Elijah Cummings

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CUMMINGS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in support of the amendment. The underlying amendment in the nature of a substitute would raise from the current $150 million to $300 million the amount of financial responsibility that offshore facilities must demonstrate. This is a significant increase. I strongly believe that this increased level of financial responsibility is appropriate, given the risks associated with offshore energy production--risks that the Deepwater Horizon spill have made so clear. Importantly, however, the President can lower the amount of financial responsibility offshore facilities must demonstrate if certain criteria are met, albeit the level for offshore facilities seaward of a State boundary cannot be below $105 million. I strongly support the amendment.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 258) congratulating the Commandant of the Coast Guard and the Superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy and its staff for 100 years of operation of the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, and for other purposes.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, again I urge the Members to support this legislation. I think it's very important that we pause to recognize these wonderful, strong, courageous, and patriotic citizens of our Nation who, again, are our thin blue line at sea. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to thank the ranking member of our full committee, Mr. Mica, and Mr. Duncan. Both of them made some very good points that I would just like to elaborate on a little bit. I call our Coast Guard our thin blue line at sea, and I think when we saw the oil spill situation, we realized that they are indeed our coast guard, they are guarding our coast. And Mr. Mica was absolutely right. I think that sometimes those that are performing some of the most important tasks are occasionally unseen, unnoticed, unappreciated and unapplauded, in the words of a Greek theologian, but they do the most important things. And this is a wake-up call, I think, to our Nation, when we see something like our oil spill, of how important the Coast Guard Academy is in training young folks to go out there and be leaders. But it is also a lesson to our Nation to give the United States Coast Guard the priority status that it gives the other armed service entities. It is very, very important. I know that as I travel around the country, every time I go into a port where the Coast Guard is stationed, I try to spend some time with them to let them know what a grateful Nation we are for what they do every day. But one of the things, Madam Speaker, that has always impressed me in a lot of the ceremonies that I've gone to where they were giving medals is how these men and women put their lives on the line and put their lives before others to save lives. I've heard stories of 20-foot seawalls where they were able to save people, and again, putting their life on the line, and then all the other things they do. I've often said that, since 9/11, their responsibilities have increased tremendously. And Mr. Mica is absolutely right, it is important that this Congress support the Coast Guard to the Nth degree. It must be and has been a bipartisan effort to make sure they get the funding that they need, and we will continue to do that. So I, too, congratulate Thad Allen--Admiral Allen--and now Admiral Papp for all that they have done. When we look at Katrina, the agency that performed, without a doubt, the best was the United States Coast Guard, saving over 35,000 people, many of whom would have been dead today. And so I take this moment not only to salute 100 years of the academy, but like my colleagues, to salute a great organization, one that is very small but has a big heart. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 258.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H. Con. Res. 258, authored by Congressman Courtney, celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, and honors the many men and women who have graduated from the Academy and served our Nation with distinction over the past 100 years. On September 15, 1910, what is today the Coast Guard Academy was established as the School of Instruction to the U.S. Revenue Cutter Academy at Fort Trumbull in New London. After the former Life Saving Service and the Revenue Cutter Service were merged in 1915 to form the modern U.S. Coast Guard, the school in New London formally became the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. In the 1930s, the Academy was moved to its present location on the Thames River in a new facility built specifically to house it. Today, the Coast Guard Academy combines instruction in academic subjects, physical fitness, and character and leadership development to create the holistic education that prepares the future officers of the United States Coast Guard to manage all of the Coast Guard's mission areas, including search and rescue, marine safety, homeland security and maritime domain awareness, and oil spill response. