Bud Cramer

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Coach Vann Pettaway and his Alabama A&M University Basketball team on winning its first Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship and earning a spot in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. This is the first time that the Bulldogs have been invited to the NCAA Tournament in the seven years the program has been a Division I member. The A&M Bulldogs finished this historic season with a record of eighteen wins and thirteen losses, culminating on Sunday afternoon with a nationally televised seventy-two to fifty-three victory over the Alabama State Hornets. In that game, Obie Trotter led all players with a game-high twenty four points, five assists and six steals and was named the SWAC's tournament MVP. Joe Martin finished second with seventeen points and six rebounds. All of us in North Alabama are proud of our hometown heroes and will be rooting for the Bulldogs on Tuesday night when Coach Pettaway leads his team against the Oakland University Golden Grizzles in Dayton, Ohio. All published accounts have said that the Bulldogs are playing their best basketball right now and are motivated to show the Nation why they deserve a spot in this tournament. Mr. Speaker, these student athletes have set a fine example for future athletes in our community. Their hard work, commitment, and dedication, on and off the court, are a large part of the team's success. On behalf of everyone in North Alabama and all Bulldog fans across the Nation, I rise today to congratulate the Alabama A&M Bulldogs and wish them the best of luck against Oakland University.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor James W. Evatt for his many years of service to the Boeing Company and our Nation's defense programs. Jim is stepping down from his role as vice president and general manager of Boeing's Missile Defense Systems and vice president and general manager for the Missile Defense National Team Systems Engineering and Integration program. He has held both positions since 2001. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Jim joined the Boeing Company in 1987 after 22 years of Government service. During his tenure as vice president and general manager, he was responsible for Boeing's Ground-based Midcourse Defense program, the Airborne Laser, Advanced Tactical Laser program, Boeing's Air and Missile Defense program, and the Laser and Electro Optical Systems program. He was also responsible for all Boeing missile defense programs including its work on PAC-3, SLAMRAAM, Avenger, and advanced systems initiatives. Furthermore, he was instrumental in creating the missile defense market area within the company and aligning it with the Missile Defense Agency to ensure a seamless working relationship on the programs critical to national security. In addition to his Boeing responsibilities, Jim is a member of the Air Force Association's Science and Technology Committee and the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee. Mr. Speaker, Jim has been an integral part of our national security for many years. His experience, dedication, and knowledge will be greatly missed. On behalf of everyone in north Alabama, I rise to thank him for his service and join his colleagues, family, and friends in congratulating him on a job well done.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize SGT Jay C. Peacock who was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor for his actions of heroism during the Vietnam War. SGT Peacock, known as Clay, received the Bronze Star during a special ceremony on Veterans Day, November 11, 2004. During the Vietnam War, SGT Peacock was a Ground Radio Operator for the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron. On October 26, 1969, during an attack by the North Vietnamese Army, SGT Peacock was deployed by helicopter into the Special Forces Camp at Bu Prang. Heavy fighting with constant artillery, mortar, and small arms fire continued through October 28th. Mr. Speaker, SGT Peacock distinguished himself during the attack by dividing his time between his radio operator duties and taking care of the Officer in Charge who was wounded on the second day of the North Vietnamese siege. At dusk on the second night, supporting aircraft were called to help prevent the North Vietnamese from overrunning the camp. Knowing that their friendly position had to be marked for supporting aircraft, SGT Peacock put himself in the line of fire to successfully mark their position with strobe lights from his survival vest. Because of his unselfish actions, the aircraft were able to force the North Vietnamese army to retreat. Mr. Speaker, although his heroic actions took place over 30 years ago, SGT Peacock received his long overdue and much deserved medal surrounded by family and friends on Veterans Day. With great pleasure, I rise today to congratulate this wonderful achievement.

