Jim Cooper

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mike Mullen, said that our worst enemy was not any foreign power or al Qaeda--rather, that it's our own national debt. That's right. It's official now. Congress has become basically America's worst enemy. I wish we would take it upon ourselves to cut spending and to balance budgets. We are failing in doing that, and we have failed repeatedly. I wish the supercommittee would come up with a super solution. That does not look likely. I regret that we are at the stage now where we need a balanced budget amendment, and I regret that we're at the stage of partisanship when, just 10 years ago, 72 Democrats voted for this, including two out of the three top members of our leadership. We've got to live within our means. The Nation's future is at stake. It's sad that we have become so lame that we need this crutch, but we need it. America's overspending--our obesity in this body--is so great that we have become America's greatest obesity problem. The balanced budget amendment is the right diet.

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to salute the Better Business Bureau of Middle Tennessee. An organization dedicated to consumer protection, business standards, and community involvement, the Bureau has seen record growth and become a pillar in our great city of Nashville. In October of 1961, the Bureau opened its doors with 510 members. During the 1960s, it handled nearly 80,000 service requests. After 5 decades of expansion and growth, the Better Business Bureau of Middle Tennessee now has 5,000 members. In 2011, the Bureau will top 3 million requests with 98 percent of all services delivered via the Internet. The Better Business Bureau of Middle Tennessee has a solid reputation for both helping the consumer and raising the standards of business. The Bureau continually encourages businesses to strive for the highest and most ethical standards in commerce. Local businesses aspire to be recipients of the highly coveted ``Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics.'' Although its primary focus is to direct consumers to businesses they can trust, the Better Business Bureau of Middle Tennessee has become a community partner and a good corporate citizen. The Bureau has invested in higher education awarding scholarships to deserving high schools students through the ``Students of Integrity'' program and partners with many other nonprofits in community events throughout the area. And so, Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege today to salute the Better Business Bureau of Middle Tennessee for its 50 years of dedicated service to our citizens and our community, and for promoting higher ethical standards in business.

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. Madam Chair, I believe that America should solve its biggest problems in a bipartisan fashion. It takes Democrats, Republicans and Independents working together to find the best solutions. This is particularly true of budgets, which determine so much of the future of our great Nation. Unfortunately, budget season is one of the most partisan times in Congress, despite the fact that the public has been demanding that we stop the bickering. I have been working hard to offer this House the chance to vote on a budget that is modeled on the President's Fiscal Commission, known as the Bowles-Simpson Report. I support this approach to budgeting because it is, so far at least, the only serious, bipartisan plan for reducing our runaway federal budget deficits. The Bowles-Simpson Commission received the support of Commission members as diverse as the liberal Democratic Senator Dick Durbin and the conservative Republican Senator Tom Coburn. The Commission received such widespread support because it did three things: Cut the deficit by $4 trillion over the next ten years; Shared the sacrifice: put every federal program on the table; and Provided a balanced approach: 2/3 spending cuts and 1/3 tax reform. While there are many other important features of the Bowles-Simpson Report, it is important to understand that budget resolutions never include detailed recommendations of any reform plan. Budget resolutions only include a broad framework and mandate that the committees of jurisdiction figure out ways to achieve the necessary savings and reform. That's why the Cooper Substitute makes House committees reduce the deficit by as much as Bowles-Simpson recommends, but does not tell them exactly how to do it. I am proud to have the full support and vote of my Republican colleague, the gentleman from Virginia Frank Wolf, who worked with me to pass the Cooper-Wolf SAFE Commission Act to form a Fiscal Commission last Congress. The SAFE Act became the model for the Bowles-Simpson Commission. Frank Wolf has worked harder than any member I know to get the leadership of both parties, in both houses, and the White House, to take our budget deficit problems seriously and to act promptly in order to reduce their burden on future generations. Frank Wolf is a true leader, and he is, in my opinion, a genuine American hero on fiscal responsibility. I appreciate the Rules Committee making the Cooper Substitute in order. I hope that this return to more open debates in the House becomes the norm so that the best ideas, not just the most partisan ideas, can reach the House floor. Chairman Dreier has already taken important steps in this regard so that the House can once again work its will, regardless of politics or party. Madam Chair, I had hoped to offer my Substitute tonight, even though the hour is late, not believing that it ever had a ghost of a chance of passage, but believing that the votes deserved to be counted on this important proposal. The timing is not right, however, for several unforeseeable reasons. Yesterday, the President made an important speech on the budget that, temporarily at least, has inflamed partisan passions on both sides of the aisle, making a vote tomorrow less likely to be a reasoned one. I think the President should be complimented for moving the debate in a positive direction, regardless of the spin that each side has given it. For example, if the President had called for $4 trillion of deficit reduction as recently as two months ago, he would have been denounced by many people. Yesterday, he was more favorably received. I give Republicans, particularly my friend, the gentleman from Wisconsin and Chairman of the Budget Committee Paul Ryan, credit for having moved the debate so far. Mr. Ryan, just like the President, has been unfairly vilified, which does nothing to reduce the debt burden on future generations. Finger-pointing does not solve problems. Another crucial development is the sensitive nature of the quiet Senate negotiations on deficit reduction, particularly the so-called Gang of Six. We all realize that, because the other body is less partisan than today's House, a comprehensive solution is more likely to originate in that chamber. The fact that Senators ranging from Durbin to Coburn have already supported Bowles-Simpson is proof. I do not think it is wise to risk doing anything to derail or impair those behind-the-scenes negotiations, which I am told by key senators in both parties could be the result of a premature House vote. The day will come, probably with the necessary debt ceiling increase this summer, for a comprehensive, bipartisan solution to our deficit problem. For that to happen, the partisan passions of this budget debate must burn out. Members must go back home and brag about their favorite budget before they get realistic and agree on a spending plan that can actually pass the House and Senate and be signed into law by the President. Every day we wait to solve these problems costs us dearly; by some estimates, as much as $8 billion a day. I wish that this cycle of additional politics were not necessary--and I have done everything I can to avoid it--but there are no shortcuts in a democracy. The time spent on the Cooper Substitute has not been wasted. Countless members in both parties have learned the contents of the Bowles-Simpson Report because they thought they might have to vote for a budget that embodies spending cuts of such size and tax reforms of such nature that it would actually make a difference. Nothing so concentrates the mind as the fear of voting. Numerous members of both parties have told me that they intended to support Bowles-Simpson either on a stand-alone basis or in addition to supporting another budget of their choice. I appreciate the interest and genuine goodwill that so many members have shown in asking questions, comparing alternatives, and making the tough decisions that are required by budgeting. I think that the work that I, and my allies like Frank Wolf, have done is important for laying the groundwork for an eventual bipartisan budget that will be required, no later than this summer, in order to start solving our Nation's deficit problems. Madam Chair, this Congress must act very soon indeed to start solving our Nation's fiscal problems. I wish today were that day. I voted today for $38 billion in cuts to appropriations for the remaining few months of this year, but that is only a tiny beginning and only affects 12% of our federal budget. Serious reform means getting the House to pass something as large, as important, and as bipartisan as Bowles-Simpson- sized reforms. Bowles-Simpson is not the only solution for our problems, but it is the fastest, fairest, and most feasible solution that we know of today. As soon as this House is able to consider it calmly and sensibly, the House must do so.

