Bud Cramer

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Alabama State Representative Tommy Carter. Representative Carter has represented Limestone County in the Alabama State Legislature for thirty-six years. He plans to retire from public service at the conclusion of his current legislative term in 2006. I consider it a privilege to have worked with Representative Carter on a wide variety of issues facing Limestone County. He has done a great deal to help further the quality of life for all individuals in our community. During his many years of service in the State Legislature, Representative Carter was elected by his peers to numerous legislative leadership positions. Most notably, he served as the Chairman of the House Rules Committee for over twelve years. Representative Carter currently serves on the Education Finance and Appropriations Committee and the Agriculture and Forestry Committee. Mr. Speaker, Representative Carter is well respected throughout our local community and the entire State of Alabama. He is a past recipient of the Athens Limestone County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award and was the Conservationist of the Year Award winner in 1978. Representative Carter is also a former Scout Master and member of the Alabama National Guard. After he steps down from the Alabama State Legislature, he will continue to serve on the Board of Directors for Community Bank and Athens State University Foundation Board. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, October 27th, the North Alabama community gathered to honor and celebrate all of Representative Carter's achievements. I rise today, to join in their celebration and to thank Representative Carter for his many years of dedicated service.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize one North Alabama's most compassionate citizens, Mrs. Rosetta James. Mrs. James, who is celebrating her 80th birthday in Huntsville, Alabama has done a great deal to help further the quality of life for all individuals in our community. Mrs. James was born in Akron, Alabama After 27 years in the State of New York, she returned to her home State in 1973, and has spent the last 32 years serving in various community, church, and civic roles. Among her many accomplishments, Mrs. James has served her community and her State as the Alabama Democratic Conference Chairperson from 1992 to 1996. Additionally, she was appointed by Governor Fob James as the first volunteer Deputy Registrar in Madison County, has served on the Huntsville City Schools Advisory Council, the Family Service Center Board, and has volunteered with the Madison County Board of Volunteers and Corrections, the NAACP, and many more. Furthermore Mr. Speaker, Mrs. James continues her extraordinary work throughout the community today. Currently, she volunteers at two community schools to help children learn to read. Mrs. James also continues to inspire others to take an active role in the community. In addition, she works to organize voter registration drives and absentee ballots for people who cannot go to the polls. Mr. Speaker, Mrs. James has had a tremendous positive impact on our community in Huntsville. On October 21st, Mrs. James' family and friends are gathering to celebrate her 80th birthday with a surprise party. I rise, on behalf of everyone in North Alabama to thank her for everything she has done for the area and to wish her a happy and healthy 80th year.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 441, congratulating the NASA STS-114 team on the successful completion of the historic test flight to the International Space Station. I join my colleagues in applauding Commander Eileen Collins and her crew on the outstanding job they did onboard the Shuttle Discovery. This 14-day journey was one of the most complex space missions in the history of our Nation's space program. The crew successfully completed three spacewalks, and accomplished the first in-flight repair of the Shuttle's heat shield. They replaced a failed gyroscope onboard the Space Station, helping restore the capability to control the Station's position in orbit. The crew also successfully utilized the new Orbiter Boom Sensor System for the first time. This boom system gives NASA an unprecedented ability to examine the condition of the Shuttle once it reaches orbit. And after an extended grounding of the Shuttle fleet, the Discovery crew delivered more than 12,000 pounds of much needed supplies and equipment to the Station. Discovery and its crew also returned about 7,000 pounds of Station material back to Earth. All of us are very proud of their heroism and resolve during their mission. I also congratulate the NASA team on the ground who worked day and night to ensure that this mission was a success, and as safe as possible. In Congress, I have the privilege of representing NASA employees and contractors at the Marshall Space Flight Center. I am proud of their hard work and dedication to making this Discovery flight as safe as possible. Mr. Speaker, STS-114 was the first of two Return-to-Flight test flights. And NASA collected an unprecedented amount of test data from this flight. NASA will build on what it has learned from this Discovery mission as it prepares for the second test flight. There is much work yet to be done, but I believe that under the leadership of Administrator Mike Griffin, NASA is moving along the correct path. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment to remember the brave crewmembers of the Shuttle Columbia. Discovery's successful mission, and the ongoing work towards the second Return-to-Flight test flight, represents our nation's ongoing commitment to the Columbia crew's spirit of exploration. I strongly urge my colleagues to adopt this resolution.