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 the ``Best Overall'' AUSA Chapter in the country. Chapter President Joe Fitzgerald accepted the award on behalf of chapter members during the AUSA National Convention in Washington. AUSA is dedicated to supporting the U.S. 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 in strong support of H.R. 4504, the Safe and Timely Interstate Placement Act of 2004. I congratulate the gentleman from California (Mr. Herger) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin) as well for bringing this very important piece of legislation to the floor of the House in what might be one of our last weeks in session here. I also want to congratulate the majority leader for the passion he has brought to this issue as well. We have had many discussions about the plight of those children that do not have a safety net under them, particularly foster children, and foster children that could be eligible for adoption as well. I began my career after law school as an assistant district attorney, and I was assigned to juvenile court. In those days in Alabama we were to assist the welfare department with issues of removal of children. I learned more than I ever wish I had to learn about children that were in foster care, vulnerable children, abused children, physically abused, sexually abused, and often both as well. What I found out the hard way, though, is that the system does not protect those children. The bureaucracies work against what we can do to place and protect those children. I got actively involved with the Foster Parents Association down there in north Alabama, and their frustrations with the bureaucracy were many. This piece of legislation today accomplishes just about everything that we need to accomplish. It deals with the placement of children across State lines, and the bureaucracies have worked against that. My colleagues have pointed out how much longer it takes to place those children. This legislation as well speaks to States that have opted out of Federal requirements. There should be criminal background checks. There should be restrictions on who is eligible to adopt children. Most States are not doing those background checks, and consequently most of those States are not protecting children the way they should. So this makes this uniform. Another important issue that is covered in this legislation is it authorizes up to $10 million through fiscal year 2008 for incentive payments to the States for $1,500 for each interstate home study completed within 30 days. It wants to force the States to do those home studies quicker. Mr. Speaker, this is a good piece of legislation, it should not be controversial, and our Members should support it.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my friend, Reverend Franklyn G. Broyles, Jr. of Huntsville for receiving the 2004 Arthritis Foundation Humanitarian Award. This award is given annually to a person in the Huntsville community who has displayed exemplary community leadership. Reverend Broyles was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama and after graduating from Vanderbilt Divinity School, Reverend Broyles returned to North Alabama and currently serves as the Minister of Church and Community with the Faith Presbyterian Church. He also serves as the Executive Minister of the Huntsville Association for Pastoral Care and Program Director of the Huntsville area chapter of the National Conference for Community and Justice. Reverend Broyles has also vigorously given his time to the community. He was the first Administrative Director of Hospice of Huntsville and he served as the Director of the Campus Ministry Association at the University of Alabama in Huntsville for fifteen years. Reverend Broyles has also volunteered his leadership to numerous community organizations. Additionally, Reverend Broyles is known for his strong commitment to worldwide and interfaith understanding. His service in interagency, worldwide, and interfaith work has earned him close to thirty awards. Mr. Speaker, Frank's ability to bring people together and provide a positive influence on the entire community is something that we all should strive to do. On behalf of the people of North Alabama, I would like to congratulate Frank Broyles for being named the 2004 Arthritis Foundation Humanitarian Award winner.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Reverend Coy J. Hallmark of Huntsville for receiving the 2004 Arthritis Foundation Humanitarian Award. This award is given annually to a person in the Huntsville community who has displayed exemplary community leadership. As an undergraduate at the University of North Alabama, Reverend Hallmark received his first pastoral appointment at a church in Lexington, Alabama. After earning a Master of Divinity Degree from Emory University, Reverend Hallmark was commissioned as a chaplain in the United States Army in 1983. He is currently a Lieutenant Colonel with the 279th Signal Battalion in the Alabama National Guard where he provides spiritual support and supervision for the battalion chaplains in Huntsville, Florence, Mobile and Ft. Lewis, Washington. In 1986, after returning from a military exercise in South Korea, Reverend Hallmark became an associate pastor at my church, the First United Methodist Church of Huntsville, a role he has served ever since. During his tenure, the church has seen a large increase in its membership and it has been more inclusive and accessible. In addition to his pastoral duties, Reverend Hallmark has vigorously committed his time volunteering for numerous community organizations that promote the welfare of persons with disabilities and provide them with access to assistive technology devices and services to increase independence in the home, school, and work environments. This issue is close to Coy's heart. His daughter, Rachel was diagnosed with cerebral palsy in 1982. Mr. Speaker, Reverend Hallmark has been a well respected and thoughtful member of our church and community for many years. On behalf of the people of North Alabama, I congratulate my friend, Coy Hallmark on being named the 2004 Arthritis Foundation Humanitarian Award winner.