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is an honor to recognize the Reverend Raymond Bowman today, who just gave the opening prayer. Seldom has Congress been more in need of prayer than we are today. Rev. Bowman was raised in Chicago. He came to Nashville, Tennessee, to attend American Baptist College. Thankfully, he is the pastor of Spruce Street Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, sometimes referred to as the mother church of African American churches in our area. He is also the president of the IMF, the Interdenominational Ministerial Fellowship. He and his wife, Nancy, are here with us today, and we would like to welcome them to our Nation's capital.

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be present for several votes taken on the House floor earlier today. As a result, I missed rollcall Votes Nos 23, 24, and 25. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner: rollcall No. 23: ``yea''; rollcall No. 24: ``yea''; rollcall No. 25: ``nay.''

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor James Cecil Dickens, better known as Little Jimmy Dickens, on the occasion of his 90th birthday. He may be a man of diminutive stature, but Little Jimmy the renowned entertainer and Grand Ole Opry star, stands taller than the rest. Jimmy Dickens was the first of thirteen children born to a West Virginia farming family and knew from a young age that he wanted to write and sing country music. He first appeared on local radio in the 1940s under the name ``Jimmy the Kid'' where he began building his reputation as the master of the country novelty song. Some of his early hits include ``Take an Old Cold Tater (And Wait)'' (1949), ``I'm Little But I'm Loud'' (1950), ``Country Boy'' (1949), and ``A-Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed'' (1950). In 1948, Roy Acuff heard Jimmy and invited him to perform on the world-famous Grand Ole Opry stage at the Ryman Auditorium. Little Jimmy was an immediate favorite not only for his unforgettable songs, but also for his flamboyant style and country sense of humor. He became a permanent member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1948, and recently celebrated his 60th anniversary as the longest-tenured Opry member of all time. Little Jimmy was signed to his first major label, Columbia Records, the same year he became an Opry Member. It was at that time that Dickens formed the band the Country Boys, whose line-up included top- flight musicians Jabbo Arrington, Grady Martin, Bob Moore, Buddy Emmons and Thumbs Carllile. Dickens had a number of hits with the Country Boys, though none bigger than ``May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose'' (1965), which reached number one on the country charts and hit the pop charts, as well. Little Jimmy holds the unique distinction of having hit records in every decade from the 1940s to the 1970s. But Little Jimmy Dickens' music is only part of his story and only part of what makes him just as popular today as when he first burst onto the country music scene over 60 years ago. He is quick with a joke and he is kind-hearted. He always has time for his fans and often spends hours signing every last autograph after a show. In an ever- changing music industry, Little Jimmy is a constant presence and a reminder that sometimes nice guys finish first. Jimmy has long been adored by his country music colleagues as well, whether it be fellow legends like the late Hank Williams (who nicknamed Jimmy, ``Tater'') or modern-day superstar, Brad Paisley (who Jimmy often performs with). It is this adoration that earned him a spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame nearly 30 years ago. Jimmy is celebrating his 90th year as anyone who knows him might guess he'd celebrate it--by entertaining his fans with good country music and humor. He's even worked his age into his act. ``You'll know you're 90-years-old,'' Jimmy tells his fans, ``when you drop something, bend over to pick it up, and think to yourself, `is there anything else I can do while I'm down here? '' And so, Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to ask my colleagues to join me in saluting Little Jimmy Dickens--an icon, a legend, and a global ambassador to country music.

