine, after a thorough examination of the evidence, determined that Mrs. Gilbert had been unlawfully discriminated against when she was denied the promotion to the position of Supervisory Investigator. Regrettably, the EEOC, determined to use its own power to deny its wrongdoing, overturned Judge Fine's well-reasoned and clearly delineated decision in Mrs. Gilbert's favor. In so doing, the EEOC not only undermined but disregarded the very legal process instituted to protect the integrity of its employment decisions. Ironically, the very agency designed to ensure justice and fairness in hiring for our nation's workforce denied justice and fairness to one of its very own employees--not once, but twice. It is difficult to imagine a fair process in which the loser in a legal proceeding is given the opportunity to unilaterally overturn the result. However, this is the very thing the EEOC did in the case of Mrs. Gilbert. After the Judge's decision was overturned by the EEOC on appeal, the last option available to Mrs. Gilbert was to appeal this adverse agency decision to U.S. District Court. Sadly, before she could seek justice in her case in our federal courts, Mrs. Gilbert became ill and passed away earlier this year. To her credit, and in spite of the EEOC's actions against her, Mrs. Gilbert continued her faithful service as an investigator, carrying out her duties on behalf of others. It was only when her illness made her unable to work that she ultimately retired from her position. In honor of Mrs. Gilbert's faithful service to our country and with respect for the rule of law, I introduced this legislation. Mrs. Gilbert should be posthumously promoted to a GS-13, the position she deserved before her passing. While this bill would not confer any benefits, financial or otherwise, upon her family, this bill would fulfill Mrs. Gilbert's pursuit of justice that was tragically cut short by her untimely passing. The agency responsible for ensuring equal opportunity to all Americans in the job market must be held to account when it fails to live up to that mission with its own employees. This legislation would do just that by recognizing Mrs. Gilbert with the government service level she deserved and bringing justice for Mrs. Gilbert's family and loved ones who stood with her through her fight against discrimination.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I recognize the achievements of four outstanding young men from Griffin, Georgia: Garrett Kent, Brannan Smith, Nicholas Manley, and Will Watts of Griffin Christian Academy. These young men recently visited our Nation's Capital while working on their Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge for the Boy Scouts. During their trip they studied the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Federal Government. They learned about our system of checks and balances and how our government is financed. In addition, each of these Scouts wrote to me to share their views on important national issues. I am proud that these young men are learning about our government and the freedoms and principles on which our Nation was founded. I think we can all learn from the example of Garrett, Brannan, Nicholas and Will, and remember to learn about the great history of our Nation. I encourage everyone to read the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, or to come to the United States Capitol and walk through its storied halls. All Americans should be active citizens and be conscious of this magnificent creation, and our duty to serve it well. May God bless this great Nation.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 10. I know we have made a lot of changes over the last 3 years in our intelligence community, with the most recent being a change in the DCI, from Mr. Tenet to Mr. Goss. And I think that is probably the most important change that has been made. The DCI is an important position. It will be replaced by the National Intelligence Director. What concerns me, though, Mr. Chairman, is how far Congress will go in trying to manage or micromanage the intelligence community. The intelligence community is one of the most important agencies of our government. They gather information. They analyze information. And they present that information to the Commander in Chief. Lives depend on that information and we should never do anything that will stand in the way or weaken the efforts of our war fighters. I will support this bill. I like this bill much better than I do anything I see from the other body or any substitute that I have heard about. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 10.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons) for introducing this resolution and helping to work it through the channels to make sure that we could get it to the floor today. H.R. 771 pays recognition and says thanks and gratitude to the prisoners of war and to the families of the missing in action who have contributed quite a bit, many paid the ultimate price, so that we could enjoy the freedoms that we enjoy today. I would like to also pay tribute to the National League of Families, those who have insisted and worked and tried to bring to a closure missing in action from Vietnam and to discover all of the information that possibly could be found and also help with our missing in action from other wars. Under the leadership of the president of the National League of Families is Jo Anne Shirley from Dalton, Georgia; the executive director in Washington, Ms. Ann Griffith. I have visited with them a number of times, and they never quit. They do not know when the end of the day comes because they are constantly working, trying to find and discover remains of our missing in action, particularly those from Vietnam. One has to look no further than right here in this Chamber at one