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate the Academy's 100th anniversary, I also note that on June 28 the Academy's Class of 2014 was inducted: 199 male and 90 female cadets were sworn into the class. I am also proud to report that nearly 24 percent of this incoming class is composed of minorities, including 35 Hispanic Americans, 15 African Americans, and 13 Asian Americans. By comparison, the Class of 2013, which was inducted in 2009, was comprised of only 15.5 percent minorities, and previous classes have been even less diverse. During my tenure as chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, I have held four hearings in the subcommittee specifically to examine diversity in the Coast Guard, and particularly the decline in diversity at the Academy. Over the past year, the Academy has implemented new outreach initiatives in diverse communities that have enabled the Coast Guard to reach students who are qualified to attend the Academy and eager to serve our great Nation, but who have likely been unaware that the Coast Guard Academy even existed. These efforts are helping to ensure that the Coast Guard Academy is no longer our ``best kept secret in higher education.'' The Coast Guard Academy's diligent recruitment efforts have yielded great results, and this success reflects the commitment of the entire service to extend diversity at all levels. I commend Admiral Allen, the former commandant, as well as Admiral Papp, who was recently appointed as the commandant, as well as the Academy's leadership, including Superintendent Burhoe, for this achievement. That said, the next step must be putting in place the measures that will sustain this level of diversity and expand it in coming years so that the Academy and the Coast Guard's officers corps fully reflect the diversity of America. With that, I commend Congressman Courtney and I certainly thank my ranking member, Mr. LoBiondo. I urge all Members to vote for this wonderful resolution. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, today, I recognize and pay tribute to Major Ca-Asia Shields, United States Army, on the occasion of her transfer to the Secretary of the Army's Strategy and Initiatives Group. I have had the great pleasure of working with her over the past three years that she has served with the Congress: first as my Defense Fellow and then as a Liaison Officer in the Army Liaison Office in the U.S. House of Representatives. Major Shields has had a varied and distinguished Army career. She enlisted in the United States Army in February 1987 and served as an Administrative Specialist for 8 years in both active duty and reserve units. In May 1997, she was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Military Police Corps, a branch of the Army of which she has always been proud to be a member. Some of her major duty assignments include Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer in the 58th Military Police Company, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; S-3 Operations Officer, Headquarters Command Battalion, Fort Myer, Virginia; Adjutant, 759th Military Police Battalion, Fort Carson, Colorado; Company Commander, 984th Military Police Company; and Military Police Captains' Assignment Officer, Human Resources Command, Alexandria, VA. Her combat experience included Operation Iraqi Freedom II, where she served as Company Commander of the 984th Military Police Company. In 2008, she served as a Department of Defense Congressional Fellow in my office, primarily handling national security and veterans issues; but she took the lead in calling attention to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among returning troops; pushed for more contracting opportunities with the Department of Defense for service disabled owned businesses; and worked to form the Military Leadership Diversity Commission to promote the recruitment and development of minority officers in the Armed Forces. I was very impressed with Ca-Asia's intelligence and work ethic, qualities that were only exceeded by her dedication to our Country's service members and their families. During her assignment to the Army House Liaison Office, Major Shields developed outstanding rapport with both members and staff in a variety of venues. She planned and escorted 11 congressional and staff delegations to locations within the continental United States and overseas. Her missions ranged from a two-day trip to Fort Lewis, Washington, with 40 staffers to a complicated two-week CODEL to China. She managed the Army-escorted trips for House members and staff to Walter Reed, personally escorting 25 delegations to visit Wounded Warriors. And, in coordination with the Congressional Black Caucus, she developed and conducted the first two Army-sponsored Black History Month events on Capitol Hill. Throughout all of these engagements, she has served as an outstanding representative for Soldiers and for Army values, and enhanced the Army's reputation with the United States Congress. Major Shields is a graduate of Armstrong Atlantic State University with a BA in History and holds a Master's Degree in History Education from Old Dominion University. I ask that my colleagues please join me in recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of Major Ca-Asia Shields in serving the United States Army and the Nation.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Rahall, Chairman Grijalva and the hardworking staff on the Subcommittee on National Parks for getting this legislation to the floor today. Mr. Speaker, originally enacted in June 2004, the National Great Black Americans Commemoration Act will help to expand and develop museum exhibits and educational programs honoring African Americans who have made significant contributions to the nation, but whose names, faces and achievements may not be well known to the average citizen. This recognition can and will be accomplished and preserved with the expansion of the Great Blacks in Wax Museum, a national treasure that is located in my district and hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. Speaker, the Great Blacks in Wax Museum was founded in 1983 by Dr. Elmer Martin and Dr. Joanne Martin, who started the museum with their own funds carrying a few wax figures and exhibit materials around the country in their car. I am proud to report that the museum currently occupies part of a city block in East Baltimore and includes more than 200 wax figures. It is America's first wax museum of Black history. The museum now receives well over 200,000 visitors per year--more than half of these visitors are school children. Several members of Congress and their staffs have visited the museum and relayed to me the awesome nature of their visit--how the figures and exhibits both moved and informed them, resulting in a truly enriching experience. Enactment