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Mr. Gerry House on the occasion of his retirement from WSIX radio and the end of his famous radio show, Gerry House and the House Foundation. Mr. House is an award-winning American radio personality, talented songwriter, stand-up comic and an outstanding Tennessean. The king of morning radio in Nashville, Gerry has kept listeners company in their cars, offices and homes for three decades. He will be the first-ever country music DJ to join other American radio and television luminaries in the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Gerry is truly engaged in all levels of the music industry. He has written songs for legends like George Strait, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, Brad Paisley, Randy Travis, and the Oak Ridge Boys. A savvy businessman, Mr. House also operates a music publishing company, House Notes, which owns the songs he has written. The sustained excellence of Gerry House and the House Foundation has been recognized by virtually every respected country music and radio association in the United States. It has received three awards from the Country Music Association, seven from the Academy of Country Music, eight Billboard Awards, and nine R&R awards. Gerry is also the recipient of the NAB Marconi Radio Award for Large Market Air Personality of the Year. Gerry cited his desire to devote more of his time to other projects as his reason for retiring. His loyal fans are eagerly waiting to see what these projects will turn out to be because we all want more of Gerry. And so, Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to ask my colleagues to join me in saluting Gerry's leadership and accomplishments. The people of Nashville and Middle Tennessee are grateful for Gerry waking us up in the morning in such an enjoyable way. It's hard to make a long commute fun, but Gerry House did it for 30 years.

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor C. Ray Bell, a master builder who passed away on September 4, 2010. He was an outstanding member of the Nashville community, a lifelong activist, a leader in the construction industry, and my friend. Mr. Bell was born in Scottsboro, AL and raised in Shelbyville, TN. He graduated from the University of the South in 1963 with an honors degree in English and throughout his life remained a very well-read man. He worked in construction in Shelbyville for 6 years before he came to Nashville and started Ray Bell Construction Company, Inc. in 1970. His company became the State's largest construction firm and led the most significant projects in Tennessee and the South for over 30 years. Mr. Bell was a self-made man who had the enthusiasm and drive to make his business a great success. Ray Bell's company built everything: skyscrapers, interstate highways, bridges, prisons, stadiums, arenas and more. Many--including the Bicentennial Mall and Train Trestle, the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, the Shelby Street Bridge Rehabilitation and renovations to the Nashville Court House and Criminal Justice Center, Neyland Stadium and Thompson Boling Arena--quickly became renowned landmarks in Nashville's cityscape and throughout Tennessee. Mr. Bell knew how to bid projects, pinch pennies, cut costs and complete the job ahead of schedule without sacrificing quality. He was a perfectionist for his clients, making men and construction materials come together, even salvaging the work of other firms. Ray Bell was often called a Renaissance Man because of his love for the arts, history and music. Mr. Bell's other passions included his family, politics and charitable organizations. When it came to politics, Mr. Bell firmly believed in bipartisanship and working together to accomplish common goals. He gave generously to various charities and was active with the Tennessee State Museum Foundation, Easter Seals and the Arthritis Foundation. And so, Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to ask my colleagues to join me in saluting Ray Bell's life and accomplishments. We are grateful for his passion for construction and politics and the decades of service and contributions he provided to Nashville and the people of Tennessee.

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Overbrook School in Nashville, Tennessee. This year, Overbrook was named a National Blue Ribbon School, a tremendous honor from the U.S. Secretary of Education acknowledging Overbrook's outstanding scholastic achievement. The Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools for excellence in academic achievement. Overbrook is one of only 304 schools nationwide to receive 2010 Blue Ribbon designation and is the only Nashville area school to be honored this year. Overbook is also the first Catholic elementary school in Nashville to receive the coveted award. Since it opened in 1936 as a co-educational, Catholic school, Overbrook students have pursued academic, cultural, and spiritual growth. Situated on the Dominican Campus in the heart of Nashville, students from kindergarten through eighth grade thrive in an environment that promotes academic excellence and a life of faith. Overbrook School is an institution that values a well-rounded education in a nurturing setting. And so, Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to honor Overbrook School for being named a 2010 National Blue Ribbon School. I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting the students, teachers, parents and staff who have helped Overbrook School set a standard of excellence for elementary schools across middle Tennessee.