of our colleagues to see what it cost many to be prisoners of war. The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson), shake his hand and one will see some of the results of brutality that he went through as a prisoner of war in Vietnam for 6\1/2\ years. Watch him as he walks, his back, as he was injured in the ejection from his aircraft after being shot down over Hanoi and went without medical service for months and months. One of thousands of people like the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson) who has suffered at the hands of the enemy, his captors. I recommend that my colleagues get the gentleman's book and read it, ``Captive Warriors.'' It will give them a lot of information and insight from someone who has been there and served as a POW. And his wife and the wives of many of our POWs who insisted that contact be made while they were captive, insisted that our government continue to search and to try to reach out to find out more information on our POWs. And I go back to the family members of the National League of Families who insist today that the Vietnamese Government extend more information and extend a helping hand. Oftentimes that helping hand has not come forth. In my opinion, they have been very lax. They have not done the things that they could have done in Vietnam. I have made trips there myself, seeking information, only to be disappointed in the results that we received while we were there, the lack of information that we received while there. But, hopefully, the rewards from those trips will come at a later date. We still have some 1,850-plus who are missing in action from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. We do have a U.S./Russian Commission that was established to help to try to find and discover more information about the remains of those from the Vietnam War. Hopefully, that commission will be able to make some good reports back, and, again, that comes at the dedication of the National League of Families. But there were other wars. Thousands are still missing from World War II, Korea. I remember as a young boy growing up in rural Georgia, an aunt of mine who talked about her brother who served in Korea, missing in action, never heard from him to this day. He has never been heard from or any remains or any information given on her brother. May we never forget, Mr. Speaker, may we never forget the service, the dedication, the patriotism of those who served and those who have been captured and the families of those who have been missing; and may we always extend all efforts to find those and never leave one behind, to see that they are returned to this soil, to their families. Yes, we owe a lot to our service personnel throughout the history of this country. We owe a lot to our POWs and our MIAs. God be with their souls and may God continue to bless the United States of America for patriots like those who have served as POWs and those who are missing in action.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to Dr. Benny Tate and the Rock Springs Congregational Methodist Church in Milner, Georgia. Rock Springs dedicated a new sanctuary on August 15, 2004 with a seating capacity of 1,100. What makes this dedication so special is that Rock Springs is a rural church in Middle Georgia which in 1989 had an average attendance of less than 100. But as Dr. Benny Tate explains in his dedication sermon, ``The Favor of God'' is on Rock Springs Church. In a day and age when more and more people are moving away from the founding principles of our nation and turning to secularism, I commend Dr. Tate and the congregation of Rock Springs Congregational Methodist Church for continuing to seek the lost, and walking in the Favor of God. Without objection, I would like to enter into the Record Dr. Tate's sermon, ``Walking in the FOG (Favor of God.) Rock Springs Church--New Building Dedication, August 15, 2004 Dr. Benny Tate--Walking in the FOG (Favor of God) It is great to be in the Lord's house today and we appreciate you being here for our dedication service. It is an honor and privilege to have each and every one of you in attendance. I invite you today to take your Bible if you would to the book of Acts chapter 2, verse 38 through 47. ``Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.'' I want you to notice verse 47. The scripture says ``and having favour with all the people.'' I have been preaching a series of messages entitled `Walking in the Fog.' An acrostic for the word Fog is the Favor of God. Today I want to talk to you about the favor of God on a church. It is amazing what happens when God's favor rests on a place. It is amazing what happened when the favor of God was on the early church. I think it is amazing now what happens when God's favor is on a church. We need to understand the favor of God. We need to understand the prerequisites to the favor of God. Many times we don't understand the favor of God. Why it is seemingly God's blessing is on one place and God's blessing is not on another place. Why does God choose to give favor as he did here in the second chapter of the book of Acts and maybe seemingly the favor of God is not on another place? I want to you give some pre requisites to the favor of God. The first ingredient to the favor of God is to have a dream. We can have a lot of debates about God's spirit. Acts chapter 2, one of the indicators of being filled with God's spirit is young men shall see visions and old men shall dream dreams. It is so important that every church has a dream. It is so important that our church many years ago had a dream. Philippians 2:13 says, ``For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.'' The Bible says in Proverbs 29:18, ``Where there is no vision, the people perish.'' It is imperative; it is vital we have a dream. I know scores