of H.R. 3967 makes certain that the Museum can continue its mission to preserve a great part of our nation's history. Lastly, this legislation authorizes assistance in establishing a Justice Learning Center as a component of the expanded Museum complex. The Justice Learning Center will include state-of-the-art facilities and resources to educate the public, especially at-risk youth, about the role of African Americans in our nation's judicial system. It will include a special focus on the civil rights movement, and on the role of African Americans as lawmakers, attorneys and in the Judiciary. Federal dollars used will be spent efficiently and effectively. This is an issue that is critical to assess when we ask citizens for funding any program. This expansion will provide jobs, but it will also create a link for our children to a past that is so often forgotten. Learning is enhanced when all of the senses can be engaged. This museum will bring the past to life, not just in the minds of the students, but in front of their eyes. Funding this educational opportunity is another critical step in creating an appreciation and understanding of history in our young people. These gains are well worth the cost. This is simply a technical measure to reauthorize legislation that was enacted by Congress in 2004. Again, I thank Chairmen Rahall and Grijalva for their support, and encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting the passage of this legislation.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. In closing, I will just urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this very, very important piece of legislation that will have far-reaching effects. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the sponsor of the bill who has worked very hard on this legislation for years now, the distinguished lady from California, Congresswoman Matsui.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 3360.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the passage of the Senate amendments to H.R. 3360, the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010. The House passed H.R. 3360 on November 17 by a vote of 416-4. On June 10, 2010, the Senate passed this legislation with an amendment which is now before us for consideration today. I applaud my distinguished colleague, Congresswoman Doris Matsui, the author of H.R. 3360, for her hard work on this legislation and for her tireless work on behalf of her constituent, Ms. Laurie Dishman, and of all victims of crimes on cruise ships. As chairman of the Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, I've convened two hearings to examine the issue of crime on cruise ships. I applaud Ms. Dishman and so many other victims and family members of victims for testifying before my subcommittee and for their long effort to support the development of legislation that would help ensure no one else is a victim of a crime on a cruise ship. Almost all of the nearly 200 cruise vessels embarking and disembarking passengers in the U.S. are registered in foreign countries. As a result, when Americans step onto a cruise vessel, they are stepping onto what becomes a floating piece of another country's jurisdiction as soon as it leaves U.S. waters. All available statistics indicate that crime is rare on cruise vessels, but it does happen. Therefore, H.R. 3360 seeks to improve the safety of passengers on cruise vessels by requiring commonsense measures to help prevent criminal activity and to ensure cruise lines respond appropriately when a crime occurs, including, by providing proper care for crime victims and securing crime scenes. I believe that H.R. 3360 responds directly to the problems we examined in our hearings by requiring reasonable alterations in vessel design, equipment, and construction standards to increase the physical safety and security of passengers. For example, H.R. 3360 requires that cruise vessels install peepholes or similar features in cabin doors so that passengers can identify who is at their door without having to open the door. H.R. 3360 also requires that cruise vessels have railings that are at least 42 inches high to help prevent passengers from falling overboard. This legislation also requires that cruise ships have onboard trained medical personnel who can provide treatment to assault victims, collect evidence to support prosecutions, and administer antiretroviral medications. This legislation also requires that a store of such medications be maintained on cruise vessels. And at this point, Mr. Speaker, I would also like to give credit to my colleague on our subcommittee and committee, Congresswoman Corrine Brown of Florida, who fought very hard to make sure that folks who may have been victims of rape had the appropriate personnel to address their concerns, as did Ms. Matsui. These provisions are critical to ensuring that those who are victims of sexual assault have immediate access to state-of-the-art medical care. H.R. 3360 also specifies certain crimes that must be reported to U.S. authorities by any vessel calling on a U.S. port, and it requires the government to maintain an Internet site that provides a numerical accounting of the reported crimes. Such statistics will be aggregated by individual cruise lines, and cruise lines will be required to maintain a link to the site on their own Web pages. The Senate amendment made several changes to the legislation passed by the House. Some of these changes enhance the legislation, including the addition of a provision requiring cruise ships to inform passengers of jurisdictional authority applicable to crimes occurring in United States territorial waters, on the high seas, and in the countries visited by the vessel. That said, the Senate amendment also eliminates a number of reports unrelated to crime on cruise ships that have been required by other pieces of legislation to be submitted to the Congress by the Coast Guard, including a report on foreign-flagged vessels calling