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Ira Bradford ``Brad'' Miller, Sr. who passed away on September 4, 2010. He was an outstanding member of the Middle Tennessee community, a leader in the construction industry, and a great friend. Mr. Miller was a lifelong resident of Rutherford County, where he attended Central High School and received a scholarship to play football at Middle Tennessee State University. He answered his country's call to serve in the United States Navy during World War II and returned to MTSU to earn his degree after the war ended. Brad Miller began working as a high school teacher and coach before pursuing his career in the construction industry. He started a water and sewer firm that eventually became Brad Miller Construction Company, Inc. After many successful years of business, Mr. Miller sold his construction company and became president of Tennessee Paving Company, an asphalt paving firm he founded with his brother-in-law. Mr. Miller served as executive director of the Tennessee Crushed Stone Association until it merged with the Tennessee Asphalt Pavement Association to form The Tennessee Road Builders Association. Mr. Miller was a member and served on the board of directors for all three associations at the same time, and during the merger he acted as the liaison between the three firms. When the associations merged in 1982, he was chosen to be the executive vice president of The Road Builders Association, a position he held until his retirement. Brad transformed The Road Builders into one of the most powerful and respected associations in Tennessee. Later, he was elected chairman of the A-R-T- B-A Council of State Executives. Brad Miller believed in the importance of having good representation in our Nation's Capitol. Over the course of his career he used his formidable lobbying skills to help influence important legislation. Mr. Miller's success in the construction industry was widely recognized. He received a certificate of special recognition from the National Stone Association, The Tennessee Road Builders Association Lifetime Achievement Award, and the A-R-T-B-A Award, the association's highest honor. Mr. Miller was married to Betty June Carter Miller for fifty-nine years. The couple met in college and married in 1951. Brad Miller was the proud father of Ira Bradford Miller, Jr., Michael L. Miller, Cindy Miller Smith and Molly Miller Alspaugh. He enjoyed spending time with his children and seven grandchildren. And so, Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to ask my colleagues to join me in saluting Mr. Miller's life and accomplishments. We are grateful for the contributions he provided to his community and the people of Tennessee.

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. I thank my colleagues. I appreciate their bipartisan effort on this important memorial resolution to honor Tennessee's historic role in making ratification of the Amendment possible. I want to point out that the State of Tennessee played this pivotal role, and I think it's very appropriate that the House commemorate the 90th anniversary. I thank my colleagues for supporting this measure.

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize St. Cecilia Academy in Nashville, Tennessee. This year marks a very important milestone in the school's history. For over one hundred and fifty years, St. Cecilia has played a vital role in the spiritual and academic lives of young women in Middle Tennessee. For a century and a half, St. Cecilia Academy, an all-girl, Catholic, college-preparatory school, has proudly guided young women through their formative years, helping them become confident women leaders of faith. The school was founded by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, who arrived in Nashville in August of 1860. The Sisters' dedication to the Catholic tradition, as well as passion for education, made it possible for the school to flourish and become one of the educational leaders in college-preparatory education. Most notably, St. Cecilia has been recognized four times by the Action Institute as one of the Top Fifty Catholic High Schools in the United States. St. Cecilia's students have been awarded prestigious scholarships, and the school's seniors are regularly accepted into top colleges. And so, Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to honor St. Cecilia Academy on its 150th anniversary. As Nashville's oldest private high school, it is an institution that embodies the ideals of excellence, creativity, and leadership development. Today I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting St. Cecilia Academy for its many decades of service toward the betterment of our youth.

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. Madam Speaker, to a boy from Louisiana, the building blocks of life are food, faith, and a healthy dose of Southern hospitality. Joseph Hamilton, grew up to learn that our world is not so simple. By January 2010 Hamilton had played a crucial role in an astounding discovery. He helped find something that no one knew existed. His work was critical in forming a multinational research team, and carrying out the discovery of Element 117--Ununseptium--the newest addition to the Periodic Table of Elements. Hamilton's life started like that of any southern boy. Born in the humble town of Ferriday, Louisiana, he stayed true to his Baptist upbringing. He attended Christian Mississippi College, where God's calling led him to be a physicist. Hamilton then took his studies to Indiana University, where he studied nuclear physics and the elements. Their tiny atoms and their nuclei are invisible except to a select group of scientists with very advanced equipment. For everyone outside this elite group, the existence of atoms and their nuclei is purely a matter of faith. The only way to observe individual atoms of elements is through their impact on the world. A skeptic may say that Christianity and physics, the two most important parts of Hamilton's life, cannot coexist, but Hamilton disagrees. He has pursued his passion without abandoning his beliefs, and has found that the two go gracefully hand in hand. As a professor at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, he and his wife have coauthored more than twenty papers on the harmony of physics and religion. Professor Hamilton has dedicated himself to the growth of his students. Recognizing that they will soon take his place in research, Hamilton has supervised over 60 PhD dissertations and over 100 post- doctoral fellows at Vanderbilt. He includes his students in almost everything he does. One of his few regrets in his storied career is that he did not intimately involve his students in the discovery of Element 117. Hamilton's research career at Vanderbilt over the last fifty-two years has taken him around the world. Russia, China, Sweden, and Germany have been but a few stops on his journeys. The creation of Element 117 in Dubna, Russia, just north of Moscow, was the result of a multinational project that Hamilton helped create. He believes that scientific discovery is a global effort, not a local one. Collaboration is key because science is one of the few things that unite us all in peaceful ways. Scientific principles apply around the world, regardless of race, creed, and nationality. The first collaborative project that Hamilton initiated, the University Isotope Separator, has been a key operation at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory for more than forty years. This began as a collaboration of 11 Southeastern universities, ORNL and the State of Tennessee. Hamilton is also a founder of the Joint Institute for Heavy Ion Research, a cooperation of Vanderbilt, the University of Tennessee, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This Institute has become a world- class scientific resource. Moreover, this Institute opened doors that helped transform ORNL through the development of three major new joint institutes. By January 2010, Hamilton's critical role in a joint Russian-American project came to fruition in the creation of six atoms of Element 117. While this new radioactive element has a half-life of only 78 milliseconds faster than the blink of an eye--its discovery points towards a fascinating possibility. Its half-life is longer than that of other recently discovered super heavy elements, and suggests that we may be on the path towards finding new, more stable, super heavy elements. Hamilton and his coworkers' discovery will be forever emblazoned on the walls of chemistry and physics labs worldwide as the newest member of the Periodic Table of Elements. Generations of scientists will discover Element 117's properties, but no matter what is learned about Element 117, this Southern gentleman will always know that his work added to the building blocks of our world.