of people in their personal lives, in their spiritual lives, in their occupational lives, that are stone blind. They don't have a dream! For the favor of God to rest on a place, we must have a dream. Not only getting a dream but also keeping a dream. Three Hundred Eighty years ago, a group of pilgrims had the courage, the tenacity, the adventurous spirit to cross land and sea to come to a land where they could have freedom, and worship God in spirit and in truth. The first year they were here these 102 pilgrims established a town. The second year they established a town council. The third year the town council proposed building a road out into the wilderness five miles. The fourth year, the people tried to impeach the town council because they said the road five miles out into the wilderness was a waste of funds. A few years before they could see across the ocean, but now they could not see five miles out into the wilderness! It is so important that we get a dream. It is so important that we keep a dream. H. B. London of Focus on the Family, who is the Pastor to pastors, said, ``Congregations, allow your pastors to dream.'' I am so grateful that I can say with affirmation, after being here working on my fifteenth year, the wonderful people at Rock Springs Church have always allowed me to dream. It may be insane to live life with a dream but it is madness to live life without one. What brought the favor of God on this place? It was because they had a dream. They had dedication. Acts 2:42 says, ``and they continued stedfastly;'' dedication. Today is a culmination. We started in 1852 when a group of men, one of them being Absolum Ogletree, had the courage to leave an established denomination and walk out and tread new waters. They formed a denomination, the Congregational Methodist Church; Rock Springs Church being one of the charter churches. It took dedication for a handful of people on July 5, 1979 to watch their building burn to the ground. It took dedication for those people to say, ``Our building may have burned, but the church is still here, and we'll build back.'' What brings the favor of God? Ladies and gentlemen, it is not only a dream, but also dedication to the dream. The third ingredient to the favor of God is a ``desire to reach others.'' It is woven in the scriptures in verse 38 and 39. ``For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.'' See it would have been easy folks, to stay where we were. It would have been comfortable to stay where we were. I even said one time, ``We don't have to do all this, we don't have to go through all this effort, we don't have to give all this money--all we have to do is put on the marquis out front, Go to hell, we're full!'' But God did not call us to comfort, God called us to a cross. See ladies and gentlemen, Rock Springs Church realizes, it is not about us, it's about them What brings the favor of God is when we get our eyes off ourselves and realize it's not about what we want, it's about reaching men, women, boys and girls for Jesus Christ! A young lady in our church gave me this: I remember the night during the sanctuary-building program when we made our pledges. I wondered how we would ever be able to give that much. Not equal gifts, but equal sacrifices, and we did. Then I remember the ground breaking when the preacher said, ``We've never been this way before,'' and we all felt a sense of awe about what was becoming. I am overwhelmed by my feelings as I look throughout this sanctuary. Life has been breathed into this place by God Himself. For it is God who has ordained this place and God who built it. He could have used anyone, anywhere, but we were willing. Blessed are we His people who are chosen for such a time as this. Our blood, sweat, tears and prayers are in this building and oh, how small a cost. When I look at this sanctuary, I see the faces of my children growing up in the light of truth. The children I pray for daily. My youngest daughter will be saved and baptized in this building. I see the faces of my family members yet to be saved. My tears will stain the altar for them. I see the faces of those gone on. The sacrifices that brought us to this place. Truly their prayers built the foundation of this building. There once was a plum tree in the field next to the little church on Rock Springs Road. Now there is a new fruit tree growing of wood, brick, mortar and steel. Its branches shall never stop reaching forth, its fruit will always be in season, and it will last throughout all the generations. For the favor of God, there has to be a desire to reach others. The fourth and final ingredient is they demonstrated love toward each other. In verse 45 and verse 46 they literally sold their possessions because they cared about each other. A bell is not a bell till you ring it, a song is not a song till you sing it, love is not put in your heart to stay, and love is not love till you give it away. Our church loves one another. We love one another. When we weep, we weep together. When we rejoice, we rejoice together. People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. When we genuinely love one another like we love one another, that brings the favor of God and people are drawn to that! The last prerequisite for the favor of God is to depend on supernatural power. It is in verse 43, the Bible says, ``And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.'' President Lyndon Johnson used to tell the story about a preacher who got up one Sunday morning and said, ``This morning as I was getting ready for church, my dog ate my sermon notes. Today, I'll have to rely on the Holy Spirit, but I promise next week, I'll do better.'' We ought to be relying on the Holy Spirit every week and on the supernatural power of God. Last night was my first prayer service in here. I've been praying in