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an important group of individuals whose hard work and dedication has made a tremendous impact on the lives of numerous children throughout North Alabama. For over twenty years, the Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Alabama has provided hundreds of children with a positive influence and a strong foundation to help guide them through adolescence. Every volunteer does a great deal to improve the quality of life of these children and to help them develop goals and aspirations of their own. For its hard work and continued commitment, Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Alabama is recognized nationally for its performance as one of the best agencies in the country. Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 100th year of the national Big Brothers Big Sisters program, and on August 14th, a reunion and centennial picnic was held in Huntsville. This picnic was an opportunity for everyone involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters to come together, trade success stories, and relive the times each volunteer and child has had together. Mr. Speaker, I've always believed that our children should have an opportunity to succeed and be an active participant in our communities. I'm pleased that there are a large number of individuals who are committed to helping less fortunate children in our area. I rise today to commend each and every person who is involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters and join in their centennial celebration.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, on August 9th, students and teachers in North Alabama officially ended their summer break and headed back into the classroom for another year of study. It was also a special day for my high school alma mater, as the students and teachers of Huntsville High School began classes in a new state-of-the-art educational facility. The original Huntsville High School, built in the 1950s, was no longer able to support its growing number of students. Mr. Speaker, the new school encompasses 280,000 square feet, has 65 classrooms, a small practice gym, a lecture hall of 140 seats, a large auditorium that can hold the entire student body, and a main gym that will seat 2,400. I strongly believe that a firm academic foundation will help the young people of North Alabama achieve their goals and help raise the overall quality of life in our community. Having outstanding teachers with eager students in this wonderful new facility will be a successful combination for the future. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to join the administrators and faculty, students, alumni, and friends at the official opening of the new Huntsville High School. However, I rise today to join in their celebration and welcome them into the new Huntsville High.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I was joined by Mr. Boswell of Iowa in introducing legislation to create an Independent National Security Classification Board to review current standards and procedures for the classification of information for national security purposes and make recommendations for needed changes. Today's classification system is broken. The Executive Branch exerts almost total control over what should or should not be classified. There is no self-correcting mechanism in the system. The Executive Branch has a little known group that can review classification issues, but it is seldom used and open only to Executive Branch employees, not to Members of Congress or the public. The bottom line is: there is no independent review of the classification decisions by the Executive Branch. With no chance of unbiased review, classification decisions are ready and ripe for abuse. Agencies wishing to hide their flaws and politicians of both parties wishing to make political points can abuse the existing classification guidelines to their advantage. This needs to change. William Leonard, Director of the Information Security Office, acknowledged in a recent speech that the classification system for national security has lost touch with the basics; that some agencies don't know how much information they classify, or whether they are classifying more or less than they once did; whether they are classifying too much or too little. He called today's classification system ``a patchwork quilt'' that is the result of a hodgepodge of laws, regulations and directives. ``In reality,'' he said ``the Federal Government has so many varieties of classification that it can make Heinz look modest . . .'' The most recent evidence that the system is broken can be found in the forthcoming 9-11 Commission report and last week's Senate Intelligence Committee Report on Iraq pre-war intelligence. But the problems of declassification also plagued the Joint Inquiry into Intelligence Community Activities Before and After the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001, on which Mr. Boswell and I both served. All of these reports show the problems that arise from a ``need to know'' rather than a ``need to share'' culture of overclassification. Even more important than the information that is published in these reports is the information withheld from the public and redacted from the reports. These reports demonstrate a serious imbalance of power between the public and the officials who make the classification decisions. They raise troubling questions about whether those who control the classification of information for national security purposes have misused this authority to shield officials from the glare of public accountability and to stifle public debate about politically sensitive parts of the war on terrorism. This legislation establishes an Independent National Security Classification Board. The Board would be made up of three individuals, knowledgeable in national security classification, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The task of the Independent Board would be to review and make recommendations on overhauling the standards and process used in the classification