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Thomas M. Devanney for his many years of outstanding service to our military and our Nation. Mr. Devanney is currently the Acting Program Director for the Ground- Based Midcourse Defense Joint Program Office. In this capacity, he is responsible for the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System. Including his service in the GMD Joint Program office, Mr. Devanney has over thirty years of military and civilian missile system acquisition experience. Through his many years of service, Mr. Devanney has served in a variety of roles including the Chief of Missiles and Air Defense Systems in the Pentagon, Deputy PEO for Army Tactical Missiles and the Project Manager for the TOW Heavy Antitank Weapon Systems. He also served two overseas tours with the HAWK Air Defense System, and tours in Germany, Korea, and Vietnam. Upon retiring from the Army, Mr. Devanney entered the private sector with Alliant Techsystems, Inc. He held several key positions, including Director of the Warheads and Munitions Business Segment. For his many accomplishments, Mr. Devanney has received numerous prestigious awards. Most notably, he has received the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executives, the Exceptional Civilian Service Award, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit Award, and the Bronze Star Medal. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of Alabama's 5th Congressional District, I rise today to express my gratitude to Thomas Devanney for his extraordinary service to our military and our Nation.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Jess F. Granone for his many years of outstanding service as Executive Director of the U.S. Space and Missile Defense Technical Center (SMDTC). Mr. Granone is leaving the position, which he assumed in May of 1999. As director of SMDTC, he has been responsible for managing the day- to-day research, development, test, and evaluation activities for the Army's space and missile defense technology program. He has ensured that the command's efforts are balanced and integrated to support the Army, the Missile Defense Agency, and the Program Executive Office for the Air and Missile Defense. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Granone began his career in missile defense as an engineer in the Joint Anti-Tactical Missile Project office in the mid- 1980s. He has participated in numerous international defense initiatives in conjunction with NATO, Israel, and Japan, as well as numerous special assignments such as Chairman of the U.S. Army Missile Review Board. Some of Mr. Granone's accomplishments include developing SMDC's first integrated technology program for Directed Energy, developing the first ever KATYUSHA rocket shot down by a laser system, and developing the Army's science and technology research efforts related to space and office products. Mr. Granone was also instrumental in starting the Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment System program. Through his many years of service, Mr. Granone has received numerous awards for his accomplishments. Most notably, he has received the Senior Executive Service Presidential Rank Award, the Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the Superior Civilian Service Award, and a Letter of Commendation from the Secretary of Defense. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of Alabama's 5th Congressional District, I rise today to express my gratitude to Jess Granone for his service to our military and our Nation.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding career and contributions of Major General John W. Holly. General Holly is retiring from his position as Deputy Director of the Missile Defense Agency, the Program Executive Officer for Ballistic Missile Defense System, and the Director of the Joint National Integration Center. Prior to assuming his current position, General Holly was the Program Director of the Missile Defense Agency's Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Joint Program Office. General Holly was an integral part in the development, construction, initial testing, and deployment of the nation's GMD system, which gives our nation new and advanced capabilities to defend itself against long- range ballistic missile attacks. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank General Holly for his work developing our nation's defense capabilities against incoming missile threats. I strongly believe that his efforts have significantly contributed to the defense of our nation. During General Holly's time in Huntsville, I enjoyed working with him as he led the development of the Ground-Based Missile Defense system. I know his leadership and dedication will be sorely missed. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of everyone in North Alabama, I rise to express my gratitude to Major General John W. Holly for his many years of service in our nation's military.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Chairman, I thank my friend from Virginia very much for the time. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3132, the Children's Safety Act of 2005. I am proud to have been an original cosponsor of this legislation, and I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) for incorporating a piece of legislation that the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley) and I proposed last year, the Sex Offenders Registration and Notification Act. The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley) and I stood with John Walsh, with Ernie Allen, with the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, representatives of the Boys and Girls Club as well, and parents of children who have been killed by sex offenders. This Children's Safety Act of 2005 does, in fact, close the gaps. It tightens the ability to track down where convicted sex offenders are living and to improve the ways we notify our neighborhoods and our school districts when convicted sex offenders choose to live in our community. I am pleased that the gentleman from Florida's (Mr. Foley) legislation and my legislation was effectively included in title I of the bill we are considering today. When watching the news for the past 2 years, it is sickening to see of how many communities, how many neighborhoods, how many parents are terrorized because sex offenders are back in their neighborhoods. I know from being a district attorney that our States have done a lot to correct the gaps, but more needs to be done. As a father, I do not want to see a child of mine victimized in that way, and I want to put myself in the shoes of those parents who had to experience this dreadful victimization. We must support this legislation today because the Children's Safety Act will increase and tighten supervision of those sex offenders and will enhance uniform notification standards for tracking sex offenders. I strongly believe that this comprehensive bill finally will give law enforcement officers the tools and resources they need to track these criminals and to protect our children and families. Mr. Chairman, I strongly urge my colleagues to adopt the Children's Safety Act.