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Robert Dedman, a dedicated public servant who is completing his third term as Wilson County Mayor. Since 1998, Mayor Dedman has served with distinction as Wilson County's Executive and has announced that he plans to retire at the end of the current term. A lifelong resident of Lebanon and Wilson County, this native son has also rendered meritorious service to his fellow citizens as Wilson County Assessor of Property and as a Lebanon City Councilman representing Ward 4. After completing a tour of duty in the United States Army in the 1950's, Robert Dedman worked for the American Legion for many years before entering public service. He began his long and distinguished career in government in 1972, when he was hired as the first Purchasing Agent for the City of Lebanon. He also enjoyed a productive tenure with the Tennessee Secretary of State's Personal Property and Inventory Division from 1978 until 1984. Robert Dedman additionally served Tennessee's 100th General Assembly as a Senate sergeant-at-arms. Because of his broad experience in local, county, and state governments, Mayor Dedman was successful in promoting a harmonious relationship between and among all levels of government to accomplish Wilson County's future goals. Madam Speaker and Distinguished Colleagues, Robert Dedman is a remarkable man who has compiled a singular record during his exemplary career in county and state government. Please join me in honoring him as he retires after thirty-eight years of outstanding service to the people of Wilson County and Tennessee.

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary efforts by the citizens of Nashville in response to the recent floods, and the critical role that HandsOn Nashville played in coordinating those efforts. As my colleagues know, earlier this month water levels in Nashville reached 32 feet above normal and 12 feet above flood level, causing devastating damage. Eighteen people died, hundreds were rescued, and many of our city's most beloved and famous attractions were partially submerged. Entire homes were destroyed, and many families have been displaced. Property damage in Davidson County is now estimated at almost $2 billion. Most remarkable about Nashville's story, though, is the spirit of giving and volunteering shown in abundance by the people in Nashville during and after this crisis. With very little fanfare or media attention, people from all across Middle Tennessee got to work to help their neighbors in need. In particular, I want to salute the team at HandsOn Nashville, led by Executive Director Brian Williams. Between May 2 and May 19, over 60,000 volunteer hours were donated to flood recovery by HandsOn Nashville volunteers. During that same period, 14,200 Nashville citizens came forward to serve in flood- related programming coordinated by HandsOn Nashville, serving in over 760 separate projects to aid flood victims. Madam Speaker, I ask you and our colleagues to join me in honoring HandsOn Nashville for their crucial contributions to the Nashville community.

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. Mr. Speaker, I thank all of my colleagues for their unanimous bipartisan support of this resolution honoring the people of the three State areas that were affected. We suffered one of the great rainfalls of modern times, literally doubled the prior record--13 inches of rain in a 2-day period--and that led to a real disaster, particularly in the area of middle Tennessee that I represent. The mayor of Nashville, Karl Dean, who's done a magnificent job responding to this crisis, has estimated the damage already at at least $1.5 billion. But the response of the community has been magnificent. And the real message of our resolution today is Nashville is open for business. Tourists are welcome. Most all of the sites will be available and ready to welcome you. A few are down temporarily, but we are rebuilding, and we are rebuilding because of the magnificent volunteer spirit of our people. Wherever you went to help a homeowner clean up a mess or to help a business recover, you were greeted with dozens, sometimes hundreds of volunteers. There's a group called Hands On Nashville that did a wonderful job coordinating these efforts. Churches, other places of worship were magnificent delivering sandwiches to the hungry, sheltering the homeless, taking care of whatever needed to be taken care of in our community. So, the volunteer spirit was magnificent. Now it's time for the government to step up. Whether it be FEMA or SBA or any other alphabet soup of Federal agencies, it's time for government to do its part. So we look forward to working with the disaster victims to make sure that everybody is helped to the extent possible because this was an unforeseen and unforeseeable calamity. It affected our district. Unfortunately, it did not get the publicity it deserved because of the New York terrorist incident and the spill in the gulf. But when Anderson Cooper of CNN came down, his initial headline for a story was ``Nashville Flooding.'' As soon as he saw the magnificent response of our people, he changed that headline to ``Nashville Rising.'' And that's our real message here. We are coming back and we are coming back strong. So please, come visit Nashville, Tennessee. Spend your tourist dollars in our community. We need your help. And together, we'll restore the rightful place of country music and other forms of music in this country.

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. Mr. Speaker, we are honored to have here today Minister Tim Alexander from Nashville, Tennessee, to offer a prayer for Nashville and for this House. Minister Alexander is a remarkable man. He and his wife, Polly, have been married for 26 years. They have two wonderful children: Abby and Ethan. Mr. Alexander has administered the flock at Smith Springs Church of Christ now since 1999 and has been a preacher of the gospel since 1984. He does much good work outside the church for victims of child sexual abuse and for victims of crime in general, so we are deeply honored to have Tim Alexander with us today.