on U.S. ports and a report on Coast Guard staffing levels in search and rescue centers. I understand that the elimination of these reports was demanded by a few Senators, ostensibly to offset the costs of implementing safety and security reforms on cruise vessels. I do not believe that measures that improve safety and security, and particularly not measures such as H.R. 3360, which imposes almost all new requirements on the cruise lines themselves, should require offsets, and particularly not offsets such as these. That said, enactment of H.R. 3360 will make cruising safer for the millions of Americans who travel on cruise vessels each year, and I urge all of the Members of the House to join in passing the Senate amendments to H.R. 3360. I also take this moment to thank my ranking member, Mr. LoBiondo, for our bipartisan efforts in seeing that this legislation got to the floor and is passed. I again commend Congresswoman Matsui for her dedication to this cause and for her extraordinary work on H.R. 3360. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 3360) to amend title 46, United States Code, to establish requirements to ensure the security and safety of passengers and crew on cruise vessels, and for other purposes.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 289) directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a technical correction in the enrollment of H.R. 3360.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 289.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 289 simply corrects a drafting error in the Senate amendments to H.R. 3360. Specifically, the Senate amendments intended to combine required Coast Guard reports on fisheries enforcement plans and on efforts to prevent the incursion of foreign fishing vessels into U.S. waters. However, the Senate amendments incorrectly referred to section 804 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2004 rather than the act of 2006, which is the correct cite for the requirement that the Coast Guard submit biannual reports on the service's progress in detecting and interdicting incursions by foreign fishing vessels into the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. H. Con. Res. 289 merely corrects the legal cite, but does not make any other changes to the Senate amendments to H.R. 3360. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. I want to thank the gentleman for yielding. My appreciation also goes out to Chairman Towns for moving this resolution recognizing National Men's Health Week through the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. This past Sunday, many of us celebrated Father's Day, which also marked the end of National Men's Health Week that is celebrated from June 14 through June 20. The need for this legislation could not be more evident. Despite advances in medical technology and research, men continue to live an average of more than 5 years less than women, and African American men have the lowest life expectancy of all groups. Further, 9 out of the 10 leading causes of death, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, affect men at a higher percentage rate than women. Men simply are not getting the care they need. Women are twice as likely as men to visit the doctor for annual examinations and preventive services. By the way, the research shows that most men who are the beneficiaries of early diagnosis and treatment with regard to many, many diseases have been urged to go to the doctor by a woman in their life, a significant other, a sister, a wife. But women are quite often the ones who also make the decisions for the family and sometimes drag us men to the doctor's office kicking and screaming. Men are also less likely than women to visit their health center or physician for regular screening examinations or gender-related problems for a variety of reasons, including fear, lack of health insurance, lack of information, and cost factors. Quite often, men believe in this macho concept that they can get over anything, that it's just a small thing. Although their heart is aching, they say, well, I will get over it and everything will be all right. And the next thing you know, he lands in the hospital or, sadly, lands in the cemetery. The disparity in men's health has led to increased risks of death from heart disease and cancer. But these problems do not only affect men. More than half of the elderly widows now living in poverty were not poor before the death of their husbands. And by age 100, women outnumber men four to one. We simply must get more men the early care and education they need to lead long and healthy lives. That is why I am advocating for the recognition of June 14 through 20 as National Men's Health Week. We need to educate both the public and health care providers about the importance of early detection of male health problems that will result in reducing rates of mortality for common diseases. Appropriate use of tests such as prostate-specific antigen exams, blood pressure screenings, and cholesterol screenings, in conjunction with clinical examination and self-testing for problems such as testicular cancer, can result in the detection of many of these problems in their early stages and increases in their survival rates to nearly 100 percent. The number of men developing prostate cancer in 2010 will reach more than 217,000, and an estimated 32,000 of them will, sadly, die from this disease. This week is designed to encourage men and their families to engage in appropriate health behaviors, and the resulting increased awareness has improved health-related education and helped prevent illness. National Men's Health Week was established by Congress in 1994. And on a more local note, just a few weeks ago I invited men to come in to Mercy Hospital in my district in downtown Baltimore to get prostate exams. I also invited women to come in to get mammograms. I just received a report today that of the 100 or so people that came in, 20 percent of them, 20 