system for national security information. The Board would submit proposed new standards and processes to both Congress and the Executive Branch for comment and revision, and then implement the new standards and process once they have had the opportunity to comment. The Board would then begin to implement the new system, reviewing and making recommendations on current and new national security classifications, subject to Executive Branch veto that must be accompanied by a public, written explanation. The balance in this proposal assures that the public and Congress have access to an independent Board for national security classification matters while leaving undisturbed the Commander in Chief's constitutional prerogative in military and foreign policy matters through the power to appoint the Board and to veto the Board's classification decisions. This bill was introduced in the Senate by a bipartisan group of Senators and it is our hope that this bill will attract bipartisan support in the House. However, with so little time left in the legislative session and in recognition of the importance of these issues, Mr. Boswell and I, both members of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, felt it was important to get this bill into the process now. I urge Members to support this bill.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission this week, I rise to pay tribute to the achievements of the past, and to urge my colleagues to set our sights on the potential of the future. The historic steps taken by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin 35 years ago will be remembered by future generations as one of the greatest accomplishments of the 20th Century. While these steps were taken on another world, they were born right here on Earth. That was an exciting time in my district in North Alabama, which is the home of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, and the von Braun rocket team. Wernher von Braun, Marshall's first Director, led the development of the roadmap for putting humans on the Moon. Through bold thinking, ingenious engineering, and a lot of good old-fashioned hard work, NASA's engineers and scientists built the colossal Saturn V--a rocket powerful enough to take our astronauts out of the tight grasps of Earth's gravity. Apollo 11 established the U.S. as the world's leader in space and boosted our economy with technology and innovation. But the most important benefit realized from the Apollo 11 moon landing may have been the effect it had on the children of that era--it inspired them-- us--to dream--to reach for the starts. Like generations before, those who come after us have an inherent desire to explore the unknown. It is appropriate during this special week for us to give consideration to the future of space exploration, which has been put before us in NASA's new space exploration vision. It begins with the return to flight of the Space Shuttle, and the completion of the ISS as a unique scientific laboratory. It includes the robotic exploration of our solar system and the universe beyond. And it includes the extending of human exploration beyond Earth's orbit--first to the Moon, and then ultimately onto Mars. To be sure, realizing such a vision will require advances in space transportation systems. But advances in transportation have always opened new frontiers for our civilization. Examples include the first ocean-crossing ships of the New World explorers, the stage coaches and trails of the Great American West, the first transcontinental steam locomotives, the first automobiles off the assembly line, the flight of the Wright Brothers, and the historic escape of the Earth's gravity by the Apollo program. During the era, each of these advances required valuable resources and an unusually high degree of risk-taking, but the return on investment, unpredictable at the time, turned out to be tremendous. Each of these advances would ultimately change the very fabric of our society. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take a few seconds to highlight some results from a Gallup poll on Space Exploration that was just released yesterday. According to this Gallup poll, over two-thirds of the respondents are interested in America's space program, and only 11% were not interested at all. A majority of the adults surveyed--68%--agree that it is important for the Nation to have a space program that uses both human and robotic exploration. Almost two-thirds of the adults surveyed believe that space exploration should be funded at or above the current level. And 68% of the public supports the space exploration vision, at the funding level of 1% of the Federal budget. So you see that while we stand here today to honor the epic accomplishments of the past, Americans look forward to realizing the great achievements of the future. Mr. Speaker, I close by extending my congratulations to the many people across our Nation who had a hand in that historic mission 35 years ago. Today, as Americans, we remember Apollo's race to the Moon with pride, wonder, and awe. And we look forward to many more missions of extraordinary achievement and discovery from our Nation's space program.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize James L. Flinn, III upon his retirement after thirty-five years of outstanding civil service for the United States Army, the majority of which he served at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. An Alabama native, Jim first entered the civil service in 1969 after receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance and Management from the University of Alabama. Through many challenging and diverse assignments, Jim has distinguished himself by his knowledge and ability to consistently lead others. He has been a constant and stabilizing presence at Redstone and has helped ensure Redstone's high level support of the warfighter. Mr. Speaker, throughout Jim's remarkable career his hard work and dedication have been an inspiration for others and he has been recognized by his peers through numerous honors and awards. In 2003, he was awarded the Department of the Army Senior Executive Service Distinguished Presidential Rank Award, which is the highest honor a public sector employee can receive. In addition, in 1993 and 1998 he received the DA SES Meritorious Presidential Rank Award and most recently, he was awarded the 2004 National Defense Industrial Association Defense Management Award. Jim also serves on numerous boards and holds many leadership positions in North Alabama. Most recently, he was appointed by the Governor of Alabama to the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission, which overseas the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of North Alabama, I congratulate James L. Flinn on his thirty-five years of service to our country and wish him well in his retirement.