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Speakin' Out Weekly News on its twenty-fifth anniversary. Speakin' Out is published in my Congressional District and has become the longest running African-American owned newspaper in North Alabama and the Tennessee Valley. Mr. Speaker, the story behind Speakin' Out is an inspiration to entrepreneurs in Alabama and across the country. In 1980, my friend William Smothers published the first issue of Speakin' Out. It was published on his kitchen table in the City of Decatur with a meager budget of $800. Speakin' Out quickly grew from its humble beginnings. It soon moved out of the kitchen and into its first office located on the corner of Lee and Bank Street in Decatur, changing its format from a magazine to a tabloid newspaper. In 1983, Speakin' Out News merged with The Weekly News, published by Professor L.C. Jamar, Sr., and changed the company name to Speakin' Out Weekly News. Following the merger, Speakin' Out Weekly News relocated its office to Huntsville, Ala. The format was again changed from a tabloid to a broad sheet newspaper and remains so today. From its inception, Speakin' Out covered politics, the arts, business, and health issues. The editorial content was geared toward the African American community. Its unique opinions and balanced reporting has helped attract a large subscriber base. In fact, the newspaper currently boasts a weekly readership in excess of 80,000. Furthermore, Speakin' Out has established itself as a community partner in North Alabama. It hosts and sponsors numerous events each year. Speakin' Out has also established the North Alabama Journalism Center, its non-profit entity, serving as an educational and professional haven for students with an interest in communications. The center collaborates with surrounding colleges and universities to provide a venue for students to gain practical instruction. The center also offers an after school tutorial program, Starting Smarter, for students K-12. Mr. Speaker, Speakin' Out Weekly News has given a voice to African- Americans in my community and has established itself as a reliable source of community events, news, and opinions. I appreciate the publication's impartial reporting, the hard work of its reporters, and its strong commitment to our community. Mr. Speaker, over the weekend of August 13th and 14th, Speakin' Out held a community wide celebration in honor of its silver anniversary. I rise today to join them in their celebration and to congratulate them on this exciting milestone.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Alabama State Representative Nelson R. Starkey. Representative Starkey has represented the City of Florence in the Alabama State Legislature since 1978. He plans to retire from public service at the conclusion of his current legislative term in 2006. I consider it a privilege to have worked with Representative Starkey on a wide variety of issues facing Northwest Alabama. He has done a great deal to help further the quality of life for all individuals in our community. He is most well known for his strong advocacy for increased Alabama school funding. During his many years of service in the State House, Representative Starkey was elected by his peers to numerous legislative leadership positions. For eight years, he was the Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and the Joint Highway Committee. He also served as Chairman of the Local Government Committee for four years and Chairman of the State Administration Committee. Mr. Speaker, Representative Starkey is well respected throughout our local community and the entire State of Alabama. In 1993, he was chosen by the Montgomery Advertiser to receive the Meritorious Public Service Award. This honor was based on his reputation for integrity, effectiveness, vision, trustworthiness, commitment and diligence. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday August 23rd, the North Alabama community gathered to honor and celebrate all of Representative Starkey's achievements. I rise today, to join in their celebration and to thank Representative Starkey for his many years of dedicated service.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Richard Showers and pay tribute to his thirty-six year educational career in North Alabama. Dr. Showers has been an outstanding educator in North Alabama. Throughout his career, Dr. Showers has held many diverse positions. He has been an elementary technology teacher, a middle school earth science teacher, a middle school industrial teacher, a vocational education teacher, an adult education teacher, and an adult education coordinator. Additionally Mr. Speaker, Dr. Showers has proudly served the Huntsville community as the District One City Council Member since October of 1988. In fact, he was the first African-American to be elected to the City Council since 1907. As a council member, Dr. Showers sponsored the first smoking ordinance in the city, he was successful in locating an industrial park in North Huntsville, and he supported efforts in naming the Northern bypass in honor of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Showers has had a tremendous effect on our community as a teacher and City Council member and I would like thank him for his lifelong commitment to inspiring our community's children and his encouragement of adults to continue their education. I rise today to join his fellow teachers, students, family members, and friends in celebrating his distinguished career and to congratulate him upon his retirement.