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. Mr. Speaker, last weekend the people of Nashville and middle Tennessee suffered the worst losses from flooding in many, many decades along the Cumberland, Harpeth, and other rivers and streams. Even homes far from any body of water suffered as much as 4 and 5 feet of water in their basements. Thousands and thousands of Tennessee families and businesses are facing staggering losses, both personal and financial. Tourist landmarks like the Opryland Hotel and the Grand Ole Opry itself have suffered terrible losses, but the show is still going on in other locations. Fortunately, just last night the President declared our area an official disaster area, so Federal help is on its way. But the really good news is the good local people of middle Tennessee are banding together and volunteering in unprecedented numbers. Charities are coming forth. I have never been so proud to live in the Volunteer State.

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the members of Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church, located in Nashville, Tennessee as they celebrate their 125th Anniversary. The church was organized in 1885, just 20 years after the end of the Civil War, by a loyal band that included Irene Smart, Bill Smith, Ed Marshall and others. Ten years later they called their first pastor, Reverend A.W. Porter. The first revival service was held at a livery stable. Since those humble beginnings, five pastors have shepherded this faithful congregation: A.W. Porter (1895-1931), Walter R. Murray (1929-1953), Leroy Crinel (1953-1960), Enoch Jones (1961-1994) and William F. Buchanan (1994-present). Under the leadership of Pastor Buchanan, a new model of ministry was initiated. The image he had for this faith community was ``Servant Model''--a church that exists to serve others. The ministries include a ``Love Kitchen'' that serves weekly hot meals to the homeless; a seniors ministry that provides a place for seniors in the community to come and fellowship, play games and have a hot meal weekly; a community development corporation that delivers services to assist people in meeting their physical, emotional and spiritual needs; ``Christ Fund,'' an endowment that provides scholarships for high school graduates; ``Life Spring,'' a grief and pastoral counseling ministry; ``Psalm 46,'' a disaster preparedness ministry; ``Ninevah,'' an outreach program that provides holistic ministry from the church to the community; a prison ministry; bus ministry; radio worship program, and many other initiatives that expand the church beyond the walls of the physical building. For 125 years, the Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church has been an invaluable presence in the North Nashville community. When many growing congregations were faced with the dilemma of remaining in the inner- city or moving to the suburbs, Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church voted unanimously not only to remain an urban congregation, but also to be an agent for transformational change in North Nashville. Several years ago, a local newspaper wrote, ``what's exciting about Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church is they have taken ownership in their neighborhood to address conditions in their community to make it better for all the people there.'' Additionally, a nationwide survey funded by the Lilly Endowment cited Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church as one of 300 outstanding Protestant churches in America and Canada. Madam Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Pastor William F. Buchanan, and the entire congregation of Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church on the occasion of their 125th anniversary and wish them many more years of service to our great nation.