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my friend, Kenneth V. Turvey, who for the past fifty years has served as the Organist and Director of Music for my church, the First United Methodist Church in Huntsville, Alabama. Ken was born in Dayton, Ohio and became a church organist while still a freshman in High School. While receiving both his Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Ken served as the Associate Organist-Choirmaster at Cincinnati Christ Episcopal Church. Ken went on to serve his country proudly as a Chaplain's Assistant in the United States Army. While in the Army, he served seventeen months in Korea and organized an Easter Sunrise service of ``Handel's Hallelujah Chorus'' for Commanding General Maxwell Taylor. On January 17, 1955, Ken began his work at the First United Methodist Church as its Organist and Music Director, a position he has held ever since. Through the decades, he has been a constant and reassuring presence for many of us in North Alabama. He is highly respected and committed to helping others throughout North Alabama. On June 30, 2004, Ken is retiring from First United Methodist Church. I am so privileged to have heard this talented man in person. It will be strange not seeing him at the organ leading the church choir but all of us in North Alabama are fortunate to have known Ken and have him as a member of our community. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ken Turvey on his wonderful service to First United Methodist Church and wish him the very best for a well-deserved rest.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York for yielding me this time, and I rise today to support my colleagues, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Peterson) particularly, in opposition to the rule that shuts off debate on fully funding the intelligence community's counterterrorism operations. I do this reluctantly, and I do not do this very often. I want to say to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle that this should have been the opportunity for us to fully debate this issue, because there is no real debate as to whether this bill, when we get to the bill, provides full funding to the intelligence community for this global war on terrorism. We all know that this bill does not do that, and we have fallen into the trap ourselves. We are perpetuating the trap of continuing to fund the intelligence community in fits and starts, in bits and pieces. The war in Iraq, as difficult as it is, is a war. The war on global terrorism, as unpredictable as it is, is a real war. Every day we are faced with warnings, with threats that we are going to be attacked, soon, between now and the elections. Every administration, or at least the past several administrations, have fallen into this trap of using supplementals as a way to slowly but surely face the budget issues that we have to face. We are saying here today that we want to stop that, that we want to break that habit, that we want to up front tell the agencies what they will get and let them then tell us what they need so we can perform our oversight. This is not a partisan issue. Both sides of the aisle have admitted through the hearing process, this year, last year as well, that we have got to stop this practice. The administration says this is not enough money this year; that later, whatever ``later'' means, we will get to the point where we will get to more funding. This is not the way to do it. So today we must send a clear message that ``business as usual'' is no longer acceptable. Today we must put politics aside and do what is right for our intelligence community and for our national security. Today we must make sure the intelligence community has the resources it needs. Oppose this rule.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman), and I want to say to the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Goss) that I have enjoyed his service on this committee. And even though we have had strong differences here at the very end, we have enjoyed his dedication to these issues and we will miss him. To the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman), of course, I count on your leadership and your dedication to the field as well. Mr. Chairman, I am the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence, and I served with the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra) on the other side of the aisle. And we have had another good year as well, and despite my differences over the counterterrorism funding, I want to talk about positive aspects of this bill that I do support. In addition to the investments in human intelligence and language skills, the bill strengthens our Nation's tactical and technical collection and analytical capabilities. I am proud to say that H.R. 4548 advances the analytical efforts at the Missile and Space Intelligence Center, known as MSIC, which is in Huntsville, Alabama, my Congressional district. MSIC works to assess the capabilities of surface-to-air missiles that continue to be proliferated across the globe by illicit arms traffickers and terrorist groups threatening both military and civilian aircraft. And those men and women there at MSIC work very hard to make sure that we are right on the edge of analyzing that material, and we provide them the skills and the tools and the funding to do that with. At this time, also I want to thank my colleague from the Alabama delegation, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Everett) who is also on this select committee. He looks after Alabama's involvement through the Missile and Space Intelligence Center through those good people there that work on those issues, and we in north Alabama thank our lower Alabama native for his dedication and support there as well. But we will continue with this effort to make sure that we give the field the tools that they need to do the work that they should be able to do. A better understanding of the threat capability is needed, and this is a bill that provides for that as well. So all in all, I think this is a good bill, and in spite of my strong feelings that we should have fully funded counterterrorism, there are strengths in this bill.