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the members of the Redstone-Huntsville Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army for being named for the second year in a row the ``Best Overall'' AUSA Chapter in the country. AUSA is dedicated to supporting the United States Army and maintaining a strong national defense. AUSA achieves its goals by supporting the needs and interests of soldiers, retirees, and family members. As the home of Redstone Arsenal, the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, and numerous defense partners, north Alabama has earned an excellent reputation for its role protecting the warfighter and defending our national security. The Redstone-Huntsville Chapter of AUSA, which was founded in 1959, has been a strong advocate and voice for north Alabama's warfighters. All of us in north Alabama are very proud of the hard work and commitment AUSA has always exhibited. Mr. Speaker, this award is wonderful news for our community and I rise on behalf of everyone in north Alabama to express our sincere congratulations to the members of the Redstone-Huntsville Chapter of AUSA.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the City of Huntsville, Alabama on its 200th birthday. Huntsville is a part of my Congressional District and also my birthplace and hometown. The City of Huntsville, named after Pioneer John Hunt, was founded in 1805. By 1819, it was the largest city in the Alabama Territory and was soon named the State of Alabama's first capitol. Over the last two centuries, Huntsville has played a significant role in the development of our Nation and has established itself as a leader in science and technology development. Today, technology, space, and defense industries have a major presence in Huntsville with the Army's Redstone Arsenal, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, and Cummings Research Park. The City is home to several Fortune 500 companies and also offers a broad base of manufacturing, retail and service industries. In fact, Huntsville was recently named by CNN and Money Magazine as one of the best cities in the nation to live and work. Huntsville is most well known as America's Space Capitol. In the 1950s, German Rocket Scientist Wernher von Braun and his team came to Redstone Arsenal to develop rockets for the U.S. Army. The von Braun team eventually developed the rockets which put the first American in space and transported the first astronauts to the moon. Huntsville's space legacy continues today at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Mr. Speaker, in honor of the City's bicentennial, the City is constructing a large Bicentennial park. Once completed, the park will incorporate a wide variety of symbols that represent the first 200 years of the City. Mr. Speaker, the City of Huntsville has been honoring its proud history through 2005 and will culminate its celebration during the first week of August with parades and the lighting of the Unity Candle on the City's birthday cake. I rise today to join the celebration and to congratulate Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer, City Council Members, Dr. Richard Showers, Sr., Mark Russell, Sandra Moon, Bill Kling, Jr., and Glenn Watson, and the Executive Director of the Bicentennial Commission, Mary Jane Caylor on a job well done.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sparta, Inc on its twenty-fifth anniversary. Mr. Speaker, Sparta is an employee owned firm that provides world- class technical products and services to the Defense, Aerospace, Intelligence, and Homeland Security Sectors of the Federal Government. Sparta began operations in 1979 in the Huntsville, Alabama home of Wayne Winton. Today, it has fourteen offices and approximately fourteen hundred employees across the Nation. In Alabama, Sparta works with the Space and Missile Defense Command's Future Warfare Center, Technical Center, and Technology Integration Center. By providing technical, programmatic, and acquisition support to many of SMDC's programs they make a significant contribution to our Nation's defense capabilities. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Sparta and all of their employees on twenty-five years of service to our military and our country. On behalf of the House of Representatives and everyone in North Alabama, I thank them for their commitment to the war fighter and the security of our Nation.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Chairman, I rise to congratulate the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee and the Full Science Committee for bringing this bipartisan bill to the House Floor. I am a Member of the House Appropriations Committee, and I have served on NASA's funding subcommittee for some years now. Since the President first challenged NASA to permanently extend mankind's presence beyond Earth orbit, we have looked to the Science Committee to bring a bill to the Floor that allows the full House to weigh in on this new mission. Today we are considering a NASA authorization bill that thoughtfully addresses the future of our Nation's space program. This may well be one of the most critical NASA authorization bills in decades. NASA has been given a bold challenge of exploration that calls for returning the Shuttle fleet to flight, completing the International Space Station, returning to the Moon in little more than a decade, and future missions to Mars and beyond. This bill endorses NASA's Vision for Space Exploration, and includes full funding for the exploration activities. It recognizes the importance of returning the Space Shuttle fleet to flight as the first step in the exploration vision. It highlights the importance of scientific research onboard the International Space Station. And this legislation preserves and strengthens Space and Earth science. The bill also helps ensure that the agency will have strong management plans for its workforce and for its facilities. And I hope that