percent of them were in a position where they needed care, and if they did not get the care, it probably would have led to very, very, very serious debilitating circumstances or even death. So that's a perfect example of why we need to emphasize men's health and, by the way, women's health. Men who are educated about the value that preventive health can play in prolonging their lifespan and their role as productive family members will be more likely to participate in preventive care. One of the things that a lot of people don't think about is the fact that there are many men, if they simply took the precautions, if they simply got the exams, they would be around for a lot more Father's Days. And a lot of folks don't realize that to have loved ones around for many, many years is so very, very significant, and, as the commercial says, it is simply priceless. Again, I want to thank Chairman Towns and Chairman Davis for their support, and I encourage my colleagues to join me and the 60 other cosponsors in supporting this resolution.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Thank you for yielding, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, first of all, in following up on what the chairman just spoke about, we just got an email from the Coast Guard saying that BP has assured them that the near $70 million for which they have been billed will be paid by the end of next week, and we will hold their feet to the fire. As chairman of the Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, I rise today in strong support of S. 3473, legislation to amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to authorize advances from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for the response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund consists of two funds--the principal fund and an emergency fund. As was described yesterday by Mr. Craig Bennett, director of the National Pollution Funds Center, the emergency fund is, in essence, the operating fund from which we take the money necessary to pay for the operations of the 27 Federal entities that are responding to the Deepwater Horizon crisis. On May 3, the emergency fund received an authorized advance of $100 million. There is currently no statutory authority for any more advances to be made. Furthermore, as of June 1, obligations from the fund totaled $93 million. We cannot allow the fund to go dry. This legislation simply authorizes additional advances of up to $100 million per advance. Nothing in this legislation relieves BP of its responsibility to cover all of the costs which have and which will continue to result from this tragedy. I emphasize to our distinguished ranking member that I don't think there is one person in this body, either on your side or on this side, who is not adamant about making sure that BP pays every single penny-- not dime--but every single penny that is due to the American people. However, based on the way the fund is currently established, it is necessary to authorize additional funds today in order to ensure that Federal response efforts are not interrupted. I have already made two trips to the gulf coast, and I hope to make another one. I have seen firsthand the devastation caused by this spill. We cannot allow anything to threaten our ongoing cleanup efforts. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to join us in the passing of S. 3473. I also would note, Mr. Speaker, that this allows us to act with the urgency of now to address these issues. We have windows of opportunity within which we can act and can get things done. We can get them done. We will get our money back, but the fact is that we have got to act now because there are people suffering, not only in Louisiana, but, certainly, in the ranking member's State and in so many other places. And so, with that, I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for expeditiously getting this bill to the floor so that we can address the needs of our people.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a great American and true leader, Dr. Harold A. Carter, Sr., of Baltimore. His is a vision and a mission, grounded in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, that has compelling importance for our Nation today. More than half a century ago when Dr. Harold Carter, Sr., was still a young man in Selma, Alabama, Dr. Ralph Abernathy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., both offered Harold Carter his first opportunities to speak to their congregations as a newly ordained minister. ``I was a young college student, and they wanted to give me a boost from the beginning,'' Dr. Carter observed in a 2005 article written by Mr. Sean Yoes of the Baltimore Afro-American newspaper. Mr. Speaker, it was a strong, inspiring, and enduring ``boost,'' indeed. This same visionary foundation has inspired Dr. Carter throughout his ministry, both in the mission to proclaim the gospel to which he had been called and in the Social Gospel work of his faith. And I can say for a fact that not only does he preach the Word, but he lives it. This year, Dr. Carter celebrates 45 years as the principal shepherd of Baltimore's New Shiloh Baptist Church. In his own words, he is, above all, ``a God man,'' the primary trustee of his congregation's spiritual life. Yet at a time when our urban areas are in danger of crumbling under the stress of decades of disinvestment, Dr. Carter and his New Shiloh congregation also offer the people of Baltimore both hope and a concrete plan for social and economic renewal. A past leader of Baltimore's chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the local chapter of the Poor People's Campaign, Dr. Carter has readily acknowledged Dr. King's influence upon his vision for community renewal as an integral element of his New Shiloh ministry. ``I learned from him that we have to take responsibility for our condition, whatever that might be,'' Dr. Carter once observed. ``People in power do not concede anything