the old sanctuary. I was praying a while back, and I wouldn't offend the Lord for anything, but I was somewhat overwhelmed and I said, ``Lord, this sanctuary is so small and in just a few weeks we are going to go over there in that big one. Lord, I don't know how I am going to fill it.'' God spoke to me. People say, ``How do you know it is God?'' Well, if He ever speaks to you, you won't have to ask me that again. God said, ``You didn't fill the one you're in now.'' It is God's house. It is not my responsibility to fill it, it's God's responsibility to fill it and it looks like He is doing a pretty good job! See, the early church depended on the supernatural. I close with this story. There was a little church up in Savannah, Tennessee getting ready for dedication day. The pastor looked over at his son about six weeks from dedication and said, ``Son, I want you to write a song for dedication.'' The night before the dedication service, the father looked over at his nineteen year old son Jaron and said, ``Jaron, have you written that song yet for dedication?'' He said, ``No, dad, but I am getting ready to sit down at the piano and I am going to write that song.'' Jaron said he sat down at the piano and said to himself, ``What do I want to experience when I come into this place for the very first time?'' He said, ``God gave me these words. As I walked through the door I sensed His presence, and I knew this was the place where love abounds. For this is the temple, Jehovah God abides here, we are standing in His presence on holy ground.'' When I read Jaron Davis's answer, it so parallels how I feel today--``It blows me away that God will take a little country boy from the foothills of Tennessee and let him write a song as a teenager that would have the effect and impact that this one has had. It just kind of proves that little is much when God is in it.'' There is no joy in easy sailing, when skies are clear and blue, Nor is there joy in doing things, that anyone can do, But there is some satisfaction, that's mighty sweet to take, When you reach a destination, mama, I never thought I'd make.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, on the 7th of August, a small Sea Pro fishing boat left Steinhatchee, Florida for a day of fishing. The four passengers, all from Monticello, Georgia were caught in a sudden squall which capsized the 23 foot craft. The next night, while they clung desperately to their overturned boat, the skipper's son, John Fish perished and drifted away from the group. For three days the survivors clung to their wreckage, hoping against hope that they would be rescued. The overdue boat was reported to the members of the U.S. Coast Guard St. Petersburg Group who immediately began a search of the vessel's last reported area, while Coast Guard searchers from Yankee Station in the North, worked their way down the coast. During the day of Sunday the 8th, several helicopters and planes, from as far away as Mobile, Alabama, searched the sea to no avail. On Monday, they continued their search and a C-130 located a hat and an ice chest floating in the water. A short time later, the newly commissioned Coast Guard Cutter Hawk skippered by Lt. j.g. Richard O. Dunagan spotted three weary survivors bobbing in the water. The three men, Jake Fish, Keith Smith, and Michael Jackson, were found weak and dehydrated and medevaced to Shand's hospital in Gainesville, FL, by an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, FL. The fourth passenger, John Fish, tragically, was lost to the sea. The U.S. Coast Guard is a valuable asset in our war on terror, the war on drugs, the navigation of our waterways, and the safety of every American who climbs into a boat. The men and women who volunteer to serve often face the same risks and dangers as our combat troops in the other branches of our military. They are called upon to perform a multitude of duties, and each day they risk their lives in service to our Nation. I am grateful for their service and bravery. I would like to thank the brave men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard for their selfless dedication and commend them for their hard work and tireless efforts in rescuing these three men. I would also like to extend my condolences to the family of John Fish who passed away during this tragic incident. Our prayers are with them as they mourn the loss of their loved one.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for debate on rollcall vote 407, rule providing for consideration of U.S.-Morocco Free Trade (H. Res. 738); rollcall vote 408, to increase disability compensation for veterans (H.R. 4175); rollcall vote 409, expressing that Presidential elections should not be postponed due to terrorist attacks (H. Res. 728); rollcall vote 410, final passage of Marriage Protection Act (H.R. 3313), rollcall vote 411, Commercial Aviation MANPADS Defense Act (H.R. 4056); and rollcall vote 412, expressing the sense of Congress for fair elections in Belarus (H. Res. 652). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' for rollcall votes 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, and 412.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for debate on rollcall vote 400, order of the previous question; rollcall vote 401, rule providing for consideration of Military Construction Appropriations (H. Res. 732); rollcall vote 402, recognizing the 35th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing (H. Res. 723); rollcall vote 403, to name the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic located in Peoria, Illinois (H.R. 4608); rollcall vote 404, conference report for Coast Guard Reauthorization (H.R. 2443); rollcall vote 405, Tax Simplification for America's Job Creation Act (H.R. 4840); and rollcall vote 406, Military Housing Improvement Act (H.R. 4879). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' for rollcall votes 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, and 406.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate two prominent members of the Columbus, Georgia community, Army Ranger, Major Retired Roger B. Brown and Mr. E. Paul Voorhees for being inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame on July 8, 2004 at Fort Benning Army Base in Columbus. These two extremely worthy inductees have made endless lists of astonishing contributions and are recognized for this reason. The Ranger Hall of Fame honors and preserves the legacies of America's most extraordinary Rangers and friends of the Army Rangers. They signify selfless sacrifice, professional excellence, and remarkable accomplishment in the defense of the greatest nation in the world and to the highest ideals of service. These gentlemen stand as examples to all professionals. In addition to Ranger Brown's many accomplishments, he is inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame for his phenomenal service as an Non- Commissioned Officer NCO and Officer in the modern Rangers. During the Vietnam War, Ranger Brown served three combat tours as an NCO in Ranger Units. He also served numerous tours with the Ranger Department. Ranger Brown served as team leader with both the 173rd Airborne Brigade's Long Reconnaissance Patrol and with the 101st Airborne Division's F/58th Infantry. His exploits are recorded as legend. His teams' accomplishments were those by which others were judged. Ranger Brown served with the F/58th Infantry, those who served with him still admire his leadership qualities of understanding and compassion supported by the highest standards of fitness, discipline, training, and morality. He attended Officer Candidate School where he received a Commission as a 2LT in the Infantry, he retired at the rank of Major. Distinguished as an outstanding Ranger, everyone who served with Ranger Brown had only the highest regard for him. Sergeant Major of the Army Retired, Julian Gates, has stated that ``Roger is a great American, a great Ranger, a great soldier leader.'' For many, Ranger Brown has always followed the Rangers motto and ``led the way.''

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for debate on the Stock Options Accounting Reform Act (H.R. 3574) rollcall vote 394, an amendment by Sherman; rollcall vote 395, an amendment by Maloney; rollcall vote 396, an amendment by Kanjorski; rollcall vote 397, final passage of H.R. 3574. I was not present for debate on Appropriations for the District of Columbia for Fiscal Year 2005 (H.R. 4850), rollcall vote 398, an amendment by Hefley; and rollcall vote 399, final passage of H.R. 4850. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' for rollcall votes 397, 398, and 399. I would have voted ``nay'' for rollcall votes 394, 395, and 396.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for rollcall vote 391, to promote freedom and democracy in Viet Nam (H.R. 1587); rollcall vote 392, concerning the importance of the distribution of food in schools to hungry or malnourished children around the world (S. Con. Res. 114); rollcall vote 393, to require a report on the conflict in Uganda (S. 2264). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' for rollcall votes 391, 392 and 393.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for debate on rollcall vote 375, United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (H.R. 4759); and rollcall vote 376, Project BioShield Act (S. 15). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' for rollcall vote 376, and ``nay'' for rollcall vote 375.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Chairman, I was not present for debate on the Legislative Branch Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005--H.R. 4755-- rollcall vote 359, amendment offered by Holt to establish a Center for Science and Technology Assessment; rollcall vote 360, amendment offered by Hefley to provide a 1 percent reduction in discretionary funding; rollcall vote 361, a motion to recommit; rollcall vote 362, final passage of H.R. 4755. Additionally, I was not present for debate on these amendments to the Agricultural Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005--H.R. 4766--rollcall vote 363, an amendment offered by Hooley; rollcall vote 364, an amendment offered by Weiner; rollcall vote 365, a motion to close the DOD conference; rollcall vote 366, an amendment offered by Baca; rollcall vote 367, an amendment offered by Tancredo; rollcall vote 368, an amendment offered by Chabot; and rollcall vote 369, an amendment offered by Kaptur. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' for rollcall votes 360, 362, 363, 365, and 367. I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall votes 359, 361, 364, 366, 368, and 369.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for debate on the Spending Control Act (H.R. 4663), rollcall vote 305, an amendment by Brady (TX); rollcall vote 306, an amendment by Chocola; rollcall vote 307, an amendment by Castle; and rollcall vote 308, an amendment by Hensarling; rollcall vote 309, an amendment by Hensarling; rollcall vote 310, an amendment by Kirk; rollcall vote 311, an amendment by Ryan; rollcall vote 312, an amendment by Ryan; rollcall vote 313, an amendment by Ryan; rollcall vote 314, an amendment by Spratt; rollcall vote 315, an amendment by Hensarling; rollcall vote 316, an amendment by Kirk; rollcall vote 317, a motion to recommit with instructions; and rollcall vote 318, final passage. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' for rollcall votes 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, and 318. I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall votes 314 and 317.