we can continue to strengthen this bill in conference. In particular, it is important that Congress addresses the consequences of the Iran Nonproliferation Act on the crew escape needs for the Space Station. We should ensure a balanced approach to our Nation's nonproliferation policy--one that maintains a strong nonproliferation stance while preserving peaceful cooperation with Russia in the area of human space exploration. I also hope that we can re-look at some of the many reporting requirements that are contained in this legislation during conference. Mr. Chairman, I have the privilege to represent the employees and contractors of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in my congressional district. During the Apollo program, my constituents were challenged to help lead mankind's first steps of exploration off of our planet Earth. They responded by developing the Saturn 1, Saturn IB and the Saturn 5 rockets, and the F1 and the J2 rocket engines. They developed the Lunar Roving Vehicle that transported astronauts on the lunar surface. They developed Skylab, America's first crewed orbiting space station. And today, they are ready to get on with the hard work of finishing the job--permanently extending mankind's presence beyond Earth orbit. Mr. Chairman, as our Nation prepares for the historic launch of the Shuttle Discovery and the return of America's ability to launch humans into space, I will support this balanced legislation that we are considering today.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman from Alabama, my colleague and friend, yielding to me. I join with the gentleman in opposition to this amendment. As my colleague knows, just this morning we were at a Space Power Caucus breakfast. My colleague has emphasized that we have a tremendous amount invested in our space assets. It would be a shame and actually worse than that to have those assets jeopardized. I think this amendment harms our ability to protect our assets in space. We have assets out there that are protecting us, giving us intelligence information, protecting us, giving us weather information. And I think this amendment charts a dangerous course that would not allow us to continue to invest money in research and development and protect those assets. I think we should oppose this amendment.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member, I thank the chairman, I thank the staff of both sides of the aisle. I stand in enthusiastic and strong support of H.R. 2475. This bill addresses several issues of great concern to the members of the committee and, in fact, to all Americans. These issues were first raised or detailed by several blue ribbon commissions that reviewed the performance of the intelligence community after 9/11 and by the Congress in the intelligence reform bill that was passed last year. This bill invests in an analytical initiative that draws on expertise resident at three centers: the Missile and Space Intelligence Center in Huntsville, Alabama; the National Air and Space Intelligence Center in Dayton, Ohio; and at the National Ground Intelligence Center in Charlottesville, Virginia. These centers will collaboratively assess the vulnerabilities of aircraft to foreign missiles and other airborne threats and will develop countermeasures to protect commercial aircraft at home and protect military aircraft for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill provides for much needed upgrades to information networks in these centers, allowing them to eliminate possible information gaps and to integrate stovepiped information. As recommended by the WMD Commission, this will ensure that analysts and operators have the information they need when they need it. Last year's intelligence legislation significantly reformed the intelligence community. Real reform, however, requires accountability and oversight. I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member. This year, we have set up, and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry) is here and I assume is going to speak in a few minutes as well, this oversight subcommittee. This oversight subcommittee has been working just as it should work. I am encouraged by our efforts to date to provide meaningful congressional oversight of the entire intelligence community. We have initiated in-depth reviews of intelligence community interrogation and detention operations, and we are actively pursuing answers to tough questions. We are also monitoring the standup of the new DNI, ensuring that the intelligence community implements the changes specified in the legislation. Again, I thank the chairman, I thank the ranking member. We are off to a fine start and this is an excellent bill. The Members should support it.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Colonel Robert Devlin upon his retirement from the U.S. Army after more than 24 years of outstanding service to our country. Colonel Devlin has been assigned to several key military positions throughout his career, which culminated as the Garrison Commander of the Redstone Arsenal located in Huntsville, Alabama. It is in this role that Colonel Devlin helped modernize and strengthen Redstone to better meet the demands and challenges of today's Army. Colonel Devlin has distinguished himself throughout his military service in many challenging and diverse assignments. Throughout his remarkable career, he has received many medals and awards for his ability to lead by example, encourage excellence from his peers and subordinates, effectively manage the Army's resources, and consistently produce outstanding results. I commend Colonel Devlin for his ability to energize a diverse staff toward a common purpose, setting high goals and inspiring his staff to achieve them. Mr. Speaker, during Colonel Devlin's tenure in North Alabama, he has been a true partner with our community. His openness, visibility, and willingness to help has done a great deal to bring Redstone and the larger community closer together. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of North Alabama, I congratulate Colonel Devlin for his 24 years of service to our country.