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Huntsville, Alabama native, William ``Bo'' Matthews, for his work helping children in our area build a stronger academic foundation. Bo was an All-State football player at Butler High School. He went on to earn a football scholarship to play for the University of Colorado, and in 1974, after a successful collegiate career, the San Diego Chargers selected Bo as the overall number two pick in the NFL draft. In 1985, after playing with the Chargers, New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, and the Denver Gold of the USFL, Bo retired from professional football and currently resides in Denver, Colorado. In October of 2001, Bo formed the Bo Matthews Center for Excellence. The Center, which is located in Huntsville, is dedicated to providing academic instruction and support for students from kindergarten through the twelfth grade. Their unique approach brings together some of the best practices in effective teaching and student learning. Mr. Speaker, the Bo Matthews Center is making a difference in the lives of numerous school children, helping them discover the necessary confidence to be successful in the classroom. In addition, the center is encouraging its students to become lifelong learners and active participants in the community. On Saturday, June 19th, Bo Matthews will return to North Alabama and will be recognized at the inaugural Community Service Awards Banquet hosted by Conley Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, to welcome Bo back to Huntsville and to thank him for his dedication to our area's children.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lieutenant Colonel Wallace Tubell upon his retirement after twenty years of outstanding service to our country in the United States Army. After his effective retirement date of August 31, 2004, Lieutenant Colonel Tubell will reside in my Congressional district. As the Product Manager for the Army's Tactical Operations Centers Integration Program, Lieutenant Colonel Tubell led a team of military, government and contractor personnel in fielding and sustaining Tactical Operations Centers for 4th Infantry Division, 1st Cavalry Division, the Stryker Brigade Combat Teams, Third U.S. Army and other major commands worldwide. Lieutenant Colonel Tubell's program exceeded all requirements and was delivered on schedule and within budget. Lieutenant Colonel Tubell's personal dedication, sound management, and ability to build a strong team has contributed to the Product Office becoming a ``Center of Excellence'' in Command Post and Tactical Operations Centers design and development. He has been the driving force behind transforming analog Tactical Operations Centers into Network-Centric Command Posts for our warfighters and their staffs. His achievements and dedicated service have reflected great credit upon himself, the Army Acquisition Corps, the United States Army, and the Department of Defense. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of North Alabama, I congratulate Lieutenant Colonel Tubell for his twenty years of service to our country and I welcome him to our North Alabama community.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dear friend and a remarkable woman, the late Jane Barker. In her short lifetime, she had a profound influence on the lives of countless children and families in New York City. At the time of her passing, Jane served as the Chief Program Officer at Safe Horizon, the leading nonprofit victim assistance, advocacy, and violence prevention organization in New York City. Jane was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. She earned her Masters Degree in Social Work from Washington University and began her professional career as a school social worker in Peoria, Illinois. In 1976, Jane moved to New York City where she worked at the Brooklyn Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children and the New York City Department of Mental Health. In 1987, Jane began working at Safe Horizon. During her 16-year tenure there, she shaped the direction of numerous programs. Most recently, Jane led Safe Horizon's trauma response efforts after 9/11, with a particular focus on providing mental health support to those in need. Jane's legacy will be her pioneering work with the Children's Advocacy Centers in New York City. In 1985, I started the first Children's Advocacy Center in Alabama when I learned that child abuse victims were subjected to significant trauma from the systems that were supposed to be protecting and helping them. Jane shared this vision and courageously set out to change the system. With Jane's unwavering dedication and commitment, the Brooklyn Child Advocacy Center opened its doors in 1996, creating a child-friendly and supportive environment where children did not have to feel responsible for what happened to them. As a result of her vision and leadership, over 15,000 children have come through the Brooklyn Center. Mr. Speaker, in her lifetime, Jane had a profound influence on services for victims of crime and child abuse, their families, an communities. Members of her family, friends, and colleagues will gather to celebrate her life and her devotion to improving the lives of those around her. I want to commend Safe Horizon for dedicating the Brooklyn Child Advocacy Center in Jane's honor and loving memory. Mr. Speaker, Jane Barker was a tremendous individual who touched the lives of thousands of individuals and who was taken from us during the peak of her life. I rise today in her honor.