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. Mr. Speaker. I woke up this Sunday morning, said my prayers, and finally decided that I will vote ``yes'' on health care reform. Having heard from tens of thousands of Middle Tennesseans on all sides of the issue (including the flood of messages in the last few days and hours), and having spent months studying the various bills, I know that America must improve its health care system because it is unsustainable. This legislation will make it better. Any decision of this magnitude must be made very carefully, after weighing every concern. We Nashvillians are proud of our outstanding health care community that makes us ``the nation's health care industry capital.'' Given our community's expertise, it is interesting to note that: Every Nashville hospital strongly supports the legislation, whether it's St. Thomas, Vanderbilt (both University and Hospital), Centennial, Meharry Medical School, Nashville General, Summit, Skyline, or Southern Hills. A majority of physicians who contacted me support the legislation and, although the Tennessee Medical Association opposes it, the TMA's national organization, the conservative American Medical Association, supports it. A majority of local nurses support the legislation, along with the American Nurses Association. Despite media controversy regarding abortion, the Catholic Health Association, Catholics United, and groups representing 59,000 Catholic Sisters support the legislation. The largest Nashville and national senior organization, AARP, supports the legislation. It means a lot to me that so many local people who know so much about health care agree with my decision. Of course, there are plenty of people who disagree who are also very knowledgeable about health care, and I have great respect for their opinions. I've learned a lot from their views. Several of their suggested improvements are already in the legislation. You may be surprised that many of these critics want the legislation to do more, not less. Having taught health policy at Vanderbilt's business school for many years, I can easily point out many flaws in the legislation myself, both substantive and procedural. I have been working hard in Congress to eliminate those flaws. For example, yesterday we were able to force a clear, up-or-down vote on today's legislation instead of using the parliamentary maneuver that was favored by some in my own party. Let me make clear that I respect the advocacy of those who are opposed to the legislation. They actually help me make sure that more people in Congress do their homework and pay attention to America's financial problems. They are strengthening our democracy with their voices. The bottom line is that this legislation offers the only realistic hope that most Americans have for getting a fair deal in today's private health insurance markets. This is not a government takeover of those markets, but a way to encourage better private-market competition. In the future, private insurance companies should compete to keep us healthy, not drop us from coverage. Tens of millions of Americans will benefit immediately from reform of these insurance markets. Thousands of lives will literally be saved due to the greater affordability of health insurance. This is as major a public health accomplishment as reducing car wrecks or finding a cure for a dread disease. One of the lives saved could be yours. My health insurance is Tennessee Blue Cross/Blue Shield (just like I had when I was a small businessman in Nashville) but, as a Congressman, I am able to purchase it as part of a large pool, an exchange. I want every American to have the same purchasing power. No matter what your insurance company is, most Tennesseans are only one illness away, one pink slip away, or one premium hike away from being mistreated by current insurance practices: discrimination against pre-existing conditions, arbitrary premium pricing, and last-minute rescission of coverage when you need it most. This legislation will cover 32 million hardworking, middle-class Americans who are left out in the cold by today's insurance practices. Rival legislation only attempts to cover 3 million uninsured people, or less than 10% of the problem. America can, and must, do better. The financial issues involved are just as important as the coverage issues, as I pointed out in my remarks at the President's bipartisan summit on health care at Blair House in February. Will improved coverage increase the deficit, either short-term or long-term? And will this legislation start containing the explosion in health costs that threaten our economy but do not improve our health? Although CBO claims that the legislation will reduce deficits in the first ten years by over $100 billion, and by over $1 trillion after that, you don't have to believe CBO to realize that, even if you assume zero deficit reduction, this is a huge improvement in the policymaking of recent years. In plain English, this bill is paid for, and may even save big money. Should these projections prove faulty, there are fail- safe mechanisms within the legislation that, with public support, should correct any budget problems. I proudly voted against the 2003 Medicare drug bill because it did not even attempt to pay for itself. That one bill (which very few constituents complained about) added $600 billion to the short-term deficit and as much as $7.8 trillion in the out years. Fiscal conservatives have much more reason to protest that legislation than this. There is a legitimate concern about whether the so-called ``doc fix'' should have been included in this legislation. It is not. That issue is the result of the 1997 Balanced Budget Act formula that limits the growth of physician reimbursement under Medicare. Since 1997, some doctors have been able to increase their reimbursement more than others, but all are now threatened with a 21 percent cut. This is a $320 billion problem over the next 10 years, and a $4.2 trillion problem in the out years. Unless this issue is resolved, it could have more deficit impact than all of health reform. I think that we must figure out a way to pay for the ``doc fix'' now, not add it to the deficit. If you really care about the deficit, watch how your elected officials vote on this key issue. This legislation does not do enough to contain medical inflation, but it makes a good start because it contains the largest proposed savings in health costs in history, $600 billion over ten years. To make these savings stick, we will all have to be vigilant because every health care provider will immediately be asking for Congress to reduce or even reverse those savings. For those who sincerely want Congress to have more backbone on these issues, the answer is to support more savings now by asking for tougher follow-on legislation. You won't achieve more savings by encouraging Congress to slouch away from its responsibilities today. There are many talking heads on television who claim to want more cuts, but their immediate plan is to do nothing. Today the official Republican Party position is to scare seniors about Medicare and, despite a blizzard of words, do nothing. They are behaving as badly as the Democratic Party used to behave when scaring Social Security recipients. If history is any guide, America only has the political will to face up to these issues every 15 years, and, when we did address them, Congress did not make much progress. Neither political party will tell you that the real cost of delaying reform is roughly $16 billion a day. That's my estimate, based on accrual accounting, of the financial harm being done to America by a failure to resolve these problems on a timely basis. Waiting too long to pass reform could be as terrible a fiscal tragedy as waiting too long to treat cancer. Of course, the pundits have no way of paying for the delay, and the fiscal harm, that they foster. The opportunity cost of endless arguments may even be greater than the cost of solving the problems themselves! Opponents of today's reform also claim to have a better plan. I'd love to see it. I am thoroughly familiar with their legislative ideas because I have been working in a bipartisan way on these issues for many years. They simply do not have a better plan today that could garner more than a handful of votes, and, given their track record, are not likely to ever present one. There is no magic wand. For example, I've tried for many years to promote the bipartisan Healthy Americans Act, H.R. 1321. We ended up with only a handful of cosponsors. Another example is my friend Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-WI) interesting plan that has made him the darling of The Wall Street Journal. His bill, H.R. 4529, has exactly 13 cosponsors. You need at least 216 votes to get anything accomplished. As intriguing as some of these ideas are, they are not a solution, especially when the meter is ticking at about $16 billion a day. There is a lot of rhetoric about which political party is more sincere about deficit reduction. The facts are that the last Democratic president to have a balanced budget was Bill Clinton, just ten years ago. The last Republican president to have a balanced budget was Herbert Hoover, almost eighty years ago. Today's Congress has finally passed into law important ``pay-as-you-go'' legislation that will force Washington to start living within its means. Budget experts think that this is the single most important step toward getting our fiscal house in order. Blue Dog Democrats, of which I am a member, forced this improvement in budgeting. The President has created a bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Commission that will help Washington face up to its deficit problems. The President is doing his best to implement my bipartisan legislation on this issue, legislation that the Senate failed to pass because seven Republican senators (who are original cosponsors) voted against their own bill! None of these important steps toward fiscal sanity was allowed under the previous Administration. In fact, the previous Vice President, Dick Cheney, was famous for saying, ``Deficits don't matter.'' He could not have been more mistaken. Regardless of what happens to this legislation today, America cannot afford to ignore the growing crisis in financing today's medical system. In the future, we need to focus on these issues every year, not every 15 years. Passage of this legislation is absolutely certain to do that. Flaws will need to be corrected, adjustments made, new ideas explored. I have a list ready. Just as continual advances in medicine must be made, continual advancements in delivery of medical care must be made. Both types of advancements save lives. It is better when the private sector makes these improvements but, when the private sector fails, then government should help the private-sector, not run their businesses for them. I am well aware of the fact that this is a big vote, and perhaps a career-limiting decision. But I think most folks back home want me to do what is right, not just what's temporarily popular. That's what my 90-year-old mother taught me. I've made tough votes before and been proven right. Against united Republican opposition, I voted for the 1993 Clinton budget that put America on the path to the longest economic recovery in history. Against united Republican leadership, I voted against the 2003 Medicare drug bill that was the largest unfunded expansion of entitlement programs in history. And against united Republican opposition, I voted for the House health reform bill in November of 2009 that enabled us to vote on the much better Senate measure today. I have the honor of representing the Hermitage District. Our greatest hero, Andrew Jackson, said ``One man with courage is a majority.'' I sure hope he was right.