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Chairman, I thank the ranking member for the time. I rise in strong support of this subcommittee bill. I am privileged to be a member of this subcommittee, and I think the chairman, the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman Wolf), and his staff have crafted an unbelievably good bill under very difficult circumstances. I particularly, on behalf of the National Children's Alliance, want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for their commitment to funding for this remarkable national network of children's advocacy centers which have been a part of this bill for many years now. As my colleague from Texas just remarked about the crime victims trust fund funding, my local nonprofits there in north Alabama and around this country are pleased that that trust fund was not rescinded, that money was restored in there. Again, I thank the chairman and the ranking member for those plus-ups. This is a good bill. It should be supported by the Members. On the NASA side, on the NASA account, we are fully funding the Shuttle Return to Flight, and the President's space exploration program on behalf of the Marshall Space Flight Center, also there in north Alabama. This is a good bill for NASA, and, again, it is under difficult circumstances. In my area of the country, we have a problem with the crystal meth issue. There is money available under this bill for the meth hotspots at the level of $60 million. My community sorely needs that kind of funding available for them to attempt to combat this raging and very difficult problem. The bill restores $40 million for the drug courts. In my opinion, that is related to the crystal meth issues, at least in my area anyway, and we need those moneys restored. I might remind my colleagues that that program, the drug court program, was zeroed out in the President's budget. This bill fully restores funding for the NEP program, and that is important. So, all in all, as I have rambled through the various provisions in this bill, this is a good bill, and on behalf of the citizens of the Fifth Congressional District of Alabama, I urge my Members to support this bill.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lieutenant Colonel Michael Van Rassen upon his retirement from the U.S. Army after more than 20 years of outstanding service to our country. After his retirement on August 31, 2005, Lieutenant Colonel Van Rassen will reside in my Congressional district. Lieutenant Colonel Van Rassen has been assigned to several key military positions throughout his career, which culminated as the Product Manager for Fielding and Integration for Air and Missile Defense Command and Control Systems (AMDCCS) Product Office in Madison, Alabama, a position he has held since 2002. It is in this role that Lieutenant Colonel Van Rassen will leave an enduring mark on the future of the Army. He was instrumental in the deployment of the Forward Area Air Defense Command, cross leveraging software capabilities through the Air and Missile Defense Planning and Control System program, designing and validating the critical need for the Air Defense Aerospace Management Cell, leading the DOD Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar initiative for deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. Lieutenant Colonel Van Rassen has distinguished himself throughout his military service in challenging and diverse assignments. Throughout his career, he has received many medals and awards for his ability to lead by example, encourage excellence from his peers and subordinates, effectively manage the Army's resources, and consistently produce outstanding results. I commend Lieutenant Colonel Van Rassen for his ability to energize a diverse staff toward a common purpose, setting high standards and inspiring his staff to achieve them. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of North Alabama, I congratulate Lieutenant Colonel Van Rassen for his 20 years of service to our country.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of North Alabama's most influential leaders, Mr. John Caddell. Mr. Caddell, who will turn 95 on Saturday, is a popular lawyer in Decatur, Alabama who has done a great deal to help further the quality of life for all individuals in our community. Still active in his law firm of Harris, Caddell, and Shanks, Mr. Caddell has always found time to share his thoughts on important community issues. He has been recognized for his leadership and commitment by the Kiwanis Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Alabama Academy of Honor, and the University of Alabama. Mr. Caddell is a board member and volunteer for many community organizations. He has served as a trustee for the University of Alabama system, First National Bank of Decatur, the Alabama State Democratic Executive Committee, and the Decatur General Hospital Foundation amongst others. He is also an elder and a Deacon for the First Presbyterian Church of Decatur. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Caddell's family and friends in Decatur are gathering today to celebrate his 95th birthday with a surprise party. I rise, on behalf of everyone in North Alabama to thank him for everything he has done for the area and wish him a happy, healthy 95th year.