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of our Nation's new vision for space exploration. I represent north Alabama, which is home to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. Space exploration holds a special place in the hearts of my constituents. Marshall and its team designed and developed the Saturn launch vehicles which sent our Nation on its last inspiring journey to the Moon. I remember that journey--it was an exciting time for north Alabama, and it was an exciting time for our Nation. Last year, I was one of 101 House Members who wrote a bipartisan letter to the President, urging him to focus NASA on an inspiring mission. On January 14 of this year, we received a reply. NASA was given a bold, new path--which will take our Nation on a journey of exploration and discovery that is affordable, achievable, and exciting. The first element of the vision includes returning the space shuttle to flight, and completing the International Space Station. In fact, the bulk of the increase in NASA's requested FY05 budget is for getting the shuttle fleet off the ground, and continued ISS construction. The ISS will be used to learn how to extend human presence in the hostile environment of space. The vision includes implementing a sustained human and robotic program to explore the solar system and beyond. Not one or the other, but both human and robotic exploration, using the strengths of each to expand their frontiers of our knowledge. The vision includes a goal of returning humans to the Moon by year 2020, and using this as a stepping stone for human exploration of Mars and other destinations. Along the way, this journey of exploration will require the development of innovative technologies, key knowledge, and enabling infrastructures. This vision will further U.S. scientific, security, and economic interests, and it also promotes international and commercial participation in exploration. Mr. Speaker, this vision is affordable to our nation. NASA's requested budget includes modest increases for an agency that has been essentially level-funded, in constant dollars, for the past 10 years. The FY05 budget request for NASA represents 0.7 percent of the Federal budget, compared to 1 percent in 1994, and a peak of 4 percent during Apollo. Between 1993 and 2002, the Federal Government's discretionary spending grew in purchasing power by more than 25 percent. But NASA's funding profile over this same decade resulted in a loss in purchasing power of 13 percent. I recognize that our Nation has many other worthy demands on the Federal budget at this time--but this is something that only a great nation such as ours can do. This vision is also achievable. The plan is not a race to the Moon or Mars, but a continuation of the spirit of exploration that is such an important part of America's heritage. And it is based on a spiral- development philosophy where you build on your accomplishments, learning from your successes--and your failures--along the way. We know that this approach can work--it already has, as Project Apollo built on the amazing achievements and occasional setbacks of Project Mercury and Project Gemini. Mr. Speaker, I know that there are some who say that NASA has not yet provided enough details about their exploration plan. They are working hard to provide us with the details. But we can all be assured that this body will have regular opportunities during the journey for strong congressional oversight. We have a bold new vision for our Nation's space program laid out in front of us. This vision will help secure America's national security. This vision will help assure America's economic prosperity. And it will help strengthen America's technological competitiveness. Like the successes of Apollo, the benefits of this vision of exploration and discovery will be felt over generations. Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of the 21st century, our Nation's space program is at a crossroads. I urge my colleagues to grasp this historic opportunity, and join me in support of this vision that will reinvigorate our Nation's space program.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a group of young men and women from North Alabama who finished fourth in the National ``We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution'' Competition. These young scholars from Sparkman High School have worked tirelessly for this competition and have gained a deep knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles and values of our Constitution. I want to congratulate these students on this outstanding achievement. The ``We the People'' program, administered by the Center for Civic Education, provides students with a working knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the principles of democratic government. The 3-day national competition is modeled after hearings in the U.S. Congress. The hearings consist of oral presentations by high school students before a panel of constitutional scholars. The students' testimony is followed by a period of questioning by the judges to explore their depth of understanding and ability to apply their constitutional knowledge. These students have built an excellent academic foundation that will enable them to achieve a broader understanding of our nation and our system of government. It is inspiring to see these young people advocate the fundamental principles of our government and that the next generation of leaders believe and understand these principles. Mr. Speaker, this group of high school seniors has accomplished more and gone farther in this competition than any previous group from the State of Alabama. With great pleasure, I rise today to congratulate this great achievement.