to others freely, so we have to equip ourselves and do for ourselves based on the principles of unconditional love.'' That's Dr. Harold Carter, Sr. Aided by the strength and talents of his wonderful wife, the late Dr. Weptanomah Carter, whom I also knew, his son and copastor, Dr. Harold A. Carter, Jr., and a dedicated congregation that has grown to number in the thousands, New Shiloh is, indeed, equipping its community to move forward on empowering principles. Every day, people from the neighborhood can find inspiration and opportunity in its beautiful church and Family Life Center, its School of Music, Theological Center, Child Development Center and other facilities. These accomplishments of the congregation's Social Gospel mission are important aspects of Dr. Carter's vision, but they are far from the end. Already underway are plans for technical training for the community, a computer center, a senior center and senior housing. Mr. Speaker, it is more appropriate under our constitutional system for me to leave it to others to commend Dr. Carter for the other wonderful ministers whom he has trained, including my own pastor, Bishop Walter Scott Thomas, Sr., and many, many others. Others are better qualified than I to attest to the lasting importance of Dr. Carter's spiritual writings, which have been many. However, I have been honored to serve as a spokesman for the Congressional Black Caucus to our Nation's faith communities, and in that duty, I have gained a thorough understanding of faith-based initiatives that are working. A part of what my teacher, my mentor and friend Dr. Harold Carter, Sr., has taught me is that the inspiration for faith-based programs that work cannot be found in a strategy to transfer public responsibility for greater social equity to the faith centers of our country. Rather, that motivating force must first arise from the hearts and minds of people of faith themselves. This, I submit, is why Dr. Harold A. Carter, Sr., should stand as an example for all of our citizenry, whatever our respective faith traditions may be. This, I believe, is what Dr. Carter means when he speaks of how our local communities must undertake greater responsibility for themselves and their neighbors and how they must equip themselves for opportunity. Unlike other megachurches that have left the inner cities of our Nation, New Shiloh Baptist Church has followed Dr. Carter's vision and his mission for his congregation. It has constructed its foundation on an unwavering commitment to the people of our great urban community.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a recently departed constituent, Mr. Paul Reuter, a proud WWII veteran, family man and kind soul well thought of by all who knew him. Born in 1920 in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, Paul enlisted in the Army Air Corps right out of high school, serving as a radio operator on B-18 and B-17 aircraft. He was soon transferred to the 14th Bomb Squadron located in the Philippine Islands. When the Japanese bombed the Philippines after Pearl Harbor, Mr. Reuter and his fellow soldiers at Clark Air Field were captured and forced to take part in the infamous Bataan Death March across the island as prisoners of war. They spent five weeks in the notorious Tabayas Road detail during which an estimated 18,000 men died while being forced to cut a road through the mosquito and snake infested jungle with little food, rest or water. After Bataan, Mr. Reuter spent over three years in Japanese prison camps, forced to perform slave labor in Japan's Seitetsu Steel Plant. Upon his liberation on September 9, 1945, shortly after the bombing of Hiroshima, and Nagasaki, Mr. Reuter weighed a mere 90 pounds. He credited his ability to avoid starvation due to growing up during the Depression. Nothing his captors fed him, which included bug infested rice, was too rich for his pallet. Through this dark time, his deep religious convictions, love of country and desire to be reunited with his family kept him mentally strong, if not physically. Even after such sacrifice, Mr. Reuter's passion to serve and protect his country remained undiminished. He would go on to serve in the military for 15 more years, rising to the rank of Master Sergeant. In 1960, he hung up his fatigues for good, but shortly thereafter joined NASA. A strong believer in the value of an education, Paul went to school at night to earn his associates degree in Applied Science, a path he likely would have taken earlier but for the war. At NASA, Mr. Reuter got a front row seat for history and one of America's proudest moments, serving as part of the team that helped put the first man on the moon. Following his retirement from NASA, after 40 years of government service, Paul turned his focus to helping his fellow veterans, the ``Battling Bastards of Bataan.'' He served as an officer with the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, an organization which fought for Bataan veterans' rights and sought to serve as a reminder that ``the precepts of courage, devotion to duty and sacrifice displayed by the men and women of Bataan, both Filipino and American, have not and will not become outmoded.'' In the 1980's, Paul received his long overdue Bronze Star for combat, along with a Purple Heart. Over the years, Mr. Reuter has been quoted extensively in books, interviewed on television and participated in any number of history specials recalling his wartime experiences. A dedicated husband and father, he and his wife Nickolena were married 62 years until her passing in 2008. They were proud parents to five children, grandparents to 12 grandchildren, and Paul was about to be blessed with his fourth great grandchild. Mr. Reuter left us on April 16, 2010 at the age of 89. He was a man who lived enough for five men, never forgetting to show appreciation for those around him, dedicated to the common good for all.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Yes, I yield to the gentlelady.