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. Madam Speaker, I will vote against the Previous Question Motion today because I think the American people deserve a clear, up- or-down vote on health reform. They deserve to know how their elected representative voted, without any parliamentary confusion or obfuscation. In addition to being a transparency and fairness issue, this may also be a constitutional issue because of the consensus that the House and Senate must pass identical bills before they can be sent to the President for signature. With all the publicity surrounding the so-called ``self-executing'' rule, this procedure will not fool anyone back home, nor should it. It is, however, apparently designed to fool enough members of the House into believing that they did not support the Senate bill, even though, if they support the health reform package, they voted for it as the major component of the health reform. Unless we return to regular House procedure, we will never know how members would have voted on the Senate bill, by itself, and/or the reconciliation amendment, by itself. Since the President is apparently planning on signing the Senate bill before the Senate can take up the reconciliation amendment (as the Senate parliamentarian insists), no one will know who in the House of Representatives, in fact, supported the Senate bill. In simplistic terms, the White House will not know whom to invite to the signing ceremony. All this might be a parliamentary dispute if the possibility did not exist that a constitutional challenge would be brought against health care reform legislation. All it would take is one or two federal judges to void this law because of a procedural failing. Supporters of reform will then regret taking this procedural shortcut, while opponents will welcome the opportunity to overturn the law and reopen the debate. I realize that both political parties have used self-executing rules dozens, even hundreds, of times. But, to my knowledge, these rules have never been used on an issue larger than banning smoking on airplanes, a $40 billion deficit-reduction measure, or raising the debt ceiling of the United States. None of these issues compares with the scope of health care reform. To my knowledge, no serious constitutional challenge has been mounted against these rules, but one is certain to be lodged against the passage of health reform. Voting is the most important part of our job. We must vote honestly and openly on the separate issues that come before us.

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my constituent Terry Minor. Mr. Minor and his business, Cumberland International Trucks, have received the International Circle of Excellence Award for 2009, the highest honor a dealer principal can receive. Cumberland International Trucks is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, where it was founded more than 60 years ago. Terry became a dealer principal in 2007 and currently employs 87 people. The Circle of Excellence Award, awarded by Navistar, recognizes truck dealerships that achieve the highest level of dealer performance. Before becoming a dealer, Terry worked for Cumberland International in a number of key positions, including regional manager for parts, national account manager for Ryder truck sales, and vice president of sales for the Southwest Region. He is active in a number of industry groups, including the American Truck Dealers, the Used Truck Association, and the National Automotive Dealers Association. He is heavily involved with the Tennessee Trucking Association, where he serves on the board of directors. In addition, Terry is very active in community service, including the Chamber of Commerce and the Brentwood Baptist Church. Terry has been married to his wife Kristen for 20 years. He actively supports Ravenwood High School sports teams, including his daughter Calleigh's volleyball and lacrosse teams and his son Taylor's rugby team. He is also a veteran of the 2nd Battalion, 66th Armored Division of the U.S. Army out of Fort Hood, Texas. Terry's dedication, strong work ethic, and community participation make him not only a great representative of Tennessee's values, but our Nation's values as well. Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating Terry Minor for this honor and for his many contributions to Tennessee and our country.

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. Mr. Speaker, earlier today I was in a meeting with a senior administration official and inadvertently missed rollcall vote 949 on Agreeing to the Conference Report for H.R. 3288, the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome to the Chamber today Rev. Dr. Todd Jones and his wife, Connie. Dr. Jones is the reverend at the First Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee. He has led that congregation since 2002. He is a native of Pennsylvania who was educated at the University of Pittsburgh and went on to get his degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. After that, he did a 1-year fellowship in Scotland at the University of Edinburgh. He first pastored at churches in South Carolina, where he had attended Presbyterian College. We feel very graced to have his presence in Nashville, Tennessee. He does a superb job, and he is very active in the community. For example, he is on the board of the Boy Scouts as well as Goodwill Industries. So we are very thankful for his leading this body in prayer today.

Mr. COOPER

Mr. COOPER. Madam Speaker, I was absent for the last three votes of the day on Tuesday July 21st. I apologize for my absence, and wish to add my intentions to the Record. H. Con. Res. 123--Vote of ``yes'' would have been made. H.R. 1933--Vote of ``yes'' would have been made. H.R. 2632--Vote of ``yes'' would have been made.