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Col. John B, Smith upon his retirement after 30 years of outstanding service in the United States Army. Colonel Smith has distinguished himself during his military service in challenging and diverse assignments. Throughout his remarkable career, he has been recognized and decorated for his ability to lead by example, encourage excellence from his peers and subordinates, and consistently produce outstanding results at all levels of command. Mr. Speaker, for the last 2 years, Colonel Smith has served in the position of Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command. In that position, Colonel Smith was vital in efforts to advance Redstone Arsenal. In addition, his leadership has been critical to our Nation's defense by helping to ensure the Army's readiness and technological superiority for the future. I commend Colonel Smith for energizing a diverse staff toward a common purpose and inspiring them to achieve their goals. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of North Alabama, I congratulate Colonel Smith for his 30 years of service to our country and wish him well in his retirement.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of Miss America 2004, Ericka Dunlap. Ericka is using her reign as Miss America to challenge all Americans to look past one's race, religion, and culture and embrace the unique diversity of our country. Mr. Speaker, last fall Ericka Dunlap was crowned Miss America and immediately embarked on a national tour promoting her platform, ``United We Stand, Divided We Fall Behind: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion.'' Ericka feels that education is the vehicle that will allow us to move past bigotry and accept another person's culture, background, lifestyle, and ability. She is making an extra effort to reach out to our children and educate them about diversity before any predisposed notion is set. I commend her efforts and believe that Ericka is an excellent role model for young women everywhere. Mr. Speaker, on April 17, Ericka was the Keynote Speaker at the 50th Anniversary Gala for the Huntsville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. I rise today to welcome her to North Alabama and to honor her achievements in promoting tolerance across our country.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate All Points Logistics, Incorporated for being named the Boeing Corporation's Small Disadvantaged Business Supplier of the Year and a Boeing Preferred Supplier Company. All Points Logistics, Inc. is a Native American and disabled veteran-owned small business that helps support the Boeing Corporation's Ground-based Midcourse Defense program. Boeing and All Points Logistics have worked together since 2001. In December of 2003, All Points Logistics became the first company to sign the Missile Defense Agency's Mentor-Protege Agreement. Through this agreement, All Points Logistics was able to expand its services with Boeing and open a new office in Madison, Alabama--bringing an additional twelve jobs to our North Alabama community. All Points Logistics is a valuable part of the Alabama Boeing team. Through timely service and high quality products, All Points Logistics has given Boeing the flexibility to meet the needs of its customers and provide for our nation's defense. For its reliability, Boeing recognized them as a preferred supplier. Mr. Speaker, on April 9, Boeing and All Points Logistics Inc. held a ceremony recognizing the Supplier of the Year award. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the employees of All Points Logistics Incorporated on a job well done. I rise today to join in their celebration.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Christopher Darden and William Schaub for receiving the 2003 Isaac M. Cline Award from the National Weather Service. The Isaac M. Cline Award is presented each year to individuals and teams that have made significant contributions in support of National Weather Service strategic and operational plans. Mr. Darden and Mr. Schaub were awarded the Cline award for their work demonstrating exceptional metrological skill and professionalism on May 6, 2003. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Darden and Mr. Schaub are lead forecasters at the NWS Weather Forecast Office in Huntsville, Alabama. On May 6th, North Alabama was experiencing extensive flash flooding and numerous reports of tornadoes throughout the region. Mr. Darden and Mr. Schaub issued a series of Tornado Warnings that had an average warning lead time of twenty-three minutes. In addition, they issued several Flash Flood Warnings with a lead time of up to forty-five minutes. Due to the timeliness and accuracy of these severe weather warnings, Mr. Darden and Mr. Schaub likely saved numerous lives. Mr. Darden and Mr. Schaub are being recognized for efforts performed within mere months of the opening of the new Huntsville Weather Forecast Office. This is a testament to their knowledge and expertise that is critical to address the unique weather patterns and needs of North Alabama. Mr. Speaker, the Isaac M. Cline Award is the highest honor the National Weather Service can bestow upon its employees. I rise today, to congratulate Christopher Darden and William Schaub on this honor.

Mr. CRAMER

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Huntsville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for fifty years of service in the North Alabama community. Since its founding on April 24, 1954, the sisters of the Huntsville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. have been an inspiration for young women in our area providing college scholarships and volunteering numerous hours helping others throughout North Alabama. Mr. Speaker, the Huntsville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. is most well known for its annual reception that recognizes and honors outstanding high school teachers and students. In addition, the chapter sponsors an educational and motivational program for young girls called ``Girls Empowered to Maximize Self-esteem,'' or GEMS. On March 28th, the Huntsville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will hold its annual Founders' Day program. This year's celebration will be especially memorable and I rise today to join them in their fiftieth commemoration.