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Madam Speaker, I was not present for debate on the Energy and Water Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005 (H.R. 4614), rollcall vote 320, a vote on the Previous Question; rollcall vote 321, an amendment by Sanders; rollcall vote 322, an amendment by Wilson (NM); rollcall vote 323, an amendment by Meehan; rollcall vote 324, an amendment by Hefley; rollcall vote 325, final passage for H.R. 4614. Additionally, I was not present for rollcall vote 326, Recognizing the Marshall Islands (H. Con. Res. 410); and rollcall vote 327, Presidential Medal of Freedom to Harry Colmery (H. Con. Res. 257). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' for rollcall votes 320, 324, 325, 326, and 327. I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall votes 321, 322, and 323.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Goss) for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Intelligence Authorization Act for the next fiscal year. Yes, we are at war. We are at war and a different kind of war than we have seen before. We are at war with an enemy who has no identity, who has no uniform and has no country. And I agree with the statement that was made earlier. I see no end in sight for this war. But, Mr. Chairman, I also see no end to the funding in sight for the intelligence community who does such a good job of providing us with valuable information. The President said it right at the podium there just past February when he said we are a Nation of many responsibilities, but the primary responsibility of this country and this government is the safety of the American people. We are discussing the authorization for funding, funding that was passed yesterday in the defense appropriation bill. We disagree on the funding levels, yes. We also disagree on whether or not we should create a new bureaucracy, a new level of bureaucracy to head up what I call a super spy organization for the intelligence community. But as we move forward with the changes that are being made today over at the CIA with the retirement of Director George Tenet, we need to also keep in sight those who are doing the job and make sure that they have the funds and the funds that would be available under this authorization to perform their duties. We will debate the differences, the differences we have based on the different political parties, the different philosophy, and then we will vote on those differences later on in this process, but I urge those on both sides of the aisle that when it comes to the final passage of this authorization, we should all vote yes. We should vote to support those who are in harm's way gathering information so that we will have the correct information, as best as possible, to fight the war on terrorism and protect the American people.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for rollcall vote 279, Previous Question on the Rule; rollcall vote 280, Adoption of the Rule for Defense Appropriations (H. Res. 683); rollcall vote 281, Honoring Ray Charles (H. Con. Res. 449); and rollcall vote 282, Recognizing Blues Music (H. Con. Res. 13). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' for rollcall votes 279, 280, 281, and 282.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for rollcall vote 276, Expressing the gratitude of the House of Representatives for the contributions made by America's community banks and the sense of the House of Representatives that a month should be designated as ``Community Banking Month'' (H. Res. 591); rollcall vote 277, Helping Hands for Homeownership Act (H.R. 4363); rollcall vote 278, Congratulating Randy Johnson on his perfect game (H. Res. 660). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' for rollcall votes 276, 277 and 278.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, June 18, 2004, I was not present for the following rollcall votes during debate on the Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 4567). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' for rollcall votes, 270--the Tancredo amendment and 275--Final Passage of H.R. 4567. I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall votes 267--the Jackson-Lee Amendment, 268--the DeLauro Amendment, 269--the Roybal-Allard Amendment, 271--the Maloney Amendment, 272--the Sabo Amendment, 273-- the Markey Amendment and 274--the Velazquez Amendment.

Mr. COLLINS

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

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, is it not true that one of the reasons that the quota has gone down in recent years is because of the imported tobacco that has come in and the quota is based on domestic amount?

Mr. COLLINS. Is that not what is hurting? It is time to end this program. These are small farmers who need help, who are in debt; and the purpose of this program is to buy a quota from the government.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for rollcall vote 236, a vote on the previous question on H. Res. 671; rollcall vote 237, H. Res. 671 a rule to provide for consideration of the Energy Policy Act (H.R. 4503) and the United States Refinery Revitalization Act (H.R. 4517); rollcall vote 238, a vote on the previous question; rollcall vote 239, H. Res. 672 a rule providing for the consideration of Environmental Review for Renewable Energy Project (H.R. 4513) and Arctic Coastal Plain and Surface Mining Improvement Act (H.R. 4529); rollcall vote 240, a motion to recommit the Energy Policy Act (H.R. 4503); rollcall vote 241, final passage of the Energy Policy Act (H.R. 4503) and rollcall vote 242, final passage of Renewable Energy Project Siting Improvement (H.R. 4513). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' for rollcall votes 236, 237, 238, 239, 241, and 242. I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall vote 240.