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of North Alabama's most compassionate and dedicated leaders, Mrs. Cathy Anderson. Cathy is currently the CEO and President of Woody Anderson Ford in Huntsville, Alabama. Mrs. Anderson was recently awarded the prestigious Ford ``Salute to Dealers'' Award. The Salute to Dealers Award was established to demonstrate Ford Motor Company's commitment to its dealers that improve the lives of those in need in their communities. I have known Cathy for many years and cannot think of anyone who deserves this award more than her. Before she joined her late husband at his Ford dealership, Cathy was a state social worker who worked with abused children and their families. Her work has gone a long way in providing an effective system for intervention and treatment. She continues her work with children today as a strong supporter of the National Children's Advocacy Center in Huntsville. Cathy is also on the forefront of methamphetamine prevention in North Alabama. In 2004, she hosted a methamphetamine educational forum for hospitality workers in Madison County. Cathy understood that a number of meth labs are found in hotel and motel rooms and organized this forum to help point out the signs of meth abuse and teach others what they can do to help eradicate meth in the community. Mr. Speaker, Cathy's work with children and methamphetamine abuse is quite remarkable and has helped raise the overall quality of life in North Alabama. I consider it a great privilege to have worked with Cathy on a wide variety of issues and to call her my friend. On Friday, April 22, the North Alabama community will gather to honor and celebrate all of Cathy's achievements. I rise today, to join in their celebration and to congratulate her on behalf of everyone in North Alabama.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, with profound sadness, I rise today to honor the life of my good friend and mentor, former U.S. Representative Tom Bevill. He passed away on March 30, 2005, one day after his 84th birthday. Congressman Bevill served in this Chamber for the State of Alabama for 30 years. He was the Chairman of the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee. He was a powerful Congressman, who always remembered the people of Alabama who elected him. Under his chairmanship, he helped ensure that the State received funding for vital programs and projects and did a tremendous amount to improve the overall quality of life for his constituents. Mr. Speaker, to honor the life and accomplishments of Tom Bevill, we must talk about the person he was. He was a devoted husband and father, a patriot and a statesman. Mr. Bevill inherited me when I was elected to Congress in 1990. Actually, I had first met him in 1980 when he was getting off of Air Force One with President Carter in Huntsville. What a distinguished man he was coming down those steps, and I am talking about Tom Bevill. I had just been elected District Attorney of Madison County and I was meeting the man I had heard so much about, Tom Bevill. A powerful member of Congress and the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water. In 1991, I was a dangerous creature, a freshman Member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Mr. Bevill and his entire office became like family to me. He went out of his way to teach me everything he could and he let other members know that I was his partner, though I knew I was a very junior one. One of the first legislative battles we fought together was over funding for NASA's Space Station. I had thousands of jobs at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville connected to the space station. A Michigan Member was offering an amendment to an appropriations bill to kill the whole program, ending my jobs. So a number of us, including Mr. Bevill, organized to defeat the amendment. Mr. Bevill, like a good teacher, sent me to talk to this Michigan Member. Now Chairman Bevill didn't do all this work ``for'' me, he always did it ``with'' me. In this case, he sent me to talk to the man, alone. I did not know this man, but off I went, and I talked to him, or tried to, and it did not go well at all. This man from Michigan put his hand on my shoulder, grinned and said, ``You might as well kiss those jobs goodbye.'' He was crude and rude. So I reported this back to Chairman Bevill and he said, ``You don't say? Well, truth be known the man is practically a communist. But, we'll beat him.'' And we did. Chairman Bevill was brilliant on the floor during the debate. We saved those jobs and probably mine too. And the Space Station is out there in Space. But, I sure learned a lot from Tom Bevill. I can see him now. Always neatly dressed, hard at work for his Alabama and his Country. Chairman Bevill was from a different, and I have to say better era. A time in the U.S. House when members were civil and even courteous to one another. They might disagree and often did, but they walked away as friends. And they did it with dignity. Tom Bevill was always at the Thursday morning prayer breakfast. He sat in the same place every week with his friends. He took me with him the first time I went and I was and am a better person for it. He showed me where members of Congress could eat lunch in the Capitol. As often as I could I would eat there, watching and listening to Tom Bevill and his friends. Members were always trying to talk to Tom Bevill, to ask him for something, and he was always kind and courteous. The Alabama delegation, seven of us, would tend to gather at every vote in the same area of the House Floor. Mr. Bevill would watch our votes and every now and then he would make a comment. A careful comment--``Bud, are `we' being a politician today or a statesmen?'' or ``I find that `our' people in Alabama don't see this issue the way some do . . .'' Offering wonderful, helpful, wise advice, that was the kind of man he was. And so, every now and then some, not many, will say to me in my district in North Alabama, ``You are going to be another Tom Bevill,'' or at least that's the way I hear it in my mind. They probably actually say, ``You keep this up and you `might' be another Tom Bevill.'' Then I know, that after 15 years, I have heard the best compliment one could pay . . . To be compared to Tom Bevill He gave us so much and I will miss him dearly. To his children, Susan, Don, and Patty, thank you for letting us share him with you and your families. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of everyone in North Alabama, to show my thanks to Congressman Bevill and honor him as a true American leader. There won't be another one like Tom Bevill.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. I thank my friend from Missouri for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I think a number of important points have been made today, but I rise today in strong support of this bill and in opposition to the estate tax. Some of the previous speakers on this side of the aisle have made reference to the fact that a number of us on the Democratic side have worked over this issue since actually the early nineties. I know the gentleman's predecessor Jennifer Dunn and I and a number of people from this side of the aisle had worked hard together to look for a commonsense way that we could end this burden which, in my opinion, is an extreme burden on the small business community and on the farm community. I do not know about the other speakers, but when I go back to my district and I am mixing and mingling with the folks where they eat breakfast or where they have dinner or where they gather, it is my farm families that bring this issue up. In north Alabama where I come from, we have some of the most productive farm families of any district in the country. For generations, they have struggled and used tax lawyers and tax strategies to try to find a way to effectively pass that farm on to the next generation that we want to continue engaging in that farm business. But they are overwhelmed by this issue. In 2001, we did a good step, not a great step but a good step. We passed some temporary relief. But the reality is that if we do not permanently repeal the death tax, you have almost got to time your death for the benefit of your family. That is outrageous. So let us make sure that we bury this issue once and for all. According to the Congressional Research Service, estates that included farm or business assets represented 42.5 percent of the 30,000 plus taxable estate tax returns filed in 2003. It is not fair to say that this is just a rich person's issue, that the estate tax only affects the wealthy, because, according to that same Congressional Research Service, estates over $5 million accounted for only 6.8 percent of taxable estates. In this day and time, assets are accumulated in a different way than they were 20 years ago, 25 years ago, 30 years ago or even more than that. For the benefit of those farmers, for those small manufacturers, for the local car dealers, the independent car dealers, the realtors, the funeral directors, the grocers, the family restaurant owners, the florists, the convenience store owners and many others, let us end this unfair tax burden. I urge the Members to support this.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, with profound sadness, I rise today to honor the life of former U.S. Senator Howell Heflin. Senator Heflin served in the U.S. Senate on behalf of the State of Alabama for 18 years. He was a nationally known and popular Senator, who fought tirelessly for the people of Alabama. He passed away on March 31, 2005 at the age of 83. Before his election to the Senate, Senator Heflin was Chief Justice of the Alabama State Supreme Court. As Chief Justice, he was the lead author of the Alabama Judicial Code, which reformed Alabama's outdated legal system. His grass roots efforts established a model for future constitutional reform not only in Alabama but across the nation. During his time in the Senate he was known for his sharp wit and deep understanding of the issues being addressed by Congress. He had an innate ability to describe difficult and complex subjects in such a way that most anyone could understand and form an opinion on them. Senator Heflin was a strong advocate for civil rights, the Marshall Space Flight Center, Redstone Arsenal, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and southern agriculture along with many others. His work helped lay the foundation for the new technological economy of North Alabama. Senator Heflin was respectably referred to by his colleagues as ``The Judge,'' because of his position as Chief Justice and his long tenure as Chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee. It was said that he ruled over the Chamber with an iron fist and demanded his fellow Senators live up to higher standards. Mr. Speaker, Senator Heflin commanded respect from his colleagues, and made the least among us feel as important as anyone else. He was a friend to me during and after his time in Washington. He will be missed by all who knew him. On behalf of everyone in North Alabama, I respectively rise to honor and pay tribute to a great American leader.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Angeline Nazaretian, known by her friends and colleagues as Angie, upon her appointment as Grand Electa for the Order of the Eastern Star in the State of Alabama. Dr. Nazaretian lives in my Congressional District and is a member of the Athens Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. The Order of the Eastern Star is the world's largest fraternal organization to which both men and women may belong. Dr. Nazaretian moved to Athens in 1958 and has demonstrated a deep commitment and strong love for her adopted community ever since. She has done a great deal to help further the quality of life for young and senior individuals in the area. She retired from Athens State University in 1999, after forty-two years as a Professor of Health and Physical Education and the Director of Alumni Affairs. During her tenure at Athens State, she worked with the faculty and students, local churches, and schools in the Athens- Limestone community to develop physical education programs in elementary and secondary level schools. Dr. Nazaretian is a board member and volunteer for numerous community organizations. As an instructor for the American Red Cross, she developed numerous programs in First Aid, Water Safety, and C.P.R. She also served as a member of the R.S.V.P. Advisory Board, where she helped organize a Fitness Program for the Elderly, which is now part of the Community Wellness program. Furthermore, Dr. Nazaretian is recognized as one of the first leaders in Alabama to develop the Special Olympics program in the State. Mr. Speaker, for her hard work and dedication, Dr. Nazaretian is respected by all who know her. On April 2, the Athens community gathered to celebrate and honor her achievements. I rise today, to join in their celebration and to congratulate her on behalf of everyone in North Alabama.